Saturday, January 28, 2012

3-year anniversary!!

3 years ago today I wrote my first post on this blog. It read...

"I have decided to try to use my crockpot for 365 days in a row! That is the basis of this blog. I will blog about my efforts and post recipes and pictures. I hope that you will try the recipes and comment about your own successes and failures. I typically haven't used the crockpot all that much since I've had one; however, that is about to change! I'm sure after this experiment is over with our whole family will be sick of the crockpot and go back to the oven."

3 years later and I'm still using the best appliance ever at least 4 or 5 times a week. Boo yeah.

Looking back I totally didn't realize how much a part of my life this blog would become! I have had so many great experiences these last 3 years. Some of them are...

As a stay-at-home mom I've had the chance to feel like I'm connected with many adults even though I spend the majority of my time at home with young kids.
I've been able to get really really awesome at using the slow cooker. I have learned SO much about slow cookers, slow cooker recipes, why things turn out, why things don't turn out, etc. etc.
I've taught dozens of slow cooking classes
I've been featured on TV, radio, magazines and newspapers.
I've put together 2 cookbooks.
I've blogged 885 different posts about slow cooking (holy cow!)
I started with one slow cooker and now I have 9!
I've had almost 1.5 million pageviews with viewers from 173 different countries.
I started a facebook page for 365 Days of Slow Cooking and we now have almost 6,000 fans.

Whether you've been following me for 1,095 days of 1 day...thank you! It's so fun for me to see what things you like, the things you've discovered, and the things you've pinned on Pinterest.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Slow Cooker Home-style Beef and Vegetables

Seasoned Slow Cooker Liners for busy people!

1 Flavorseal Rich and Hearty Gravy slow cooker liner
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 cup water
2 celery stalks, diced
2-3 carrots sliced thinly
4 potatoes, halved
1 chuck beef roast (about 3 pounds)

1. Unfold liner and place into slow cooker, gently pushing sides so that liner is evenly spread out. Fold unseasoned side of the bag over slow cooker edges to hold it in place.
2. Add 1/2 cup water to the bag.
3. Layer meat and vegetables into bag.
4. Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 4-6 hours (until roast is tender).
5. When cooking is complete, turn off heat and stir well. Let the dish set for 10 minutes before serving (gravy will thicken as it cools).
6. Serve and enjoy!

Add meat and veggies to slow cooker

Delicious dinner, ready to go!

Review:

I love the idea of these seasoned slow cooker liners. So easy for busy people. This recipe that was straight off the back of the package. It was seasoned well and was very easy. I did, however, feel like more water needed to be added to the slow cooker initially. Next time I would add up to 2 cups of water, making sure to spread out the liner and wet all sides of the liner with the water. That way all the seasoning would be used and more gravy would be available at the end!! 4 stars.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Slow Cooker Oatmeal Banana Bread

Oatmeal Banana Bread in the Slow Cooker

Moist and Delicious!

Makes 1 loaf

1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour (from soft white wheat works the best)
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 or 4 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup milk
1. Place a small rack in the bottom of your 6 quart slow cooker. Turn the slow cooker on HIGH.

When baking bread in the slow cooker use a small rack so the air can circulate underneath the pan.

2. Cream together the shortening and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, beat until fluffy.

3. Slowly add in the flour, oatmeal, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Finally mix in the bananas and milk until well-blended.
4. Pour into a greased loaf pan that fits inside your slow cooker. Place on top of rack.

Place loaf pan on top of the rack.

5. Place a dish cloth or 2 thick paper towels over the top of the slow cooker. Place lid snugly on top of towel. 6. Cook for 2-3 hours on HIGH. Check for doneness and remove loaf pan. Let cool and then serve.

Place a towel on top of slow cooker so that moisture is absorbed into the towel instead of dripping onto the bread.

Review:
This banana bread was moist and delicious! I loved the addition of oatmeal. Such a fun twist. Why make banana bread in the slow cooker instead of the oven? For me, the bread seems to cook more evenly. In addition, if you're going to be out of the house it's not going to be detrimental if you can't get home exactly on time to take the banana bread out. In the summer when it's hot, the slow cooker doesn't heat up your kitchen like the oven would. You could definitely make this recipe in the oven, if you prefer. Cook at 350 for about 55 minutes. 4 stars.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Slow Cooker Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Makes 8 servings (1 biscuit each)

1 Homestyle Gravy Seasoned Slow Cooker Liner

4 frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs

2 cups water

1 bag frozen vegetable mix

1 can of biscuits

1. Unfold liner and place into slow cooker, gently pushing sides so that liner is evenly spread out.

2. Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker.

3. Pour water over the sides of the liner wetting all the seasoning.

4. Tie up the liner with some kitchen string. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours (depending on how hot your slow cooker cooks).

5. Carefully remove string. Remove the chicken and place on a cutting board. Shred the chicken and return to slow cooker liner.

6. Add in the veggies. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 15-30 minutes until veggies are warmed through.

7. While veggies are warming, bake biscuits according to directions on package. Ladle chicken, veggies and gravy over the top of the biscuits and serve.

Review:

Have you seen these seasoned slow cooker liners yet? They are like the regular liners but they have all the seasonings you need to make a perfect meal already in them. So you add a couple of ingredients, get a perfectly seasoned meal, and then clean up is a total breeze! Awesome.

I really really really loved this particular flavor on this liner. The chicken was absolutely perfect. Tying of the liner kept the chicken totally moist and really got the flavor into the meat. I would make this any day of the week so I give it 5 stars.

You obviously could use this particular liner (homestyle gravy) for different recipes besides chicken pot pie...the possibilities are endless!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Kitchen Tip Tuesday: Keeping chicken totally tender

I'm so excited about this new tip that I kind of found out by accident. Use a slow cooker liner to keep your chicken moist in the slow cooker. This is how...

1. Place a slow cooker liner inside your slow cooker.
2. Pile all the ingredients into the liner.
3. Gather up the edges of the liner and use some kitchen string to tie it up.
4. Cover your slow cooker and cook as recommended on the recipe.
5. Carefully remove the string and open up the bag. Serve!

It seems like this trick really helped keep the chicken extra moist and kept it from getting dried out. I used my favorite chicken, the boneless skinless thighs. They hold up fairly well, anyhow, in the slow cooker (unlike chicken breasts) but this just helped it even more. So if you're convinced that you want to use chicken breasts in the slow cooker I would use this trick (along with LOW heat and cooking for only about 4 hours).

Monday, January 23, 2012

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

Makes 4 servings

4 large ripe tomatoes, diced
1 Tbsp packed minced garlic
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and Pepper
Browned lean ground beef (if desired)

1. Combine tomatoes, garlic, paste, salt, sugar, basil and oregano in 3 quart slow cooker.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
3. Remove lid and use a potato masher to crush the tomatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Add additional basil and oregano, if needed. If you want to add meat you can at this point or just serve as is. Serve over hot cooked spaghetti.

Review:
I have been loving my Bountiful Baskets lately. I feel like it's summer! Fresh tomatoes and corn on the cob today. And last week I got a watermelon! I decided to use my fresh tomatoes to make a pasta sauce. It turned out absolutely perfect, although it was fairly simple with few ingredients. My husband had to add meat at the end (of course) but I probably would have preferred it without. 4 stars.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Slow Cooker Mexican Tortilla Pie

Makes 6 servings

1 (16 oz) can refried beans

1 cup picante sauce or salsa, divided

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 tomato, diced

7 medium whole wheat tortillas

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Salsa, sour cream and extra cilantro for toppings

1. Combine the refried beans, 3/4 cup of salsa and garlic in a small bowl.

2. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup of salsa, cilantro, black beans and tomato.

3. Take 2 long sheets of aluminum foil and make a foil sling. Place in a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker. Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.

Making a foil sling: Fit two large sheets of foil into the slow cooker, perpendicular to one another, with the extra hanging over the edges of the cooker insert. Before serving, these overhanging edges can be used as handles to pull the dish out fully intact.

4. Take one tortilla and spread 1/4 of the refried bean mixture over the tortilla (leave about 1/2 inch of space around the perimeter). Place it in the slow cooker. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over beans. Top it with another tortilla. Spoon 1/3 of the black bean mixture over the tortilla. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese over the black beans. Top it with another tortilla. Repeat layers. You'll end with refried beans on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. (see picture below)

5. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4-5 hours (depending on how hot your slow cooker cooks) or about 2-3 hours on HIGH.

6. Use the overhanging edges to gently pull out the dish intact. Transfer to a serving platter. Slice and serve with sour cream, salsa and cilantro.

Review:

Ha! You didn't think I could get it out of the slow cooker intact, did you? I'm so proud of myself right now. These are the things in life that make me excited. Sad, isn't it?

I loved this recipe and surprisingly my kids did too. They love dipping their "pie" in sour cream. We ate up all the leftovers for lunch the next day. I also appreciated the use of the whole wheat tortillas because it makes the recipe seem healthier and I think they're a bit sturdier and hold up better in the slow cooker. 4 stars.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Pulled Pork Paninis with Caramelized Onions and Homemade BBQ Sauce

Today we have an awesome guest post from my friend, Jaymee. She recently started a beautiful food blog called E is for Eat. She is cooking up a storm and has a wide variety of recipes. Check it out! This recipe looks absolutely amazing. Thanks, Jaymee! (If you'd like to do a guest post for my blog, please contact me)

I'm delighted to share a recipe on 365 Days of Slow Cooking. Karen and I go all the way back to high school! I recently started a food blog called E is for Eat where I post recipes and restaurant reviews while following the letters of the alphabet. This post is coincides with "P" week.

Pulled Pork Paninis with Caramelized Onions & Homemade BBQ Sauce

Makes 4-6 servings

2-3 pounds boneless pork shoulder (pork butt)

1/2 to 3/4 cup of dry spice rub, recipe follows

4 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled

2 large onions, sliced

1/4 cup water or apple juice

1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce, recipe follows

1 tablespoon olive oil

Sourdough bread, sliced (I used whole wheat sourdough)

Sharp cheddar cheese, sliced (I used a light white cheddar)

Butter or olive oil

1. Coat pork pieces on all sides with dry rub and massage into the meat. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour or overnight.

2. Lay one of the sliced onion and the smashed garlic cloves on bottom of slow cooker. Mix apple juice (or water) with liquid smoke and add to slow cooker. Place pork on top of everything. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until pork is very tender.

3. Transfer pork to bowl or baking sheet with rimmed edges. Discard cooking liquid and onions. Using two forks, shred pork and return to slow cooker (discard fat). Pour BBQ sauce over the top and mix thoroughly. Cook on high for 30 minutes. Add any additional seasonings to adjust to your taste.

4. While pork is cooking the final 30 minutes, caramelize the onions. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat, and add sliced onions. Cook until brown and caramelized, about 25-30 minutes.

5. When ready to make your paninis, butter the outside of the bread (or brush with olive oil) and pile pork, some caramelized onions, and a slice (or two!) of sharp cheddar cheese. Grill until brown and toasty...serve hot! (Note: I used a panini maker, but you could also do them like you do grilled cheese or a George Foreman).

Review:

I may be biased, but this is without a doubt a five star recipe in my book. The BBQ sauce might look like a lot of ingredients, but once you have them on hand, it's so easy to make your own sauce and control the flavors, and SO worth it. (I also use the sauce as a base for my slow cooker BBQ baked beans.) However, you can totally substitute your favorite bottled BBQ sauce and use a store bought rub and it will still turn out awesome!

For the rub:

1/4 cup paprika

3 tablespoons packed brown sugar or muscovado

2 tablespoons Kosher salt

1.5 tablespoons coarse ground black pepper

1 tablespoon chile powder

2 teaspoons dry mustard

1 teaspoon cayenne

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

Mix together all ingredients in a medium bowl (could also use chopper attachment of immersion blender). Store in an airtight container up to three months. (Note: adjust the types and amounts of seasoning to your liking or to what you have on hand, just don't leave out the paprika, sugar, salt, or pepper. (This might seem like a lot of intense flavors, but they will mellow a lot in the cooking process).

For the BBQ sauce:

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar or muscovado

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon molasses

1 tablespoon sweet paprika

2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely minced

2 teaspoons dry yellow mustard

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (such as Lawry's or a homemade blend)

freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne (optional)

1/8 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)

Mix together all ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (If using the BBQ sauce outside of this recipe, you'll want to simmer on the stove for 10-15 minutes, but here you don't need to because it will cook in the slow cooker).

Monday, January 16, 2012

Kickin' Chili (Dollar Store Challenge)

The food items from the dollar store needed for this chili recipe

Easy easy easy easy chili recipe in the slow cooker!

Blair from allfreeslowcookerrecipes.com issued a challenge to me: Make a slow cooker recipe using only products from the dollar store. I accepted the challenge (of course). I headed to Dollar Tree with my daughter and we had fun looking up and down each aisle and then finally deciding on a spicy chili. It was so easy...not to mention it serves 6 and cost $4.00! If you're not into spicy stuff then just buy regular diced tomatoes instead of the tomatoes with the green chiles.

Makes 6 servings

2 (13 oz) cans of chili with beans ($2.00)
2 (13 oz) cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles (came in a bonus 2-pack so they were $1.00 total)
1 (14 oz) can corn, drained ($1.00)

1. Combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Stir until combined.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours until flavors are blended.
3. Serve with sour cream and cheese, if desired.

Review:
Easiest recipe ever. Plus it was totally budget-friendly. It was a little too spicy for my taste (next time I would just buy regular diced tomatoes). I added some sour cream to cool it down a bit and that helped. But for those of you who like things hot hot hot you'd love this. If you're cooking- challenged this is a good way to make "homemade" chili to bring to the potluck or to the neighbor's house without really having to cook (they'll think your a star).
4 stars. Thanks for the challenge, Blair!!

Slow Cooker Ham, Bean and Lentil Soup

Makes 6 servings

1 (14.5 oz) can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup lentils

2 cups cubed ham

5 cups water

3 tsp chicken bouillon granules or 1 1/2 tsp Shirley J chicken bouillon

1 bay leaf

1 cup diced celery

1 cup diced onion

1 Tbsp tomato paste

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tbsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp ground mustard

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1. Place beans, lentils, ham, water, bouillon, celery, Worcestershire sauce and bay leaf into slow cooker.

2. Place onion, tomato paste, garlic, parsley, ground mustard and chili powder in microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 4-5 minutes, stirring every minute, until onions are soft. Transfer mixture to the slow cooker.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for about 6-8 hours. Pepper to taste and add additional seasonings, if needed.

Review:

This was a chunky broth soup. I loved all the beans, lentils, ham and celery chunks. Mine was perfectly seasoned at the end of cook time and didn't need anything else. This is a great recipe to use with leftover ham. 3 stars.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Cheesy Beef Casserole

Makes 6-8 servings

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 cup diced onion
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (4 oz) green chiles
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 3/4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup biscuit mix
3 eggs
Shredded lettuce
Salsa

1. Brown the beef and onion in a frying pan. Drain off any grease. Layer in the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker.
2. Pour tomatoes over beef. Pour chiles over tomatoes. Sprinkle salt and pepper over chiles. Sprinkle cheese over chiles.
3. Combine biscuit mix and eggs and whisk until smooth. Pour over the top of the beef mixture.

The use of a kitchen towel helps the contents of the slow cooker stay dry and not get dripped on.

4. Place kitchen towel over the slow cooker and then place lid on top of the towel, making sure the lid is secure. Cook on HIGH for about 2 hours.
5. Serve topped with salsa and lettuce.

Review:
Eh.
Bleh.
Totally a mediocre recipe. It was eaten but without enthusiasm. Flavor was lacking.
2 stars.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Slow Cooker Perfect Turkey Breast

Makes 6 servings

1 (3 lb) boneless turkey breast (mostly thawed)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1 Tbsp soy sauce

1. Cut off the netting or strings around the turkey, if it has them. Place turkey in bottom of 3 quart slow cooker.
2. Rub the turkey on all sides with onion powder, garlic powder and bouillon.
3. Pour the soy sauce on top of turkey.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
5. Use drippings to make gravy, if desired and serve.

Review:
This turkey was absolutely perfect. Tender, moist and flavorful. I was so excited and pleased with how it turned out. Greg said that it was a 5 star recipe for sure. He said that it was just as good as his brother's fried turkey that we had on Christmas. Take that, Jeff!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

White Cheddar and Sausage Dip

1 cup Shirley J White Cheddar Soup Base

4 cups water

1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes

1 (lb) ground sausage, browned and drained (Italian sausage would be yummy)

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1. Combine water and soup base in saucepan. Whisk and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir until thickened (about 5 minutes). Pour into slow cooker.

2. Add the tomatoes, chiles, sausage and cheddar into the slow cooker. Stir until combined. The cheese will get all melty.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for about an hour then turn to WARM. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers or bread.

Review:

I wanted to make this Velveeta dip but I didn't have any Velveeta on hand. I pulled out my Shirley J White Cheddar Soup Base and created this recipe that tastes similar to the Velveeta dip. It tasted less processed to me and was a delicious addition to our Christmas Eve appetizer dinner. 4 stars.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Kitchen Tip Tuesday: Freezing Celery

Like onions, if you have extra celery that you're not going to use, you can freeze it. I just diced mine up and stuck it in a freezer ziploc bag. It comes in handy for the soup recipes...just measure out 1 cup and you're ready to go. I find this is a helpful tip for me since I buy the whole thing of celery and then the recipe calls for only one stalk. You would only use the frozen celery in recipes that cook the celery...you wouldn't eat it raw (too mushy and weird).

Sunday, January 8, 2012

My Big Announcement!!!

I let my fans on facebook know that I was making a big announcement today on my blog. I asked if there were any guesses as to what it might be. I got a few responses that I got a chuckle out of...
"Pregnant?"
"They are letting you design the next crockpot."
"‎1,000 days of slow cooking?"
"A tv show with Guy Fieri???"
"This year will be 366 days of slow cooking. It's a leap year."
"Your own smart phone app!"
"You received 14 more slow cookers"
"Cookbook release?"

Well, I can tell you that I will NOT be doing 1,000 days of slow cooking or even 366 for that matter. I WILL however continue to update my blog 2-3 times a week with new recipes.

I can also tell you that I am NOT pregnant.

I wish I had a smart phone app. That would be sweet. I am not that tech savvy though...and my budget is too limited to hire someone to create one for me.

BUT...there will be a NEW and IMPROVED cookbook that will be released in March!!! I was lucky enough to be approached this year by a publishing company and we have worked this last year to get this ready. It is going to be awesome. It is full color with beautiful pictures. It is about 265 pages long and contains 365 different slow cooker recipes (some from my first year of cooking and plenty from the 2 years since I finished). This will be your go-to guide for dinner ideas, party ideas, and more. Here is the cover...isn't it beautiful? Sometimes I just look at it and get all giddy.

I truly am so blessed and honored to have this happening to me. It has occupied my thoughts day and night and even my dreams at times. There will be a chance for you to pre-order your own copy and as soon as I get those details I will share them with you.

Because this new book is coming out I have stopped selling my first book. Because it was self-published I had to also self-fund it and self-distribute it and self-market it :) I am happy to be able to focus on creating new, wonderful recipes instead of focusing on these tasks.

Thanks so much for reading this blog. Thanks for sharing it with your friends. I so appreciate all the support and love I feel from you.

Click here to comment

Friday, January 6, 2012

Recipe Highlight From Archives Past: No Peek Stew

Today I'm highlighting a perfect winter comfort food. Stew. This is a hearty, chunky and thick stew. Easy and delicious.

It's actually been unseasonably warm here. We've gone to the park and got out the scooters. However, I'm not counting on it staying like this...so I'm sure I'll be pulling this recipe out in the next bit.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Create-A-Crock

Have you seen the new Create-A-Crock by Crock-Pot? They are awesome.

Basically you choose a cute design below...

Then you pick some pictures that you want on your Crock-Pot.

I chose some pictures of my family.

Then you order your Crock-Pot and it magically appears on your doorstep a couple of weeks later.

It's fun to be able to personalize something that is literally on my counter ALL the time. My kids love looking at the pictures of them and ask that I rotate the Crock-Pot depending on where they are sitting so they can see the picture of themselves.

If you'd like to order your Create-A-Crock click here. They are affordable and adorable!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Cuts of Meat Index

I've finally finished something that I've been wanting to do for a long time. A meat index. All the slow cooker recipes that use a cut of meat are listed below. Simply scroll down to the cut of meat that you have in your freezer and want to use up and find all the recipes that you can make with that certain cut of meat. I hope this helps!!!