OT : Crock pot cookbook ETA: LINKS & SYCA

Isabel

Does anyone have a recommendation for a slow cooker recipe book ? I am particularly interested in one with low-fat, low sugar recipes, but I can adapt most recipes. I love Cooking Light, but I have heard mixed things about their's ( which I find hard to believe almost ).

Thanks in advance !!!!

SYCA - last of my posts

13 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from

kellygirl

Veteran

I like the 365 days of crockpot cooking blog. She has a book as well. Everything I've tried there has been good, IMHO. I rarely buy cookbooks anymore--too many recipes on line that I want to try : )

I'll be watching this thread for ideas though.

http://crockpot365.blogspot.co.....rites.html

13 years ago

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

This is hands down my favorite crock pot recipe. I found it on pinterest and it's in regualar rotation now. There is brown sugar in the glaze but its spread out over a two pound pork tenderloin.

http://www.candcmarriagefactor.....-pork.html

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

My husband retired a few years ago and wanted to learn how to cook. He liked the idea of using the slow cooker since it meant that he could get everything ready ahead of time and spend the rest of day golfing or hanging out with his buddies. His hands down favourite was Judith Finlayson's The 150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes. Once he had tried most of the recipes, he went on to collect four more of her cookbooks.

As the grateful recipient of his efforts (who wouldn't love coming home after work and seeing dinner on the table!), I've got to say my guy turned into a fabulous cook. At times, I could have sworn I was eating at a fancy restaurant. The recipes were easy enough for him to follow but the flavors were outstanding. Here's the link:

http://www.judithfinlayson.com/judith_books6.html

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I have an amazing spiced pot roast recipe if you're interested! My favorite crock pot recipes actually come from a magazine style book that I picked up at the grocery store - I'll look and see what it's called. I have a giant book but honestly the recipes are repetitive and very much hit or miss.

13 years ago

Anonymous

I love to use my crockpot, and have quite a few cookbooks, but have found the best recipes online. Here's an easy one I make all the time, which friends and family say is much better than the local BBQ restaurants.

SOUTHERN-STYLE CROCKPOT BBQ RIBS

4 lbs. pork backribs
Your favorite BBQ sauce (bottled or homemade)
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 400 degress Fahrenheit. Line a big, shallow pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil. Cut ribs into serving-size portions and place on pan. Sprinkle ribs on each side with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes; turn ribs and bake another 15 minutes. Meanwhile, line a 6-quart oval crockpot with plastic slow cooker liner (available from the supermarket or from Amazon.com); spray plastic liner with Pam cooking spray. Pour some BBQ sauce on the bottom of the crockpot. Remove ribs from oven; drain off the liquid and place a few ribs in the crockpot, over the BBQ sauce. Pour a little more sauce, then add some more ribs. Keep layering this way until all the ribs are in the crockpot and coated with sauce. Cook on LOW heat setting for about 7 hours. Ribs will be very tender and yummy. Enjoy!

We like to serve these ribs with mashed potatoes, corn and baked beans.

13 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Fabulous !! thank you ladies !!

Ag, if it not too much work I would LOVE that info !

Ruth, thank you for the recipe. I am going to try it.

Gaylene, LOL, thank your husband for me. I am going to look into that book.

KellyG and Desmo, I had no idea about these sites...and I did a search. THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH.

Who knows, maybe I won't need an oven if this all goes well.

13 years ago

Patty

Veteran

My neighbors swear by this book--
http://www.companyscoming.com/.....;vpnu=MLSC

13 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

One of my favorites is "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook". It has a wide variety of recipes and not a can of cream of x to be found.

13 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Thanks Patty and Brenda ! Brenda, apparently, the one you listed is THE slow cooker book according to the people at the bookstore.

In the meantime, I found a bunch of recipes on the Cooking Lite website :

http://www.cookinglight.com/fo.....000038588/

BTW Brenda, the good new is that I have learned how to substitute ingredients....so cream doesn't scare me like it used to, LOL !

I am just so excited by all the recipes ! This really is the most wonderful site. I was asking because our stove literally caught on fire last Thursday as I was cooking. The good news, I saved the halibut with having to spray it with a fire extinguisher. So after I read all your answers I told me husband I am not replacing the oven until next Fall. This will be my version of "shop your cooking appliances" ! Hmmmmm, I will let you all know how it goes !

( It was VERY funny. There were flames shooting from the oven and I was telling the kids to get ready to run to the door with te dog......but I am thinking " Great, now what am I going to do for dinner ? )

13 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

One of my favourite crockpot cookbooks is "The Everyday Low Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook" by Kitty Broihier M.S., R.D., and Kimberly Mayone.

http://www.amazon.com/Everyday.....1569244286

These aren't going to be 'low-fat' but they will be lower-carb and I've found some really good recipes in there. Some of my favourites include Texas Chili, Beef Bourguignon, Beef & Vegetable Stew and Italian Chicken. I also learned how to make a really good cold chicken salad from this book too, as there is a section at the back of the book that has suggestions for what to do with leftovers and/or purposely 'doubling up' on recipes.

For the most part, this cookbook doesn't have you running around to specialty shops looking for odd-ball ingredients. Most recipes feature common ingredients that you're likely to already have on hand.

I know it sounds weird, but a crockpot is really handy in the hot summer months! Not everyone wants to be slaving over a hot BBQ/grill or turning the oven on, and yet, it's still really nice to have something like Chili Rubbed Shredded pork in the crockpot all day and all you have to do is throw some cole slaw or salad together at supper time. If you're not cooking for a crowd, it's wonderful to just ladle up the leftovers and freeze for another night.

It takes a bit of preparation and shopping to plan for crockpot cooking, but it's *wonderful* to not have to fuss at the end of the day and yet - you end up with an amazing home cooked meal.

By the way - I learned that you don't even really need a specific recipe to use the crockpot - you can just take any roast or piece of meat or pieces of meat - rub with some olive oil and then rub with a spice blend, sear in frying pan and then toss in crockpot and let it cook on 'low' all day. You don't need liquid, vegetables or other ingredients. For instance, you could take a roast beef (eg. ribeye roast) and coat with olive oil, and then rub Montreal steak spice all over it. Lightly brown it on all sides in a frying pan on the stove and then just stick it into the crockpot to slow cook all day on the low setting. It will taste delicious! Plunk some salad on plates, serve up the beautifully slow-cooked main course, and you're set.

13 years ago

Anonymous

It's true you don't always need a recipe. I've done baked potatoes in the crockpot, caramelized onions in the crockpot, spaghetti sauce with meatballs in the crockpot, pulled pork in the crockpot, etc. You get the idea.

Also, the crockpot is a great appliance to use to keep things warm. Whenever I serve mashed potatoes to the family (we have 7 people in our household, ranging in age from 14 to 85), I make them on top of the stove the old-fashioned way, and then drain them and transfer them to the crockpot, add the other ingredients, mash, and set on Low. If your crockpot has a Keep Warm setting, use that instead of Low. This keeps the mashed potatoes warm while we're eating so that if anyone wants to go back for seconds, which often happens, they haven't gotten cold.

13 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

Great thread. I have only a couple of recipes that I use in my crockpot and they are all from the McCormick spice packs. This is really helpful! Thanks for asking!

13 years ago

Anonymous

I'm trying this recipe tomorrow:

SLOW COOKER BEEF BRISKET

1 fresh beef brisket (3 to 4 lbs.)
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms (I may not add the mushrooms; not everyone likes them)
2 bay leaves
2 cups crushed tomatoes
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water

Cut brisket in half; place in a 5-quqrt slow cooker. Add mushrooms and bay leaves. Combine the tomatoes, onion, brown sugar, vinegar and ketchup; pour over beef. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until meat is tender.

Remove beef and keep warm. Discard bay leaves. In a lg. saucepan, combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Gradually stir in cooking liquid. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or untl thickened. Slice meat across the grain; serve with gravy.

Yield: 6-8 servings

13 years ago

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