When my husband and I married, I hardly knew anything about cooking. My parents sure didn't teach me as we mostly went out to eat. I have been learning everything on my own these past few years. Most of what I've picked up has been by trial and error. I'm glad to say that I've progressed way past Hamburger Helper (that was pretty much all we had the first year.) I know there's so much more to learn, though.
I've recently been just glancing through different cook books at the library, and I came across one I really like. I think I'm going to have to get my hands on it. It's called Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook. All the recipes inside are for the slow cooker.
I've just been amazed by the number of things that you can cook in your slow cooker. This has sections for appetizers, breakfasts, breads, soups, main dishes including pasta and meatloafs, veggies, and desserts. It even have recipes that are on the lighter side. Let me give you one recipe that really intrigued me.
Low-Fat Apple Cake
1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
4 medium cooking apples, chopped
1/3 cup eggbeaters
2 tsp. vanilla
1. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
2. Add apples, stirring lightly to coat.
3. Combine egg beaters and vanilla. Add to appple mixture. Stir until just moistened. Spoon into lightly greased slow cooker.
4. Cover. Bake on High 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
5. Serve warm.
8 servings of 180 calories each
I am definitely going to have to explore more with my slow cooker! What are your favorite slow cooker recipes?
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Comments: 27
this looks like a fantastic recipe..........
Whole chicken
1/2 clove garlic (less or more your choice/taste)
1 table spoon curry (less or more your choice/taste)
1 tablespoon ginger (less or more your choice/taste)
16 oz chicken broth
1 chopped apple
1 onion chopped
2 chopped carrots
This all goes in the slow cooker for the day (fill remainder with water if needed)
when you come home make rice or mashed potatoes to go with it
Best served with a slotted spoon
The chicken will be falling off the bone so be careful when serving to children!
I've been baking meatballs and sauce, chili, chicken and stuffing for a long time in the stove. You don't have to stir as often. I used to use my crock pot, but that is above the counter and it takes some standing to do that.
Today I took 20+ fresh tomatoes from my garden as well as some fresh green onions, basil and rosemary. I peeled, seeded and chopped the tomatoes and put them in the bottom of the slow cooker with some extra virgin olive oil and seasonings added a little balsamic vinegar and some good red wine (cabernet sauvignon) diced up a red bell pepper and added a few cloves of garlic. I let it cook for about 5 hours and it was the most amazing marinara sauce. We added some freshly grated parmesan cheese and ate it over spaghetti. Mmmmmmm.
I added some spice mix I brougt home from Italy - but you can add Italian seasoning mix and it's yummy!
My husband just loved it - even though it had no meat! :)