Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Cooking with just a crockpot challenge

Like I've said so many times before, I love my crockpot! Next week I will be borrowing my mom's medium sized crockpot-and that will be my only heat source for cooking in our new house for a week (or two or three?). I am brainstorming ways I can make simple meals with very little prep with only a crockpot.

Breakfasts will be cold cereal or zucchini muffins from the freezer. Lunches will be various types of sandwiches (tuna, chicken salad, cheese or PB & J) with crackers, carrot sticks and fruit. Dinners are the tricky part. So I need your help if you have any to give! I will have little if any counter to chop things-so minimal prep is essential and my pantry full of normal staples will still be packed away for awhile. So I will be starting from scratch with my menus for the most part.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

1. Roast with potatoes and zucchini (all in the crockpot)
2. Use leftovers to make beef noodle soup (cut all up and add beef stock and noodles)
3. Make Salsa Chicken in the crockpot and use as a filling for tacos (will buy shredded cheese, sourcream and pre-cut lettuce at the store)
4. Crockpot Chili with a loaf of french bread from the store and leftover salad from the previous night
5. Crockpot Perfect baked potatoes with leftover chili, carrot sticks & ranch

That's as far as I've gotten. Any ideas for me?

6 comments:

Laura said...

Salsa chicken=yum! I have made it twice since you originally posted and it is a hit!

Sheila said...

How about spaghetti and meatballs using bottled sauce and already prepared meatballs? I'm not sure if you have a way to cook the noodles, but you can certainly just break them up and add a little water and cook them in the crock pot itself. If you are browning hamburger for your chili, maybe you have a hot plate or something available.

If you aren't already familiar with this blog, you might be able to find some ideas here: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Honestly, I have a crock pot that cooks pretty hot, and I've even cooked cornbread in it. Basically anything that can bake slowly. :) I even have a chocolate cake recipe that is yummy if you want it.

Good luck!

Rachael said...

Oh I am so glad Laura! I hope to make some fresh salsa again while still at my parents-that would be REALLY good:)

Sheila I would love your chocolate cake in the crockpot recipe! I love Crockpot 365! I was just there today looking for ideas:) Thanks!

Fernando said...

How about Chili dogs w/ leftover chili-or Sloppy Joes w/frozen peas or some kind of Veggie mixed in? You could also do Chicken Noodle soup all in the Crock Pot.! Chelsea

P.S. You new baby so cute! Shiona and I have been having fun w/ our little girls!

Sheila said...

This is from the Fix it and Forget it Cookbook. I should say that if you are used to rich desserts, you may not like this, as it's fairly low-fat. However, I don't think you guys eat a lot of rich desserts, so hopefully you will like this.

Hot Fudge Cake
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. flour
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 c. boiling water
vanilla ice cream (we skip this)

Mix together 1 c. brown sugar, flour, 3 Tbsp. cocoa, baking powder and salt.

Stir in milk, butter, and vanilla. Spread over the bottom of slow cooker.

Mix together 3/4 c. brown sugar and 1/4 c. cocoa. Sprinkle over mixture in slow coker.

Pour in boiling water. Do not stir.

Cover and cook on High 2-3 hours, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.


Have a blessed day!

Wade's World said...

I am posting a link to my blog for chicken taco soup. Everything is cooked in the crockpot and it is delicious! I hope you enjoy!

http://jeremyandamywade.blogspot.com/2008/02/works-for-me-wednesday_27.html