Crock Pot

So a few years ago, any talk of crock pots actually kind of sent shivers down my spine - "what a heartless way to produce a meal".  It just seemed like a short cut to the type of meal that wasn't welcome in any dedicated foodie's home and I wanted NO part of it.  Well, friends and countrymen, here is example #198709867a that people really can change!  Not only am I married with a kid, living in the burbs and eyeballing an SUV, but I, good people, am now a huge fan of the crock pot.

I received not one, but TWO crock pots for Christmas, and decided that it was time to give this thing a shot.  Now that I'm going to be a working-outside-the-house mother, it could become a very handy tool for feeding my family!  Over the last month, I've tried several recipes and even made up a delicious brisket for Patrick's birthday party that ended up being a huge hit.  Who knew?   I know that I have some crock pot loving friends who read this blog, so I thought I'd post some new recipes that I've tried and were successful for me.  Let me know if you try these and enjoy them!

Recipe 1: Barbecue Chicken

Ingredients:

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 1/2 cups tomato ketchup

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1 teaspoon ground red hot pepper flakes, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine all ingredients for the sauce in the slow cooker. Add the chicken, try to coat it well with the sauce. Cook on high 3-4 hours (or low for 6-8 hours), or until chicken is fully cooked all the way through. Then shred or cut up the chicken, and replace it in the sauce in the pot; mix it all up so all the pieces are coated. Serve on rolls or alone with veggies... delish!

Recipe 2: Cola braised brisket 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup cola

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon vinegar

2 gloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon beef boullion granules

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ground

2 medium onions, chopped

1 1/2 pound beef roast or brisket piece

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons margarine or butter

Directions for meat: Mix all ingredients up to and including red pepper. Reserve 1/2 cup for sauce. Cut meat to fit crock pot. Place onions in crock pot and meat on top of onions. Pour remaining liquid over meat. Cover and cook 10-12 hours on low, 5-6 hours on high.

Directions for sauce: Combine 1/2 cup reserved liquid, ketchup and margarine in saucepan. Heat. Set aside. Shred cooked meat. Serve on buns or tortillas with sauce.

Recipe 3: Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

1.25 lbs ground turkey or beef

1 can kidney beans

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can tomato soup

2 cans diced tomatoes

2-4 gloves garlic, minced

4-6 T chili powder

splash of cayenne pepper

optional: 1 cup frozen corn

Brown meat, add it and all other ingredients to a crock pot, and simmer forever on low or maybe about 3-4 hours on high.  Bon appetit!