It only has an off-and-on button so it is a basic model    I wonder if you can get a programmable one?  It already has food in it and must be the vegetarian model.  It's fortunate that I like carrots, broccoli and zucchini.

Note though the words on the front though of  'smart home' and I suppose that says it all.  All smart homes should have a crock pot.  The switch does work and the little vegetables move up and down when the switch is on the 'on' position.

My friend has a good sense of humor and I am thankful that I have such a friend.  This is just a bit of fun and life and cooking should be fun.

It's a recipe I have had for awhile and always enjoyed it so I thought I would adapt it to the slow cooker so make it tonight and see if it becomes one your favorites too.

Oregano Chicken with Lemon

Mix the first 3 ingredients together and then coat the chicken in it.  Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the chicken legs.  Place the chicken in the slow cooker and add the lemon, onion, garlic cloves, oregano sprigs and the stock.  Cover and cook on high for 3.5 - 4 hours.

Remove the chicken to the serving plate and thicken the remainder of the contents in the slow cooker with cornflour mix.   I like to do this so I have a nice thick sauce to pour over the chicken.  I also remove the lemon, the garlic and the oregano sprigs. Finally garnish with chopped oregano leaves.

Serve with rice, polenta or pasta and vegetables.  Serves 4.

You can use a crock pot cake tin or an ordinary cake pan or even the crock pot base itself to cook the cake.  I know people who use empty coffee or soup cans.  These are good for fruit cakes and rolls.  I haven't had a bad experience yet so I am either lucky or the crock pot likes baking.

Here are 10 tips for crock pot baking:

1. Preheat the crock pot on high for 10 -1 5 minutes if you are using an ordinary pan.
2. Use several sheets of paper towel on the top of the cake pan and cover with the crock pot lid, except when using the crock pot cake pan.
3. Cook your cakes on the high setting.
4. Don't lift the lid during cooking, only at the end as you let the heat out.
5. Use a rack if you have one in the bottom of the crock pot base and if you haven't one you can use 2 or 3 egg rings as a substitute.  This helps the heat to circulate around the pan for more even cooking.
6. Grease and line the cake pan to prevent the cake from sticking.
7. Only half fill the cake pan or cut the liner at least an inch above the top of the sides.
8. Use your oval based crock pot for cakes that can be decorated as faces, clocks, footballs etc.
9. Test the cake with a skewer and if cooked let it cook a few minutes before getting turning out.
10. Use prepared cake mixes in the crock pot for an improved taste over conventional cooking.

Enjoy baking in your crock pot especially during the holidays coming up.  This will also save your oven space for other cooking.

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Here is a recipe for pumpkin soup with a twist.  The addition of garlic and some other vegetables gives it a new taste to the traditional soup.  Make it in your crock pot and serve it in pumpkin shaped bowls or make your own by hollowing out a large pumpkin or individual ones.  Brush with a little lemon juice to stop discoloring and serve immediately you fill the shells.

Pumpkin and Garlic Soup

Heat oil in a pan and add the onion and garlic and toss until clear.  Transfer to the crock pot and add the peas, stock and the pumpkin.  Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.   Add the corn and seasonings and cook for another 2 hours.  Take out at least a cup of  soup especially some of the peas and blend, then add back to thicken the soup.  Serve with crusty bread and top with some chopped parsley.

How easy is that!

The base of every great soup is a good meat or vegetable stock.  Also use the best ingredients you can for your soups, and if you can make your own stock with fresh ingredients.

Cooking soups in the crock pot brings out the flavors of the ingredients you are using.  With the slow cooking the crock pot makes soup making easy as well as there are usually only one or two steps to making a great soup.

Vegetarian soups are becoming some of my favorite crock pot recipes lately with split peas, pumpkin or potato to thicken them.  I find these soups also improve in flavor the next day.  A vegetable soup make in the crock pot is also healthy and usually low fat.

Seasoning soups is easy with ingredients such as bay leaves, cinnamon, ginger, pepper and the addition of herbs like parsley, thyme, mint and other seasonal fresh herbs.  Thicken your soup with potato, arrowroot or cornflour or take some soup out and blend, then add back for a natural thickening.  I tend to the latter a lot with vegetable soups.

To reduce fat even more from your crock pot soups allow to cool and skim off any fat from the top.  When heating soups only heat what you need and not the whole pot, and freeze in individual or family size servings if possible.  When you freeze your soups this way they are ready in the future for use instead of a fast food meal when you are busy or when you need an entree to add to a meal.

Served with crusty bread,  a bowl of steaming soup is the perfect meal and making your soup in the crock pot makes the process easy for you as well.

If you haven't picked up your free copy of  Delicious Soup Recipes from the top of this page then do so today or check out some of my recipes here -> Crock Pot Meals Recipes.

Beef Stroganoff is a great recipe for the family and is a real warming meal on a cold night and easy to make in the slow cooker as well.  You can serve it with rice but I like noodles with this dish.

Beef Stroganoff

Slice the steak into strips and coat with the flour, mustard and the salt and pepper.  Spray the bottom of the slow cooker with cooking spray and add the meat.  Layer the onion and mushroom slices on top.   Mix the tomato paste into the beef stock and add this to the pot with the wine.  Cover and cook for 4 hours on high or on low for 8 hours.

Just before serving spoon the sour cream through the stroganoff.  Serve with vegetables and noodles.  Check my other recipes by clicking the link Crock Pot Meals Recipes.

The quick answer is yes to the crock pot lid for the short term or as an emergency measure only.  If the crack doesn't go all the way across the lid then what you cold do until you receive a replacement one is to use foil to line the lid on the underside which will also give it a seal so no steam or heat can escape.  Also, if the lid does break you have protection for the food you have just cooked.

If you are moving the crock pot such as for a Pot Luck Party then I wouldn't advise  using the cracked crock pot lid at all. The chances are high that the crack will spread or break while moving and others will be using the lid so it's a safety issue.

If you have crock pot with a cracked base then again don't use it.  It's not worth being electrocuted over a meal.  Don't try and mend it either as you aren't guaranteed of a proper seal or the sealer may contaminate the food.

You can find crock pot lid replacements on manufacturers sites, that is, if they are fairly new models, and on eBay.  I think it is a matter of deciding how much you want to spend on replacing your crock pot lid, finding the correct one for your crock pot model, using another lid that fits (easier if it is a round crock pot) or replacing the whole crock pot.

If it is an old crock pot then really think twice but as I own one myself and love it I would try and replace the crock pot lid if I could.

Look for crock pot lids on the eBay auction search on the right--> or go to Crock Pots and Accessories Auction on this site.

There is a little preparation with the browning of the leek and the lamb but then its a quick and easy recipe to make in the crock pot.  I make it on Saturday and there is enough to have again and I must admit that it is a soup that takes even better the next day.  Try it and see for yourself.

Lamb Shank and Butter Bean Soup

Brown the leek and garlic in the oil until it is transparent.  Add to the bottom of the crock pot.  Brown the lamb shanks then put them on top of the leek.  Add the tomatoes, stock and herbs.  Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours.  After 1 hour add the celery and the sweet potato and stir through.  About 1/2 hour before the finish of the cooking time add the butter beans and the pepper.  Also lift out the lamb shanks and remove the meat from the bones and add back to the pot.

I hope you like this recipe and try it for yourself soon.  If you are looking for recipe ideas then why not look to Amazon.com as they have a great range.

This cake may not look it but I cooked it in a cake tin in the slow cooker.  You get a nice cake and keep the kitchen cool as well.  I hope you enjoy it.

Boiled Fruit Cake with Pineapple

Place butter, sugar, water, mixed fruit, pineapple, nutmeg and soda into a large saucepan.  Stir until boiling and allow to cool for at least 10-15 minutes.  This is an important step otherwise when you add the eggs they will cook.  Now add the beaten eggs and stir well.  Sift the flours and add them to the other ingredients in the saucepan making sure to mix thoroughly.

Spoon into a round slow cooker base or pour into a greased cake tin that fits into your slow cooker (approximately 8 in or 20cm).  I like to also line the pan if using the cake tin.  You can press extra pineapple pieces and pecans on top of the cake if you aren't icing it.

Cover with two layers of paper towel as this will absorb any extra moisture on the top of the cake.  Cook on high for 2 hours.  Let stand in crock pot for 20 minutes before turning out onto cake rack to cool completely.

I spread a small amount of pineapple jam with a brush over the cake while still hot to add a nice glaze but that is optional.  You can also ice the cake if you like.  This cake comes out nice and high and tastes even better than it looks.  Get out your slow cooker now!

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I like this crock pot recipe as it goes a long way and is good to take to pot luck parties or just when you want easy meals your family and friends they can help themselves to.  I cook this crock pot meal usually for Sunday night dinner and have it again Monday night.  It saves me cooking at least one night.

Crock Pot Minced Beef and Fettuccine

Brown the onion in a non stick pan or with a little oil, then add the beef and brown.  Add to the crock pot and add the rest of the ingredients except the fettuccine.  Cook on low for around 4 hours.  Cook the fettuccine in boiling water until cooked then add to the beef mix.   Continue cooking  for another 15 - 30 minutes.  Top with extra cheese to serve.

Crock pot meals like this one are easy to make and taste good too.  Why spend hours in your kitchen when you can let your crock pot do that for you.

Are you looking for parts for your crock pot or would you just like a newer or bigger one?  Check out the CROCK POTS & PARTS AUCTION.