The Best Crockpot Recipes

CROCKPOT CABBAGE CHILI SOUP

2011-03-09T08:40:00.001-06:00

Delicious cabbage chili soup! Okay, this may not sound like these two things go together but trust me, they do! The taste is really awesome!

One thing I really liked about this recipe is that it was ridiculously easy ~ something that I love! Simply throw it all in your crockpot, set it and forget it!

In order to make this recipe even EASIER you can buy pre-chopped onions in your freezer section. God knows I hate chopping onions ~ this is why I got married :)

So...without further adieu...

Cabbage Chili Soup
Total Cooktime: 6-8 hours

What you will need:

3 cups coarsely chopped cabbage

1 cup chopped onions
3 cups Healthy Choice tomato juice (or any reduced-sodium)
1 (10-1/2 oz) can Healthy Request Tomato Soup
10 oz kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 tsp chili seasoning mix

Simply combine all the ingredients in your crockpot and mix well to combine. Pop on the lid and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours and POOF...a soup that is perfect for dieters, diabetics and heart healthy diets! It's also perfect for lent because this is a 100% meat free meal.

Let me know what YOU think of this recpie!

Best Crockpot Recipes - CROCKPOT CAFE CHICKEN

2010-09-01T08:40:00.001-05:00

Crockpot cafe chicken sounds absolutely yummy and looks so simple to make! Chicken crockpot recipes are always a huge hit in our house.

Chicken is also probably the most economical meat you can feed your family! Typically our local grocery store sells whole cut up fryers for just over 49 cents a pound. Great when you are cooking on a budget.

To make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through you may want to finish the chicken in a 350 degree oven for about 30-45 minutes until the skin crisps up. Or, if you are being health-conscious, you may just want to remove the skin before serving.

Crockpot Café Chicken
Total Cooktime: 6-8 hours

What you will need:

4 lbs cut up chicken
1 onion chopped
2 (or more) cloves of garlic, chopped (not pressed)
1 green pepper chopped
1 medium ripe tomato, peeled & chopped (I omitted, didn't have)
1 cup dry white wine
Pinch of Cayenne pepper

This recipe couldn’t be easier! Simply combine all ingredients in your crockpot, cover and set on low for 6-8 hours. That’s it! This recipe is perfect when served with fresh crusty French bread and makes a great fall dish!

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Asparagus Casserole

2010-04-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

Asparagus Casserole
Total Cooktime: 4-6 hours

What you will need:

2 cans sliced asparagus, (10 oz each)
1 can cream of celery soup, (10 oz)
2 hard cooked eggs, thinly sliced
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup coarsely crushed saltines or Ritz crackers
1 teaspoon butter

Place drained asparagus in lightly buttered slow cooker/Crock Pot or slow cooker/Crock Pot baking
insert. Combine soup and cheese. Top asparagus with sliced eggs, soup mixture, then the cracker
crumbs. Dot with butter. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Creamy Spinach Dip

2010-03-31T05:00:00.001-05:00

This is one of those great party recipes that will have your crowd raving! Perfect to serve in a bread bowl or serve with cut up veggies or even crackers!

Creamy Spinach Dip
Total Cooktime: 1 1/2 hours

What you will need:

* 8 ounces Cream cheese, cubed
* 5 ounces Frozen chopped spinach
* 2 tablespoons Pimento, diced
* 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1/4 teaspoon Garlic salt
* 1/4 cup Whipping cream
* 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
* 2 teaspoons Onion, finely chopped
* 1/2 teaspoon Thyme

Combine cream cheese and cream in Crock Pot. Cover and heat until cheese is melted,
30 to 60 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and heat 30 minutes.

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Beef Taco Bean Soup

2010-03-29T05:41:00.000-05:00

Crockpot Beef Taco Bean Soup
Total Cooktime: 6 hours

What you will need:

2 lbs. rump roast
1 pk taco seasoning
1 can Mexican style diced tomatoes (15 oz.)
1 small can green chiles
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)
1 onion - chopped
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 cans red kidney beans, (15 oz. each), rinsed, drained
Shredded cheddar cheese

Cut roast into bite sized chunks. Roll in taco seasoning and add to crock pot. Then
add the tomatoes, chiles, tomato sauce, onion, and bouillon cubes. Cover and cook
on LOW 6 hours or until meat is tender.

Add the drained beans and cook until the beans are heated through; around 30
minutes. Serve topped with cheese, and/or the toppings that you like.

Make this fun by serving with tortilla chips for dipping!

Barbecue Steak

2010-03-22T05:00:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for a yummy new way to serve steak - you gotta try this! You can serve this over noodles or rice or even turn them in the some of the most tasty sandwiches you've ever tasted!

Barbecue Steak
Total Cooktime: 3-5 hours

What you will need:

1 1/2 lb boneless chuck steak, 1 1/2" thick
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/4 cup wine vinegar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp paprika
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup catsup (ketchup)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry or prepared mustard
1/4 tsp black pepper

Cut the beef on a diagonal, across the grain into slices 1" wide. Place these in
the crockpot. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour over the
meat, and mix.

Cover and cook on Low for 3 to 5 hours.

Bacon Cheese Dip

2010-03-19T05:00:00.012-05:00

This tasty bacon cheese dip can be the hit of your next party! Simply make and serve in your crockpot for a dip that your guests will flip over!

If your crockpot is big like mine you can serve in a heated little french onion soup bowl and just keep heating up your dip in the microwave.

Bacon Cheese Dip
Total Cooktime: 1 hour

What you will need:

* 16 slices bacon, diced, fried and drained
* 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened and cubed
* 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
* 1 cup half-and-half
* 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
* 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
* 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* dash hot sauce

Put all ingredients in the Crock Pot and cook on low, stirring occasionally until cheese melts, about 1 hour. Taste and adjust seasonings, add bacon, and keep on low to serve. Serve with cubed or sliced French bread.

Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding

2010-03-18T06:23:00.000-05:00

This cinnamon apple bread pudding is to DIE for! So rich and yummy - it will have your family asking for seconds (or even thirds!).

Here's a tip: If you dread peeling, coring and slicing apples like I used to you may be interested in an Hand Crank Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer . This brilliant kitchen tool has saved me countless hours peeling apples by hand!

Cinnamon Apple Bread PuddingTotal Cooktime: 2 1/2 hours

What you will need:

* 2 tablespoons butter
* 2 apples, cored peeled, and chopped
* 3/4 cup brown sugar, divided
* 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
* 2 large eggs
* 12 oz can evaporated milk
* 3/4 cup apple juice
* 2 1/2 cups French bread torn in 1/2 to 1- inch pieces

Melt butter in bottom of a 1 1/2 to 2- quart casserole or souffle dish which will fit in the slow cooker/Crock Pot. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add apples. Whisk eggs, milk, and apple juice together; mix in remainder of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the bread pieces.

Place a trivet or aluminum foil ring in the slow cooker/Crock Pot. Pour 3/4 cup hot water into the the slow cooker/Crock Pot. Place the casserole dish on the ring in the slow cooker/Crock Pot. Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 hours, until knife inserted comes out clean. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream.

Crockpot Apple and Brown Sugar Corned Beef

2010-03-17T05:00:00.022-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Every year on St. Patrick's Day my mother, Rosemary Francis (Can't get much more Irish than that, huh?) used to prepare one heck of a corned beef and cabbage recipe! I can remember the scent of the spices filling the house as we all waited for dinner with our mouths watering.

In memory of my favorite Wild Irish Rose...here is today's recipe!

Crockpot Apple and Brown Sugar Corned Beef
Total Cooktime: 4-5 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low

What you will need:

1 corned beef brisket
1 quart apple juice
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp prepared mustard
8 small red potatoes
2 medium carrots, pared and cut into chunks
1 onion, peeled and cut into eights
1/2 head cabbage, cut into chunks

Place all ingredients in large crock pot (cut meat in half if necessary). Stir to mix. Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low. Remove meat and vegetables and some of the cooking liquid. Slice meat thinly across the grain.

Serve with the vegetables and some of the liquid.

What is the the best thing about having corned beef? Having the leftovers the next day! Just layer a crockpot with sauerkraut and swiss cheese. Warm it up and serve it on rye bread with 1000 Island dressing!

Enjoy!

Crockpot Artichokes

2010-03-16T05:00:00.024-05:00

Okay, before I get to the recipe..It's time for an Artichoke joke :)

A hitman named Artie walked into a Dominick's grocery-store and took out 3 rival mob members. After he was apprehended someone asked him why he did it. He said he was paid a dollar to rub these three people out.

What do you think the newspaper read the next day?

Artichokes 3 for a dollar at Dominick's!

Corny yes? Funny, no, unless you grew up in my house :)

On to this weeks' recipe!

Crockpot Artie Chokes :)

Total Cooktime: 4-5 hours

What you will need:

5 artichokes, remove stalks and tough leaves
1 1/2 ts salt
8 peppercorns
2 stalks celery, cut up
1/2 lemon, sliced
2 c boiling water

Nothing difficult here...combine all the ingredients and cook on High 4 - 5 hours.

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Tasty Crockpot Beef Tips

2010-03-15T05:00:00.024-05:00

If you are looking for a great dinner that is tasty and extravagant then try these Crockpot Beef Tips! Similar to Beef Stroganoff, you serve this over egg noodles.

This is a LONG cooker so before you go to work in the morning, set it and forget it :) Kids may not like this one - so you may want to save this for just the grownups.

Crockpot Beef Tips

Total Cooktime: 7-12 hours

What you will need:

CROCKPOT BEEF TIPS
1/2 c Flour
1 ts Salt
1/8 ts Pepper
4 lb Beef or sirloin tips
1/2 c Chopped green onions
2 c Sliced mushrooms (4 oz. can, drained) OR
1/2 lb Mushrooms, sliced
1 cn Condensed beef broth, (10 1/2 oz.)
1 ts Worcestershire sauce
2 ts Tomato paste or ketchup
1/4 c Dry red wine or water
3 tb Flour
1 Buttered noodles

Combine 1/2 cup flour with the salt and pepper and toss with beef cubes to coat thoroughly. Place in crock-pot. Add green onions and drained mushrooms. Combine with beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste or ketchup. Pour over beef and vegetables; stir well. Cover and cook on LOW setting for 7 to 12 hours. One hour before serving, turn to HIGH setting. Make a smooth paste of red wine and 3 tablespoons flour; stir into crock-pot, mixing well.

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Homemade Creamy Corn

2010-03-13T05:00:00.001-06:00

This homemade creamy corn recipe makes the ideal side dish. Not only is it tasty but it is fast too! What I really liked about this recipe (besides the taste) was the fact that it is one of the fastest crockpot recipes I've ever come across. 1 Hour from start to finish.

This will leave you plenty of time to cook your main dish and serve everything to your table piping hot!

Homemade Creamy Corn

Total Cooktime: 1 hour

What you will need:

2 cups corn
2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt

Ready for the easiest recipe ever? Mix corn, sugar, eggs, flour, butter, milk and salt; place in slow cooker. Cook on high for one hour. That's it! 1 hour to your own homemade cream corn.

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Glazed Apple Pork Roast

2010-03-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

When I think of a glazed apple pork roast it reminds me of dinners at home when I was a little girl.

My father loved pork roast and dumplings. The smells that waft from this recipe are intoxicating!

You will have your family asking you "When is dinner?" every 5 minutes like mine did!

Glazed Apple Pork Roast

Total Cooktime: 10-12 hours

What you will need:

4 lb. pork loin roast
6 apples
1/4 cup apple juice
3 T. brown sugar
1 t. ginger, ground

Rub roast with salt and pepper. Brown pork roast under broiler to remove excess
fat; drain well.

Core and quarter apples. Place apple quarters in bottom of crockpot. Place roast on
top of apples. Combine apple juice, brown sugar, and ginger. Spoon over top surface
of roast, moistening well.

Cover and cook on Low for 10-12 hours, until done.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes - Beef Stroganoff I

2010-03-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

This great beef stroganoff recipe reminds me so much of the one that my mother used to make. When I first made this recipe I couldn't believe how close it was taste wise to hers. I know that she probably added some other ingredients (like caraway seeds) that made her stroganoff so memorable to me

Enjoy!

Beef Stroganoff I

Total Cooktime: 9 hours

What you will need:

2 lbs top round steak, sliced thin across the grain
1 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
1/4 tsp thyme
3/4 cup dry sherry
3/4 cup beef broth (Swansons)
3/4 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp garlic salt

Put all this in the crockpot, stir well and cook on low for 8 hours. Turn heat to
high and mix 1-1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup Wondra flour, cake flour works too, heat
on high for 40 minutes.

Serve over rice or noodles.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Broccoli Soup

2010-03-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

If you love broccoli you will love this cheesy version of broccoli soup!

This time of year with Spring just around the corner it is the perfect time for a large batch of homemade soup. This recipe is fully of cheesy goodness and really can warm up even the chilliest of nights. You can use frozen broccoli or feel free to use fresh broccoli too.

This one is not a good freezer so make only as much as you need.

Broccoli Soup

Total Cooktime: 2 hours

What you will need:

4 c. water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1/4 c. chopped onion
2 c. diced potatoes
1 bag frozen, chopped broccoli
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2-1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed

Mix water, bouillon cubes, onions, potatoes and broccoli in a crock pot. Cook on
high until broccoli is thawed. Add cream of chicken soup and cheese, to taste, to
mixture. Turn crock pot on low and cook for 2 hours.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Cajun Sausage and Rice

2010-03-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

If you love Cajun cookin' you will love this Cajun Sausage and Rice recipe!

My husband's Nana was from Louisiana. For years I've heard all about her gumbos and stews and that real Creole cookin' she used to do. Unfortunatly, we lost Nana last year but the wonderful memories of meals around her kitchen table still live on in the hearts of my husband and his father.

So, when I found this recipe I knew I needed to write it down. We haven't tried it yet - but it sure looks good!

Cajun Sausage and Rice

Total Cooktime: 8 1/2 hours
Makes 5 servings

What you will need:

8oz Kielbasa sausage, cut in 1/4" slices
1 (14 1/2oz) can diced Tomatoes with liquid
1 medium Onion, diced
1 medium Green Pepper, diced
2 Celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 TBSP Chicken bouillon granules
1 TBSP Steak sauce
3 Bay leaves or 1 tsp dried Thyme
1 TSP sugar
1/4 to 1/2 TSP Hot Pepper sauce
1 cup uncooked instant Rice
1/2 cup chopped Parsley (optional)

Combine sausage, tomatoes, onion, green pepper, celery bouillon, steak sauce, bay leaves, sugar and hot pepper sauce in crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.

Remove bay leaves; stir in rice and 1/2 cup of water. Cook an additional 25 minutes. Stir in parsley if desired.

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Aztec Black Beans

2010-03-08T05:00:00.001-06:00

This crockpot black bean recipe sounds absolutely yummy! I've never heard of turtle beans before but I'm going to head to our local Trader Joes and look for them. If you've ever tried them - I'd love to hear what your thoughts are! I also like that there are only 2 ingredients to this dish which makes it a good one for us budget conscious moms.

You will need to soak the beans overnight so keep this in mind when you plan to make this recipe. This is also a long cooker (8-10 hours) so I'd start cooking this before you head out to work in the morning and by the time you get home you will have a delicious batch of black beans! Wow...that's a LOT of B's!

This would be the perfect side dish to go with your taco or burrito night!

Aztec Black Beans
Total Cooktime: 8-10 hours

What you will need:

1 lb. dried black beans (or turtle beans)
16 oz. jar of salsa (your favorite kind)

Rinse your beans to remove any stones or foreign objects. Put the beans into a shallow bowl and cover with water. Soak the beans overnight.

In the morning drain the beans and place into your crockpot with the salsa. Add just enough water to cover the beans. Cover and cook for 8-10 hours on low.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Apple Date Pudding

2010-03-07T07:57:00.000-06:00

This Apple Date Pudding recipe is the perfect finish to any meal!

Apple Date Pudding

Total Cooktime: 3-4 hours

What you will need:

* 4-5 apples, peeled, cored and diced
* 3/4 cup sugar, or less, to taste
* 1/2 cup chopped dates
* 1/2 cup toasted, chopped pecans
* 2 tbs. flour
* 1 tsp. baking powder
* 1/8 tsp. salt
* 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
* 2 tbs. melted butter
* 1 egg, beaten

Here's a tip: If you dread peeling, coring and slicing apples like I used to you may be interested in an Hand Crank Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer . This brilliant kitchen tool has saved me countless hours peeling apples by hand!

In the slow cooker, place apples, sugar, dates and pecans; stir. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg and stir into apple mixture. Drizzle melted butter over batter and stir. Stir in egg. Set cooker on low and cook for 3 to 4 hours. Serve warm.

If your family prefers crispier nuts, add toasted pecans instead at the end of the cooking period. You can serve this with ice cream or whipped cream.

Diabeticly Friendly Version: If you want to make this recipe a little more diabetically friendly you could substitute the following:

Choose Splenda over sugar
Choose Egg Beaters over a whole egg
Choose margarine instead of butter

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Apple Cranberry Crisp

2010-03-06T11:40:00.000-06:00

This apple cranberry crisp is a tasty fall treat for any family! I am normally just a straight apple crisp girl but this recipe really opened my eyes to how wonderful apples and cranberries go together. Plus the antioxidant qualities of the cranberries can't be beat!

This recipe is another one where you will be using your crockpot as a dutch oven which I love because it allows me to cook without having to heat up the house.

This is not the most diet-friendly desert due to all the sugar and fat, but with a few alterations you can make this a more diabetically friendly and easier on your waistline.

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Total Cooktime: 2 hours
Serves: 4

What you will need:

* 3 apples (Any kind - I personally like MacIntosh or Cortland)
* 1 cup cranberries
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 1/3 cup rolled oats (quick cooking)
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* 1/3 cup butter, softened

Here's a tip: If you dread peeling, coring and slicing apples like I used to you may be interested in an Hand Crank Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer . This brilliant kitchen tool has saved me countless hours peeling apples by hand!

Peel core and slice your apples and place them along with the cranberries in your crockpot. In a seperate bowl, mix your remaining ingredients and then sprinkle this mixture over the top of your apples and cranberries.

Place 4-5 paper towels over the top of your crock pot and use an object like a wooden spoon across the top to prop open the lid. This allows you to keep the heat in and still let the steam escape. Crank your crockpot up to high for about 2 hours.

Family Verdict: We really liked how good this tasted! I have experimented a little and added some walnuts for some extra crunch. This would be good for a free-day treat!

Diabeticly Friendly Version: If you want to make this recipe a little more diabetically friendly you could substitute Splenda Brown Sugar for the 1 cup of sugar in the recipe and use a margarine instead of butter. You could also use steel cut oats to make this a little more healthy.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Thanksgiving Apple Cranberry Compote

2010-03-02T05:00:00.000-06:00

This tasty apple cranberry desert is the perfect finish to your Thanksgiving dinner or any fall dinner! Such a simple recipe that your whole family will love.

If you have never heard of a compote before, let me give you a little history. A compote is a desert originating form 17th century England which is made of fruit in a sugar syrup. The compote can be served alone (like we are doing) or is the base of many other recipes including apple tarts.

What is unique about our compote is that we are using cranberries to give it a flavorful fall taste.

Thanksgiving Apple Cranberry Compote

Total Cooktime: 5-6 hours

What you will need:

6 cooking apples, peeled, slice
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1/2 cups water
1/4 cups port wine
Sour cream (optional topping)
Whipped cream (optional topping)
Vanilla ice cream (optional topping)

Here's a tip: If you dread peeling, coring and slicing apples like I used to you may be interested in an Hand Crank Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer . This brilliant kitchen tool has saved me countless hours peeling apples by hand!

In your crockpot combine the apple slices and cranberries. Sprinkle the sugar over this mixture. Then add the orange peel, water and wine stiring to mix.

Cover your crockpot and cook the apple cranberry mixture for 5-6 hours on low or just until the apples are tender and the cranberries are no longer firm.

Serve warm in individual bowls. The traditional way to top a compote is with sour cream but you can also use whipped cream or even ice cream.

Family Verdict: This tasted really good. I have tried some new things such as adding walnuts to give it a little crunch. Something to think about...the determining factor should really be the cranberries. About 4 hours in you should check to see if the cranberries' softness is to your liking.

Diabeticly Friendly Version: If you want to make this recipe a little more diabetically friendly you could substitute Splenda sugar for the 1 cup of sugar in the recipe.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Homemade Apple Cranberry Crisp

2010-03-01T05:00:00.001-06:00

This homemade apple cranberry crisp recipe is sure to please! Fast and easy, my two favorite types of deserts!

If you like the taste of fall cranberries you will love this apple cranberry crisp recipe! The tart cranberries really help to give this crisp a truly unique flavor.

Homemade Apple Cranberry Crisp
Total Cooktime: 2 hours
Serves: 4

What you will need:

3 apples (Any kind - I personally like Granny Smith or MacIntosh)
1 cup cranberries
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup rolled oats (quick cooking)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened

Here's a tip: If you dread peeling, coring and slicing apples like I used to you may be interested in an Hand Crank Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer . This brilliant kitchen tool has saved me countless hours peeling apples by hand!

Peel, core and slice your apples. Place the apple slices and cranberries in your crockpot. Mix the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl and sprinkle over the top of your apples and cranberries.

Place 5 paper towels over the top of your crockpot. Place an object (I personally use a wooden spoon) across the top of your crockpot and then set the lid on the top. This will allow for steam to escape while keeping in as much heat as possible.

Turn your crockpot on high and cook for 2 hours or until cranberries are no longer firm.

Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping.

Diabeticly Friendly Version: If you want to make this recipe a little more diabetically friendly you could:

Substitute Splenda brown sugar for the regular brown sugar
Use a cholesterol-friendly margarine instead of butter

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Apple Coconut Crisp Delight

2010-02-28T08:52:00.002-06:00

This yummy apple coconut crisp delight is just that...a delight! This is a simple crockpot recipe which does not take much time to make which is perfect for us busy moms!

This recipe is also another opportunity for you to use your crockpot as a baking oven instead of heating up your entire house by turning on your stove. Perfect for summertime or anytime you want a yummy desert!

Apple Coconut Crisp Delight

Total Cooktime: 2 1/2-3 hours

What you will need:

4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled & coarsely sliced (about 4 cups)
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 tablespoon flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butterscotch or caramel ice cream topping (fat-free is fine)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup quick rolled oats
2 tablespoons butter or margarine

Here's a tip: If you dread peeling, coring and slicing apples like I used to you may be interested in an Hand Crank Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer . This brilliant kitchen tool has saved me countless hours peeling apples by hand!

In a 1 1/2-quart baking casserole dish (or one that fits in your crockpot), combine apples, coconut, 1 tablespoon flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar and cinnamon. Drizzle your favorite ice cream topping over the top of the mixture.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl with a fork or pastry cutter until crumbly and sprinkle over the top of your apple mixture. Cover your crockpot and cook on high for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours or just until your apples are tender.

Serve warm with vanilia ice cream or whipped topping.

Family Verdict: We really liked this recipe! We have tried some new things such as adding raisins and walnuts which we all really love. Something to think about...if you like your apples a little firmer, start checking on your apple coconut crisp closer to 2 1/2 hours into the cooking process otherwise your apples could turn out to be too mushy.

Diabeticly Friendly Version: If you want to make this recipe a little more diabetically friendly you could do the following:

Consider leaving out the coconut all-together
Substitute Splenda brown sugar for regular brown sugar
Use a fat free / sugar free ice cream topping
Substitute a cholesterol friendly margarine for the butter

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes - Crockpot Chicken Wings

2010-02-28T06:00:00.002-06:00

This is a tasty crockpot chicken wings recipe that I used just this past January at our Superbowl party.They were absolutely a hit with our friends this year! You can use either chicken wings and legs or boneless wings. We chose the boneless route because there was less cleanup and personally I think you get more meat this way.

These crockpot chicken wings take all day to cook so they soak in all that sweet/sour flavor that make them so good! Not only that but it makes the chicken extremely tender and juicy.

Superbowl Crockpot Chicken Wings

Total Cooktime: 7-8 hours

What you will need:

12-18 chicken wings
1/3 c soy sauce
1 tsp. ginger
2 garlic cloves minced
2 green onions minced
1 TBS honey
2 tsp. oil

Easy instructions for this crockpot recipe! Just combine all the ingredients in your crockpot, cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Make sure you stir your wings every now and then to make sure each piece is completely covered in sauce.

We ended up tripling our batch and I'm glad I did! These were a hit at our Superbowl party and these were the first thing to go. I found using boneless chicken wings worked well with this recipe. It also prevented me from having to clean up the bones that are usually left over.

Make sure you have some wet-naps around as your guests hands will get a little sticky. A good suggestion would be to serve these with toothpicks for less mess.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Zucchini Bread Recipe

2010-02-27T17:47:00.000-06:00

This is a fabulous zucchini bread recipe that you bake in your crockpot!

What? Wait a minute...this is a crockpot blog...what is this about baking? You eyes didn't play tricks on you...you can use your crockpot as an oven to bake things without having to heat up the entire kitchen. This is great news for us summer bakers who don't want to heat up the house by turning on the oven.

This crockpot zucchini bread recipe is not only convenient but tasty too!

Best Zucchini Bread Recipe

Total Cooktime: 3 1/2 - 4 hours

What you will need:

2 eggs
2/3 c. vegetable oil
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/3 c. zucchini, peeled and grated
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 to 1 c. chopped nuts

Use a grater and grate your zucchini. You can also use a food processor to do this if you have one available. I use a Microplane 34006 4-Sided Box Grater. I got this for Chirstmas last year and it really makes grating zucchini and cheeses easy.

Put aside. Grease and flour a 2 quart metal baking pan. You can substitute a 2 pound coffee can if you don't have one that will fit inside your crockpot.

Using a mixer beat your eggs until they are foamy and light. Add oil, sugar, grated zucchini and vanilla to the eggs and mix well. In a separate bowl mix all the dry ingrediants including the nuts. Add the dry ingrediants to your egg mixture a little at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix on medium for 2-3 minutes until fully incorporated. Pour into your baking pan.

Place the zucchini bread recipe into your crockpot. Take 8 paper towels and cover the top of your pan. Cover your crockpot and bake on high for approximately 3 1/2 to 4 hours. To determine if your bread is ready, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean your zucchini bread is done. Let stand for 5 minutes before turning out onto a baking rack for cooling.

Serve warm or at room temperature. Wrap and keep in the fridge or freezer.

One important thing I will tell you is that you DO NOT want to check or remove the crockpot cover until the last 1/2 hour of cooking. Doing so too early will cause your zucchini bread to fall and you will end up with a mushy mess. I learned this one the hard way.

Make it Healthy: In order to make this healthier you may want to substitute egg beaters for the eggs, splenda baking sugar substitute for the sugar and applesauce for the oil. These suggestions also work well to make this zucchini bread recipe diabetically friendly.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!

Best Crockpot Recipes ~ Zucchini Casserole

2010-02-26T06:04:00.000-06:00

If you are a veggie lover then this crockpot zucchini casserole is for you!

My sister was born with a green thumb. Every year she grows the most amazing zucchini and tomatoes in her backyard and I get the benefits of her hard work (thanks Lin!). Freshly picked zucchini and tomatoes in this crockpot recipe are divine!

If you have a brown thumb (like me) you can get these fresh from your supermarket or from fresh vegetable growers who sell to the general public.

This would be be good at any time of year but especially during the summer months when vegetables are fresh.

Zucchini Casserole Crock Pot Recipe

Total Cooktime: 4 1/2 hours
Serves: 6

What you will need:

1 red onion, sliced
1 green pepper, cut in thin strips
4 med. zucchini, sliced & unpeeled
1 (16 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. basil
1 tbsp. butter
1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Combine all of the ingredients into your crockpot or slow cooker except the butter and cheese. Set your crockpot temperature to low and cook for approximately 3 hours covered. After 3 hours is up dot the casserole with the butter and sprinkle the freshly grated parmesan cheese over the top and cook covered for an additional 1 1/2 hours on low.

This zucchini casserole recipe can be eaten alone or try serving it over spaghetti noodles for a complete meal. I would also save some extra parmesan cheese to sprinkle over the top just before serving. Also, some people are not crazy about eating unpeeled zucchini. Then go ahead and peel your zucchini before you slice it. It won't harm the recipe.

Make it Healthy: To make this recipe more healthy you can use fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones for a really amazingly fresh taste. You can also substitute margarine for the butter. As for the parmesan cheese, you can cut this down (or out for that matter) if you wish but it really helps pull everything together.

I would love to hear your experiences with this recipe including anything you have done to alter it to suit your family's tastes!

Enjoy!