I'm getting out the Crock Pot

Hello! This is not a whole meal but I love making baked potatoes (sweet & white ) in my crock pot. Great reheated also!
Jean

My absolute favorite go-to recipe is salsa chicken! Just throw a few chicken breasts in there, cover them with a jar of salsa (my favorite thus far has been the Newman's Own tequila lime), then cook on high for 4 hours. Shred it, mix in whatever you want (I always do corn and occasionally also black beans). You can eat it by itself (which is what I do, with some sliced avocado, sour cream / greek yogurt and sometimes green onions on top), dip tortillas in it, or throw it in a wrap. Super easy.

I love black beans in the crock pot. I use a whole two cup bag, soak them overnight, pour that water out, rinse them thoroughly, cut up some garlic, and put beans, garlic, and enough water to cover them by a couple inches (5 cups or so) in the crock pot, then cook on low for 6 or 7 hours (until beans are tender) then I add salt maybe let them sit and warm awhile.

So good, but it's true if you're the only one eating them they make enough per dried bean bag to be having beans for days and days.

I always forget about the crockpot! Need to get mine out too!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Steel cut oatmeal: Before going to bed, place a heat proof bowl directly into the crock pot and place a water bath about halfway up the bowl around it. In the bowl mix your oats and liquid, if you want, add some chopped walnuts, cinnamon, raisins, whatever you like. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours.

Chicken & lentils: Two chicken breasts, two chopped tomatoes, two chopped carrots, two chopped celery stalks, two ounces fresh spinach, two cloves garlic, one small chopped onion, 1/2 cup red lentils, 1/2 tsp salt, pepper, 6 cups water. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Roasted chicken: Put 3 sheets of foil (balled up) in the bottom of the crockpot, put a whole chicken on top of the balls of foil (season the chicken with whatever seasoning you like), cook on low 6-8 hours depending on the size of the chicken, comes out browned and moist.

Applesauce: 10 peeled and diced apples, 2 cups water, cinnamon. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Beans: Cover rinsed and pre-soaked beans with at least 3 inches of liquid (water, stock). Season as you like. Cook on low for about 8 hours.

My absolute favorite go-to recipe is salsa chicken! Just throw a few chicken breasts in there, cover them with a jar of salsa (my favorite thus far has been the Newman's Own tequila lime), then cook on high for 4 hours. Shred it, mix in whatever you want (I always do corn and occasionally also black beans). You can eat it by itself (which is what I do, with some sliced avocado, sour cream / greek yogurt and sometimes green onions on top), dip tortillas in it, or throw it in a wrap. Super easy.

I also add a packet of taco seasoning in there - we call it "Yummy Taco Chicken".

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/02/crock-pot-santa-fe-chicken-425-pts.html

Crock pot Sante Fe Chicken - just made it last night. Delicious and SUPER easy!

Check out skinnytaste.com. They have lots of good recipes and she also has all nutitional information listed as well! Good luck!

I used to use my crockpot regularly. Now, not so much unless I make chili. (which I haven't made in a while)

Ditto. Here's my recipe:

1) Cook a whole small chicken in the crockpot overnight. Once it's cooked, pull out all the bones and keep all the rest of the solid parts.
2) Put all that stuff back into the crockpot, along with some cut up beef chuck, pork (whatever is cheap), and some black beans.
3) Add a can of diced tomatoes and a small can of tomato paste.
4) Add a chopped onion, and 3 chopped peppers (red and/or green)
5) Add 1 tablespoon of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of pepper, 3 tablespoons of chili powder, and some cayenne (if you like it spicy)
6) (Optional) Add a chopped jalepeno or 2.

Cook it all on high for an hour or 2, then on low overnight, or for about 8 hours.

This sounds like a huge ordeal because you're crockpotting twice, but it helps if you have a freezer and can cook up the chicken weeks or months beforehand.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Steel cut oatmeal: Before going to bed, place a heat proof bowl directly into the crock pot and place a water bath about halfway up the bowl around it. In the bowl mix your oats and liquid, if you want, add some chopped walnuts, cinnamon, raisins, whatever you like. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours.

Chicken & lentils: Two chicken breasts, two chopped tomatoes, two chopped carrots, two chopped celery stalks, two ounces fresh spinach, two cloves garlic, one small chopped onion, 1/2 cup red lentils, 1/2 tsp salt, pepper, 6 cups water. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Roasted chicken: Put 3 sheets of foil (balled up) in the bottom of the crockpot, put a whole chicken on top of the balls of foil (season the chicken with whatever seasoning you like), cook on low 6-8 hours depending on the size of the chicken, comes out browned and moist.

Applesauce: 10 peeled and diced apples, 2 cups water, cinnamon. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Beans: Cover rinsed and pre-soaked beans with at least 3 inches of liquid (water, stock). Season as you like. Cook on low for about 8 hours.

I forgot about sweet potatoes. In the colder months I bake them in the oven, but in summer I will often use the crock pot. Wash, dry and wrap in foil 3-5 medium sweet potatoes or yams. Put in crock pot, cover and cook on low for about 8 hours or high about 4 hours.

You can do it without foil, but it's too messy for me.