I’m a Work at Home Mom, but I Still Use My Crock Pot
I’m a Work at Home Mom, but I Still Use My Crock Pot
Article by Sherry Frewerd
Low Sodium Diet Gets Flavor Boost Using Salt Free Seasonings and a Crock Pot
Low Sodium Diet Gets Flavor Boost Using Salt Free Seasonings and a Crock Pot
Article by Debbie Benson
When someone is first told to go on a low sodium diet, many at first think, I can do that. Just give up the salt shaker. Right? Not exactly. They don’t realize until they try it, that their food tastes pretty bland without the salt taste they are used to. They are also learning that so much of what they were eating and using to cook with were full of salt and too high in sodium. The canned goods, canned soups, soup and seasoning mixes, frozen dinners, prepackaged foods, fast food, sodas, breads, cereals, etc. A low sodium diet is like learning to cook all over again.
Now, they go to the store for some salt free seasonings and a salt substitute to hopefully add flavor to their bland food. Most of the time they find that they do not get very good results. They are unhappy. They are perhaps starting to panic. It has been several days and nothing tastes good. They have tried everything in the store. They are going through salt cravings and getting real cranky. Some folks may have even stopped eating. They are thinking, is this my lot in life? No tasty food, ever again? This does not have to be the case.
You absolutely need good tasting salt free seasonings. You will find that salt free seasonings are not all created equal. Find a good tasting salt substitute. Preferably a no potassium chloride salt substitute. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables or frozen with no salt added. For you to stay on a low sodium diet you will be cooking almost everything from scratch. No canned soups, no mixes, no microwave dinners, no prepared foods. A low sodium diet is back to basics cooking. Old fashioned, old world style cooking doesn’t have to take a lot of work. Just takes some planning, good seasonings, good ingredients and slow cooking, makes all the difference for a flavorful low sodium diet.
For a successful low sodium diet, learn to use a crock pot. Buy a crock pot that has a removable insert, as this makes it much easier to clean. Get a crock pot that is big enough to cook enough food for a couple of days, about 6 quarts is a nice size. You can prepare what your are going to cook the night before and set it in the refrigerator. Here is a low sodium cooking tip: Browning any meat before you put it in the crock pot will not only improve the appearance of the dish but also the flavor. Insert the prepared crock from the refrigerator into the heating element. Cover with lid. Set the crock pot temperature on low for about 10-12 hours or high for about 6-8 hours of cooking time. When you return home, your dinner is ready. The house smells great like you had been cooking all day but it was your crock pot doing all the work.
No slaving over a hot stove when you are tired after working all day. No temptation to eat out or to stop and get some fast food or a frozen dinner that is way too high in sodium. To your surprise, the food not only smells good when you walk in the door, but tastes good. Your dinner is full of flavor. What a difference good tasting salt free seasonings, quality fresh ingredients, and slow cooking can do towards adding flavor to a usually bland low sodium diet. Always, cook more than you need for dinner. The leftovers tend to be even more flavorful and dinner is as simple as re-heating for the next night or two. You might want to take some leftovers for lunch. You can also freeze the leftovers and reheat them for a quick low sodium meal.
With a little planning, salt free seasonings and a crock pot, you’ll find it’s easy to get flavor into a low sodium diet.
About the Author
For more tips I invite you to sign up for the FREE Season It Newsletter when you visit Benson’s Gourmet Seasonings at http://BensonsGourmetSeasonings.com
Click here to get more free information about a low sodium diet, low sodium cooking tips, salt free seasonings, salt substitutes and low sodium recipes. You’ll learn how you can use seasonings, fresh herbs, fresh fruits & vegetables, olive oil, nuts, vinegars, wine and different cooking techniques to flavor your food without adding salt and sugar. You’ll find out how to get more flavor than you ever thought possible.
Debbie Benson owner of Benson’s Gourmet Seasonings with over 30 years experience promoting salt-free seasonings. Loving to cook and being salt free most of her life by choice, she has learned a lot of tips and tricks to create flavor without salt and sugar that seems to be in everything these days.
Make Delicious Crock Pot Casserole Recipes Your Family Will Love
Make Delicious Crock Pot Casserole Recipes Your Family Will Love
Article by Sherry Lynn Frewerd
There are many wonderful family favorite dishes that most everyone adores. People have made recipes for their kids for many generations and now those recipes are handed down to younger family members. Many have pleasant memories of enjoying a hot and bubbling mac and cheese casserole, and these days there are so many easy casserole recipes available that are perfect for freezing and serving later on.
If dinner time has become a hassle and you’re looking for ways to make it less of a drag, then get out your crock pot slow cooker. After working all day no one wants to come home and try to figure out what to make that the family will eat. Today’s crock pot recipes are even better than ever, and you can make delicous crock pot casserole recipes that are every bit as yummy as the standard casserole recipe.
Who hasn’t enjoyed a warm casserole recipe? Most anyone who cooks for a family knows how perfect they are for family dinners, potlucks at a church or group function or even a fun tail gating event. There are easy casserole recipes for practically any kind of recipe or ingredient, and slow cookers make meal prep much easer since there’s nothing to do in advance except get the ingredients together and then plop them into the crock. Select from a huge assortment of crock pot casserole recipes such as tasty beef and pasta casseroles to chicken pot pie casseroles or even a family favorite pizza casserole crock pot recipe. These are familiar recipes that everyone enjoys and even the hardest to please eater will eat.
Some crafty cooks will even create all new crock pot casserole recipes with what they have in their cupboards and refrigerator. Crock pots are great for one dish meals in a hurry using a combination of ingredients. Why not look into your cupboard and see what you have on hand that will go well together and make a new family favorite casserole. Look for things like cream soups, veggies, potatoes or pasta and any leftover meat in the refrigerator. This is how wonderful creations such as goulash are born.
Crock pot casserole recipes are the perfect method of creating a wonderful meal for the family and get it on the table without a lot of fuss. Family members, even kids, love these kinds of recipes and will ask for them over and over again. There are many interesting and easy to make recipes online that are budget friendly and just what families need for menu planning.
About the Author
Find more delicious and easy crock pot recipes along with favorite crock pot casserole recipes at Family Crock Pot Recipes http://familycrockpotrecipes.com
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The Amazing Crock Pot Slow Cooker
The Amazing Crock Pot Slow Cooker
Article by Eileen Le Roux
We all look for, and need short cuts to achieve our goals. Whether it’s concerning our daily obligations to our families, or in our field of work. Here is one such short cut that many of us already use on an almost daily basis. Once used it will be hard to do without.
The crock pot or slow cooker, as it’s sometimes referred too, is one of the wonders for today’s homemaker. Large families and small families will all benefit from its use. This kitchen appliance will save time, it’s easy to clean and versatile. The basic setting are part of all unites, however, there are units with more sophisticated functions, and the cost of a crock will depend on its size and functions available on that unit.
One of the things to look for in a crock pot is a removable stoneware liner. This enable ease of cleaning the equipment. Just wash and replace. Very easy. The next consideration is shape and size. Some are round and some are oval to accommodate a chicken or other large cuts of meat. Usually four quarts to seven quarts. There are really small pots available, one pint size small. This particular crock pot is usually used for cooking hot dips for parties and entertaining dinner guest or cooking meals for one or two people.
Here is a recipe for a dish I think you will love. Especially now that the weather has cooled down a bit.
Three Bean Soup:
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup pinto beans
1 cup kidney beans
1 cup white beans
1 onion (large)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrots
1 cup of elbow pasta, to be added 1 hour before serving.
2 cloves garlic crushed
2 tbs salt
1 tbs pepper
1/4 cup olive oil, to be added along with elbow pasta
Instructions: Before your day begins, place all ingredients in large crock pot. Add water to top of pot, cover, set time and forget it. Soup will cook all day while you do your errands or go to work. You can also cut the ingredients in half and use a small crock pot.
Note: Serve with warm garlic bread, or plain Italian bread. Serves four with some to spare. Even better the next day.
Suggested beverage: A glass of burgundy wine for the adults only.
About the Author
Accomplished writer and artist and now business owner. My love of cooking has lead me to begin submitting articles relating to food preparation or parties. In which I will attempt to bring to others an interest in recipes from Ireland, Italy, France and the good ole U.S. I am also an accomplished eater. This is me in a nutshell. During my days as an assistant to a top New York chef, I learned how to prepare and cook. What I found most important was the equipment needed to produce these dishes. You can find a selection at: http://www.bestcoffeepot.biz
Kitchen Small Appliances Crock Pot
Kitchen Small Appliances Crock Pot
Article by Angela Rubicsa
You should rigorously read and comprehend all instructions in the manual soon after you purchase kitchen aid small appliances. Take a while to scan the guide in advance of using any of it so you may know the way to use and maintain the items. This will definitely assist you know how to handle all kitchen help tiny equipment properly and stop device failure and costly damage and repairs.
Top Ten Small Equipment to Give as Wedding Gifts #2: Sunbeam Bread Maker
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About the Author
Zachariah Doro is an guru on Kitchen Small Appliances who also reveals techniques ohio food stamps,yahoo greetings,ohio food stamps and other associated topics at Singer All-In-One Sew Embroider
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Easy and Tasty Chicken and Rice Crock Pot Recipe
Easy and Tasty Chicken and Rice Crock Pot Recipe
Article by Sherry Frewerd
Crock pot food preparation saves time and money for a few assorted reasons.
1. A person may use a cheaper cut of meat and help to make it taste great by slow cooking.
2. Using your slow cooker clears up your time and your oven for additional matters, saving you time and energy due to the fact slow cookers are so low energy.
However did you wonder about how using a chicken and rice crock pot recipe will save you money by stretching out your food budget? Sure can. Large families understand that feeding the kids rice can help make a recipe go even further, and both chicken and rice are picky eater favorites.
The vast majority of recipes can use either white or brown rice, still if you prefer to rev up the nutrition, serve brown rice with your crock pot recipes. Brown rice is a fine supplier of nutritional fiber, protein, and many other essentials.
The following is a great chicken and rice crock pot recipe to take a look at this week:
SAUSAGE CHICKEN AND RICE RECIPE
2-1/2 to 3 lbs. chicken pieces
1 tbl. olive oil
8 oz. cooked smoked turkey sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 large onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. dried thyme, crushed
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground turmeric
1 14-1/2 oz. can chicken broth
1/2 cup water
2 cup chopped tomatoes
2 yellow or green sweet peppers, cut into very thin bite-size strips
1 cup frozen green peas
3 cup hot cooked rice
Skin chicken. Rinse chicken; pat dry. In a large skillet brown chicken pieces, half at a time, in hot olive oil. Drain off fat. In a 3- 1/2, 4, or 5 quart crock pot place chicken pieces, turkey sausage, and onion. Sprinkle with garlic, dried thyme, black pepper, and turmeric. Pour broth and water over all. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 3-1/2 to 4 hours. Add the tomatoes, sweet peppers, peas to the cooker. Cover; let stand for 5 minutes. Serve over the hot rice.
About the Author
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Save Money – The Crock Pot Way
Save Money – The Crock Pot Way
Article by Lisa “The Crock Cook”
Saving money – is something we would all like to do. Whether you are struggling to manage day to day or earning a six figure salary, saving is something we all think about.
There is one thing we can all save on. The one thing we all do, every day, several times a day.
We all… Eat.
And food these days can be so expensive. It is quite easy to go to the grocers and spend your entire weeks pay just on food. Meat especially can put a hole in anyone’s budget.
After a long day at work, the last thing you want is to spend the rest of the day in the kitchen preparing dinner. So the quick option is often just to fry or grill up some steak. But this is expensive. And frying those cheaper cuts of meat – ugh!
You have heard the old saying ‘tough as old boots’.
They end up so tough, that even if you do manage to eat them; you will be lucky not to chip a tooth or dislocate a jaw; both of which cost even more.
How about if you could save money on your food bill and save hours in the kitchen at the same time?
Well the solution for you is… the Crock Pot.
It allows you to turn those cheap meat cuts into not only edible, but absolutely delicious meals. And, does it all, while you are at work.
This is not some new gimmicky thing you see in info-commercials on late night television. This is a real kitchen appliance that has been around since the early 1970′s.
It uses low heat and a slow cooking method which tenderizes the meat.
Just put the vegetables and meat in the pot in the morning on the way to work and come home to the delightful aroma of dinner ready in the evening.
Save money – the cheapest meat cuts are the best ones to use, they are full of flavor and appreciate the long cooking time.
Happy Crock Cooking
Lisa – “The Crock Cook”
www.a-crock-cook.com
Crock Pot Recipes and everything else Crock Pot.
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Just remember to ensure the links remain live and static back to A Crock Cook.
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About the Author
Lisa “The Crock Cook” has been using her Crock Pot for years and now shares her wealth of practical knowledge and Easy Crock Pot Recipes with you at http://www.a-crock-cook.com
Instructions for Making Crock Pot Handmade Soap
Instructions for Making Crock Pot Handmade Soap
Article by Judi Cox
Making soap in a crock pot is an easy way to use the “hot process” method.
These instructions outline my steps for making crock pot soap and assume you are familiar with the soapmaking process.
Start with a good recipe. I prefer recipes that have a higher amount of liquid oil to solids. One of my favorite recipes is very simple: 60% Olive Oil, 20% Palm Kernel Oil, 20% Palm Oil. Run it through a lye calculator to determine the amount of lye and [distilled] water needed. I don’t discount my water when making hot process.
I use a 6 1/2 quart crock pot. A 4 pound batch of soaps fits perfectly. It fills the crock pot about half full – giving room in the case of it bubbling up, but not too little an amount that it could burn.
First, measure water and set aside.
Then measure the lye into a separate container. Slowly pour the lye into the pitcher of cold water. Stir until dissolved. Set aside in a safe place.
Once I have my lye mixture set aside, I measure my solid oils. These can be put into the crock pot to be melted. But, it takes longer this way, so I generally put them into the microwave for a couple minutes until melted and then pour into the crockpot.
At this point, my crock pot is on low.
I recomment using a good rubber spatula to scrape the bowl – no sense leaving any good oils behind.
Next, I measure my olive oil – and/or any other liquid oils I happen to be using – and pour this into the crockpot.
Get out your handy-dandy stickblender and using low speed, slowly pour the lye mixture into the melted oils. Gently move the stickblender around, up, down, around, ensuring a nice even blend. If you don’t have a stickblender, a stainless steel wire whisk works great too – just requires a little more arm power.
Once it has reached ‘trace’, I put the lid on the crockpot and turn the heat setting up to high. However, the first few times I made crock pot soap, I left it on low until I was confident in how it worked (both the soap AND my crockpot).
Now, I ready my mold, measure out any fragrance oils or essential oils and any additives I plan to use.
After about 15 or 20 minutes, I take the lid off and, using a potato masher, mash the soap around. It has a look of a vaseline texture; glossy, slick. It will have a waxy feel if you rub a piece of it between gloved fingers.
Add your additives, colorants, herbs, etc and mix well using the potato masher. Once that is blended fairly well, add your fragrance and mix again.
It is done! At this point, it’s really soap. It only needs to be put into your mold. I do this in large spoonfuls, pounding my mold on the counter every few scoops to ensure it packs into the mold tightly. Once I have it all in the mold, I put a baggie on my hand and flatten the top – making sure to “squish” it into the corners really well.
Now is a good time to wash all the dishes. And you don’t even need to add any soap! You should see some lovely lather from the soap you’ve just made.
I let this sit over-night. The next morning, I unmold and slice into bars to air out for a week or so. Once each bar has had time to harden, I bevel each one and it’s ready for use, or sale.
My favorite crock pot soap recipe:
Rosemary Mint Handmade Soap
Yields: 4 pounds
- 38 ounces olive oil (59.38%)
- 14.4 ounces palm kernel oil (22.5%)
- 11.6 ounces palm oil (18.13%)
- 8.7 ounces sodium hydroxide (5% discount)
- 17.5 ounces distilled water
- 3 ounces rosemary mint blend essential oils
- 2 teabags of Organic Peppermint tea
Disclaimer: Sodium Hydroxide is highly caustic and should be handled carefully and knowledgeably. It is the soapmakers responsibility to research safety procedures for soapmaking.
About the Author
Judi Cox is a wife and mother of 4 children. She has been making handmade soap since 2002. Her soaps are available through her soap shop at http://www.mommamuse.com/shop/ for personal use, gifts and wholesale. Her other hobbies include web design and maintaining http://www.momslittlegarden.com an online resource from pregnant mothers.
www.WhyJive.com – Cherries are America’s Super Fruit! In a large bowl combine: 4 Cups Bing cherries (pitted) 4 Tbsp of Tapioca 1 Cup of Sugar 1/8 Tsp of Salt 1/2 Tsp of Almond extract Mix it up and put it in the Slow Cooker. In another bowl combine 1 (18.25 oz) package of yellow Cake Mix with 1/2 Cup of melted Butter. Mix till crumbly. Sprinkle it over the cherry mix in the Slow Cooker. Put 1/2 Cup of Almond slivers on top (if desired). Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. Tip: If your Crock-Pot doesn’t have vented lid, add some paper towels before you put the lid on. This desert can also be cooked in the oven. Just use a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F. Serve in bowls. It’s good with ice cream or whipped cream, or both?!! Serves 8. Enjoy! Cherries are low fat, low carbohydrate, sodium free, and high fiber treat. Cherries are a good source of potassium. Diet rich in potassium may help to control blood pressure and reduce the risk for hypertension and stroke. Antioxidants found in cherries may help to reduce risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS: www.youtube.com OUR CHANNEL: www.youtube.com TWITT WITH US: www.twitter.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com Subscribe to new videos, delivered by Feedburner: feeds.feedburner.com Thanks for visiting our channel, please, Subscribe! Thumbs up?! You can put this video on your site or a webpage. A link back to www.whyjive.com is greatly appreciated.
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Crock Pot Recipes Hold the Key to Stress Free Cooking
Crock Pot Recipes Hold the Key to Stress Free Cooking
Article by Natalie Schloesser
A few years ago, my crock pot would collect dust in my cupboard waiting for me to make chili or a pot roast. Now it’s a rare evening when you don’t see it on my counter with the night’s dinner in it.
I know that many of you can relate to what it’s like in my household from 4:00pm on. After getting 4 kids an after school snack, I am helping a 10 year old with homework, playing dominoes with twin 4 year olds, and chasing after a 2 year old. How on earth could I be expected to do all of this while preparing dinner and not be completely frazzled by the time we sat down to eat? Finally I discovered the answer.
Now each morning I get up and, while drinking my coffee, I decide what’s for dinner that evening. I take meat out of the freezer to thaw, verify remaining ingredients, and play with my 2 year old. Then I leisurely take 15 minutes mid morning to throw ingredients into a pot and flip a switch.
I go about the rest of my day relaxed, knowing that dinner will be a cinch. Sure enough, dinner time comes and all I need to do is spoon food onto some plates, sit down, and enjoy!
See why I believe that crock pot cooking is virtually stress free:
-Clean up is easy; there aren’t numerous pots and pans to wash, just one stoneware pot and maybe a cutting board and knife.
-Minimal preparation is required; just a few minutes each morning.
-It’s really difficult to overcook things in a crock pot. Plus, now there are crock pots that will automatically switch to a “keep warm” setting once the cooking time is done.
-Crock pots are wonderful for cheaper cuts of meat. Cooking for a large family, I’m conscientious of my grocery bill. Because crock pots cook meat over a long period of time at low heat, tougher cuts of meat turn out tender and juicy.
-You’re not feeding your family fast food or calling the pizza delivery guy again; they are getting quality home cooked meals.
-Different people can eat at different times. Let’s face it, with busy schedules many families can’t eat together during the week. A crock pot keeps the meal warm for your toddlers to eat at 5pm, your high school kids to eat at 8pm, and your husband to grab a 10pm snack.
So pull it out of your cupboard, dust it off, and enjoy the wonderful aromas that will fill your home as dinner draws near.
For crock pot recipes, visit http://www.natalies-recipes.com.
About the Author
Natalie is a work at home mom and the author of http://www.natalies-recipes.com, a website featuring crock pot recipes but also offering a variety of other recipes, cooking tips and an informative newsletter.
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