I've made just about everything you can make in a crockpot:) From appetizers straight down to desserts. I have 5 crockpots, and they all get used:) One more than the others (my 6qt digital), just b/c it's my favorite:) But I am a religious crockpot user. For recipes you can visit my blog.
I know they say certain things don't do well in a crockpot, but honestly I've never had a prob with anythign I've ever put in one.
Some tips:
always either spray your cp with nonstick cooking spray or use one of those plastic cp liners (sold by the aluminum foil)......makes clean up easier
for the 1st time using a particular cp, do a "cheap" meal and keep an eye out for the cp....some of the new ones cook way faster than the old ones (they get hotter)
put cp's away from the edge of the counter and don't have the cord hanging down.....don't want any kids pulling them down on themselves
do NOT open the lid while cooking, unless recipe calls adding something later (it takes a long time to recover the temp lost when it is open)......and then add as quickly as possible
Here's a recipe that I had published in Gooseberry Patch's Ready, Set, Eat (it's similar to Amy Lynn's mom's pot roast):
Farmhouse Pot Roast
Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 8
Categories : Crockpot
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
5 pounds roast, trimmed
8 large red potatoes -- cut into chunks
1/2 pound baby carrots
3 stalks celery -- chopped
1 can mushroom pieces
26 ounces cream of mushroom soup
14 1/2 ounces beef broth
2 cups water
Put roast in bottom of 5-6 quart crockpot. Top with potatoes, carrots, celery and mushrooms.
Pour in soup, broth and water.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until beef is done and falling apart.
NOTES : Can substitute 3 beef bouillon cubes and 2 cups of water for the beef broth.
Can substitute venison for beef.
Friday:
On our crockpot theme, we invite you to share recipes, techniques, things that work and things that don't.
My personal favorite is my mother's "Cheater" Pot Roast: Mix a can each of cream of celery, french onion and golden mushroom soup with ONE soup can of water in the crockpot. Add your roast and veggies and cook on low 8-10 hrs. When you're ready to eat, the soups have created an "instant" gravy that you can serve as-is or thicken on the stove, if you like. The soups can also be changed to suit your taste (i.e., beef or vegetable broth for the french onion).
I also like to do chili or spaghetti sauce on low for 10 hours.
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Living Room Tips
CLEANING TIPS
Create a list of things you need to do. Start with the big things & work your way to the smaller things (you get a sense of accomplishment every time you check off a big thing).
Dust before you wash windows & vacuum or sweep.
Clean your TV screen with vinegar. Cuts dust more than Windex.
Clean crayon marks off walls with WD-40. No elbow grease required Then wipe with damp sponge & dish detergent to get rid of greasy stain.
Remove stains from carpet with club soda or ginger ale. If it is a grease stain, use WD-40 like the crayon marks.
Use your vacuum attachments to remove dust/dirt from ceiling fan, curtains, blinds, cushions, knick-knacks, etc.
Get rid of excess clutter (ex. Knick-knacks you don’t truly love). It will be less to clean next time. Those that you do keep spray with pledge to repel dust. (Don’t due this to porcelain dolls & other things that might get ruined by it).
USE COASTERS.
DECORATING TIPS
Put up pictures of your kids & other family members. Buy decorative frames to put them in, buy wall & shelf frames.
Put pretty, scented candles out.
Wrap a swag of silk ivy around the top of your curtain rod.
Rearrange your furniture to have living areas. Ex. Figure out what activities the living room is mainly used for. Ex. Listening to music, watching TV, reading, office. Make a corner for listening to music--cd player, cd’s in cd tower, headphones, room to “shake your tail feathers”. Watching TV--corner for entertainment center, tv, DVD, vicar, videos/DVDs, remotes, etc. & likewise for the reading & office areas.
Have a focal point.
Put furniture closer to the center of the room & utilize the space behind it.
Decorate with soft, soothing colors.
Use mirrors to look like your room is more spacious.
Place magazines/books, etc. in whicker baskets to look less cluttered.
Use a theme for your decorating. Ex. Country, floral, birdhouses, oriental, lodge, deco, etc.
Use quilts, decorative lamps, rugs to decorate.
Create a list of things you need to do. Start with the big things & work your way to the smaller things (you get a sense of accomplishment every time you check off a big thing).
Dust before you wash windows & vacuum or sweep.
Clean your TV screen with vinegar. Cuts dust more than Windex.
Clean crayon marks off walls with WD-40. No elbow grease required Then wipe with damp sponge & dish detergent to get rid of greasy stain.
Remove stains from carpet with club soda or ginger ale. If it is a grease stain, use WD-40 like the crayon marks.
Use your vacuum attachments to remove dust/dirt from ceiling fan, curtains, blinds, cushions, knick-knacks, etc.
Get rid of excess clutter (ex. Knick-knacks you don’t truly love). It will be less to clean next time. Those that you do keep spray with pledge to repel dust. (Don’t due this to porcelain dolls & other things that might get ruined by it).
USE COASTERS.
DECORATING TIPS
Put up pictures of your kids & other family members. Buy decorative frames to put them in, buy wall & shelf frames.
Put pretty, scented candles out.
Wrap a swag of silk ivy around the top of your curtain rod.
Rearrange your furniture to have living areas. Ex. Figure out what activities the living room is mainly used for. Ex. Listening to music, watching TV, reading, office. Make a corner for listening to music--cd player, cd’s in cd tower, headphones, room to “shake your tail feathers”. Watching TV--corner for entertainment center, tv, DVD, vicar, videos/DVDs, remotes, etc. & likewise for the reading & office areas.
Have a focal point.
Put furniture closer to the center of the room & utilize the space behind it.
Decorate with soft, soothing colors.
Use mirrors to look like your room is more spacious.
Place magazines/books, etc. in whicker baskets to look less cluttered.
Use a theme for your decorating. Ex. Country, floral, birdhouses, oriental, lodge, deco, etc.
Use quilts, decorative lamps, rugs to decorate.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Kitchen Tips
CLEANING
Cutting boards/utensils that smell like onions, garlic or other strong odors, rub with have a lemon or lime. (also your hands after cutting the onion).
Coffee/tea/rust stains--use good old baking soda. On your sink, you can also use steel wool.
Stainless steel--wipe down with plain seltzer or white vinegar for sparkling shine.
ODORS/FRAGRANCES
Disposal/drain odors--pour 2 T in every week.
Cheap air fresheners: put clove studded oranges in a decorative bowl; put cinnamon in a pie pan, put in oven & heat oven to 250 for about 30 minutes. (make sure that it doesn’t burn).
Liquid potpourri: there are 2 kinds of burners that I know of: 1st--has a little pot/bowl that you put the fragrance in & put a tea candle underneath (disadvantages: kind of messy, tea candles don’t last long & pot can turn black underneath where flame heats up bottom of pot), 2nd--electric, like a little mini crockpot (advantage--no fire). You really have to watch it though, to keep an eye on the level of potpourri you have. Don’t run it with little or no liquid in it, you could crack the pot.
Light a scented candle (keep away from children).
Put a wreath inside with eucalyptus, cinnamon sticks or spritz with liquid oil scents.
Clean with scented cleaners.
Use glade plug-ins, or other such plug in air fresheners.
Bake bread or cookies, brew coffee, make anything that fills your whole house with a yummy fragrance.
Fill with fresh flowers.
Baking soda in the freezer/fridge help eliminate smells. They even sell little boxes especially for this now.
PESTS
Ants--mix 8 oz. vinegar & 8 oz. water in a spray bottle (available at dollar tree or Wal-Mart). Spray on ants, will kill them instantly.
Roaches--set out a dish containing equal parts sugar & baking soda. The sugar attracts and the baking soda eliminates.
Slugs--put out dishes of salt or beer. Salt dries them out, beer gets them drunk & they drown.
MISCELLANEOUS
Unclog drain--pour ½ cup baking soda mixed with ½ cup vinegar into the drain and cover tightly. After a few minutes, rinse the drain with 2 qts. Boiling water. Also, using this as a preventative measure, can keep drains from becoming clogged. If drain is clogged with grease, use 1 cup of salt & 1 cup of baking soda, rather than the baking soda/vinegar mixture, follow the remaining step.
Cutting boards/utensils that smell like onions, garlic or other strong odors, rub with have a lemon or lime. (also your hands after cutting the onion).
Coffee/tea/rust stains--use good old baking soda. On your sink, you can also use steel wool.
Stainless steel--wipe down with plain seltzer or white vinegar for sparkling shine.
ODORS/FRAGRANCES
Disposal/drain odors--pour 2 T in every week.
Cheap air fresheners: put clove studded oranges in a decorative bowl; put cinnamon in a pie pan, put in oven & heat oven to 250 for about 30 minutes. (make sure that it doesn’t burn).
Liquid potpourri: there are 2 kinds of burners that I know of: 1st--has a little pot/bowl that you put the fragrance in & put a tea candle underneath (disadvantages: kind of messy, tea candles don’t last long & pot can turn black underneath where flame heats up bottom of pot), 2nd--electric, like a little mini crockpot (advantage--no fire). You really have to watch it though, to keep an eye on the level of potpourri you have. Don’t run it with little or no liquid in it, you could crack the pot.
Light a scented candle (keep away from children).
Put a wreath inside with eucalyptus, cinnamon sticks or spritz with liquid oil scents.
Clean with scented cleaners.
Use glade plug-ins, or other such plug in air fresheners.
Bake bread or cookies, brew coffee, make anything that fills your whole house with a yummy fragrance.
Fill with fresh flowers.
Baking soda in the freezer/fridge help eliminate smells. They even sell little boxes especially for this now.
PESTS
Ants--mix 8 oz. vinegar & 8 oz. water in a spray bottle (available at dollar tree or Wal-Mart). Spray on ants, will kill them instantly.
Roaches--set out a dish containing equal parts sugar & baking soda. The sugar attracts and the baking soda eliminates.
Slugs--put out dishes of salt or beer. Salt dries them out, beer gets them drunk & they drown.
MISCELLANEOUS
Unclog drain--pour ½ cup baking soda mixed with ½ cup vinegar into the drain and cover tightly. After a few minutes, rinse the drain with 2 qts. Boiling water. Also, using this as a preventative measure, can keep drains from becoming clogged. If drain is clogged with grease, use 1 cup of salt & 1 cup of baking soda, rather than the baking soda/vinegar mixture, follow the remaining step.
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