I just bought a crockpot – a big one. The biggest one they had. It’s like 7 quarts or something.
I never thought I’d be a crockpot mama, but it’s the best invention! Now, I know some of you are gonna say “Duh, Mish, we knew that years ago,” but let me explain. The crockpot, was, in my house growing up, just another appliance on the shelf. I rarely, if ever, saw it used. And never did dinner come out of it. It was always used for baked beans or, well, I think that’s it.
So, as the mother of five, four of whom just started their soccer seasons, I realized that not only can I not afford to buy that much pizza – I didn’t want to. We also live in a small town that does not have a variety of “take-out” options. In fact, except for the frozen pizza at the local general store – we have no take-out options. Besides, we’re a frugal, organically-eating fam – we wouldn’t want to eat take-out, right? Well, most of the time.
OK, pre-crockpot, I would try and make some sort of casserole in the oven around 2 pm and leave it in the off, but still warm oven, until we arrived home after games at 6:30 or so. This works fine, but there is always a period of reheating that had to go on and we didn’t get to eat until later.
So, when I saw the mongo crockpot on sale at Home Depot recently, I didn’t even think (or follow my usual waiting period mandate!) I plopped that sucker right into the cart and said – hah! This is how I will solve my dinner issues!
And it has. I can no go into the garden, pick some of this or that, throw it into the crockpot with some lamb or chicken and get a dinner worthy of Giada! It saves us money and electricity (my stove is electric) and provides us with a wonderful hot meal as soon as we clamor in from the game.
Try these websites for great recipes for the crockpot – there is more to it than just baked beans!
southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm
www.cookingcache.com/cat/crockpot_recipes
cheaplikeme says:
Great tip! I need to get re-motivated to fire up the crockpot — maybe the fall weather will do it. I find that the crockpot is a great tool to satisfy Mr. Cheap’s appetite.
21st September 2007 at 8:27 pm