NEW CASTLE —
Turn up the heat — on the crock pot that is.
What's probably the easiest way to cook dinner?
No, not the microwave.
How about the crock pot?
In my opinion, the crock pot is one of the greatest kitchen appliances ever created.
It can be used to cook almost anything. My mother uses the crock pot to cook meatballs and chili. I use the crock pot to cook pot roast and vegetables and my father uses the crock pot to cook boneless chicken breasts. He mixes in some Italian dressing seasoning as well. Tastes great!
There are many dinners in the frozen food aisle dedicated solely to the crock pot. Banquet's Crock Pot Classics: Chicken and Dumplings is quite delicious and smells terrific while cooking.
First time using a crock pot? Check out this instructional video for preparing a Crock Pot Classics meal at http://voices.yahoo.com/video/banquet-crock-pot-classics-219133.html.
Maybe the coolest website for learning more about crock pot cooking is "Crockin' Girls." Their slogan is "Slow Cookin' Mamas in a Fast-Paced World." How great is that? Visit their site at http://crockingirls.com/.
Be sure to check out the Crockin' Girls' "Recipes" section, which is full of great meal and dessert creations. My personal favorite and the main reason for this post this week is the "Butterscotch Pudding Cake." I never thought of making a cake in a crock pot, but wow, their recipe sounds delicious. The recipe can be found at http://crockingirls.com/recipes/desserts/butterscotch-pudding-cake.html.
The Crockin' Girls also have a cookbook coming out in the near future, so if you like the site (as I definitely do), keep an eye out for it the next time you visit the bookstore.
If you have a great crock pot recipe, I'd love to give it a try. Email me at court959@yahoo.com.
Happy slow cooking!
Courtney Caughey
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About Courtney Caughey: Courtney is a photo correspondent and a writing contributor to The News. Her “Food for Thought” blog appears each Wednesday.
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