So I've totally fallen in love with my slow cooker. It's PERFECT for a couple of busy third shifters like us - I can set it up before we leave for work, and when we get home - dinner is ready whenever we're ready for it. And oh MY it makes the apartment smell all yummy to come home to.

I've got a few standards (Shepherd's Pie pretty much happens at least once a week, per 'Yote's request, and there's always your basic pot roast), but I love trying new things. So what's your favorite way to use a slow cooker/crock pot? Give me some new ideas, please!

My wife likes to purchase a pork roast, something with marbling, not tenderloin...and cook it in the crock. She makes a shredded pork recipe that we put in wraps with cheese, guacamole, etc.

1 lg pork roast
1 can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
3-4 jalopeno peppers cut up with the seeds removed (we like spicey not hot...)
1 teaspoon of cummin
1 cup of chopped onions

Basically, she puts the roast in and thows everything else in on top and then covers it and lets it cook on low for 8 hours. At that point, the roast should be "falling apart". Pull the roast out of the crock and shred it. This should be simple if the roast is done. In the mean time, let the juices cool so that the fat can be skimmed off the top. Once skimmed, you can put the shredded pork back in the crock in order to stir in the juices with other ingredients.

We buy the larger size tortillas and place about 4-6 oz of shredded pork on the tortilla with shredded cheese, guacamole, black beans, sometimes rice (with cilantro) and my wife likes sour cream. Add some homemade salsa and guac with chips and you have a wonderful meal.

P.S. I also make red beans for my chili recipe that's posted in another thread in the crock.

two posts in to this thread and my mouth is already watering...

speaking of which, can you post your shepherd's pie recipe?

Oh my, that sounds good. And 'Yote's been known to make some..."interesting" wraps with various leftovers. I'll have to give this a shot. Thanks!

Sure - it's about the easiest thing to put together you can imagine (takes me like 5 minutes before I walk out the door to go to work). The recipe is actually supposed to be for turkey, but it said you can use chicken, and I go with chicken because it's cheaper (and I keep a bag of frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts in the freezer for easy meals pretty much all the time). I don't have the actual recipe right in front of me, but I generally do it off the top of my head anymore...

1 lb boneless skinless turkey or chicken breast, cut into about 1 inch pieces
1 bag frozen veggies (I tend to use Kroger's "garden blends" Italian blend, but I change it up depending on my mood - I like variety)
1 12 oz jar chicken gravy (turkey gravy if you use turkey instead of chicken)
1 tsp thyme
1 package refridgerated ready-made mashed potatoes

Empty the bag of frozen veggies into the bottom of the crock pot, then put the chicken pieces on top. Mix the thyme into the gravy, and pour over top. Then cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. About half an hour before you plan to eat, turn it up to high heat, and then spoon the mashed potatoes on top (I find I have to mix it up with a fork first, then take small spoonfuls and dollop it over the top of the chicken/veggie/gravy mixture so it covers the top but doesn't sink). Cover and cook for about half an hour, and you're all set.

We like it just the way it is, and change up the veggies for variety. You could probably season it any number of ways to taste, and I've considered trying it with either garlic potatoes or the cheese potatoes, but haven't tried yet. We usually serve it with bread and butter, 'cause 'Yote likes to use bread to sop up the gravy (sometimes it can come out a little soupy).

The cool thing about this recipe is that it's so simple you can add your own signature easily...try a little chili powder or spice it up with cayan pepper, etc. But, try it this way the first time...I promise, you won't be disappointed.

I like to experiment with wraps as well. I always grill extra meat when I fire up the grill in order to have left overs to chop up for wraps! Right now, I've got some grill pork tenderloin that will probably get some smoked swiss or gouda this week with some homemade salsa! Or maybe, I'll check the local grocery for some ripe avocados...mmm avocados! Maybe some cilatro rice... Oh man, I can't wait!

BTW, make sure and drain the meat before you place it on your tortilla, otherwise it gets kind of messy...

Okay...now *I'm* getting hungry.
*thinks to self - that's right...didn't eat before leaving for work...duh!*

thanks for the recipes, friends! i'll have to give them each a try! (can't wait!)

my parents got The Boy and me a crockpot... so exciting.
i'm hoping for some more recipes in this thread!

Me too - and I don't know how I ever got along without one anymore.

pour 2 cans of chicken broth into the crock pot, mix in a couple spoonfuls of garlic, some cajun seasoning (til the broth turns a light orange color), let it simmer on high for about 30 minutes to an hour, then lower setting to medium or low, drop in one of these
Butterball Frozen Turkey Breast Roast - Breast Meat 3 lb
and go to work.

come home that night to some good eats (and the leftovers makes great sandwiches for lunch the following day too).

Oh MY that sounds good Bill! Thanks!
And just in time - I was working on a grocery list 'cause I need to go to the store in the morning. Sweet!

I bought 3 of these for XMas gifts this year. I have a copy of my own, and like it well enough to share this year.

It's chock full of great recipes from home cooks all over and most call for 6 items or less. It even has a desserts section!

Hope this helps!

Cher

Cool! Thanks, I've nearly picked that up several times when I've seen it at Krogers. This is the one I have, that has the Shepherd's Pie recipe in it:
Slow Cooker Favorites Made Healthy

Wish me luck - I'm trying Bill's turkey breast recipe tonight!

Bill, both 'Yote and I have to thank you - this turned out *really* good.
Couple of technical questions that came up as I did this...

1) Do you thaw it first or put it in straight from the freezer? (I thawed it)
2) I'm assuming you have to leave the string on while cooking? (I did)
3) Did you do anything with the gravy packet? (I just made gravy out of the juices left from cooking)

Just looking for clarification for next time. But this was *really* yummy.