Monday, October 10, 2011

My kitchen helper

If there is one thing that says home, it is the smell of food cooking in the kitchen. I am a stickler for homemade meals for my family. There are days when I count on my "helper" to assist with a slow cooked meal. Five years ago I bought my first Crock-Pot, I've been using it ever since.
What's for dinner tonight? The Silver Palate's Chicken Marbella. I've tossed all the ingredients in the crock pot to cook on low. We'll be back in the early evening for a homecooked meal that required about twenty minutes of prep time this morning.

Here are some of the meals I like to prepare in my Crock-Pot:
A whole chicken with one teaspoon of butter and seasonings.
Italian sausage, fresh red peppers, green peppers, yellows peppers, sliced onions, olive oil and Italian seasoning.
Brisket with onions, one beef buoillon, a hint of water. It pulls apart into shredded pieces, my family devours!
All the fixings for a good pot of chili.
Ina Garten's beef bourguignon
Homemade million dollar meatballs. If you want the recipe, I'll share in comments.
And, the list goes on...

Do you own a slow cooker? Want to share some recipes? Here's to a house smelling like "home" when you open the door. Happy Monday!

25 comments:

Allison Egan said...

I have been itching to buy one and you have certainly inspired me with these recipes! Perfect for fall!

xo Allison
Spicer + Bank
www.spicerandbank.blogspot.com

Lili said...

i LOVE my crockpot! cant live without it!

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

One of the greatest uses I have for my slowcooker is homemade chicken broth. When my husband makes wings I save and freeze the "tips" that are usually discarded or I use the bones from a roast chicken dinner. Add carrot, celery, onion and the tops from a fennel bulb if I have it. I let it go all day and strain it before bed and freeze it. So easy and delicious.

Unknown said...

Hmmmm... I don't have one of these!
*kisses* HH

A+S / Tilton Fenwick said...

We are yearning for fall weather (this heat, yikes!) and crock-pot home cooked meals!

Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...

This is timely as we are now in an apt. for four months and life is hectic. I have chili in the slowcooker as we speak and am always looking for good sc recipes. I did a beef stroganoff a couple of weeks ago to rave reviews from my husband who is a foodie, the true chef in our house, and a total slow cooker sceptic! Would love to see some tried and true recipes from you and others!

The enchanted home said...

Love Ina's recipes, and make beef bourguignon often during the winter and the idea of making it in a crock pot is such a great idea! And would save me a lot of time over the stove too. Glad to see they are making a comeback.

Town and Country House said...

I love my crockpot and use it often during the fall and winter. Thanks for sharing your ideas--I am adding them to my list of recipes to try! Pot roast, pork chops, and chicken chili are three of my slow cooker favorites.

The Buzz Blog said...

Our crock pot gets heavy use when the weather gets cooler - casseroles, chilis, soups and such. Love that dinner just needs to be scooped into bowls!
xxoo

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh --- so thrilled you posted this. I honestly just need to pull out mine. Given as a wedding gift, I just never got the swing of it. With colder weather coming....I'm inspired by you to make it work for me!!!!

Starting with that Chicken Marbella!
xoxo Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

Love those ideas and would love the meatball recipe. Thanks for the great post. Ginny

Victoria said...

I am so glad you posted this. I have never liked anything I tried in a crock pot using "crock pot" recipes. I have always liked Siiver Palate's and Ina's recipes. The idea I can make them in a crock pot is exciting. Thanks for sharing.
Best...Victoria

HAMPTON HOSTESS said...

I have that Silver Palate cookbook-very dog eared now! The chicken Marbella is one of my favorites--as well as all the cookie recipes! Don't have a crock-pot--going to put it on my list! xxbarbara

quintessence said...

I have never had a crock pot!! I adore that Chicken Marbella recipe and have made it many many times over the years. The question is - how do you figure out the timing to translate for the crock pot? I need a lesson!!

Stevie said...

I do not have a slow cooker, though I was just on another blog where the writer was making yogurt in her crock pot. That would be something to try.

I wonder what other vegetarian dishes would work with slow cooking?

Acanthus and Acorn said...

I do have one and sometimes it seems like a lifeline to my sanity as I get sick to death of what's for dinner?! I do the usuals: roasts, pork, chili but I need to try some of your suggestions!

M.A. the 2nd ~ Frances Russell said...

Dearest Lisa ..... please share with me your beautiful recipes especially the Beef Bourguinon! It sounds like something from Julia Childs! I know you have loved my chicken risotto and I would so love to use one of your recipes. I hope you are well and I would so love to catch up. I do a beautiful apricot chicken recipe in the slow cooker which just falls apart on eating ... it is really delicious with potato mash, French beans and roma tomatoes!
I will email soon with lots of news...
love and best wishes
Frances

Anonymous said...

I agree with you... a crock pot especially in the winter months is so awesome. I will brown meatballs and then let them simmer in homemade sauce all day... yum! xo

Unknown said...

I love using my crock pot this time of year...need some new recipes!:)

STYLE'N said...

Lisa-this is going to come in handy for you really soon!!!! :)

Kathysue said...

I have had a crock pot for as long as I can remember. It is a life saver when I am gone all day and don't want to come home and cook a meal. One of my familys favs is pulled pork burritos. Love the flavor of Trader Joes Salsa Verde, a can of chili's, Saute pork loin that has been seasoned with a chili lime seasoning and put in the crock pot, and voila a wonderful, flavorful meal!! xo Kathysue

Decor Arts Now said...

LOVE my crock pot. I must try the Silver Palette recipe. And Ina's beef one too.
I do a fabulous pulled pork and great short ribs!

Lynn from Decor Arts Now

annie@mostlovelythings said...

I love to use my crock-pot and as soon as I saw this recipe I thought it looked familiar...then I thought maybe it was just the name, Marbella, same name as our club...but then I took my Silver Palate cookbook off the shelf and it fell open to page 86 where the page had been folded over. I think the last time I made this when we lived in Great Falls, VA...about 12 years ago...I'm so glad to be reminded of this recipe...thank you! My house is going to smell divine tomorrow.

NS Lifestyles Blog said...

Please give us the recipe for the million dollar meatballs!!!! Great post!!

Unknown said...

yum! sounds delish!

whitney
seeshopeatdo.com