My first experience with Stephanie O’Dea was through her blog, A Year of Slow Cooking.
She has now written at least three slow cooker cookbooks. Nicole and I both have the first one, 365 Slow Cooker Suppers.
Crock Pot Meals
I also have Stephanie’s other two books, Make it Fast, Cook it Slow, and More Make it Fast, Cook it Slow. I left those two with Nicole so I think I’ll just go ahead and order myself another one of each and let Nicole keep those.
Two nights this week, I’ve made dinner out of the 365 Slow Cooker Suppers book and both times, Vince has raved about dinner. Nicole first made the BLT Chicken and told me it was great so I made that and yes, it was great! Last night, I made Pork and Black Bean Lettuce Wraps, but actually served it on a bed of lettuce instead of as a wrap.
Pork & Black Beans
I didn’t have a mango but had a pineapple so I was going to use that but then we ended up going by the store for something else so I got a mango. This was one of the best dishes we’ve had in a very long time! Vince kept saying “We couldn’t get anything like this in a restaurant around here!” It was really, really good. We have steak out to grill tonight and I’m thinking I might would rather have leftovers from last night!
The black beans I used were the HEB brand with jalapeno peppers and I think that made this even better. If I were using any other kind of black beans, I might add jalapenos to the meat/bean mixture while cooking it.
One thing I have a hard time with, especially using the crock pot, is stringy meat. A blog reader once suggested this and it is working . . I cook my dinners way less than the time given, or at least on the lower end of the amount of time given, and I’ve been having better results.
Joyce says
I have learned to use my slow cooker alot. I get busy sewing or doing genealogy so it is just better for us all if I can get dinner in the pot before noon.
I know its a waste of tri tip, but my husband is too tired to BBQ after work and I am not allowed near a BBQ. Long story, I burn myself easily and also tend to read and forget the meat.
But anyway, take your steak pieces and kosher or sea salt them and let set a few minutes. dry rub with a steak rub, and a little Montreal steak seasoning. Spray your crock with a lithicin spray like pam or the new olive oil stuff, lay your meat in the crock and turn on.. Some times I add potatoes but msotly not. Make a salad and micorwave a potato. I cook any fresh veggie I have or want. Thats it. unless I want to rub gently with a dash of Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. about a hour before dinner time.
JudyL says
We like our steak grilled so that works for us and we can’t have potatoes so it will be steak, asparagus and a salad tonight.
Sherrill says
I don’t use my crockpot very often because it’s just me. But I love cooking in the crockpot (which I mostly do when our church group takes dinner to the Ronald McDonald house) and am always on the lookout for good crockpot recipes. I made corned beef in it a couple of weeks ago for St. Paddy’s day.
Maxi says
I just put a dump cake in the crock pot 30 minutes ago Never have made one before and hope it’s good — in about three hours I will know.
Diana says
I have 2 crockpots and usually have them going steady .. LOL DH usually makes green chili, I make spaghetti sauce, pot roast, chicken with either dumplings or Nooodles. No peek beef tips. So many wonderful recipes, ahhh love the crock pot.
DH laughs at me every Christmas as I ask for 2 crockpots .. LOL