Hey everyone I was given a crock pot and I'm just so curious to use it.. I've never used 1 before but now is the time. Can you guys recommend any good pot roast recipes or any good crock pot recipes...
Thanks

Oh goodness I have a whole Crock Pot cookbook.. lol. The Crock Pot is my best friend :p

Italian Style Roast

6 oz. can tomato paste
16 oz. can tomatoes, drained and chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. thyme
1 medium potato, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1 large celery stalk, sliced
1 tsp. black pepper
2 bay leaves
2 lbs. chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat

In a small mixing bowl combine the tomato paste, garlic, onion, soup mix, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper. Rub this mixture all over the chuck roast and place the roast in the Crock Pot. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook on low 8 - 10 hours (or on high 4 - 5 hours).

What else do you like? I have a whole book... lol

Here is another one

Beef Roast

3 - 4 lb. rump, pot or chuck roast
2 cloves garilc, sliced
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup white wine
3 medium potatoes, cut up
2 large carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp. parsley
1 tsp. rosemary
1 tsp. thyme

Make several slits over the roast. Insert garlic slices into the slits. Rub the outside of the roast with the salt and pepper. Place in Crock Pot and add remaining ingredients. Cook on low 10 - 12 hours (or on high 5 - 6 hours). Remove roast and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Now

I've never cooked with wine... what kind of flavor does it have?

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Originally Posted by eljay1103

I've never cooked with wine....what kind of flavor does it have??

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To my taste buds, it gives it sort of a sweet flavor. But dont overuse wine when you are cooking, I have made that mistake before and it can get really bitter and nasty.

Did your crock pot come with any recipes you can try? If so try one or two of them and see how they come out.

You could always make soup in a crock pot, but if you are going to put pasta in it add the pasta the last 10 minutes before the soup is done. If you leave the pasta in the crock pot more than 10 minutes the startch from the pasta will ruin the soup.

You could buy the crock pot meals that come in a bag that you usually just add water to and let it cook in the crock pot for 5 or so hours.

If you search online for crock pot recipes it should come up with lots of different recipes one can try.

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Originally Posted by snowflake22

You could buy the crock pot meals that come in a bag that you usually just add water to and let it cook in the crock pot for 5 or so hours.

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That is a good idea, I forgot about those things! I really wouldn't recommend the stroganoff though, I thought it was nasty. :p

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Originally Posted by nauticalstar420

That is a good idea, I forgot about those things! I really wouldnt recommend the stroganoff though, I thought it was nasty. :p

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I am glad I was able to suggest a food idea to use in the crock pot. I think the meals I am talking about say crock pot on the bag. I think the reason the stroganoff meal didn't taste good is because it's made with pasta and as I said the longer you cook pasta the worse it comes out. If you know what I mean. There is a rice and stew crock pot meal you can buy in the bags that taste very good.

Savory Pot Roast with Sweet Onion Gravy

1 3/12 to 4 lb boneless beef chuck roast
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salt and pepper
2 large (about 4 cups) sliced sweet vidalia onion - you can also use Walla Walla
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup beer (or substitute beef broth)
2 tablespoons honey mustard
2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
4 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water

1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper and brown in oil on both sides for about 10 minutes total time. Remove beef and set aside.
2. Add onion to skillet and cook, stirring to loosen brown bits on the bottom of skillet, until onion are softened, about 3-5 minutes. Place onions in bottom of 5 quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, stir together broth, beer. Mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, thyme, and oregano. Pour over onions. Place roast atop of onions and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or until very tender.
3. Remove beef from slow cooker, keep warm. For sweet onion gravy, remove cooking liquid and onions to medium saucepan; skim fat from surface of liquid and discard fat. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water; add to liquid in saucepan. Cook and stir over medium high heat until thickened. Taste gravy and adjust seasonings as desired.
4. Slice beef in 1/2 inch thick servings; arrange on serving platter and spoon gravy over.

I also found many online crock pot recipes. I made up my own cookbook with ones I liked.

I would list a few sites but here is the search page that lists them and you can pick whatever you want to browse.
crock pot recipes - Google Search

Edit: You can find those "Fix It and Forget It" crock pot cookbooks at bookstores, through Current, Inc. and have seen some in the LTD Commodities catalogs. There was even one for people who camp out by way of using their RV. Lots of options!

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Originally Posted by snowflake22

I am glad I was able to suggest a food idea to use in the crock pot. I think the meals I am talking about say crock pot on the bag. I think the reason the stroganoff meal didn't taste good is because it's made with pasta and as I said the longer you cook pasta the worse it comes out. If you know what I mean. There is a rice and stew crock pot meal you can buy in the bags that taste very good.

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I followed the exact directions (putting the pasta in very last) and it was still nasty. The seasoning didn't taste anything like stroganoff. :p

Those frozen crock pot meals are a very good idea if you don't have a lot of time to put stuff together. I use them if I know I'm going to have a full day. :)

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Originally Posted by nauticalstar420

Those frozen crock pot meals are a very good idea if you dont have a lot of time to put stuff together.

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What you said is true. Also it seems to be cheaper to buy the crock pot meals in a bag then to try to by the meat and vegetables seperatly.

I have not tried making a roast in a crock pot, but I have seen it done on TV with a pressure cooker which to me seems to be about the same thing when it comes to how the food is going to be cooked since you do leave the pressure cooker on for more than 2 hours at a time to cook foods in it.

Hey where can I get those bags?

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Originally Posted by eljay1103

hey where can i get those bags??

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Anywhere you go grocery shopping. :)

I go grocery shopping at Super Walmart, so I get them there.

My favorite site (with ratings and comments from cooks):
Slow Cooker Main Dishes Recipes - Main Dish - All Recipes

Here are two easy crock pot recipes, taken from the Kraft "Food and Family" magazine:

Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Sandwiches

1 boneless pork shoulder - about 2 lbs.
3 onions, sliced, separated into rings
1/2 Kraft (but can be any brand) Original Barbecue Sauce
8 kaiser rolls, split
8 Kraft singles (there too, can be any cheese singles)

Place pork shoulder in slow cooker; top with onions and barbecue sauce. Cover. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.

Remove meat from slow cooker; cut off and discard fat. Shred meat with 2 forks. Return meat to slow cooker; stir until evenly coated with sauce.

Fill rolls with meat mixture and top with cheese singles.

8 servings.
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Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
8 small boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 1 lb.)
3 tablespoons flour
1/3 cup orange marmalade
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated fresh gingerroot

Toss chicken with flour in slow cooker.

Stir in all remaining ingredients; cover with lid.

Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.

Make 4 servings.

**the Kraft "Food & Family" magazine is a freebie, sent out about four times a year plus one holiday magazine. You also get a calendar and each month features a recipe. While it is free, it is only available in the U.S. and APO/FPO addresses. If you are interested go to www.kraftfoods.com/share

[QUOTE=shygrneyzs]Here are two easy crock pot recipes, taken from the Kraft "Food and Family" magazine:

Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Sandwiches

1 boneless pork shoulder - about 2 lbs.
3 onions, sliced, separated into rings
1/2 Kraft (but can be any brand) Original Barbecue Sauce
8 kaiser rolls, split
8 Kraft singles (there too, can be any cheese singles)

Place pork shoulder in slow cooker; top with onions and barbecue sauce. Cover. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours.

Remove meat from slow cooker; cut off and discard fat. Shred meat with 2 forks. Return meat to slow cooker; stir until evenly coated with sauce.

Fill rolls with meat mixture and top with cheese singles.



I can't wait to try this sounds easy and yummy

Marie Callender has the great meals for crockpots in a bag (in the freezer section). That's the extent of my knowlegde. I burnt the last thing I really tried to cook in a crock pot and I don't know how I even did that.

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Originally Posted by kayakinggirl

Marie Callender has the great meals for crockpots in a bag (in the freezer section). That's the extent of my knowlegde. I burnt the last thing i really tried to cook in a crock pot and i don't know how i even did that.

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Cooking it on high for too long will do that. Even though they have a high setting, they are really meant to be set on low. I too learned that the hard way :p