What A Crock(pot)
by Jenners • 10/07/2009 • Writers Workshop • 33 Comments
Thursday = Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop
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So even though I avoid cooking and recipe posts like the plague, this week I’m choosing Prompt #1: What’s cooking in YOUR crockpot?
The short answer:
Dust and cobwebs.
The long answer:
I’m not a big crockpotter. However, for about a week every year (usually during winter), I go through a crockpot phase. No one looks forward to this, but I get sucked in each year.
Perhaps it is the usual difficulty of trying to make dinner with the Little One nipping at my heels. Perhaps it is the cold weather. Perhaps it is the periodic guilt I feel over making the same four or five dishes over and over and over again. When all this happens, the crockpot comes out, gets dusted off, and I flip through my big book of crockpot recipies.
I purchase stew meats. I chop and dice vegetables. I throw everything into the pot and let it go. Then dinnertime comes and I’m reminded why I don’t do the crockpot.
- Problem 1: The Little One doesn’t like food that is mixed together. Everything must be put into different compartments on his plate. No food can be touching or mixed together. If a pea somehow conspires to fall into applesauce, it is an emergency that must be dealt with swiftly.
- Problem 2: Mr. Jenners prefers dry chicken and won’t eat most vegetables.
- Problem 3: Most crockpot recipes are pretty big, and almost no one in our house likes leftovers–especially when they didn’t care for the meal the first time around.
- Problem 4: My main reason for eating stew is to have buttered bread to sop up the gravy. This is probably not the best thing for me as my “bread to stew” ratio is about 3:1.
“Crockpot Week” ususally ends with a nice batch of meatballs, which is really just an excuse for me to put three pieces of provolone cheese on the sandwich and enjoy. Mmmmmm…that sound really good right now. Perhaps Crockpot Week 2009 is almost here.
The same thing happens to me. I think I actually wrote a post a very long time ago about my disdain for crock pots. See, most of the stuff you can make in a crock pot you could make just as easily on the stove… Like some people make applesauce in the crock pot, or oatmeal, or even fruit punch. What's with that?! It seems like such a pain to clean up… sigh. Yet still, every year I go through a "phase," and every year it takes me about two weeks to realize I'm retarded, haha.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only on who doesn't think the crock pot is a miracle!
My crockpot is filled with cobwebs too! lol! I don't even remember what it's for half the time!
Why don't you just skip the crockpot this year and just make some provolone cheese sandwiches.
I'm a big crockpot cooker because I don't have to think about it later. Whenever I come across a recipe, I always wonder if I could put it in a crockpot. Truthfully I use the crockpot because I'm lazy!
However crockpot cooking does leave too much leftovers and my family doesn't like leftovers after the 2nd day…I still make them eat it.
I use my crockpot all the time- but I only make two recipes in it. Yeah, we eat the same things all of the time.
I never used a crockpot. I would probably have some kind of crockpot explosion if I tried to cook in it. I better stick with what works for me and my picky eaters
Fun post!
dust and cobwebs…mine too
While this is all certainly true, there is something great about the homey smell that permeates the house when something is simmering all day long. It makes me feel domestic. But I almost never do stews, just roasts and the like.
I'm with you. I'm not much of a crock potter. But, I do like a good turkey chili cooked in there. Speaking of which, it's good chili weather, wouldn't you say?
Mr. Jenners likes dry chicken! : )
We LOVE our crock pot and use it quite often. Soup, chili, roast, spaghetti, you name it!
Love me some crockpot cookin', but I steer clear of the mixture type foods like you.
Yummm… I really want a meatball sandwich!
My sister stole my crockpot – it used to be a lifesaver at university!
I like stews in the winter, but my kids also enjoy dry pasta…
I ususally have a crockpot day once a year, but I still have the darn thing hanging around.
Maybe I should try the meatballs. I think both boys would eat those.
And here I've been moaning because there are no crockpots in France! Maybe it's a good thing that I don't have one.
You must teach Mr. Jenners to eat veggies!
Winter is perfect crockpot weather. Although I have to agree that there are a lot of so called crockpot recipes that wouldn't be known if it weren't for the word crock in them.
I think I am with the little one as well as Mr Jenners! I don't like any of my stuff touching…okay I can mix mashed potatoes with a piece of chicken but eww not in a sauce, and I hate left overs! Best thing we make in our crock pot is Marinara sauce or chili!!
Perhaps when you have a few more of those little ones you'll change your tune about Ye Ole Crockpot. It's out every Sunday, like clockwork after the first freeze.
Leftovers: for the dog
Food dropped on the floor: that's what the dog is for.
Bad smell: Blame it on the dog.
Do you have a dog?
Crockpots – perfect for chili and this is chili season!
I don't use crockpots, but I do cook a lot of curries for a long time over low heat (you can't do a proper curry in a crock pot because the first stage has to be done at high heat and you don't want to loose any of the pan juices by transferring from the original pan).
Curries are exactly the sort of thing I can divide into several portions to pull out of the freezer when I want one in a hurry, they are one of the few dishes that don't usually taste worse after being frozen.
I love love love my crockpot!!!
I just throw some stuff in it and don't have to worry about stopping in the middle of a chapter or movie (who cares if you have to stop cleaning etc.?)to go fix dinner!
I am a crockpot fan. I use it every week at least once. Though, in the cold months I use it more often. I love making spaghetti sauce in it.
I totally go through phases with my crockpot too. You should try getting ribs, those are so good and easy in a crock pot. Or I have this really easy beef roast recipe that we used to do pretty regularly.
But I completely understand number 1, also a problem at our house.
You are so clever. I totally didn't see you taking the post in this direction, but I love it! I happen to be a huge crockpot fan, but I've been on a bit of a cooking strike lately, so even my crockpot may be getting some cobwebs. Now, if you could make cheerios and scrambled eggs (on different days, of course) in the crock pot, I'd have been all over that.
You are so stinkin' funny!
I must say that I totally sympathize with your crock pot issues. None of my kids would eat casseroles because of the separate food issue – and none of them enjoy leftovers (I, on the other hand, thrill at leftovers in the frig because it means one less night of cooking).
Now that the kids are older – and I a working outside the home, I am trying to dust off the contraption a bit more often.
Finally! Someone else who doesn't eat leftovers! I have like two meals that I will eat leftovers (and pizza of course) but otherwise I just am not a fan. I already ate that meal!
I make two things in the crockpot – chicken in marinara sauce and pulled pork. I think that means using it about 6 times a year — sometimes less. Glad I got the pot for free!
I love the crockpot! But my family is usually so hungry by the time I get around to feeding them, that they don't even care what they eat anymore.
I like the idea of a crock pot but I can never get the recipes to turn out right. And I don't have the organizational skills needed to be that well, organized.
I might just have to give you some of my non-stew, easily separated final meal crockpot recipes that don't serve an army, hence no leftovers.
I love using the crockpot both in the summer (when it's too darn hot to cook in the kitchen) or in the winter (because cold winter days tend to make me feel lazy). But I have discovered and/or manipulated recipes to work in the crockpot that will please even the pickiest palate. And I'm sure one or two of them might include dry chicken. 
I have all the same crockpot issues. I do love a good crockpot meatball or 10 though…
I have thought about getting a crockpot… my old roommate had one when I was in college… I loved how things turned out in there but I was scare that I would come home from school to find out our place burnt down from the crockpot. So, I've never invested in one….Maybe I would and just use it when I'm home, but is it really worth the investment if I'm here anyway? *shrugs*