Crock pot ideas/Recipie

[Brandi]

I'm discovering I like this crockpot thang.

This one an experiment, no recipe just thought it'd work....and it did.

Large'ish tri tip cubed
1 1/2 large red onion diced
4-6 tomatoes wedged
4 very beeeeg portobello 'shrooms
water & red wine near to top cooked over night.

turned out nice, portobellos in beefy tomato'y goodness.

Next time I think lots of garlic, more wine, less H2o ...

Not everyone in the united states has or even knows what a tri tip is. I have found with all my traveling with work that only the west die of the rockies seems to have tri- tip! My friend in florida iwh moved there is always saying how he misses tri- tip.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Made some black bean soup in my 3 qt crockpot today, and it came out great.
Here's what I did, if anyone is interested:

Preparation time about 20 minutes.

Cut about 4-6 strips of bacon into pieces and fried them up in a skillet. (I always keep some cut up bacon pieces in little bags in the freezer for this purpose). Take out bacon and put aside. Drain off "most" of the bacon fat but leave a bit in skillet to brown the onion in. Roughly chop 1 onion and about 5 cloves fresh garlic and quickly brown on high heat in the skillet. Put aside with the bacon.
Now, open 3 large cans of Progresso black beans and put in crock pot along with all the liquid from the beans. Whiz the beans with a blender stick right in the crock until mostly smooth but with some whole beans reamining here and there for texture (this takes about 10 seconds). Add the onions bacon & garlic. Chop a generous bunch of fresh cilantro and throw in. (save some cilantro for garnish). Add some freshly ground black pepper and any other favorite seasonings if desired, but don't overpower the cilantro as the main herb flavor. Stir, cover and cook in slow cooker for 6 hours on low. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some fresh cilantro on top.
If you hate cilantro leave it out...maybe put some green pepper into the browning onions instead, and use sour cream and onion as garnish.
This, and my chicken noodle soup are my DH's faves.

[emily_in_nc]

That sounds delicious, Lisa! I'm forwarding the idea on to my DH, who does nearly all the cooking (he's retired) and LOVES BB soup. Since we're finally going to get some winter (starting tomorrow) after all this unseasonably spring-like weather, soup sounds perfect!

Emily

[KnottedYet]

Dinner at Lisa's house! I'll bring the gluten-free beer!

I love cilantro and black beans, so I want to try this recipe! Thanks!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I put a BIG bunch of cilantro in- the flavor is what makes this soup the best.
Also, Progresso cans of black beans are larger than a "typical" can of beans (and better beans in my opinion), so if you use another brand of typical size can, use 4 instead of 3 cans.

P.S. Knot- Just for the record, I don't mind gluten, ....but don't be slippin' any TOFU in there anywhere!


P.P.S. Is it just me, or does anyone else always read the title of this thread as "Crack pot ideas"??

[7rider]

Sounds yummy. I usually have cilantro around for the bunnies. I so rarely use it for my own meals!

Does anyone ever put chicken in a CP frozen (or nearly so)? Most recipes call for cooking on low 6-8 hours, but DH and I will be away from the house for 10 - sometimes 11 hours. My recent attempt with Cornish game hens had them falling apart as I tried to remove them. They were yummy, but I'd like a better "presentation" and perhaps would have done so if I cooked them only 8 hours, instead of 10-11. I wondered if I could put them in half frozen, or if I was just inviting a good case of botulism!!

[annie]

Sounds yummy. I usually have cilantro around for the bunnies. I so rarely use it for my own meals!

Does anyone ever put chicken in a CP frozen (or nearly so)? Most recipes call for cooking on low 6-8 hours, but DH and I will be away from the house for 10 - sometimes 11 hours. My recent attempt with Cornish game hens had them falling apart as I tried to remove them. They were yummy, but I'd like a better "presentation" and perhaps would have done so if I cooked them only 8 hours, instead of 10-11. I wondered if I could put them in half frozen, or if I was just inviting a good case of botulism!!

I often cook completely frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot. Just open the package the throw them in, add whatever seasonings, etc. and they cook on low for 8-10 hours. They are quite done! Never had any problems. If you were doing an entire chicken, it might take a bit more time. Cornish hens are small, tho', so I think they'd work well. I may have to try that! What else did you put in with them, Regina?