Crock pot ideas/Recipie

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I bought a shopping bag ful of fresh apples today at the farmer's market.
My husband is a BIG fan of apple butter on toast. Last year I made tons of it as a 2 day project.
This year I have a little less time available so i'll make a bit more modest amount of apple butter this weekend. Even just a few jars will make DH very happy. If I can manage some extra I can give some to daughter and DIL when they come for Thanksgiving and they can take it home.

Here's my recipe for apple butter, which I make in my big crock pot:

First, you cut up a whole SLEW of apples and fill a big spaghetti pot on the stove with them and cook covered on medium-low for about 45 minutes or an hour with an inch or so of water. Stir and mash occasionally....and you get apple sauce. Add a little sugar if its too tart.

Then, to make that into apple butter, you take the apple sauce you just made and transfer it a large crock pot and continue cooking on LOW for hours with the top propped open a little, to let it evaporate and get thicker. I use slow cookers for this, about 6 qt size ones. Be sure to leave at least an inch of space at the top when you fill the crockpot with apple sauce.
After about 12 hours in the crockpot on LOW (not on the high setting!), with an occasional stir every few hours, it's brown and thick but tastes like very concentrated apple, not burnt tasting. It should be stiffer than apple sauce.

I then add some sugar and a little allspice and cloves (I prefer this to the usual cinnamon)....to give it a hint of spiciness. You could try coriander or mace too. At the end if it's too chunky, I give it a quick zap with my hand held blender stick to make it a bit smoother than my usually chunky apple sauce.
Let cool and pack into containers and freeze.
Note: Unlike stovetop cooking, you can safely leave your crockpot cooking on LOW overnight if you place it on a safe surface and prop the lids open a crack with a metal teaspoon handle or large unbent paper clip. The lid needs to be open a crack to allow the apple butter to thicken while cooking.

[tulip]

I love making lasagne in my crock pot. Layer all the ingredients, don't cook the noodles, and cook on low for 4-5 hours. So easy and not messy!

[OakLeaf]

Oh what a great idea Tulip! I don't even have a crock pot but I might get one to make lasagne!

[tulip]

Oh what a great idea Tulip! I don't even have a crock pot but I might get one to make lasagne!

Yeah, I've never had a crockpot before my kitchen renovation started. The lasagne is fantastic. I use a whole bag of fresh spinach in there (just layer it with the other stuff!)

[Serendipity]

Our slow cookers are probably the most used appliances in our house!
We do a lot of hiking and nothing beats coming home knowing that dinner is ready and smelling fabulous!
Use this website a lot and have found just about everything on it:

www.justslowcooking.com/index.html

I have a slow cooker hot apple cider recipe that I've been using for years. Actually have made it outside on a campfire and in a pot on the stove, but the best is in the slow cooker - again because the house smells soooooo good when you come back after a long cold (we live in Northern Ontario) winter day hiking or skiing.

1 quart cider or apple juice (I've used both)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. whole cloves
1 small cinnamon stick
1/8 tsp salt

Simmer over low heat at least 1 hour (better for 4 + hours)

Recipe can be tripled, quadrupled, etc.

Enjoy!

[surgtech1956]

I'm going to make either black bean or lentil soup - I don't think we have any bacon, I might revamp the recipe. Anyone have any recipes using barley?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm going to make either black bean or lentil soup - I don't think we have any bacon, I might revamp the recipe. Anyone have any recipes using barley?

Here's a bunch to look over:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...up&btnG=Search