Search Results for: blog five tips for great slow cooker meals

Crockpot Mac & Cheese II

You can make comfort food, such as macaroni and cheese on a hot summer day. Just use your crockpot instead of your oven. This macaroni and cheese dish can be paired with a salad to make a full meal, or used as a side dish. It will freeze well, too. Just make sure to reheat it and eat it within three to six months for optimal flavor. If you have a food sealer, you can keep it even longer. This variation on the original crockpot macaroni and cheese sneaks in some extra lycopene for good eye health through the addition … Continue reading →

Fix It and Forget It

Inspired by Dale’s review of a slow cooker cook book, I thought I would chime in with my own recommendation. I am definitely going to check out her choice, but meanwhile, let me tell you about my favorite slow cooker cook book. This is a book that I recommend to anyone who is new at slow cooking. The recipes are simple and adaptable. My copy has plenty of post it notes inserted on the pages that give detail about the changes that I have made in order to improve a recipe to my family’s taste. And any cookbook that lends … Continue reading →

Comfort Food: Crockpot Mac & Cheese

It seems that we have run out of turkey leftovers. I had wondered how on earth this could be possible, given the fact that we cooked a 21 pound bird and only had to feed five adults and five picky kids. Then I realized the answer: our relatives carted away most of the leftovers. Sigh. Well, I am glad that they are going to enjoy them, but as a result, I actually have to cook dinner tonight. Mourning the loss of all of that turkey and mashed potatoes, I thought comfort food would be in order, and the more simple, … Continue reading →

Five Tips for Great Slow Cooker Meals

Using your slow cooker or crockpot is a great money saving idea. You can use inexpensive ingredients and have dinner ready with ease, avoiding the cost of eating out. I often get a lot of questions about using slow cookers, especially from people who find that their meals are dried out, tasteless, over or under seasoned or a strange texture. But most of the time, this can be corrected easily by following some basic guidelines or tips to freezer cooking. Here are five tips for great slow cooker meals. Be careful about opening the lid. While some recipes do benefit … Continue reading →

Inventive Meals on the Road

After traveling and lodging, food is the biggest expense while traveling. But you can get in some great meals for $10, $5 or less when you cook them yourself. How can you cook while traveling? There are a few fun and inventive ways to be frugal here. Bring the slow cooker While many hotels don’t allow cooking in the room unless you have a suite that includes a kitchen, you can still use your crockpot in your car! If you have a long trip, at least four hours, then you are all set for a great meal. Add a liner … Continue reading →

How to Save on Summer Food

When summer comes, your food budget can go out of the open window. Here are some tips on how to keep it all under control. Why does food cost more in the summer? There are several factors that can raise your food bill in the summer. With the heat, it is likely that you won’t be using the oven very often, meaning that those inexpensive casseroles and whole roasted turkeys, chicken and beef dishes are going by the wayside for more expensive steaks, fish and chicken breasts on the grill. There is a lot of fresh produce, to be had, … Continue reading →