Crock Pot

That's how I felt about the ones with the timer too, but here's what I meant about buying a separate timer. My dad always used these for the Christmas tree and outside Christmas lights. I've heard of people using them for a crock pot too. You plug the timer into the wall, and then plug the crock pot into the timer. You set it to turn on at a specific time and you can also set it to turn off at a different time.

I used to do this with my coffee maker in the US. A lot easier to get out of bed with a hot pot of coffee waiting for you.

Yum! Do you buy an already prepared piece of corned beef for this?

I'm doing a chicken soup in mine right now. I'm using boneless breasts this time. Last time I put in a whole chicken and felt it was too fatty and after cooking it for 8 hours I didn't want to take the time to let it cool and skim it before we ate it. I know I'll lose some flavor with just the breasts, but I added extra seasoning and a bunch of dill.

Sainsbury's sells Salt Beef (sometimes) it doesn't come with the seasoning packet like it does back home  so I put a little bit of pickling spice and a bay leaf in with it. I put some new potatoes at the bottom of the pot put the corned beef on top of the potatoes and then put the cabbage on top and last I poor a couple tins of beer over it and let it cook for about 10 hours on low.

I forgot about another crock pot tip I heard of but haven't tried yet...

If you have a larger crock pot, but are cooking something smaller, you can put it in a small casserole dish, or the like, cover it, and put it inside the crock pot. That way it's still getting cooked in there, but it's in an appropriate sized container. It's almost like using the crock pot like an oven...

Thanks for the suggestion about getting a bigger crock pot by the way, I made a brisket in mine last night and I wanted to put more veggies in...the poor thing was so stuffed the top didn't fit on. So today I am going to venture out somewhere and buy a 6.5 L one....

Thanks for the suggestion about getting a bigger crock pot by the way, I made a brisket in mine last night and I wanted to put more veggies in...the poor thing was so stuffed the top didn't fit on. So today I am going to venture out somewhere and buy a 6.5 L one....

Found your excuse to go buy a fancier one?   

anyone have any brisket recipies for the crockpot?  have a lovely lil one i picked up at the farmers market. 

Found your excuse to go buy a fancier one?   

shhhhhhhhhh.....

anyone have any brisket recipies for the crockpot?  have a lovely lil one i picked up at the farmers market. 

I did a little one today -- just chop up a big onion or two, a few carrots (3-4), a few ribs of celery (3-4), and peel 2 cloves of garlic.  Season the brisket with salt and pepper and brown it on all sides in a little oil, then cook the veggies in the same pan for about 5 minutes.  Put the veggies in the bottom of the slow cooker and put the brisket on top.  Pour in enough beef stock to just cover the veggies (about an inch).  Cook on low for about 10 hours.

I did a little one today -- just chop up a big onion or two, a few carrots (3-4), a few ribs of celery (3-4), and peel 2 cloves of garlic.  Season the brisket with salt and pepper and brown it on all sides in a little oil, then cook the veggies in the same pan for about 5 minutes.  Put the veggies in the bottom of the slow cooker and put the brisket on top.  Pour in enough beef stock to just cover the veggies (about an inch).  Cook on low for about 10 hours.

I did nearly the same, except I used the ONE PACKET of liptons Onion Soup mix that I had in the house. I don't brown my meat before going in the slow cooker, I don't find any difference between when I do and when I don't!

just made rice pudding in mine!  oh so yummy!

Ooooo, please share with the class!  I've some pud rice to use up.

Ooooo, please share with the class!  I've some pud rice to use up.

ooh yes please!
i've some pudding rice too!

i usually wing rice pudding.

my fav conventional way is from the best recipie cookbook-
2 cups water to boil
Add 1 cup rice (i usually use basmati, but will also use arborio or long grain or whatever i have in the house) with pinch of salt
continue cooking on med-low, cover and cook for 15 mins, until water is almost absorded, stirring once or twice
add 5 cups milk (i use skim or whole or double cream- whatever i have- although i personally think whole milk is a good compromise)
add 1/2 c sugar (recipie calls for 3/4c but i think that's too much)
turn burner to high until milk starts to bubble (watch it!), and then turn heat down to med-low and cook for 30 mins stirring occasionally (lid off)
it's done where there's still a bit of liquid left (the rice continues cooking after you take it off, and you don't want the pud to be dry)
i then stir in a good whallop of fresh nutmeg, 1/2t vanilla, allspice, cinn whatever.

in the crockpot- i DON'T precook the rice.  i put all ingredients (except spices & vanilla):
1 c rice
5 cups (PREHEATED milk)
1/2 c sugar
cooked on high for 3 hours or so?
breakfast all week! (i wish- i finished this lot within 36 hrs of making)

in the crockpot- i DON'T precook the rice.  i put all ingredients (except spices & vanilla):
1 c rice
5 cups (PREHEATED milk)
1/2 c sugar
cooked on high for 3 hours or so?
breakfast all week! (i wish- i finished this lot within 36 hrs of making)

Thanks for the recipe. I've followed your instructions and threw in some extra cocoa powder.

Can't wait until 19:20  tonight. Yum!