Things I Love Thursday: My Slow Cooker

I love a Crock Pot meal.

They are easy, and almost always turn out perfectly yummy.

I got my first slow cooker when I was about 25 and we became good friends.

Such good friends, that I think I used the love out of it.

I say that I used the love out of it, because eventually, it stopped loving me back.

My stuff was starting to not cook just right and I wasn't getting the perfect meals that I had become used to. 

So I knew that it was time to get a new one.

And lucky me, I got one for Christmas!

I LOVE my new slow cooker!!!  It is a black Rival Crock-Pot and it's bigger than the old one and has a timer on it so that I can set it and forget about it.  Plus, it is very affordable!  At around $40, it is a real bargain for all the home cooked meals you will be enjoying.

And now ALL of my crock-pot meals are coming out great again, and since the weather here has taken a chilly turn, I am getting good use out of it. 

(Although, I also use my slow cooker a lot during the summer months too.  It's just so easy...)

If you haven't become good friends with the slow cooker yet, what are you waiting for??  I promise you that you won't be sorry!!

And to get you started, I am including two of my favorite slow cooker recipes.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Slow cooker Lasagna:

1 lb. ground beef

1 jar 24 oz. spaghetti sauce

1 cup water

1 container 15 oz. Ricotta Cheese

1 pkg. 7 oz. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided

1 egg

2 Tbsp.  chopped fresh parsley

6 lasagna noodles, uncooked

 

Brown meat in large skillet; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. Mix ricotta, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tbsp. Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Spoon 1 cup meat sauce into slow cooker; top with layers of half each of the noodles (broken to fit) and cheese mixture. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (broken to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce. Cover with lid.
Cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours or until liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; let stand, covered, 10 min. or until melted.

Slow-Simmering Pork Sandwiches  

2-1/4- to 3-pound pork shoulder roast
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin or chili powder
3 cups barbecue sauce
12 to 16 kaiser rolls or hamburger buns, split
Red onion slices (optional)
Dill pickles (optional)

Trim fat from roast. Cut roast, if necessary, to fit in a 3-1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker. Add water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and cumin or chili powder. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 10 to 12 hours or on high-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours.

Remove meat from the cooker; discard cooking liquid. Using two forks, pull meat apart and return it to the cooker. Stir in barbecue sauce. Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 30 to 45 minutes or until heated through.  Serve meat mixture in split kaiser rolls or hamburger buns with onion and pickles, if desired. Makes 12 to 16 sandwiches.

I am linking up with The Diaper Diaries.  Check out all the other stuff getting blog love today!