Help! My Slow Cooker cooks too fast!

HELP!

I've gotten quite a few emails lately asking what to do about a hot crock, or a slow cooker that cooks too quickly, and burns or dries out food.

ick. I hate that.

First off, I'm sorry. So sorry.

There is nothing more defeating than thinking you have dinner all ready to go and come home to a gross dried-out or charred mess. I'm really sorry.

But, hopefully this will help, just a bit.

1) Make sure you are using the right size cooker.  A slow cooker needs to be quite full in order to heat evenly and cook properly. I have used pretty much all of the different types of cookers on the market, and have now collected quite a few (as of 5/2013: I have 14 in the house!!).

 I realize that storage space is at a premium, but consider getting a smaller slow cooker if you find that you aren't filling your crock at LEAST 2/3 of the way full each time you use it.

This goes against the bigger-is-better American mentality. I know. I'm sorry.

2) Start easy. Don't try out a pasta dish or a rice dish, or bleu cheese and steak roll-ups for one of your first crockpot cooking adventures. The reason they come with a little book full of stews and soups is because they are easy and somewhat fool-proof.

Try:
taco soup
beef stew
minestrone soup
lazy chicken
cream cheese chicken
white chili
enchilada casserole
sausage and vegetables
marinated meat

3) Cook for the shortest and lowest cooking time if you are going to be out of the house.

huh?

I know, it doesn't make sense.

If you are going to be out of the house for 10 hours, and the cooking time says 6-8 hours, don't set it for 10. Set it for 6, and then let it stay on warm for the rest of the time you're going to be out of the house. Worst case, the meal isn't quite done and you flip it to high while you change your clothes and set the table.

The cooking time is a range. You have to get a feel of your slow cooker (which is why you should start with the easy ones, first) and figure out due to your altitude, humidity, etc. how long things will take.

You will get a feel, I promise. I'm a complete dunder-head when it comes to cooking, yet I can slow cook. You can, too. I promise.

4) But my slow cooker doesn't switch to warm! If you don't have one of the newer "smart" pots, and you plan on being out of the house for a long period of time, you should really invest in one. 

These are the slow cookers I happen to use in my own home, and I've heard from readers that they have been able to score them for *quite* cheap at garage sales or on Craigslist.



5) I think my slow cooker releases too much moisture. Okay. Some of the newer slow cookers have a slot in the stoneware for a spoon to rest, or there is a vent hole in the glass lid. I have no idea why the manufacturers have put those things in. They certainly didn't ask me my opinion! When you release steam through these holes or slots, your food dries out. 

You can remedy this by putting down a layer of foil over the stoneware, and then put the lid on like normal. PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!! when taking off the foil---the steam will shoot right out.


6) I want to make something small but only have a geat-big-huge cooker. That's okay. All you need to do is simply insert an oven-safe dish into your cooker and then put your food into the dish. This will create a smaller cooking vessel which will insulate your food and keep it from getting over-cooked or lost in a huge machine. I use corningware or pyrex, but metal pans are fine, too. Here are my recommendations. 


7) I've done all that and it's still way too hot and it's making my countertop hot, and I think there's something wrong with it. Don't use it. Call the manufacturer. Talk to the experts who actually made the product. I'm a mom who drinks too much coffee and wears slippers all day. I can't fix it. I wish I could. I'm sorry.

If you have a hard time getting through to a particular manufacturer, please email me. I now have contact information for the different customer service channels and will try my hardest to connect you to the correct person who can be of service.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hope this helps! xoxo steph




Alphabetical Listing of Recipes
Save Money by Using Your Slow Cooker
Frequently Asked Crock-Pot Questions
An Important Note About Safety
My New Year's Resolution
Slow Cooker Troubleshooting

Me, writing elsewhere. But Most Importantly, a $200 Gift Card Give-Away!

I promise that when I don't post regularly it's not because I'm sitting around watching bad day time TV and eating bon-bons.

Although, I do secretly wish that was true.

maybe not so secretly.

Sometimes when you write on the internet for a while people want to give you stuff. Mostly I ignore the stuff that is offered, because it doesn't fit into slow-cooking, our particular lifestyle, it isn't gluten-free, or it's icky (think viagra).

But sometimes something comes along that is just-too-good-to-pass-up, and would directly benefit our family for the better.

And I feel like I'd be a do-do if I didn't say yes.

A few weeks ago was one of those times. I'd like to share with you our brand-new free thing, and the opportunity for you to win a $200 gift card so you, too, could have a brand-new free thing.

Just in time for the holidays! Although I promise not tell if you keep the card for yourself.

I'd also like to share a new post on Totally Together: The Art of Being Present
and
a write-up on BlogHer.com I did about Helping Children Express Feelings. (edited: I guess the link isn't live yet. When it is, I'll update. )

and that's it. Now go! Go win some of other people's money!

Good Morning America, and Other Announcements

1.) The book is completely and totally and officially all done. It will be in stores this coming Tuesday, October 13. If you have pre-ordered from Amazon (and THANK YOU!!! for the pre-orders!) your book will be mailed that day.

2.) I am going to New York, and will be on Good Morning America on Tuesday, October 13. Set your DVRs, email your grandma, and tweet your peeps. I'm trying my hardest to not have an anxiety attack while on camera.

or on the plane.

My mom took me shopping for nice maternity clothes which actually fit, so I'm hoping I look pregnant and not just like a huge swollen blob.

3.) I got my hair done today. It's a bit darker than I've had in quite some time, and I really like it. The kids are weirded out. Adam likes it, but he says that no matter what. I'm quite pleased-- I think it looks fallish.

4.) You may have noticed my new super-awesome header with clickable tabs, thanks to the lovely and talented Jennette Fulda, of Make My Blog Pretty. If you are ever in need of any site design, tweaking, or hand-holding, Jennette is your girl. I can not possibly express how wonderful and responsive she is.
She is also the author of Half Assed, a hysterical weight-loss memoir I read on the plane the last time I went to New York. I was so thankful to have her book to keep my mind off of the turbulence.

I hate turbulence.

eek. Now I've freaked myself out again.

5.) I've gotten a few emails about an icky ad for cutting out belly fat that has been automatically attaching itself to the bottom of the emails that go out through feedburner. I had NO IDEA this was happening, and greatly appreciate the head's up. I've since contacted google and have asked to be opted out of certain campaigns, but it looks like it takes about 24 hours to process these types of requests.

I'm terribly sorry that this happened, and I hate it that anyone has been inadvertently offended.

6.) The $200 gift card give-away is still going strong over at Totally Together Reviews. If you haven't already entered, hop to it!

7.) I am ecstatic that the book is finally here. I've heard several authors liken writing and publishing a book to child birth. I have even joked with friends that sometimes it feels that way. But I've decided it's not the same. It's not even close.

At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is family. So. Hug your kids, call your parents, your grandparents, your sister, and your brother, and remember that all the day-to-day stuff doesn't matter. Family comes first.

and then go set your DVRs. ;-)

xoxo steph

Wrapping It Up

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Even though I didn't post daily in 2009 the way I did in 2008, this year has continued to be all slow cooker all the time in our house. It's been a glorious, energetic, nutty and somewhat surreal year.

I can't even imagine what 2010 has in store, yet I'm ready. Bring it on!

Although she has been teasing me for weeks and weeks, I do think the newest addition to our family will NOT be making her presence before Christmas. She may arrive before New Year's---I just can't tell. Whoever said every pregnancy/delivery is different is right, although truth be told, I'm getting a little annoyed by that saying.

But I feel good, the kids are happy, family is close by, and we're all healthy. There is nothing left to ask for. I feel super lucky.

I'm going to take a bit of a break for the holidays, and am going to step away from the computer. If you need help with recipes/your slow cooker, hopefully your answer is provided in the
Frequently Asked Questions part 1
Frequently Asked Questions part 2

also, there are reader comments and suggestions underneath each recipe that you might find helpful. This is exceptionally true in the case of the Slow Cooker Yogurt Recipe.

If you are cooking for the holidays, the list of Slow Cooker Holiday food has you covered.

I've still got a few contests running over on Totally Together Reviews.

The Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook is over, and winners have been contacted, but if you didn't win, go ahead and pick yourself up a copy. It's a wonderful cookbook and resource.

The HP TouchSmart Computer giveaway will run until *tomorrow*, 12/24 at 5pm pacific.

The Tassimo Hot Beverage System is running until 12/31, 5pm pacific,

and the

$5 Dollar Mom Cookbook giveaway will end on 1/1/10, 5pm pacific. Erin's book was just released, and it's fantastic. She has more opportunities to win copies over on her website.

I plan on hosting more reviews and giveaways in the New Year, and I also plan on getting on the ball with posting over at Totally Together Journal. I've really slacked at posting, but am feeling motivated to get that site more active. My thought is to go through the manuscript that I have and post a simple chore or family activity daily. I certainly look forward to getting our house back in shape this upcoming year, especially once I can bend again!

And lastly, I'd like to thank each and every single one of you for the overwhelming support, love, and kindness you've shared with me through the Make it Fast, Cook it Slow book launch. I am completely blown away by the touching emails I wake to each morning, and for all of your sweet words.
Not a day has passed in months, where I'm not moved to tears. Thank you so so much for being so wonderful.

The cookbook seems to be doing well, and I have all of you to thank. Your buzz to friends, family, and over the internet, has helped so very much. I am so beyond amazed that in the December 27 issue of the New York Times, Make it Fast has made the best seller's list at lucky #13.

Wow.

(updated. well, darn. That link worked yesterday, and now they are asking people to register in order to see it. I hate stuff like that. Here's a scanned image, although I think you'll have to click on it to make it bigger.)

Like last year, I promise that the website isn't going to vanish into thin air. It will still be here, and I'll continue to add to it when I can, because quite frankly, slow cooking is the only way I get dinner on the table! I think I'll continue with budget-friendly slow cooker meals for 2010. I've got quite a few I'm itching to try out, and would love any and all suggestions. I have always thought of this website as a group project.

Have an absolutely joyous Holiday Season and a fantastic 2010. It'll be a good one.

xoxoxo

A Book Club! so my brain doesn't go to mush!

[there is a new recipe for Country Captain Chicken down below]

I wrote last week about the possibility of reading a book or two together over the summer holiday. I haven't done much reading (other than Pat the Bunny and cookbooks) lately, and I miss it.

I received nineteen recommendations to read Kathryn Stockett's, The Help.
I don't know anything about this book other than the information listed on Amazon, and that it appears to be a bit controversial to some reviewers.

But my friend Danielle sells an awful lot of copies, and Shirley liked it, so that's good enough for me.

The kids are off school this upcoming Monday, and I'll need a good book to read during quiet reading time. Penny (I don't have a link for Penny!) pointed out that it's still only available in hardback (although there is a kindle version), but my local library has 12 copies, so hopefully yours has a copy to borrow.

How's July 15 or thereabouts work? I've got a deadline July 1, which is why I'd prefer a bit of wiggle-room. The 15th is a Thursday.

I'll start a discussion on this site in the morning, and then host a live twitter party that evening---5 to 6 pm pacific time.
If you don't have twitter, no worries. You can still follow along, even without an account.

As for facebook, I'm still a holdout. I don't have an account---I'm super nervous to have "just one more thing" to check during the day, and I figure if anyone really wants to get a hold of me they can track me down. That said, a reader did start a fan page where you can evidently chat back and forth. I think. I'm not actually sure how it all works!

Happy reading! See you on July 15th!

Happy Crocktober!

There was some disagreement in the last post as to whether or not Fall has officially begun. I think we can all agree that since today marks the beginning of

CROCKTOBER

we're definitely in the clear.

whew!

psst, steph: did you put a plaster skull inside of a Little Dipper?

why yes, yes I did. I take my job very seriously...

In honor of this special occasion, I have some announcements.

1)  I will resume posting daily for the entire month, and maybe even longer. (don't tell Adam).

2)  My friend Ruth is hosting a virtual silent auction on her Lemonade & Kidneys blog. Ruth  became active in the PKD Foundation three years ago, after her oldest son became the third generation of her family to be diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease.

The hand-picked items are fantastic (I'm bidding on a super-cute necklace), and she will be auctioning off a signed unreleased advanced review copy (complete with typos!) of my More Make it Fast, Cook it Slow cookbook along with the first Make it Fast, Cook it Slow cookbook today and tomorrow (Oct 1 & 2). Please help Ruth meet her goal of raising research money for the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation.

3)  If you're coming to San Francisco for the BlogHer Food conference, look for me, and let me know so then I can look for you! Diane has done a fantastic job of putting together a Gluten Free dining guide to SF--great to bookmark for future visits.


4)  I have launched a message board, and I'd love for you to join me. I did this for a few reasons. Mainly, I would like there to be a place where you can help each other with some of the most common slow cooker and recipe questions. I feel like SUCH A HORRIBLE PERSON when I can't get to all of the mail in my inbox, and thought throwing questions out onto a group forum would be helpful instead of allowing them to become buried in the comment sections.

The message board also provides a place to chat about things that aren't really on topic. Like the DC Housewives. Seriously, what is up with the Sahalis? Tareq truly thinks an invitation to the White House is only "something to be framed?"

My hope is that this community becomes a meeting place for you to socialize and have fun. I love corresponding with you all through email and the comments, and while I don't plan on stopping, I think you'd all really like each other. You've got a lot in common!

5)  It's date night tonight, and we're going to see The Social Network. I think the last time Adam and I saw a movie on the day it was released was when we saw The Firm.

a hundred million years ago.

I'm excited!

6)  We haven't had a giveaway forever, so we should have one! Click on over to Totally Together Reviews for an opportunity to win one of five brand new PROGRAMMABLE 4-QUART slow cookers from Cuisinart.

this contest will run until Sunday, October 10 at 9pm pacific.

woooo hooooo!!!

HAPPY CROCKTOBER!

now go make a pumpkin spice latte.
or witch's brew.

.

Slow Cooker Stuffing with Apple and Sausage Recipe

This is it, the time we've all been waiting for. The weather is cooler, we can wear baggy sweaters, put on elastic waist pants, and eat.

Really eat.

it's your patriotic duty, you know.

We're having a bunch of people over for Thanksgiving. I'm not sure how many---somewhere between 24 and 33. It's a wide range.

we really shouldn't talk about it too much.

I might hyperventilate.

But! there will be lots of food. And? a rocking stuffing that has both sausage and apples.

I'm a giver.

The Ingredients.

serves 8 (at least)

12 cups dried bread cubes (I used brown rice bread.)

8 ounces ground pork or turkey sausage, browned and drained

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1 1/2 cups chopped Granny Smith apples (no need to peel)

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 1/2 cups diced celery

1 1/2 teaspoons rubbed sage

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup chicken broth, plus an additional 1/4 cup if desired

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker (or larger if you have one). Cut the bread into 1/2 inch cubes and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, flipping once, or until the bread is golden brown and toasty. While the bread is toasting, brown the sausage on the stovetop and drain. Toss the bread cubes and sausage together in your slow cooker, and pour in the melted butter.

Add apples, vegetables, and seasonings. Use two large spoons to toss the ingredients and disperse the spices. Pour in 1/2 cup chicken broth, and stir gently to coat bread and veggies with broth. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours. When the bread is browned on the top and edges, and the vegetables are tender, your stuffing is done. Stir well, and keep on the warm setting until meal time.

Add an additional 1/4 cup of broth before serving and stir again if you'd like added moisture.

The Verdict.

This was the first time I've  made a stuffing with sausage, and I loved it. I liked the savory, smoky bits strewn throughout the bread cubes, and I loved the way the spices all worked well together. 

 gobble gobble gobble.

Utilizing your slow cookers this Thanksgiving, or any other big honking family Holiday:

Plan ahead. Make your meal plan a week or so before the event, and purchase non-perishable food.

I'm serving:

cranberry sauce

mashed potatoes with cream cheese and sour cream

traditional stuffing

cornbread stuffing

(or maybe I'll combine the two and add the sausage and apples from this one? not quite sure. I'm leaning that way though...)

candied sweet potatoes

sweet and sour caramelized onions

dijon brussels sprouts

we're doing turkey in the oven and ham on the bbq

dessert is being brought. If I was making it, I'd do crustless pumpkin pie and ice cream.

need more? crockpot holiday food 

I will do as much as humanly possible in the next few days to keep Thursday from being beyond bonkers.

I suggest making cranberry sauce as early as Monday, chopping all vegetables and keeping them in sealed plastic bags on Tuesday, you can boil potatoes, sweet potatoes early, make dessert a day or 2 ahead of time, etc.

and delegate!

I'm *very* lucky in that Adam enjoys being in the kitchen (probably more than I do!), and likes to chop onions and vegetables. (I'm not ever going to be a person to have a zen moment while chopping onions. It's just not who I am.) 

I also make sure the house is clean days before having company. I've always stuck to my Daily 7, and then just kick it up a notch a few days before expecting a houseful of people. The last thing you need to worry about on a Holiday is whether or not the toilet is clean!

and my last tip? Get 3 large rubbermaid garbage cans, and put them in the middle of the living room. Plop a kid into each one and don't let them out until the event is over.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAA! :-)

What are your make-ahead secrets for a stress-free (or lesser) Holiday meal?

two quick giveaways, a new recipe on the way!

How was your Thanksgiving? We had a great day. The food was perfect, the kids behaved, and all of the relatives got along.

win win win.

We're pretty much recovered, and the kids have begun decorating for Christmas. There is a garland of kid-cut snowflakes hanging over my head. I'm pretty sure our living room will never look like it was taken from the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog.

but it's perfect. I love it.

I do have a new slow cooker recipe to post----I made this chocolate creme concoction with a layer of ganache on top. IT'S WONDERFUL.

but the pictures are on the desktop, which is in the room where the baby is napping. And I'm not going to disturb that scenario for anything.

anything!

In the meantime, I've got two giveaways to share with you in honor of Cyber Monday. 

1) an Olay 7-in-1 review is up on Totally Together Reviews because I'm getting so old I now need an anti-aging moisturizer. And! Olay is giving away a $100 Visa giftcard just for reading all about it.

2) I'm done holiday shopping, thanks to Uncommon Goods. I fell in love with this catalog even before they decided to give me free products to host a giveaway. That's up on Totally Together Reviews, too.

Do you have  a turkey carcass in the house? (I type the word carcass way too often. It's kind of morbid.)

you should make turkey and wild rice soup! or turkey stew!

I will write about the crockpot chocolate pots de creme as soon as I can. 

maybe after the well-baby check up.

or clarinet lessons.

or the PTA silent auction meeting.

oh, that reminds me. Does anyone have any good ideas for silent auction items? Or how to best organize a silent auction? Or how to best not lose your mind while trying to organize a silent auction?

Happy Cyber Monday!


[If you read my site regularly through a feedreader or through email, you'll notice that I've enabled a shortened feed. I'm not happy about this. I HATE shortened feeds. I've done this because my site content has been taken directly from the feed and posted on other sites without my permission. The quickest and easiest way to keep content from being stolen is to no longer publish a full feed. The good news is that everything is still up on the website, and is only a click away.  I'm terribly sorry for any inconvenience, and greatly appreciate your support.]

Introducing: More Make it Fast Cook it Slow

Today is the 362nd day of 2010.

I really don't know where the time went. This past year was a complete blur for me. 

I had a(nother) baby.

and I wrote a(nother) book.

Adam doesn't want me to post pictures of the kids on the Internet, so instead of a beautiful smiling baby face (and man, she really is a smiler!), you're stuck with the cover art of the book.

I wouldn't recommend having a baby and writing a cookbook all at the same time, but if you do, make sure you've got the best family in the world to help.

and a really big freezer.

Mike, who works at BarnesandNoble.com would like to remind you that you can use the Barnes and Noble gift card you got for a Holiday present online. He'd also like you to know that there is a NEW! not in the book! recipe for ribs (in the features tab) on BarnesandNoble.com and that this new cookbook is ONLY! $10.55! for a limited time only!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

an excerpt from the Introduction:

There are over 200 brand-new recipes in this book that have not been shared in the first Make It Fast, Cook It Slow cookbook.  I have separated the book into three sections: $7 and under, $10 and under, and $15 and under dishes. Within each section, there are chapters for beverages, appetizers, soups and stews, side dishes, main courses, and desserts. The main-course selections are bountiful, because I believe this is the most beneficial. 

I live in the SF Bay Area, which happens to be a terribly expensive place to live. The prices in this book are from my own hometown, from my own (regional chain) grocery store. I did not use coupons to purchase the food, although I did choose to buy items when they were on sale, and chose store brand items if the per-ounce cost was less expensive than that of the name brand.

Because of this, you may find that by shopping with the store circulars in your area, or by using coupons, or by purchasing meat in bulk at a warehouse store, you can find food at a lower price, and that my prices seem inflated. I'm okay with that! I'd much rather err on the side of overestimating the costs. 

In the past, many slow-cooker meals were made cheaply because they revolved around canned cream-of-something soup. While I do think there is a place in the world for condensed soup, this book does not have a single recipe that calls for this ingredient. My family doesn't use this product due to allergy and health concerns, and since so many recipes already exist with this key ingredient, I wanted to step away and prove to myself (and others!) that inexpensive slow cooker dishes can be made without it. I am such a sucker for a challenge. 

As in the first cookbook, everything has been prepared completely gluten-free. If you are not gluten-free, simply ignore my notes, or file them away in case you ever need to cook for someone with a gluten sensitivity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book is a group effort. I could not have finished my Year of Slow Cooking challenge in 2008 without the love, support, and hand-holding each one of you have provided, and I certainly wouldn't have kept it up to unearth ANOTHER 200 recipes without your suggestions, emails, and comments.

Thank you.

I'm blown away by your generosity and support. I don't have any current plans for a booktour, but I'd really like to set up a roadtrip with the family over the summer. If I can finagle something, I will certainly let you all know.

If you can help with word-of-mouth publicity for this new book via facebook, a blog post, or something else, please let me know. The contact information for the publisher's publicist is up above in the "contact" section, or you can email me at crockpotlady AT gmail DOT com.

thank you again.

I'm not sure what this new year will bring, but I'm excited.

I'll keep you posted.

December 30, 2007: my New Year's Resolution

January 1, 2008: the first time I made black eyed peas

August 25, 2008: Haggis. because why not?

December 18, 2008: Tamales (traditional, wrapped in corn husks)

December 31, 2008: the second time I cooked with black eyed peas. It went MUCH better.

July 6, 2009: Cowboy Beans

December 5, 2009: Super Simple Cranberry Roast (what we're having for dinner tonight)

September 21, 2010: Hoppin' John

what I did after my challenge (january 1, 2009)

Frequently Asked Questions, part 1

Frequently Asked Questions, part 2

and last, just in case...

The Slow Cooker Diet

Have a joyful and prosperous New Year. Lots and lots of love.

Good Morning America, and other announcements

Set your DVRs! I'm going to be on Good Morning America on Wednesday morning--the 12th (in the 8 o'clock hour).

I still don't know what I'm going to cook.

I think I know what I'm going to wear, but I change my mind from one minute to the next.

(they don't want you to wear white, black, patterns, or anything with a logo. that's kind of most of my wardrobe...)

oh. and there's this:

I hate flying.

HATE flying.

so my mom is going to come along.

to hold my hand.

THANK YOU MOM!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been thinking a lot about this year's New Year's Resolution, and have finally figured out what I want to do. One of the best things about this whole blogging thing is meeting people from all over the country (and world). I've recently figured out how to tape both sides of a Skype phonecall and thought it would be fun to have a WebTV section for interviews with blogging pioneers, entreprenuers, rockstars, and (personal) idols.

I am thinking of two different focuses right now:

Real Moms Making Real Money At Home, (in Their Pajamas), And How You Can Too

and Gluten Free TV

I've already completed one of the interviews, with Kim Demmon, from Today's Creative Blog, but haven't been able to figure out how to compress the video file for uploading.

Here are the interviewees I've already lined up:

(not in order. just how my brain spit them out)

Shirley Braden, Gluten Free Easily

Amy Green, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

Leah Ingram, Suddenly Frugal

Alisa Fleming, Go Dairy Free (benefits of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing)

Michelle Stern, What's Cooking with Kids

Elana Amsterdam, Elana's Pantry

Mir Kamin, Want Not and Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

Ann-Marie Nichols, This Mama Cooks (internet entrepreneurism)

Jessica, Very Baby (online marketplace)

Jennette Fulda (entrepreneurism, web design, New! book, Chocolate & Vicodin)

Laura Wittman, I'm an Organizing Junkie

Jessica Gottleib (mommy blogging,  internet interaction)

I'm hoping to get everything working by the end of the month and be able to share a new video interview each week throughout the year (fingers crossed). 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm giving away TWO BlackBerry Style phones over on Totally Together Reviews. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a fantastic week! I'll see you when I get back from New York (I might take a nap first).

2008 flashback:

Jan 8: Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix

Jan 9: Enchilada Casserole

Jan 10: Candied Sweet Potatoes

Jan 11: Corned Beef & Vegetables

Jan 12: Brie with Pecans and Cranberries

Jan 13: Hot and Sour Soup

Jan 14: Overnight Brown Rice and Quinoa Breakfast (flop)

Jan 15: Cioppino (delicious!!)

Pesto Minestrone Soup Slow Cooker Recipe

Although it was bizaredly warm and we spent the day outside walking around a community farm (baby pigs couldn't possibly be any cuter), we're still smack dab in the middle of soup season.

Soup rocks.

This is a hearty (non-boring) minestrone with a funky and surprising twist: pesto. It's delicious, filling, low fat, and can be completely vegetarian/vegan if you opt for vegetable broth. 

The Ingredients.

serves 6

1 large onion, diced

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup sliced celery

1 yellow or red bell pepper, seeded and diced

1 pound (any variety) potatoes, cut in 1-inch chunks (no need to peel)

1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

2 (15-ounce) cans beans (undrained; your choice, I used black and kidney)

1 (11-ounce) container prepared pesto (or a cup or so homemade)

4 cups chicken broth (can use vegetable)

1 cup frozen peas (to add later)

1 handful baby spinach (to add later)

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Put the veggies into the bottom of your slow cooker and add the entire can of tomatoes and both cans of beans. Pour in the pesto and broth. No additional seasoning is needed. Cover, and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or until the vegetables have fully cooked and softened and flavors have melded completely. stir well, and add frozen peas and a handful of spinach. Cook on high for another 10-15 min or until the peas are fully hot and the spinach has wilted.

The Verdict.

I love how the pesto flavors this soup so fully---I didn't want to sprinkle on a bunch of cheese the way I sometimes do when eating soup. I first had pesto minestrone soup at an Italian restaurant on vacation--it was a starter, and I liked it better than the meal and knew I needed to make it at home.

I prefer to use spinach rather than kale in my minestrone (Adam hates kale. I can't persuade him otherwise, and have decided it's not something to fuss about) but if you'd like to use kale  (it's traditional), the directions are exactly the same.

here's a bunch more soup!

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 I have completed the very first webTV interview with Kim Demmon, of Today's Creative Blog. It took a while to figure out the software, but Kim was SO wonderfully patient, and hopefully things will continue to get easier and easier.

 Thank you for your suggestions for interviewees---I've got them all written down and plan on making my way down the list.

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Thank you so much for your wonderful comments and emails about my Good Morning America appearance. I had the best time ever, and am so happy that it went smoothly on all accounts and that I'm home again with the kids.

and the laundry.

What?! It's March? What happened to February?

 

recycled picture. originally from crockpot party

Dude. February completely disappeared. 

that's not okay.

We've been battling the flu. This was the first cold/flu season in about 4 years where we opted to not get a flu shot (for no reason, really----we weren't reminded by the pediatrician, and were apparently not in the high-risk group), and so I can anecdotally declare that flu shots work.

~~~Quickly ducking so I don't get hit with a squashed tomato from the flu-shots-are-evil people~~~

So anyway, that's where I've been. Tending to sick, cranky people. 

I don't have a new recipe today, but have instead rounded up all of the 2008 Flashbacks that I wasn't able to send out. Fingers crossed that the snot, fevers, and all-around-ickiness (you don't want to know, trust me...) stays away next week and everyone is back at school/work and we get back to normal around here.

Normal. HA!

February days 1-5 are in the loose meat sandwich post
February 6 Philly Cheesesteak (I always type cheesecake accidentally) Sandwiches

February 7 Creamy Apple Oatmeal

February 8 Whole Chicken in the Slow Cooker (did you know I used to work at the zoo?)

February 9 Not-too-Spicy Bean Dip

February 10 Stuffed Artichoke  these are such weird vegetables.

February 11 Black Bean Soup

(I'm getting tired of typing out the word FEBRUARY)

(in case you were wondering)

February 12 Creme Brulee (and then I got excited and emailed the Rachael Ray Show)

February 13 Rocky Road Candy (yes, please.)

February 14 Tofu in Peanut Sauce (tofu holds up remarkably well in the slow cooker)

February 15 Fish Chowder

February 16 Tortilla Soup (I've made this twice this past week)

February 17 Peanut Butter Brownies

February 18 Chicken Lettuce Wraps (who needs PF Changs?)

February 19 Pomegranate Beef (how I keep Adam happy)

February 20 Sweet Potato Soup

February 21 Veal Marsala (apologies to the vegans in our midst)

February 22 Overnight Egg and Cheese Casserole

February 23 Original Taco Soup (made this more times that I can count; the internet loves this "soup")

February 24 Chicken and Rice Soup (comfort food. super good for you; low in calories)

February 25 Chocolate Fudge Cake (ooh, I forgot about this one)

February 26 Chicken Parmesan (made this two weeks ago, delicious, then used the leftovers in Pasta Fagioli)

February 27 Hearty Ox Tail Stew (mmm.)

February 28 Creamy Risotto (no better way to make risotto. super simple, and no stirring!)

February 29 (darn leap year!) Buffalo Wing Dip (MAKE THIS. TRUST ME.)

So there you go! Hopefully that'll keep you busy for a while. If you're reading this in a reader, or through email, you may not have had the opportunity to see that I've put together a Table of Contents that you might find useful.

I've got a new post up on Totally Together Journal where I share my new personal motto:

REAL LIFE, NOT A MAGAZINE

It's got kind of a nice ring to it, don't you think? :-)

What's in your pot today? I dug through the freezer bin and threw together a beef stew, since we're housebound and I can't get to the store. I loosely followed my own recipe, but since there as many versions of beef stew as there are missing Barbie shoes, I also tossed in some leftover mixed vegetables and garlic brown rice couscous.

Happy March! Happy Slow Cooking!

Reader Favorites

I wanted to put together a favorites page for a while, but couldn't figure out how to properly gauge what were "true" reader favorites. Until I remembered Facebook.

doy.

The following recipes have the most "likes"--- which has got to mean something, right?

 

Creme Brulee

156 likes

 

 Falafel -- yup, Falafel!

201 likes

 

Pasta Fagioli: an Olive Garden knock-off

 339 likes

 

Peperoncini Beef Sandwiches

340 likes

 Cream Cheese Chicken

346 likes

 

 Taco Soup

589 likes

 

Salsa Chicken and Black Bean Soup

650 likes

Brown Sugar Chicken/Candy Chicken

716 likes

Pumpkin Spice Latte

over 1k likes

ABC Index of all slow cooker recipes

over 3k likes

Slow Cooker Yogurt Recipe

over 5k likes

When I started this site, I never thought I'd come up with new or innovative uses for the slow cooker. I figured people might tune in to see if I actually kept my resolution, but I had no idea that I'd learn new uses for the cooker or come up with recipes. It has really been a complete trip--- and I'm truly thankful.

Thank you so much. 

other stuff I did this week:

Time Management for Moms

2008 Flashback, the complete year of crockpotting, in order
interview with Amy Green: Simply Sugar and GlutenFree
Vegetarian Tortilla Soup