Light Summer Slow-Cooker Recipes

Had to share these great recipe's from the Family Circle magazine online. Yummy slow cooker recipe's. Great timing for these hot sultry summer days when we just don't feel like cooking! Enjoy!

Light Summer Slow-Cooker Recipes

Apricot Chicken - Crock Pot

1 1/2 cups apricot preserves
1 cup Russian dressing
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
6 chicken breasts
1 teaspoon pepper



Mix together the preserves, dressing and soup mix. Place chicken in bottom of slow cooker; pour mixture over chicken. Cover; cook on High for 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low and continue cooking for 3-4 hours.

Serves 6

Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker!

Fall is soon upon us and is the season to dig out that slow cooker or purchase one. Slow cooking is great for anyone, whether you work outside the home or are an at home domestic diva!

I decided to highlight a great book called "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker" and a couple slow cookers that I like. I have been searching for a new one so wanted to share the things I found.




So I've narrowed my choices between these two, so if you have experience with either I would love to have your comments!


Hamilton Beach 6-qt. Stay or Go Slow Cooker
Make the most of your evening by having dinner ready when you step in the door. The Stay or Go slow cooker has ample room for roast chicken and veggies, savory soup or a delicious pot roast and comes with a clip-tight lid that locks on to contain
flavor and prevent messy spills. The lid rest lets you stir and serve without having anything in the way. Large, full-grip handles make carrying easier, whether you’re moving it from one counter to the next or taking it to a potluck party. Dishwasher-safe, removable stoneware insert and lid. Recipes included.

OR.....


West Bend 6-qt. Oval Versatility Slow Cooker
Imagine having all your meals ready when you come home each day! This 6-quart cooking pot goes from heating/serving to stovetop, oven, refrigerator, freezer or
dishwasher. It holds a whole chicken, ham or roast and offers low, medium and high settings for roasting or slow cooking, plus a keep warm setting for serving. The durable cooking pot has a premium nonstick (non-teflon) interior and stainless steel handles; a glass cover allows easy viewing as sauces simmer and meats sizzle. The handy lift-out rack lets you remove roasts and meat with ease. Cooking pot, cover and rack are all dishwasher-safe. Base is heat-resistant.

Adapting Standard Recipe's to a Crock Pot

Here are some suggestions for best results when taking a standard recipe and using it in a crock pot.

• Remember that liquids do not cook away like they would if on the cook top. Use half the amount of liquids called for in the standard recipe. Also, add liquids last, after meat or vegetables have been placed in the cooker.
• It is not necessary to brown larger pieces of meat unless you need to cook off some of the grease before adding the remaining ingredients. For example, browning ground beef, sausage or bacon first and draining the fat is recommended.
• Milk, cream and sour cream should be added during the last hour of cooking to prevent curdling.
• Do not remove the lid except to add ingredients. It takes up to 20 minutes for the heat to build back up to the proper temperature.
• Spices intensify during long cooking times so use half the amount and add during the last hour of cooking.
• To thicken sauces after cooking the meat, you can add quick-cooking tapioca or a paste made of flour or cornstarch and water and cook on HIGH an additional uncovered 10 minutes.
• Most vegetables should be thinly sliced or placed near the sides or bottom of the cooker. They cook slower than meats.
• Cut whole chickens and any meats in half that are over 2 lbs to be sure they cook thoroughly.
• For safety, always cook meat and poultry dishes on HIGH the first hour to speed up the time it gets to get to a safe cooking temperature for meats. Then reduce to LOW for the remainder of the cooking time.