Crock pot cooking all the same?

As many of you know, I take every chance I can to talk about crock pot cooking. I love it and I truly believe that you can make some wonderful things in it...BUT...

Recently, I've had some conversations with people who believe that ALL crock pot cooking tastes the same...WHAT??? I about fainted! But not being the kind that runs from a challenge, I took on the challenge of changing their mind. I have to say by the time it was over, I felt a little sorry for them. I mean I can talk about crock pot cooking for a long time...grin...

Slow cooking is an easier way of making meals for your family and that fact that you can take any recipe and turn it into a crock pot recipe makes it a wonderful little appliance in your kitchen.

Okay, stepping down off my soapbox now...

I just wanted to let you know that I will be posting more recipes, I'm just concentrating on revisions at the moment and getting back into a writing schedule...I'm hoping to have some recipes posted soon for some Valentine Day romantic dinners and desserts...

Happy Slow Cooking!

The History of the Crock Pot

I thought I would start the new year off with a little history...The History of the Crock Pot...so here's what I found:

The "crock pot" name is actually the trademark of Rival, but crock pot has become the standard name that everyone uses.

The crock pot started out as a "Beanery", which was a small appliance that cooked beans. In 1970 Rival purchased the company that made the beanery and soon after Chefs found that the beanery actually cooked meats better than beans...And Rival reintroduced the 'beanery" as a crock pot.

Now the art of slow cooking goes back to man and fire. Cooking meat and vegetables in a fire pit for 24 hours or more is why I imagine this system never hit big for the average person. Thank goodness Rival came along. I can barely plan my dinner the morning of, I can't imagine having to plan my dinner 24 hours in advance...grin...

So there ya go...The History of the Crock Pot...Recipes will follow soon...

Happy Slow Cooking! Hugs...

Don't forget to check out Brenda's Page...

Happy New Year!

Well, 2010 is here...hope you were ready. I haven't decided yet if I am or not, but I guess it's too late to worry about it now...grin...

Over the holidays, I was reminded of an old friend, in the form of a MG Novel that I had started writing a couple years ago. I have decided to pull this story out and finish her...I have also decided to start writing on my old blog, Brenda's Page again. I will still be posting recipes on Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen, but I need a place to keep me on track with my writing and Brenda's Page did that for me before.

So here is to a New Year that I hope is filled with all your dreams coming true. I hope the new year found you safe, happy, healthy and smiling (or in my case, snoring...I can never stay up that late...grin)...

Happy Slow Cooking! Hugs....

Don't forget to check out Brenda's Page...

Merry Merry Christmas!!!

Hello Everyone!

From my family to yours, we hope you have a wonderful holiday that is filled with family, friends, laughter, and love!

Stay safe and I hope Santa brings you everything on your wish list!

Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen will re-open after the first of the year.

Happy Slow Cooking and Have a very Merry Merry Christmas! Hugs and more hugs until next year!

My Crock Pot Thanksgiving Dinner

To prove that I practice what I preach, I thought I would share a couple pictures of my crock pot Thanksgiving...

It turned out that it was only going to be Hubs and I, so I only had to use 4 of my crock pots...we had gone to my MIL's for dinner on Wednesday and because of my work schedule, I picked up a cheesecake for that dinner, and we had some left over, so I didn't have to use a 5th crock pot to make any dessert...

Green beans, potatoes, roast and a chicken for Koda (We don't buy dog food, we cook for Koda - yes I know he's spoiled- and have found that cooking a whole chicken in the crock pot is the easiest way to make his dinner...grin)...Hubs doesn't care for white meat, so it was no use getting a turkey breast, so we had a roast...it isn't really what you eat, but who you eat it with...grin...



To prove they aren't empty:

Potatoes and Green Beans

Whole Chicken and Roast

And I can't forget the hot rolls....



I love small kitchen appliances...I think the most time consuming thing was peeling the potatoes...and plugging the appliances in...grin...

Happy Black Friday to everyone!

Starting December 1, 2009 I will be posting Party Recipes...dips, spreads, beverages, etc. for all those holiday parties this time of the year brings...

Happy Holidays!

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen will be closed until after Thanksgiving. I hope everyone found at least one recipe that they thought was interesting enough to try for their Thanksgiving holiday meal during Hazel's Holiday Recipes month...

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving full of much love, happiness, family and friends.

I just want to say that I'm Thankful for all of you and to let each of you know that you have touched my life one way or another. Your blogs make me smile, laugh out loud, and ponder things that I hadn't thought of before...When I started my first blog, I never thought I would have any readers, much less meet so many wonderful people.

I can't wait to return with more recipes after Thanksgiving...again, Happy Thanksgiving and don't eat too much!!!

Happy Slow Cooking! Hugs...

Crock Pot Holiday Recipes!!!

Hello everyone!

I know it isn't even November yet and I'm talking holiday recipes, that is because I am planning a crock pot Thanksgiving at my house this year and I want to share some LOTS of recipes with you that just might tempt you into having a Crock Pot Thanksgiving this year at your house!

I will be posting recipes for everything that I can think of for Thanksgiving...if there is something you are curious about knowing if you can make it in the crockpot let me know and I will see what I can find.

Starting Monday, I have recipes for the Pumpkin lovers out there...everything from pumpkin butter to pumpkin bread to pumpkin soup and pumpkin cakes...And some of these recipes will even make nice gifts for the holidays...

The week after that I have planned some recipes for cranberry sauce to sweet potato and pecan casserole to Garlic mashed potatoes...and for you marshmallow loving souls, I even found a recipe for sweet potato casserole with marshmallows...

I will even have a recipe or two for cooking your turkey in the slow cooker...and we can't forget the stuffing...and desserts...You better start stocking up on those crock pots, because this year, you're gonna need them!!!

Enjoy the holidays! Enjoy your family and friends! Enjoy having your very own staff of Hazel's and George Hamiltons making your Thanksgiving Dinner for you!

Starting Monday and running all the way to after Thanksgiving (You might have leftovers that you don't know what to do with...grin)...I will be posting Holiday Recipes...

Don't be late for dinner! See Ya Monday! Hugs...

Hazel's Hiccups

Today, I've decided that we are going to have a Hazel Hiccup day...this is a day where we discuss something besides crockpots...

Since the 4th of July is coming up, I thought I would share some websites that have crafts, recipes, etc. just for the 4th of July...

Crafts:

Ribbon Door Flags

Star Spangled Wavers

Uncle Sam's Hat Treat Holders

4th of July Salt Dough Pins

Fire Cracker Napkin and Utensil Holder

More Kaboose Fourth of July Crafts

Recipes:

AllRecipe's Summer Drink Recipes

July 4th Cookout Recipes

Patriotic Pops

Edible Eagle

Books:

Happy 4th of July, Jenny Sweeney

4th of July, Asbury Park: A History of the Promised Land

Perky Turkey's 4th Of July Adventure

A New Job for Dilly (okay this one isn't really about the fourth of July, but I wanted to remind everyone that Rena is in the middle of her blog tour and you should check it out...

Coloring Pages:

Happy Fourth of July

Fireworks

4th of July History:

Independence Day

History of 4th of July