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Cooking with a Crock Pot: Five Slow Cooker Recipes You Will Love

Crock pots are amazing little devices that are often overlooked when it comes to preparing a meal. For those of us that find we don't have time to prepare a lavish meal, crock pots are a godsend. While you are out and about working or doing errands, your food cooks over the course of the day, ready and waiting by the time you and your family are ready to sit down for dinner. Here are a few simply amazing crock pot recipes to get your started.

Chicken Curry
Spice up your traditional chicken recipes with this twist.

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 2 whole chicken breasts, boned
• 12 oz of chicken broth
• 2 tbsp. margarine
• 2 green onions with tops, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. curry powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. garlic
• Dash of pepper
• Fluffy rice.

Directions:

1. After slicing chicken into small pieces, place in crock pot along with the broth, margarine, onions, curry, salt, garlic and pepper. 
2. Cover and cook on high setting for 2 1/2 to 4 hours,
3. Serve atop hot rice.

Taco Soup
As the winter months roll around, try out this soup recipe to revive you and your family.

Ingredients

• 1/2 c finely chopped white onion 
• 1/2 c chopped green onion
• 1/2 c chopped celery
• 4 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) tomato paste 
• 1 c (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1/2 c salsa
• 1 package taco seasoning mix
• 1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
• 2 cans (14 ounces each) kidney beans, with liquid
• 1 can (17 ounces) corn, with liquid
• Grated cheddar cheese to taste.

Directions:

1. Sauté celery and onions together with some margarine. 
2. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. 
3. After draining any excess fat, take all ingredients (except cheese) and place in the slow cooker. 
4. Simmer one or two hours, adding more tomato paste or chicken broth as necessary.
5. Ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese. This serves eight people.

Crockpot Shrimp Creole
If your family is into seafood, give this Southern recipe a try.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 c diced celery 
• 1/2 c chopped white onion 
• 1/2 c chopped green onion
• 3/4 c chopped green pepper 
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce 
• 1 large can (28 oz) whole tomatoes 
• 1/4 c garlic salt 
• 1/4 tsp pepper 
• 4 to 6 drops Tabasco sauce, or a dash or two of ground cayenne, to taste 
• 1 to 1 1/2 lb. medium shrimp, deveined and shelled.

Directions:

1. Mix the celery, onions, peppers, tomato sauce, tomatoes, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce into the slow cooker.
2. Cook 3 to 4 hours on high (6 to 8 hours on low). 
3. During the last hour of cooking, add the shrimp.
4. When it is ready, serve over hot boiled rice.

Sweet and Sour Tiny Sausages
Make these for a football party or an informal shindig.

Ingredients

• 2, 20-oz cans pineapple chunks, drained, reserve the juice 
• 24 oz. sausages, sliced into chunks 
• 2 bell peppers, chopped 
• 1 tsp ginger 
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 4 tbsp soy sauce 
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 2-3 tbsp cornstarch.

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, combine bell peppers, ginger, garlic salt, soy sauce and brown sugar with the reserved pineapple juice. Simmer until the peppers are tender
2. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons cornstarch to thicken. 
3. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker, adding the pineapple chunks and sausages.
4. Cook on hot for an hour, then switch to low for two more hours.

Championship Chili
Make this chili for a potluck or Super Bowl party.

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 - 4 lbs steak, in slices
• 1 14 1/2-oz can beef broth
• 3 tbsp white onion, finely shopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 c green onion
• 3 tsp instant beef bouillon granules, divided
• 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 4 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp garlic salt
• 1/4 tsp instant chicken bouillon granules
• 1 tbsp lime juice.

Directions:

1. In large skillet over medium heat, brown the steak and drain the excess fat. 
2. Place cooked beef, white onions, green onions, beef broth, tomato sauce, chili powder, paprika, cumin, curry, two teaspoons beef bouillon, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and black pepper in crock pot. 
3. Cover and cook for seven hours on low or three hours on High. 
4. Stir in the remaining beef bouillon, onion powder, salt, sugar, garlic salt, chicken bouillon and lime juice.
5. Cover cook one more hour.