Another great benefit is time. As a busy mother and wife, I don’t have hours to spend in my kitchen every day making meals for my family.

These days you can make just about anything in your crock pot such as: soups, stews, main dish meats, breads, desserts and vegetable dishes.

Time Saving Tips

The night before, trim fat from meat and cut meat into the desired sized pieces. Brown meat according to the recipe directions. Let cool; cover and refrigerate. Next, peel and chop your vegetables. Cover and keep them in the refrigerator overnight.

Resist the urge to lift the lid. The heat that you lose will add as much as 30 minutes to the cooking time. If you have to stir, resume timing when the mixture starts to bubble up again

Country-Style

2 1/2 to 3 lbs. spareribs
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 (1 lb) can sauerkraut, drained
1 apple, cored and diced
1 tbsp. sugar

Cut ribs into serving-size pieces. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on rack in baking pan. Brown in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, turn and brown on other side for 15 more minutes. Pour off drippings. Spoon sauerkraut into crock pot. Place the apple on top of sauerkraut; sprinkle sugar over the apple, put the ribs on top. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender and done.

Burgundy Beef

4 lbs. beef short ribs
1 lg. tomato, chopped
1 c. beef bouillon
1/4 c. Burgundy wine
1 tbsp. onion, minced
2 tbsp. horseradish
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
2 tbsp. cornstarch

In a large frying pan, brown the ribs and then drain off any excess fat. Put ribs in your crock pot and add in all of the other ingredients except for the cornstarch. Mix well. Cover, cook on low for 6-8 hours. Remove meat from the crock pot. Turn your heat setting up to high. Skim excess fat off the top of the meat broth. Dissolve cornstarch in small amount of cold water, stir into broth. Cook on high setting for 20 minutes, until slightly thickened. Serve broth over meat.

Mexican-Style

3-4 lbs. beef short ribs
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can beef broth
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c. green pepper, chopped

In a large frying pan, brown the ribs, pour off any excess fat. Mix beef broth with taco seasoning mix. Mix in your green pepper, salt and pepper. Place the ribs in your pot; pour sauce over them. Cover, cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Chinese-Style

1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. orange marmalade
2 tbsp. ketchup
1 clove garlic, crushed
3-4 lbs. spare ribs

Combine soy sauce, marmalade, ketchup and garlic in a medium-sized bowl. Brush on both sides of ribs. Place meat in crock pot. Pour remaining sauce over ribs. Cover, cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Shelly Hill has been working from home since 1989 in Direct Sales. You can visit Shelly online at: http://www.classybusinesswomen.com or at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com

These recipes are all made in the crock pot (slow cooker). They only take a few minutes to prepare. If you are a busy mom, I think you will enjoy these recipes.

Crock Pot Cooking Tips

Fill your slow cooker at least 1/2 full for the best slow cooking results.

Tender vegetables such as fresh mushrooms, tomatoes or zucchini will only need to be added for the last 45 minutes of cooking time, otherwise you could over cook them.

To assure even cooking of meat, be sure there is some space between the pieces to allow for circulation of heat and seasonings.

Some vegetables, especially onions and carrots, often take longer to cook than meat. Always place them at the bottom of the slow cooker.

Chicken Marengo

2 1/2 to 3 lb. frying chicken, cut up
1 (1 1/2 oz) pkg. spaghetti sauce mix
1/2 c. dry white wine
2 fresh tomatoes, quartered
1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms

Place chicken parts in crock pot. Combine dry spaghetti mix with wine; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours. Turn control to high; add tomatoes and mushrooms. Cover, cook on high for 40 additional minutes.

Zucchini Chicken

1 frying chicken, cut up
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 lb. zucchini, cut into thin slices
1/2 c. chicken bouillon
1 (4 oz.) can mushrooms, drained

Sprinkle chicken with seasoned salt. Combine flour, salt, pepper, cheese and paprika; coat chicken with mixture. Place zucchini in bottom of crock pot. Pour bouillon over zucchini. Arrange coated chicken on top. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until tender. Turn to high and add mushrooms and cook for an addition 15-20 minutes.

Cheesy Chicken

6 boneless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 (10.75-oz.) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (10.75-oz.) can condensed cheddar cheese soup

Rub chicken breasts with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place chicken in slow cooker and pour soups over the top. Cover and cook for 6 to 8 hours on low.

Shelly Hill has been working from home since 1989 in Direct Sales. You can visit Shelly online at: http://www.classybusinesswomen.com or at http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com