Bachelor vs. Crockpot

[matt d]

I bought a crockpot and have tried putting wild pork, venison, and beef in it and it all has been poor.  I fill the thing up with water and leave it on while I'm at work, about 11 hours.  I set it on low.  The best attempt I have made so far was some green chilli in the water.  I would really like some suggestions so I don't have to eat terrible dinners every night although I have lost a few lbs.

[SAWgunner]

Don't fill it up with water.  Take a beef roast and add about 3-4 cloves of crushed garlic, 4 TBSP of flour, a couple of beef boulion cubes, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 onion chopped up, 4 medium or 3 large potatos cut into thick slices and then quartered, 2 good sized carrots sliced and then fill it with water until it covers up half of the meat and veggies.  I then put it on high and eat when I come home.  My family is from Louisian, so I like spicy stuff, if you also like it, try some Tobasco Habenero (about 4 TBSP in the whole mix will do it).  Good luck, and good eatin'.

[rickyp]

If you want some good dinners when you get home from work, the best thing to do is get maried or at least a live in girlfriend that can cook

[matt d]

RickyP and SAWgunner,
Thanks for the recipe, I will try it with the tabasco soon.  I figured a girlfriend comment would be coming.  Your right but then they are goona want to hang out and talk and all that stuff. :roll:

[flatlander]

I've also just added roast, potatoes, carrots, onions and 1 can or 2 of cream of mushroom soup depending on the roast size. No water. Set it on low and let it go from morning until night. Works great the meat comes out in pieces.

[matt d]

Flatlander,
Thanks.  Sounds like my kind of cooking.

[SAWgunner]

RickyP and SAWgunner,
Thanks for the recipe, I will try it with the tabasco soon.  I figured a girlfriend comment would be coming.  Your right but then they are goona want to hang out and talk and all that stuff. :roll:

Oh, you are from California, tone down the Tobasco then.  heh heh.  Seriously, If you are not used to Tobasco, half the original amount of what I said, and you should be good.  Have fun with the Crock Pot.

[matt d]

I was in New Mexico for three years and brought home a few habbits - Tobasco, green chili, flyfishing ...  Thanks for the help!

[lashlaruhe]

Go to     justslowcooking.com  you will find plenty of crockpot recipes

[mrd250]

Matt-

Here's a super easy one.

Take a whole chicken, rinse and pat dry.  Season inside and outside of bird with sage, poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper (I also use cajun seasoning).  

Put in crock pot and cook until done.  All crock pots cook differently, so just cook it until the juices run clear or purchase a little disposable turkey "popper".

Slice up and serve with a little stuffing and chicken or turkey gravy and it's like Thanksgiving day, without all the work!

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If you have leftovers and want to make some homemade chicken soup:

Save the juices and put into the fridge until grease sets up on the top.  Remove grease and place juices in large pot.  Add additional canned broth or bouillon cubes with water.  Chop celery, carrot and small amount of onion and add to broth.  When the vegetables are cooked, add leftover chicken (boned and cut into chunks), some dry parsley and bring to a boil.  Add egg noodles and continue cooking until noodles are tender.

Enjoy :grin:

Joan

[bullet maker]

Hi guys
   I might be wrong, but I thinks you should not use so much water. I`ve got a 8 qt. crockpot, and the instruction`s say on it just about everything that is not soup`s of couse, you should only use about 1 cup of water, and let the meat`s juices do the rest. Now if your makeing stew`s or chili, that different. But poultry, beef , etc the juices should be all you need from the meats.
bullet maker

[mrd250]

I've actually tried soup/stew recipes from the recipe book provided from the manufacturer of my crock pot.  To be honest...I'd rather do them on the stove.  It seems like anything with a lot of broth or gravy takes too long and the vegetables (especially the potatoes) don't ever get tender.  I have cooked stew for 10+ hours in the crock pot, only to transfer it into a pot on the stove so that it will actually cook!

Joan

[Crayfish]

I've got a bunch of crockpot recipes, but one of my favorites is to braise a venison roast and throw it in the crockpot.  Then shake a package of Onion soup mix over it (the stuff you would make onion dip with).  Add couple cups of water and let it go on low all day.  

When you get home you can cook up whatever else you want to go with it (veggies, noodles, etc).  Enjoy.

My favorite dish to bring to deer camp is venison goulash :  couple of packages of veni stew meat (or whatever is handy), large can of whole or crushed tomatoes, chopped onion, chopped green pepper, spices to taste.  Let it cook all day.  The tomato will make ANYTHING tender, so it doesn't matter what cuts of meat you use.  Cook 1 to 2 cups of macaroni, depending on how many meals you want out of it.  Add to crockpot mix. If it's not tomatoey(?) enough I'll add a can of tomato paste and mix it in well (or left over spaghetti sauce, or whatever else might give it more tomato taste and thicken it up a little).   Use your imagination!

Good luck ... Crayfish

[C1PNR]

Put a venison (or other) roast in the crockpot.  Add plain Coca-Cola to just barely cover the meat.  Cook on High for several hours or Low for all day.

You'll be surprised at how tender and tasty the meat is.

My first one was with the venison.

[clodbuster]

The best game meat I've ever eaten was in elk camp near Montrose CO.
The lady said it was a very complicated recipe but worth it.  First cut elk
roast into inch cubes,  then place in crockpot, cover and cook all day(nothing else added).  The last 30 minutes put in your favorite BBQ sauce.  This and some of her sourdough biscuits and I'm in heaven!

[longwinters]

Yep, water and crock pots do not mix.  The bad thing about crockpots is that if you don't season well your food will always be bland.  But you can leave it cook all day and have something to eat when you get home.  Instead of water use beef or chicken broth out of a can.  Also stewed tomatoes will do wonders for any wild game cooked in a crockpot with salt, pepper, a little sugar and a bay leaf.  Maybe add an onion and some green or red pepper slices.  

Long

[flintlock]

Here's  receipe I came up with in college (I'm now 48)...
Cut up potatoes (3-4 medium ones)...1-2 medium onions...a handful of carrots, about 1/2 of a bell pepper and a small can of mushrooms....put on the bottom of crock pot...and salt and pepper...
add meat....I bone all my venison when I clean...I would guess I use about 1-2 lbs...(about two fists worth)...lay 3 strips of bacon over...squeeze 2 lemons over...either make up a batch of bbq sauce, or dump in a bottle of the store bought stuff (18 oz)....
Cook on low while at  work...8-12 hours....spoon over a couple pieces of toast....pop a cold beer....and dig in...flintlock