Low and Slow

OK, so I've had a request, and a second, for crock pot recipes. I don't do anything too elaborate in the crock pot because, let's face it, you have to do most of the prep work before leaving for work in the morning, which is when you're the most time-crunched.

But there is something magically wonderful about coming home on a cold night and being greeted with the spell of wonderful all the way out in the garage. So these are my favorite recipes for the crock pot, keeping in mind that you can always add potatoes and/or carrots, if you feel like all that chopping and peeling first thing in the morning. Or skip the peeling if you need the fiber.

All of these recipes should be cooked on low for 8-10 hours. If you need it quicker, heat it on high for 4-6 hours. I also always taste for seasoning right when I get home, so if it needs more salt and pepper, it has some time to work with it before serving.

1. Bottom round roast, salted and peppered. Top with one large bottle, or two small bottles, of Russian dressing. Serve it over rice.

2. Bottom round roast, salted and peppered. Top with two cans of cream of mushroom soup, mixed with one packet of Lipton onion soup mix. Serve with mashed potatoes (which, I've found, I can make the night or even the weekend before, and just heat up in the microwave - I add some heated milk if they dry out.)

3. Pork roast, any will do, but one with a bone it is fabulous. Drizzle with a little oil of your choosing, salt and pepper it. Crock it all day. When it's done, remove the bone and as much of the fat as you can. Shred the pork and mix with a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce (I recommend Tennessee's Best Apple Butter BBQ Sauce, but this is not helpful to those of you outside of Tennessee.) Serve with whatever you eat with BBQ, or make sammies.

4. Boneless turkey breast. You know - the kind you get frozen, about the size of a cantaloupe - Butterball makes them - I'm guessing others do too. Thaw it for 24-hours in the fridge (it won't be completely thawed), then salt and pepper it and crock it all day. It comes out surprisingly juicy, and makes awesome sammies.

5. Stew meat, salted and peppered. Cover with beef broth and a sliced onion. Add a slug or two or red wine if you have it. Serve over rice.

I hope those of you looking for these find them helpful. Robin Miller made a sweet-looking gumbo on her show today, which I may try in the near future. I'll let you know if it works.

If others of you have any fabulously delicious (and easy) crock pot recipes, leave them in the comments. Much-appreciated.