Crock pots are one of those things that a lot of us dreaded as a kid. I don’t know about you, but whenever my mom took the crock pot out, it was usually for pot roast. If you’re like me, this may bring back memories of flavorful meat that ended up dry most of the time because of the long cooking time. Not the best thing in the world.
Then why am I saying these cooking vessels aren’t just for your mom or grandma? Because, dear reader, these cooking devices can actually make delicious food that isn’t dry. It can also make food that isn’t in the same realm as pot roast, like Mac and Cheese (are you drooling? Me too).
I got my crock pot from my Italian grandmother. She and my Grampa traveled all 50 states in a trailer and she had a set of everything in there. I’m talking a whole different set of dishes, silverware, pots, pans, bowls, and other miscellaneous stuff. Needless to say, I received a majority of my cooking supplies from the trailer stash, including the crock pot. The conversation with my Non went as such:
“Have you thought of what supplies you need for your kitchen?”
“Well Non, I think I need a rice cooker maybe? and some pans and cooking utensils.”
“Look in the trailer.”
“… Non you have a rice cooker in the trailer?”
“Yup. And a crockpot. Shop in the trailer.”
So to be honest, I didn’t really purchase new supplies to cook with. I “shopped” in my Italian grandmother’s trailer and got some pretty cool stuff. Including a crock pot.
Now my crock pot isn’t as fancy as the ones you can get today. It doesn’t have cool buttons, it has a dial with three settings: off, low, and high. But it works. You can also get a crock pot without breaking the bank, unless you too have a grandmother with an extra one lying around. Most crockpots can be purchased at your local Target or Walmart for under 40 dollars, and they last for a VERY long time.
It is now literally my favorite cooking device. All you do is throw stuff in there and turn it on. Then, when it is time to eat dinner, your meal is magically complete. Next to no prep, an easy amount of cleanup, and most of the ingredients are pantry staples. I can’t tell you how convenient it is to put ingredients in the pot at noon, go to class, and come back at 6 or 7 and have dinner ready. Plus, a majority of the recipes make for really delicious food.
I will be posting my favorites as I make them to the blog. So that you too can make some pretty killer food without a ridiculous amount of effort. Because, let’s be real: ain’t nobody got time for that.
Happy Cooking! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
The Dormitory Chef 