I Just Can't Help Myself...I Had To Do It!

This post is in dedication to a very special dear friend who is close to my heart! For a change, I thought I would give you some one-pot recipes...crockpot cooking. Although, I don't have a crockpot and have never used one, I know they are very handy to those of you who work long, hard hours and have no inclination to prepare a meal when you arrive home after a tedious day. I hope that these give you some helpful ideas, and when you prepare and eat them, you will think of me!

Chicken Cordon Bleu: Grab 6 chicken breasts and pound them! Lay a slice of ham/proscuitto or pancetta on each pounded, flattened breast together with a slice of Swiss cheese on each. Roll up and secure with toothpicks. Roll in seasoned flour. Place about a 1lb of sliced mushrooms and 1/2 cup chicken broth in bottom of crockpot together with some sliced onion and some crushed garlic. Layer the rolled chicken on top in such a way that the cheese won't drip out while cooking. Pour over 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup and sprinkle over some grated Parmesan cheese. Cover and heat for 6-7 hours or whatever time suits your personal requirements. Serve over rice.

Crockpot Cajun Ribs: Place 2 cups chopped or sliced carrots, 1 large onion, chopped, crushed garlic, 1 large pepper/capsicum, cut into pieces and two teaspoons Cajun seasoning into pot. Mix well. Cut 4lbs pork or beef ribs into individual ribs. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning over the ribs and place on top of the vegetables in the crockpot. Pour one can of crushed tomatoes or whole tomatoes, over the ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 7 or so hours. Thicken the sauce at the end of cooking with a little cornstarch/cornflour mixed with water, if you like.

BBQ-Spicy Chicken Wings: Place 5lb (2kg) chicken wings, tips removed into crockpot. Combine 12oz chilli (chili for those who can't spell! Hahaha) sauce, 1/3 cup lemon juice, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons molasses (or golden syrup or honey), 2 tsp chilli powder, 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, salt to taste if required and crushed garlic. You can change the quantities around to suit your taste. Mix together well and pour over chicken wings making sure all are well-coated. Cook on low 6-8 hours. You probably have your own barbecue sauce/marinate that you use...so it will work well in this recipe.

South-Western Chilli Chicken: Put 2 cans of rinsed red kidney beans in bottom of crockpot. Add 2 cans corn niblets. Sprinkle over some chilli powder to suit your taste. Chop 5 large chicken breasts and place on top of corn and beans. Pour in two cans of whole tomatoes. Sprinkle with some more chilli powder. Add one chopped onion last of all. Cover and cook on High for 6 hours or to whatever and temperature that suits your needs.

I hope you have some fun with these....play around with them, add or deduct whatever you wish.