Crockpots, also known as slow cookers, are a delightful and essential kitchen staple. You can use them during the cold winter months to create warm stews and soups easily. In the summer months, they allow you to create recipes without adding the extra heat from your kitchen stove into your home. They are pretty much foolproof and require little to no effort to make delicious meals. Here are three crockpot recipes that you can make for the entire family to enjoy.
Ooey Gooey Chocolate Lava Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box of store bought brownie mix
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup of water
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 package of instant chocolate fudge pudding
- 2 cups whole milk
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with non-stick spray.
- Prepare the brownie mix per the box instructions.
- Pour the batter into crock pot.
- Mix the pudding with milk until smooth and pour over the brownie mix.
5. Cover the top of crockpot with a paper towel then the lid. (This prevents condensation (water in the cake)).
6. Cook on high for three hours. You will know that it’s ready because the edges of the brownie will have formed. The top SHOULD be soft.
7. Serve with vanilla ice cream
Spicy Latin Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of ground beef
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon adobo seasoning
- 1 packet of Sazon seasoning
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large onion
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 Yuca root vegetables peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 3 large carrots peeled and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces
- 1 stalk of celery
- 4 cloves of garlic, diced
- ½ cup red wine
- ¼ cup cilantro
- 3 sprigs of thyme
- 1 jalapeno pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a large zip lock bag, add cubed beef and add seasoning (Adobo, Sazon, salt, garlic powder and black pepper). Shake bag to ensure seasoning is distributed over meat evenly.
2. Add flour and shake the bag around to ensure the beef is coated.
3. In a large, heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, add vegetable oil. Add pieces of beef while cooking until brown on all sides. Remove and place aside.
4. Add chopped onion and cook for about two minutes.
5. Add jalapeno and garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Add wine and scrape up bits on the bottom of the skillet. Let cook until reduced to medium low, for 3 to 4 minutes.
Pour into crockpot and then add, Worcestershire sauce, beef stock, carrots, celery, and yucca. Add sprigs of thyme and bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Add cilantro right before serving.
Written by: Cashay Chanel, Staff Writer Modern Domestic