I bought a crock pot a few weeks ago and it has literally changed my life.  I still have trouble with Day 4 of leftovers, but -ta da!- apparently you can freeze things and eat them again when you are not sick of them.  Here are two recipes that I have recently enjoyed.  I hope that the publishers of the respective cookbooks understand that this is free advertising for them, and do not prosecute me for providing them to you, free of charge.

Better Homes and Gardens “So Easy Slow Cooker”  Meredith Books 2008

Wild Rice and Chicken Soup

2 ½ cups cooked chicken

2 cups sliced mushrooms

2 medium carrots, coarsely shredded

2 stalks celery, sliced

1 10 ¼ oz. can condensed cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup

1 6-oz package of long grain and wild rice mix

5 cups chicken broth

5 cups water

1. In a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker, combine cooked chicken, mushrooms, carrots, celery, soup, uncooked rice, and contents of rice seasoning packet.  Gradually stir in chicken broth and water.
2. Cover, cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours

Southern Living Slow-Cooker Cookbook Oxmoor House 2006

Beef Burgundy Stew

6 bacon slices, chopped

2 lbs beef stew meat

1 16-oz pkg frozen pearl onions, thawed

1 8-oz pkg fresh mushrooms, quartered

6 small red potatoes, quartered

2 large carrots, cut in ½-inch pieces

1 14-oz can beef broth

1 cup red wine

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

3 minced garlic cloves

2 tbsp cornstarch

2 tsp cold water

1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over med-high heat until crisp.  Remove bacon, reserving drippings in pan.  Set bacon aside
2. Brown beef, in batches, in reserved bacon drippings until browned on all sides
3. combine reserved bacon, beef, onions, and next 10 ingredients in a 5 quart slow cooker.  Cover and cook on LOW 7 hours or until beef and vegetables are tender.
4. Whisk together cornstarch and water, stir into stew.  Cover and cook on HIGH 1 hour or until slightly thickened.  Makes 9 cups.

Oh. Dear. Lord.  I have been knitting this Christmas gift for a really long time.  I keep thinking it’s got to end Soon, but the decrease is happening so gradually that my dreams of being finished this weekend are clearly and thoroughly dashed.  I have spent so much time sitting on my arse that it may be broken, and my legs are certainly going to atrophy and eventually require amputation.

We did take time out today and get a Christmas tree.  It’s adorably lopsided (we’ve got the flat side against the wall – it’s perfect) and smells like the holidays and is crammed full of goofy ornaments and OSU paraphanalia.  I’ll post pictures soon. )

I finally put my money where my mouth was:

The healing process kind of freaked me out, but it’s fine and cute now.  I was there with the support of my sister, mom, and sister/in/law – Ellie stayed and took the pic, Wen and Mom were waiting across the street eating cheese curds and drinking beers.   All in all a good weekend.