Ode To My Crock Pot

An old college friend of mine messaged me today wondering if I had ideas for a get-together without warming up the house with the oven.  Instantly, as would anyone else, I asked about a grill.  Darn it, no grills allowed, so my next question was crock pot.  She replied she was afraid of her crock pot.  OHHHHHH THE HORROR!!!!!  To be afraid of your crock pot is a sadness upon my heart, my dear.  I myself have a love/hate relationship with my crock pot.  Love it because I can come home during the school year to a warm already made meal and hate it because the darn thing just won't fill itself! HA!  Or wash itself for that matter.  I know, I know, they make those crock pot liners, but that just goes against my frugal tendencies that come from my mother who still washes and reuses her plastic bags...now that's another story for another day, and really, you can't blame her, because I think she learned it from her mother!

For a vast majority of my crock pot cooking, I use the Fix It And Forget It crock pot cookbook.  Tons of great recipes-get one.  Which one, you say...crock pot, cookbook?  Get one of each, I say.  But really, who doesn't already have a crock pot.  Everyone received one as a wedding gift.  It's just a matter of finding it for some of us!

But now, my favorite crock pot recipes.  I'm not sure you can even call it a recipe it's so easy.

Shredded Ham Sandwiches

Warm up ham roast in crock pot.  Shred it.  Mix in appropriate amount of taco seasoning for size of roast.  Taste it-you'll figure it out.  Put in crock pot to stay warm.  Serve on homemade hamburger buns (I say homemade because they are the best...do I usually use homemade hamburger buns???  Are you kidding me-do you really think I have that much time or patience in my life???)

And this recipe is SO versatile.  Watch this.

Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Cook beef roast in crock pot (I use pretty much anything but a chuck roast-I hate chuck roasts and chuck roasts hate me-I think they multiply in my freezer...)  Shred it.  Mix in appropriate amount of Italian seasoning for size of roast.  Taste it-you'll figure it out.  Put in crock pot to stay warm.  Serve on homemade hamburger buns (see above notation regarding homemade hamburger buns...)

I would elaborate more on my love for my crock pot, but alas, it's like 100 degrees out and I'm a crock pot soup and stew kind of girl and it's just putting me off right now.  Just wait a few months and I'll be poppin' those crock pot recipes out like none other!