Lets get talking!

[QueenBea]

Dissie, if you're a crockpot pro I may start nagging you for some of your recipes! I love mine, but it's mostly used to stew chickens for chicken salad (and all that yummy broth) and a pork loin roast that we love.

Do you use a pressure cooker? DH got me one, but so far I've been too much of a coward to use it. (All those horror stories of stuff all over the ceiling...!)

Those things scare the crap out of me too Marion!!! I do remember my Mom and Grandmother using it but my Mom would never let me use it so I guess that is why it scares me

I do love the crock-pot. I only have a few crock-pot recipes and I am always looking for new ones. I agree with Marion..... Dissie, start sharing them with us

[Engrossed]

Hi Dissie! It's nice to have you back!

2012 has been a crazy year for a ton of people around here...I'm hoping 2013 and the launch of the updated zazz will bring back more active members.

Even though I worked at a Library for years and loved organizing there...I'm the complete opposite at home. The only recipes that are organized are my cookbooks which are arranged by cuisine. Otherwise, I have bookmarks and online cookbooks of recipes to try but hardly ever use them. I still have a couple of magazine boxes full of printed out internet recipes and photocopies from cookbooks and magazines and I haven't looked at them in years either. That's why I like the tag games to just help me narrow down my choices...it can get overwhelming! Otherwise, I do searches online for ingredients I want to use up.

[Engrossed]

I LOVE my pressure cooker! It infuses flavors like nothing else, and is perfect for last minute dinner plans! It also makes even the toughest meat amazingly fall apart tender. I'm hardly ever ready to start cooking early enough to get stuff in the crockpot in time. Plus, with new pressure cookers you don't have to worry about the old horror stories...they have multiple safety valves.

[Dissie]

I guess I should start writing down what I throw in the crockpot. I have tried recipes, but what seems to really work for my family is just throwing things in that I know we would like and we usually we do. Sometimes, its too soupy, and the next time I fix that. So I will start writing things down.

Since I work 2nd shift (3-11) I have had to go to this as hubby works day shift. Then when I get home, I am starving, so I want something homecooked as soon as I walk in, not after I spend time cooking, so its been what I have been doing. I also make casseroles before I go to work, to eat as my lunch and then dh and my son eat when they get in, and I eat the leftovers again when I come in. ;)

I would love to get a pressure cooker, but like you guys I have had worries about it. But, my cousin came to stay this summer for a few weeks and she had one in her RV, and she made dried beans in record time and ever since I have wanted one! Probably going to be my next kitchen purchase.

[Kchurchill5]

The crock is nice, when you have people working odd shifts or just want something done when you are ready to eat. I plan everything, so I prepare the crock the night before. I even sometimes sear the meat, add to the crock, but I add all the liquid, spices, or veggies, all cut up and ready but in a small baggie; and I set that right in the crock and then put it in the fridge.

I pull it out in the am, take a shower, drink coffee and plug in. Then I can leave or do anything I want.

Pressure Cookers. I have had one, and bad accident, I was burned, faulty valve. So, I never got one since. That was 4 years ago. I know they have really improved; but, my good friend, her daughter just got burned and the valve, then exploded and damaged her kitchen. Her daughter is a chef, so experienced.
So, I am cautious.

But, they do cook wonderful and make as you said, a tough piece of meat, very tender.

[elsie]

I have a pressure cooker and only use it for canning low acid veggies and meat. It would be a great for preserving deer meat! You must add a little tallow with that though, as deer is sooo lean. I use to can beef a lot in the past. My grandma and dad would can the beef in the oven, which everyone in this day and age would GASP at! I have done it too, but have found the canner to be quicker.

I keep my recipes on the computer and backed up on a DVD. I also have so far, five 3 ring binders that I keep recipes in. Like many of you, I take pictures of the stuff I make and add it to the recipe. Then I print the recipe with photos and put in plastic sleeves in my binder. Some pictures of recipes look better than they taste, and some taste better than they look. When my nieces and nephews were very young, they liked to look at my cookbooks when they come for the holidays so they could tell what cookies and candy they would want for Christmas, and what I should make for them at other events. Silly puppy heads! Now they are all grown and still try to shake me down for holiday goods.

[Marion_in_Savannah]

Elsie, I never thought to take pictures to add to my recipes. Sometimes there are directions like "bake until flattened, crackled and darker," and it would be helpful for some people to actually SEE that. Thanks for the idea! It's coming up on Christmas cookie season, and that direction above is in one of the recipes I get asked for most:

http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/spice-cookies

The next time I make spice cookies there will be a picture!

[Dissie]

Marion and Elsie, I thinks thats an awesome idea! Plus you could share your pics in the photo forum!

I am getting excited that cookie making season is upon us! So far I have made my no bake cookies and MimiMaines oatmeal raisin cookies http://www.recipezazz.com/search/apache ... 0delicious. My family loves those two recipes the most, so they are already gone, need to make them again!

[HotPepperRosemary]

Hey Everyone! I am playing hookie right now! Finished some more online shopping. I ordered from Chefscatalog.com for my DS!!! He bakes!!! Yes, he is a manly man who loves baking!!! So I had a blast ordering some new bake ware for him!!! He is a very good cook too! So is his fiancee...only difference is he likes to and she doesn't!!! ;)
Youngest wanted a Frappucino Maker so I landed the last one at Amazon.com! Phew!!! Now I have only one more fiancee to buy for and he has a very interesting list...meat saw for cutting the legs and head off deer...and so on...DH will shop for him. Thank goodness!!!
Getting the in-laws a new bigger screen tv for their kitchen! Then we are done!!!! Yay!!!

[HotPepperRosemary]

And a cashmere sweater has to be found for our youngest DD...can't forget that! I love the wish list help we receive every year! Really helps to have lots of things to choose from that they would like. Money well spent and they are always happy with their gifts! I hate to waste money on gifts that they can't use. So it works for all of us! The free shipping deals really help too!!!