Now that it’s starting to get cold, it’s time to get the crockpot out.

I love my crockpot. I went without one for more than a few years, because the French just don’t seem to get the concept of slowcooked electronic goodness, and thus don’t sell crockpots just anywhere. You have to know where to look, as with the procurring of so many other things here in France.

The first crockpot I had in France came to me via the friend of a friend of mine via the US Army.

My friend lives in the same region as me, but her friend, also American, lived in Holland and was married to a man who was half American, half Dutch. He had a brother serving in the American Army, living on an Army base in Germany. The friend based in Holland was coming to visit the friend living in Grenoble (still with me so far?) and passing through Germany on the way (Europe’s a small place). So we both placed orders for crockpots, and Dr Pepper and Cheetos and all sorts of yummy things.

When that crockpot died a year or so later, I had to go without. Until I found a catalog that, believe it or not, actually believes that there are enough people in France who want to buy one, to sell them.*

I am once again with a crockpot, and, as I started out saying at the beginning of this post, it’s crockpot weather.

My favorite thing to make is roast chicken. I also like to make beef stew, and of course, pot roast. (There’s what claims to be a mouthwatering recipe for pot roast on You’ve Got Supper which I’m going to try next week.) One of the best crock-pot recipes is for chili and I’m going to try spaghetti sauce next.

What’s your favorite crockpot recipe?

*Les Trois Suisses, in case anyone’s interested.

**If you haven’t already heard of it, A Year of Slow Cooking is the best source of crockpot recipes.

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I’m a big fan of salads in the summertime, for reasons that all of you understand, I’m sure! And this simple one combines some of my favorite elements of summertime cooking: fresh vegetables, an easy preparation process, and improvement over time. I made this last Sunday, along with a whole bunch of other salads, and have been enjoying it all week.

Cold Marinated Cauliflower

  • 1 head fresh cauliflower, or frozen
  • Good, strong French mustard
  • Olive Oil
  • A nice balsalmic vinegar
  • Dill
  • Parlsey

Chop the cauliflower into biggish pieces, and cook it until it’s almost tender. This will change according to the size of the pieces, the size of the pot, and so on, but I judge tenderness by the stems (a little crispier than I would normally like them to be), which gives the head part the perfect crunch.

While the cauliflower is cooking, mix a bit of vinegar and a bit of olive oil with a bit of mustard, until you have a nice salad dressing. Again, the amounts needed will change according to quantity and taste, but you can start with 1 tbsp each of oil and vinegar, and 1 tsp mustard. Mix well, adding a bit more of each, until the taste is perfect.

When the cauliflower is cooked, drain it and let cool. Then toss in the dressing, add the herbs, and let marinate for a few hours. This is a dish that gets better over time, so (if you have any left) you’ll love it even more Friday at lunch than for Sunday dinner!

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Potato Leek Tarte

June 13, 2009

There’s a tired old joke that goes like this:
One couple invites another couple over for dinner. “I’ll bring a tarte!”, says the woman. “What’s her name?” asks the husband.
Bah-da-boom!
But this (savory) tarte is easy to make, and impressive to bring, asĀ  it seems both complicated and refined, while managing to be both hearty and child-friendly [...]

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Chicken with Peas and Pasta

June 3, 2009

I started thinking about tonight’s dinner this morning at 10am, and then I didn’t think about it at all until about ten ’til 7.
This morning I marinated two chicken breasts in one tub of nonfat plain yogurt, a teeny bit of olive oil, salt, and some chopped green herbs and garlic. I did the same [...]

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Frozen Strawberry Cream

June 1, 2009

What a perfect summer dessert! Frozen strawberry cream, on an oreo cookie crust, with sliced strawberries on top.

4 cups fresh strawberries, divided
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 cups fresh whipped cream (it’s easier than you think to whip cream!)
1 cup oreos, crushed
2 tsps melted butter

Line a bread pan with plastic wrap. Mash two [...]

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What We’ll Be Eating For the Next Two Weeks

March 1, 2009

I went grocery shopping yesterday, and even though I spent what seems like an exorbitant amount of money at the grocery store (is it just me or is food getting really expensive?) I got a lot of inexpensive and healthy food for the next two weeks. As ever, I planned our menus after I went [...]

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Frugal Foods for Toddlers

February 12, 2009

My daughter is now 15 months old and entering into that very independent stage where she wants to do it all herself, her way, with no help whatsoever. This involves food as well!
She wants to feed herself with her own bowl and her own spoon, which is great… but messy. Another issue with toddlers is [...]

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Your Favorite Frugal Kitchen Gadgets

February 5, 2009

Kitchen gadgets are lots of fun, otherwise why would show every show kitchen have rows of copper bottom pots hanging from the ceiling? But they can be pricy (and take up lots of room) so it’s important for the frugal cook to carefully consider her (or his) tools when preparing to cook.
Here are my three [...]

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