Oh the Crockpot

So I burn things. And I don’t just mean the food. I’ve been known to burn down kitchens, as well. And no, that’s not an exaggeration. I don’t know what it is, but many times, no matter how hard I try, or how pure my intentions are, something either ends up in flames, or as five inches thick of burnt charcoal at the bottom of a pan. And while I’d love to put the blame on some external source, unfortunately all the fingers point directly at me and my innate inability to cook. I accept it, though! You won’t find me sitting outside on the curb, depressed and defeated, because a pan of cupcakes won our little mini World War III. No. I just need to figure out how to beat the concept of cooking in its own game. I’ve realized that whenever I am asked to bring some sort of treat to Church, I could spend an hour making cookies, only to have them turn out flat as pancakes. But that only causes me embarrassment, and I end up throwing them away, having wasted an entire hour of my life. No thank you. I know how to work my credit card very well, and the grocery store is just down the street. I would assume that people would much rather eat something store bought than something gross, anyway. Right? Right.

Well, one other way I’ve learned to defeat what some might call a birth defect, is with, you guessed it, my Crockpot. I got it two Christmases ago, and recently, it has become my Sunday Savior. It’s an electronic miracle! You just throw everything in one big pot, turn it on, and let it sit all day. When time is up, the food is ingeniously cooked to perfection (no charcoal or rubber) and all I had to do was dump and push a button. Crockpots were invented for me. I have no doubt.

Every Sunday I’ve had the goal of trying a new Crockpot recipe. So far I’ve made shredded BBQ chicken, beef stroganoff, and my most recent concoction – spinach and bean enchiladas (see picture below).

 The enchiladas have been our favorite so far. So full of flavor. So cheesy. So heavenly. We served them with chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, radishes, and cucumber tossed in lime juice and olive oil. Now that took me to the border if nothing else. If you want to try the recipe, here is the link. It’s from Real Simple Magazine:

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/bean-spinach-enchiladas-00100000074133/index.html

The food has been amazing, and it has given my kitchen self-esteem a much-needed boost. Forget self-help books, makeovers, or weight loss. The Crockpot has changed my life.

If you have any Crockpot miracle recipes of your own, please don’t hesitate to send them my way. I’m sure my husband will thank you ever so kindly…