Happy Monday! Has it hit you yet that we’re going into the month of October in a few days? Where did the year go? Heck, where did the months of August and September go? It seems like yesterday when I was enjoying the Fourth of July! I hope you had a great weekend doing something fun and perhaps feasting on something delicious. This past weekend was busy in my kitchen and filled with friends. You can read about my culinary adventures I had including:
Wine & Dine: South Africa – A fabulous meal of home cooked South African cuisine paired with some great South African wines. Stay tuned this week to get the recipes of the South African dishes we tasted…
Baking, Baking & More Baking – Several friends, two days and 1 hard working oven. Friends came over to bake bread and sweet treats over the weekend. Stay tuned in the coming weeks when we share our experiences in the kitchen!
Farewell to Summer Dinner – Our close friends, Megan and Matt, out did themselves (as they usually do!) with an amazing meal as a final hoorah to summer. Check back this week for the recipes of their scrumptious dinner and check out the link for a cool tip to butter corn!
So it’s officially fall now. The fact that I’m pulling out sweaters and wrapping in blankets on the couch is clearly a sign that summer has already checked out. But I’m coping with the fact that there won’t be any more fresh, juicy berries overflowing in my grocery store… or sipping fruity cocktails poolside… or even picnics in the park. I’ve got a lot of fall things to look forward to. Tailgating fare for the upcoming game days, the smells of all the great things baking up in my oven more often, and making comforting foods special to this time of year. Let’s not forget Halloween, Thanksgiving and the December holidays. (I’m still stunned the holidays are only a few weeks ahead!)
One kitchen item I relate to fall is a crock pot or slow cooker. The idea is that you use it to cook food for hours on end without any effort and at the end of the day, you’ve got something hot and ready waiting for you. I use my slow cooker mainly during the fall months for soups, chilis, stews and even braising roasts. It’s time for me to dust mine off, but this week, one lucky reader will get a brand new one to enjoy.
Now keep in mind, that slow cookers are not just for the fall and can certainly be used all year round. You can use it for fondues, warm dips, cakes, etc. I have to remind myself of that and maybe after these cold months I’ll keep it handy rather than tucked away in the depths of my cabinets. Maybe I should even send this woman an email and get some tips on how to use my slow cooker more effectively throughout the year!
I don’t think slow cookers get enough credit as a great kitchen tool. There are so many advantages to cooking with them especially:
– Saving Money: a Crock-Pot® slow cooker, only uses approximately 75 watts of electricity on LOW and approximately 150 watts on HIGH. It cooks all day for only a few cents!
– Saving Time: just add the ingredients, start the Crock-Pot® slow cooker and go off for the day! You’ll come home hours later to a warm and inviting home cooked meal.
The Naxon Utilities Corporation of Chicago developed the Naxon Beanery All-Purpose Cooker. Rival Industries bought Naxon in 1970, and reintroduced it under the Crock-Pot name in 1971.
This week, one lucky winner will receive a brand new Rival Crock-Pot on Foodie Freebie Friday!
Model #3060-W
- 6 quart capacity
- Removable round stoneware
- Convenient warm setting
- Dishwasher safe stoneware and lid
- Power indicator light
- Recipes Included
– Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States – my apologies to my international readers!
– You must check back on my blog on Friday to see if you’ve won so you can claim your prize!
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering:
– What is your favorite dish or meal you especially like to enjoy during the fall months?
Deadline: Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 12 midnight CST.
ONE WINNER will be randomly chosen by Random. Org’s Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Friday, October 2, 2009. Good luck!
Chilli!
Beef stew, Yummmmy!
I love comfort foods, like grilled cheese and a thick hearty soup/stew.
Beef stew with tons of veggies and little red potatoes! Yum!
Homemade gumbo!
My favorite falls meals are chili, meatloaf, hearty pastas and soups. I just can't eat these during the summer months. But once fall is here, I am ready for them!!
my favorite fall meal is chili or a roast and potatoes…warm and filling…
Coq au Vin – french comfort food!
My favorite in the crock pot are chicken tortilla soup and chili – they are basically fall meals for me because I never think about using my crock pot in the summer.
Pecan pie screams "fall" to me and I love indulging it during these winter months.
Grandpa's recipe–Pork Roast and Dumplings…mmmmm…
my favorite meal to make during the fall months is chicken and dumplings…yum!
My mom makes this pasta dish called Italian Junk. It's like meat sauce with lots and lots of veggies. So good for brisk fall weather!
My favorite fall meals in a crock pot are roast beef and veggies, chili, and chicken escarole soup.
I love Beef Stew or nice soups in the fall/winter!!
My favorite fall meals in the crock pot are roast beef and veggies, chili, and chicken escarole soup.
I love a good Provencal Daube – a stew of either beef or lamb with carrots, onions, red wine … over some egg noodles. Mmmmmm…
I love making beef stew in the crockpot. Thanks for the chance!
Buffalo Chicken Dip – Perfect in the crockpot and especially for tailgating!
I have a fantastic recipe for an italian pot roast that I make incessantly throughout the fall and winter months…
Definitely chili – Texas style! Spicy enough to make your nose run and served with a slab of buttery cornbread. Can't wait, but we're still a ways from cool weather here.
chili chili chili!
I love apple stuffed pork chops, hot apple pie with cinnamon sticks, and apple or pumpkin pie. Fall to me is all about apples, pumpkins, cinnamon, and cloves. 🙂
Sausage Bean Chowder….slightly spicy and very filling!
I love green bean casserole in the fall… reminds me of Thanksgiving!
evitawylie at hotmail dot com
Lasagna! I love eating it when the weather is cold!
Pot roast!
Nothing is better than my Mom's roast with vegetables. The smell of it cooking in the oven alone makes me happy!
seavila26@yahoo.com
Soups that involve pumpkin, shallots and spice.
Crockpot Salsa chicken!!!
Renee at umsl.edu
Mmm…vegetarian chili (with TVP and tons of veggies) and homemade cinnamon rolls…so good!
White chicken chili. And anything pumpkin.
I love all things pumpkin and warm soups!
I love one dish meals roasted in the oven for fall. My favorite is baked chicken with carrots and cauliflower, seasoned with coriander and cumin. Delicious!
Guinness Beef Stew, just made it yesterday!
Tortilla soup. Best flavors of the end of summer for fall weather.
Chili with cornbread!
Hearty soups – although right now, my crockpot is full of chicken cacciatore!
Turkey chili with lots of veggies!
We like to make roasts – my husband likes the meats, and I love roasted vegetables!
A crock-pot would be another great addition to our family – we're adding a baby around Christmas and I know I can use all the cooking help I can get 🙂
Any kind of soup, as long as it's hot and comforting.
French Onion Soup….in a crock pot of course! Yummy!
Hot and spicy veggie chilli
poohsden at gmail dot com
Soup, soup, soup! Oh, and the occasional cheesy dip, but mostly for keeping warm purposes.
In the cool months of pseudo winter here in the deep south – nothing better than a big bowl of gumbo with lots of okra and a side of cornbread. Really warms you up.
Baked potato soup, chili…ok, just soup in general! 🙂 It's finally cold enough outside to justify some soup!!
White Chicken Chili and Cornbread. YUM!
white trash braising-i love it!
Soups and stews! I can't wait to make some chili though.
Chili and cornbread! Waiting for it to get a bit cooler here for it but the ingredients are waiting!
I would make chili in this crock pot! Ummmm…
Man oh man do I need a crock pot. My favorite thing to have in the colder weather is chilli and cornbread.
Without a doubt – Braised Beef short ribs in red wine!
mac and cheese!
Oh how I love crockpots! I try to make something in one at least once a week. My favorite thing to make for the winter is most likely a roast with veggies.
I'll have to go with everyone else who mentioned chili. White bean, red, beans, no beans, chicken, beef. It's all good.
I just found you from Foodgawker. I am so glad I did. A great site that I cant wait to read and I have stumbled upon an awesome giveaway. Lucky me!
My favorite fall meal is chili with some good cornbread. hmm.
I love chili in fall. I even tried making some this August since I missed it so much, but it didn't have the same effect as when it is cool outside!
Great giveaway!!
Vegan Pot roast. I do it in my crock sometimes. Braised Tempeh with potatoes, carrots, celery, onions and gravy. Preferably w/some french bread for sopping up the juices. yum.
I love winter squash in the fall. Any type prepared any way! (butternut, buttercup, delicata, spaghetti; roasted, stuffed, mixed with rice or pasta)
Pumpkin anything…pie, cookies, dip. You name it!
Broccoli cheddar soup, or baked potato soup, or tomato basil soup… along with a nice slice of warm bread! Mmmm…
Beef stew. And pumpkin muffins. Not together.
Buffalo chicken dip!!!
Any kind of soup! I love a good pot of soup that will get me through dinner one night and lunches the rest of the week!
I use mine for everything under the sun from crockpot pasta bake to soup.
My fave recipe for the fall season would be soup–any big bowl of steaming soup! Yum!
I love chili! Nothing better than a big bowl in Winter
I love soup when it starts getting cold out. Chili usually or tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich…yum! Too bad it's still 89 degrees outside
I love to make chili or taco soup in the crockpot.
I love potato soup in the fall, especially if its homemade! From the can is not quite as good.
I love chili or any type of soup. MMMM
Soups and stews! I make them all winter, and just experiment. Fun!
My favorite cold weather meals are Irish Stew, Cassoulet and beet soup. It would be great to try them in a slow cooker.
I love pot roast in the crock and of course beanless chili!
My favorite fall foods are anything involving pumpkin and apple! I also love chili on sundays…..football!!
My best friend has one of these and I've been coveting one for a long time. Especially because I work long days and I think it would make my life so much easier!
Anything squash. I do a 3 squash soup and it's wonderful.
I love when the weather finally starts to get cooler in autumn, and I begin to bake and cook more often than in summer. Some of my favorites are apple pie, apple crisp, pumpkin pie, chili, pot roast, and potato soup.
Turkey with all the trimmings
If we are thinking sweet…then really anything with pumpkin (especially pumpkin dump cake!). If savory, then probably a good roast with mashed potatoes and gravy!
Black Bean Pumpkin Soup.
Chicken Wild Rice soup!!!!! it is a must for the fall
Favorite fall dish is baked ziti and soups.
Crockpot lasagna is my favorite to make in my slow cooker
OMG! I love crockpots! Makes a great meal and I don't have to slave over the stove.
My favorite fall recipes are corn chowder, chili, pot roast, baked potatoes, butternut squash soup. I could go on. I love, love, love fall foods.
I have always wanted a crock pot! My favorite meals in the fall are hot soups with warm crusty breads and desserts with baked apples…mmmmm I love fall cooking!
My favorite fall meal is one-dish beef stew!!! Yum!
Chili and cornbread. Hello, October!
I love to make Italian beef & short rib chili. I can't believe October is here, how the time flies.
I love pulled pork sandwiches while watching some college football!
Chicken Dumpling Soup, or chicken chili and twice baked potatoes, or beef stew, or crockpot chicken, or or or… I love Fall cooking!
Gumbo Gumbo and more gumbo!!!!
Homemade soups
I can't wait to make chili once the weather turns cooler!
Homemade chicken noodle soup is a fall favorite!