In the 70's, when I first began my journey into the wonderful world of cooking, I had in my kitchen an appliance that no self respecting cook of that time would be without...The original Rival CROCK-POT. It served me well for years and for one reason or another was abandoned and forgotten as new interests in that area came along. Years later I bought a new 'improved' model but was very disappointed with the boiling instead of slow cooking so out that one went and on to the next, with the same sorry results. What to do? I really wanted that famous 8 hour, turn a tough, inexpensive piece of meat tender, result again. The only answer to this would be, find that old Crock-pot, and that I did and a book to go with. Thank you Kiwanis Thrift Store!*
Do any of you have an old one or have you found a new one that works well? What is your favorite thing to make in your Crock pot? My daughter is currently making overnight granola in the old one I picked up for her, which is now the only one she uses as it actually cooks on low.
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I'm off now to put a ham bone and some beans in mine and dinner will be covered....Thank you old Rival.
18 comments:
I actually have 2. I have an old one that was my grandmother's I think. I use it all the time as it does cook things just right. We received a new large Rival for a wedding present and I use it to make really big batches but, I do have to adjust my cooking times as it does seem to get hotter, even on low, than my old trusty one.
I even had a second old one that I picked up thrifting but, I think it was lost at some pot-luck function a few years ago.
There really is nothing like the old reliable!
I was crushed when the crock to my old (1980ish) one broke, the new ones are awful! I actually have a 4 qt pressure cooker from QVC that has a true 180 degree slow cook mode, and it works! So that solved my problem, apple butter in the crock pot is amazing:@)
My Father has a slow cooker that he sometimes uses to make horrifying looking meals which I've never tried. But I'm glad you're happy with yours.
Regards
Edward
Sad to say, ours is a newer mini-model (not sure what brand), and it boils. I'll be sure to grab a Rival if I ever see one in our local thrift stores.
I've got a modern one, I think it's morphy Richards. I use it all the time,especially in winter. I cook all sorts in it - stock, soup, I do a lovely gamon joint with mustard and honey, Moroccan, curry, all sorts! I love the thing! I have to admit though, all the old school people who had one in the 70s had told me how tender it makes a cheap bit of meat and I don't find that it does. It does like you say, boils instead of slow cooking. You can turn it lower though, I might try that. Oh pork chops cooked in it are beautiful, they fall right off the bone. X
LOVE the crock pot when it's my turn to make dinner.
The bottom oven of my Aga works as a slow cooker and I have an old cast iron pot that I still use to make all sorts of things in. If I make a casserole in the morning, I just put it in the oven and it will stay there all day until I come home in the evening and the meal is all ready.x
I still have my old crock pot that I got in the late 70's/early 80's. (I didn't even know they were making the new ones different nowadays.) I love to cook chicken stew, chicken and rice, or bbq chicken to make pulled chicken sandwiches. And of course the hot spicy cheese/sausage dip for the tortilla chips at football games. All the easy old family favorites. My sister makes fruit cobbler in hers.
I wish we still had our old one. the one we have now does just like you said....boils instead of slow cooks. Mom hates that it cooks so fast. I guess they should re-name it fast cooker. We put a tough, cheap piece of meat in ours and in the end...it was still tough and not even worthy of the title "cheap."
Oh YUM! That sounds delicious - makes me want to make a rather large pot of pintos. Honey, I LOVE my crock pot. Have replaced it a couple of times over the years and it serves us well.
I wanna know what the heck "overnight granola" is?
And I am home long enought to catch my breath and a few blogs....I have a crock pot and just cook stew in it as I have no idea what else to do with it....hint, hint....like maybe granola?
I love my crock pot. I made apple butter and pizza sauce to can last year. I love it for soups and almost any cut of meat. My DH thinks a crock pot could make shoe leather tender and tasty! I have a recipe for crock pot granola, but have never tried it. Now you've got me thinking I should...
Congrats on finding the one from the Good Ol' Days! I love making steel cut oatmeal in mine for the days when the gang will be here for breakfast...!
(and thank you ever so for your most kind comments over at my place!) sonowiknow.blogspot.com
We love our old SloCooker (the British version). Thanks for the reminder to get it out! And thanks for your kind comment on my blog too.
About a year ago I dropped my original crock pot on the way out to a church dinner. It smashed to the ground and I haven't made a meal in one since. My momma HATES her new one!
So much for progress huh? Some things just can't be improved upon!
xoRebecca
Hi Sherri...looks like we both had 70's on the brain tonight!
I just broke my crock pot...not as cool as yours....it was a Rival tho and it was not my fav as it melted a cutting board it sat on and if it wasn't on a cutting board my counter felt dangerously hot!
So I wish I had my old one but it started to smell funny so i had to let it go!
i guess I will have to get Bob to find me an old one on his garageing days!
Thanks for dropping by!...
How is your garden growing in this weather?..although you have it better by the sea!..Take care!
Hi Sherri,
I have the new Rival. I like it, but it does get hotter than my old Rival. The new one is bigger, I use it when making larger amounts of something. But, nothing compares so far to my old one I recieved from my Mom many years ago.
~Valerie
People keep telling me to use slow cookers but I Just like to stick with the oven. It's more simple to me.
-Zane
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