March crockpot recipe progress report
By Kristen Howe
@KristenH (33591)
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
March 31, 2017 2:48pm CST
Since March has come to the end, it's time to do my report card on my five chosen recipes I slow cooked in my crockpot. I've had some hits and some misses during my third month of slow cooking easy and interesting recipes. I've already lined up April's batch of crockpot recipes to kick off the spring season.
1. Crockpot Chocolate lava cake--F.
Since I never baked anything before, this was a colossal and epic fail. It didn't look like the cake in the photo. It became a wet mess like melted ice cream. I didn't even bother with the leftover mush and thrown it out.
Since I didn't have time to redo it, due to lost debit card and ran out of milk this month, I'm going to redeem myself tomorrow and hope it comes out a success with molten chocolate over the cake. If it's perfect, I'll post a shot out of it and do a post here. Maybe the second time would be a charm.
2. Vegetable Lasagna-A-. This was a delectable treat. Though the recipe mentioned 5 layers, mine turned out to be 4, since I ran out of space and veggies (eggplant, zucchini, onions and red peppers.) It worked out fine and tasted great too, though my vegetables looked close enough to resemble lasagna noodles.The leftovers were awesome and delicious as well for a second helping. It was filling, too.
3. Ritz Chicken--A. Though the chicken tasted well, my Ritz cracker crumble coating fell off the chicken, probably due to too much butter. So I know for next time to do more Ritz and less butter. Somehow my crockpot chicken dishes come out on top and easy to shred, too. The leftovers were scrumptious as well with every bite.
4. Mexican Stuffed Peppers--B-. Though this was a Mexican stuffed peppers dish, I didn't use enchilada sauce (never knew there was such a sauce), chili powder and salsa. Instead of ground beef, I've used ground turkey. Since I didn't have any white, brown or Mexican rice, I've used dirty rice which was a bit spicy. I had room to do one stuffed pepper at a time. Instead of having leftovers, I had leftover stuffing mix to stuff the pepper and slow cook it for 4 hours. To tone down the spiciness, I had a lot of sour cream to do the trick, since I was out of milk.
5. French toast Casserole--Incomplete. Due to losing credit card, I also ran out of milk and my French bread went stale. So I'll be doing it on Sunday or Monday for April's breakfast dish. I might do a post on it next week too, after I have leftovers.
Here's my April crockpot meals I've selected to try to make, except for the French Bread casserole and the chocolate lava cake redemption.
1. Chicken and Dumplings (Pinterest). (I've seen various recipes for this on Pinterest with different ingredients, like using biscuits for the dumplings.) Thanks for @Melissa1024 for sharing this recipe idea to me on Facebook in January. I haven't had this dish in a long time, since my mother made it years ago from scratch.
2. No-Boil Baked Manicotti (Pinterest). This was my mother's favorite pasta dish. She had it every time we ordered Italian food, whether by delivery or in the restaurant. I haven't had this in ages. And when I saw it in January on Pinterest, it reminded me of my mother. Since it's been 3 years since she passed away, this is pay tribute to her. (I've never piped any filling before.)
3. Lil Smokies (Pinterest). Since I had brought mini sausages for New Year's, I never had a chance to use them for pigs in a blanket. This easy dish would be perfect for a side dish, main dish or an appetizer. I might as well use those mini franks up and see what happens with this 3-ingredient dish of mini franks, BBQ sauce and, of course, grape jelly.
4. Stuffed Pepper Soup (both found on Pinterest and Recipes that Crock). Since I've made stuffed peppers, now to make the soup. I've only had it twice, and that was during church's Lenten meal this month. My only caveat is no dirty rice.
Soup's on everyone!
Bon appetite!
Since I never baked anything before, this was a colossal and epic fail. It didn't look like the cake in the photo. It became a wet mess like melted ice cream. I didn't even bother with the leftover mush and thrown it out.
Since I didn't have time to redo it, due to lost debit card and ran out of milk this month, I'm going to redeem myself tomorrow and hope it comes out a success with molten chocolate over the cake. If it's perfect, I'll post a shot out of it and do a post here. Maybe the second time would be a charm.
2. Vegetable Lasagna-A-. This was a delectable treat. Though the recipe mentioned 5 layers, mine turned out to be 4, since I ran out of space and veggies (eggplant, zucchini, onions and red peppers.) It worked out fine and tasted great too, though my vegetables looked close enough to resemble lasagna noodles.The leftovers were awesome and delicious as well for a second helping. It was filling, too.
3. Ritz Chicken--A. Though the chicken tasted well, my Ritz cracker crumble coating fell off the chicken, probably due to too much butter. So I know for next time to do more Ritz and less butter. Somehow my crockpot chicken dishes come out on top and easy to shred, too. The leftovers were scrumptious as well with every bite.
4. Mexican Stuffed Peppers--B-. Though this was a Mexican stuffed peppers dish, I didn't use enchilada sauce (never knew there was such a sauce), chili powder and salsa. Instead of ground beef, I've used ground turkey. Since I didn't have any white, brown or Mexican rice, I've used dirty rice which was a bit spicy. I had room to do one stuffed pepper at a time. Instead of having leftovers, I had leftover stuffing mix to stuff the pepper and slow cook it for 4 hours. To tone down the spiciness, I had a lot of sour cream to do the trick, since I was out of milk.
5. French toast Casserole--Incomplete. Due to losing credit card, I also ran out of milk and my French bread went stale. So I'll be doing it on Sunday or Monday for April's breakfast dish. I might do a post on it next week too, after I have leftovers.
Here's my April crockpot meals I've selected to try to make, except for the French Bread casserole and the chocolate lava cake redemption.
1. Chicken and Dumplings (Pinterest). (I've seen various recipes for this on Pinterest with different ingredients, like using biscuits for the dumplings.) Thanks for @Melissa1024 for sharing this recipe idea to me on Facebook in January. I haven't had this dish in a long time, since my mother made it years ago from scratch.
2. No-Boil Baked Manicotti (Pinterest). This was my mother's favorite pasta dish. She had it every time we ordered Italian food, whether by delivery or in the restaurant. I haven't had this in ages. And when I saw it in January on Pinterest, it reminded me of my mother. Since it's been 3 years since she passed away, this is pay tribute to her. (I've never piped any filling before.)
3. Lil Smokies (Pinterest). Since I had brought mini sausages for New Year's, I never had a chance to use them for pigs in a blanket. This easy dish would be perfect for a side dish, main dish or an appetizer. I might as well use those mini franks up and see what happens with this 3-ingredient dish of mini franks, BBQ sauce and, of course, grape jelly.
4. Stuffed Pepper Soup (both found on Pinterest and Recipes that Crock). Since I've made stuffed peppers, now to make the soup. I've only had it twice, and that was during church's Lenten meal this month. My only caveat is no dirty rice.
Soup's on everyone!
Bon appetite!10 people like this
11 responses
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
31 Mar 17
Sounds like some good stuff, I have been using my crockpot a lot too. I found a dump meal cookbook that was s many wonderful recipes.
Crock Pot Dump Meals, 5 Ingredients or Less, Just Dump and Slow Cook [Cathy Mitchell] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Crock Pot Dump Meals Cookbook makes preparing dinner easier than ever before. Each recipe in Crock Pot Dump Meals Coo
3 people like this

@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
31 Mar 17
@KristenH I got it for $4.99 at Dollar General.
2 people like this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
1 Apr 17
@BelleStarr Nice. I would have to keep it in mind.
2 people like this

@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
31 Mar 17
Sorry about the flops on some of those recipes but like you said you will try again. Hope the chocolate lave cake turns out good when you make it again. A couple of your April recipes sound good I will be watching for the outcome on them when you make them. The chicken n dumplings and the stuffed pepper soup.
2 people like this

@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
31 Mar 17
@KristenH Please do. You are right only way you are going to know if it turns out is to try it.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
1 Apr 17
@Tina30219 I will starting with the chocolate lava cake redemption tonight.


@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
17 Apr 17
Thanks. It did real good to alternate veggies for pasta noodles. I didn't have a mandolin to cut it with. But I gave it my best shot. It was really filling too.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
1 Apr 17
enchilada sauce is a thing yeah, green and tasty normally, love to see you getting so much use out of your crockpot!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
4 Apr 17
@KristenH I dont mind stove baking for deserts, but LOVE crockpot for meat dishes and stuff
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
4 Apr 17
@Jessicalynnt I hear you. I hope my French bread casserole dish turns out okay next week from my brunch or supper.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9170)
• United States
31 Mar 17
we use our crock about twice a month, I do love it. This seems like a fun idea you have done, good job. I made a cake before and mine failed as well. I may try a couple you have mentioned. I have gotten a little predictable and need to jazz it up again.
2 people like this
@melissa1024 (2456)
• Beckley, West Virginia
1 Apr 17
You're welcome! I hope you enjoy them. I looks as if you have quite a tasty menu planned out for the month. keep me up to date on how every thing turns out.
1 person likes this
@melissa1024 (2456)
• Beckley, West Virginia
1 Apr 17
@KristenH Of course I will. Anything to help a friend.
1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (209132)
• United States
31 Mar 17
THey all sound pretty awesome actually! I tried making a crockpot rum cake once and it scorched. I don't remember if I ate it all or not. It wasn't very good. However, one time I made spaghetti with Italian Sausage in the crockpot, one of the best meals I ever made, So no telling. I love veggie lasagna. I may try that.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
1 Apr 17
@snowy22315 My pleasure. I'll do it later today. You might like it too.
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
2 Apr 17
They are. I have over 200 pinned recipes on Pinterest. I won't be adding more until the summer.












