Perfect Rice

Family barbecues are always a fun summer activity. There’s nothing like hanging out with the family around the pool while snacking on some tasty food. Family cookouts are a great way to bring the whole family together for some summer fun. Many families prefer to cook all of their barbecue food on the grill, but sometimes it’s more convenient to use slow cookers to prepare food. Slow cookers allow the chef to toss in a few ingredients, set the timer and get to work on other preparations. Here’s a sandwich recipe that will knock the socks off all the guests at your next summer barbecue:

Barbecue Pork Sandwiches:
~ 1 pork roast
~ 1 bottle barbecue sauce
~ ½ cup to 1 cup water

Put all ingredients into the slow cooker and set on high. Leave pork to cook for about 6 hours. When it’s finished, remove meat from the bone and serve on hamburger buns. Enjoy!

Shhhh! I have a secret. It’s been a long time coming that I tell someone, so I have chosen you (yes, you!) to reveal this mind-blowing secret to. Did you know that crock pots can save you from spending hours slaving away over the stove? You may not believe it – but that’s my secret to feeding my family of 12 – crock pots! Between my 10 kids and my husband, I barely have time to go grocery shopping, let alone spend hours preparing meals.That doesn’t mean I let my family starve or eat fast food every day – it means I use my crock pot to prepare delicious and nutritious meals.

One of my favorite recipes is a simple chicken soup. I just throw in a few chopped chicken breasts, some chicken stock, potatoes, broccoli, and onions and set the crock pot to low. I leave all the ingredients to cook overnight and the next day I have a hearty stew to feed my hungry brood.

Cooking can be a real time sink. A sit-down, family meal can take upwards of two hours to prepare. With only a few precious hours after work, not a lot of people have that kind of time to spare night in and night out. But there is a somewhat unlikely solution in the slow cooker.

Don’t be fooled by the name, slow cookers can be a great way to save you time. Sometimes known as a crock pot, these devices are perfect for making large stews, soups, ribs, or any other number of hearty meals. Just throw the materials in the pot, and walk away for hours at a time. When you return, you’ll have a delicious meal, full of soft veggies and tender meat.

If you’re always short on time, chop the ingredients the night before. Throw them in the pot in the morning, and let them stew all day while you’re at work. (They are safe to leave on for many hours at a time. But if they are going to be unattended, make sure the pot isn’t pushed up against anything.) When you get home, you’ll have your meal ready to serve. Freeze the leftovers for additional time saving.