Friday, November 5, 2021

Handy Crockpot Size Guide - How to Know What Size Crockpot You Need & Which One To Buy

I have a confession that I need to get off my chest - I am a bit of a crockpot junkie! I'll admit that I own 4 crockpots (this is down from the 6 I used to have!). All four are different sizes and I use them for different recipes so I think that justifies my crockpot addiction, right? 


This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

My accumulation of crockpots started long ago when I was a young professional just out of college working long hours and sick of eating take-out meals. I got my first crockpot as a gift and immediately fell in love with it. A beef stew was my first crockpot meal and it was AMAZING! My first crockpot was small in volume but it did the trick of feeding me and my roommate with leftovers for lunch to boot. 

Fast forward several years to life with a husband and a few kids (4 to be exact) and this little crockpot was no longer able to keep up with demand. Growing kids sure do eat a lot! That is when I knew it was time to upgrade to a bigger-size crockpot. The question I needed to answer was what size would work best for our family of 6. I did a lot of research and thought I would share with you what I learned.


Crockpot Size Guide - What Size Do I Need?

Knowing what you want to cook in your crockpot is a good place to start in determining what size crockpot to use.  If you are a seasoned cook or at least past serving ramen noodles or boxed mac & cheese for your main meal you probably have a good idea of how much food you need to make to feed your family. 

The most popular general standard-size crockpot to feed a 4-person family is between 5 and 6 quarts.  The more people you are feeding the larger size crockpot you will need. Here is a quick guide to help you determine what size crockpot to use:


QuartsServing SizeFood to Prepare
1-2 qt.1 - 2 peopleoats, dips, dessert
3-4 qt3-4 people / small familysoup, stew, casserole, breakfast, dessert
5-6 qt5 people / lg. familysoup, step, casserole, roasts, whole chicken, breakfast, dessert
7+ qt6-7 people / entertaining a crowdroast (5+ lbs), chicken (7 lbs), large cuts of meat, lasagne
10 qt8+ people / large crowdroast (12 lbs), turkey (10 lbs), large cuts of meat




Does Crockpot Size Matter?

Of course, knowing how many people you are cooking for helps you determine how much food to prepare but it is pretty important to make sure you use the properly sized equipment to make your meal. 

The space inside your crockpot or the crockpot size relates to the number of hours needed to cook the food. Generally speaking, smaller crockpots take less time while larger crockpots will need more time. Remember to always test the food's temperature to make sure it is safe to consume no matter what size crockpot you use. 


The Most Common Size Crockpot

A 5-6 quart crockpot is by far the most popular size owned by the home chef. This size crockpot usually fits nicely into a kitchen cabinet without taking up too much room. It can easily feed a medium-sized family too. 

If you are looking for the perfect gift for a wedding shower, housewarming gift or even a Christmas present a 5-6 quart crockpot is a sure winner! 


Important Things To Consider Before Purchasing A Crockpot

Today's crockpot has come a long way from the first crockpots on the market! They still make the same great meals but today's crockpots offer so many more useful options. Here are some things to consider when getting ready to buy a new crockpot:

  • If you already have a crockpot is this new one a replacement or an upgrade in size? Consider the shape of the new crockpot. If you already have a wide-shaped crockpot that you use for casseroles or a whole chicken get a new one that is tall and great for soups, stews, or sauce. 
  • Will you be traveling with the crockpot? If you are you definitely want a lid that locks to prevent any spills on your trip. 
  • Do you have enough storage space in your kitchen or pantry for another crockpot? Think about where you will be keeping it when not in use. 
  • Manual or high tech? If a traditional type of slow cooker with a few simple settings is all you need then go ahead and get one but if you are looking for something with a few more bells and whistles you will be amazed at how technologically savvy crockpots have become. From programmable digital crockpots to Wi-Fi-enabled ones that allow you to adjust temperature and cooking time remotely you will have no problem finding one with the options you want. 

How Long Does A Crockpot Last?

A good quality crockpot that is well taken care of can last between six to ten years before needing to be replaced! 

It is a good idea to regularly check the cord to make sure it is in good working condition. If you notice any damage to the cord DO NOT USE the crockpot and dispose of it right away. Also, if grandma gave you her crockpot that has an electric cord wrapped in fabric it is definitely time to replace it. 

When you notice your crockpot not heating up food like it used or taking longer to cook to it might be time to replace it. Making sure your food reaches food-safe temperatures (185F / 85C) is important and if your crockpot no longer can do the job it is time to replace it.




Since you make it this far, I think you are well on your way to finding the right size crockpot to fit your needs. With all of the choices of size, shape, and functions there is literally a crockpot for everyone! Let me know what your favorite crockpot meals are by sharing them in the comments! 

The Best Crockpot to Buy


After years of using many different types of crockpots for tons of different recipes, I have narrowed down my favorites to two choices, both of which I highly recommend.

I like to use a large oval-shaped crockpot for meals like lasagna, pulled pork or chicken because there is a lot of room horizontally for the food to be placed inside and cooked. I like simple so I don't really care for the programmable kind but this feature is optional and doesn't really affect the taste of the food anyway. Here is my favorite, highly recommended crockpot with the simple dial function and programmable:




Tip - Don't forget to use those handy slow cooker liners to make clean-up a snap! 


Sunday, October 3, 2021

Italian Sausage and Lentil Soup

 Fall is here and we all know what that means - Soup Season! Go ahead and get out your crockpot, instant pot or stockpot and get ready to make an amazing pot of soup for dinner. 

My family loves when I serve soup for dinner and this Italian sausage and lentil soup is one of our favorites. I love it because it is full of healthy veggies and amazing flavors. 





This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

Actually, the first time I made this soup was the first time my family had ever eaten lentils. My husband is not a fan of beans at all!  But I thought since lentils don't actually look like a "regular" bean, like chili beans or cannellini beans I could pull off this soup without disclosing that lentils are actually legumes. Guess what? It worked!! Everyone in our family including my picky 8 year old really likes this soup.

There are four main categories of lentils - brown, green, red/yellow and speciality. Lentils are high in fiber and protein making them an excellent addition to your diet. Unlike most dried legumes (beans) lentils do not require soaking before cooking and the red variety cooks the fastest. You can get buy canned lentils to use in a quick side dish or in salads but dried lentils work best in soup.  Once you open a bag of dried lentils make sure to store them in an air-tight container in a cool dry place. It is best to use up the lentils within one year (which should be no problem after you make this soup!). 

If you have never used lentils before don't worry they are super easy to cook. All you have to do is rinse and sort them picking out any stones then pour them into your stockpot along with the rest of the ingredients and let your stove do the work of softening them in the broth as the soup simmers on your stovetop. 


Check out these other delicious recipes:

Before we get to the delicious fall soup here are a few other recipes I think you are going to love too:

Simply Delicious Italian Sausage & Tortellini 

10 Awesome Recipes For Day Old Jimmy John's Bread

How To Make Cinnamon & Sugar Soft Pretzels


Now for the soup recipe! I love making this soup in a big stockpot but if you want you can definately make it in your crockpot or instant pot too. 

Italian Sausage & Lentil Soup



Ingredients
1lb Italian sausage

1 large onion - chopped

1 stalk celery - chopped

2 large carrots - chopped

2 small zucchini cubed (optional)

6 cups chicken broth

2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes, undrained 

2 cups lentils

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp salt

½ tsp each - pepper, basil, oregano, parsley & thyme

1 pinch red pepper flakes


Directions:

1. Brown the sausage and drain off the fat.

2. Add all of the ingredients to a large stockpot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the stockpot and simmer for 1 ½ hours until the lentils are tender.

3. Sprinkle it with parmesan cheese and serve.


To print out this recipe click HERE for the recipe card.





What are your favorite fall soups? Do you like using your crockpot, instant pot or stock pot to make soup? Leave me a comment and let me know what you are making for dinner tonight!


For more inspiring hearty fall soup recipes check out this post too!

10 Hearty Fall Soup Recipes Your Family Will Love





Saturday, September 25, 2021

10 Hearty Fall Soup Recipes Your Family Will Love

As the weather cools down and it starts feeling more like fall, I start craving those delicious, flavorful fall foods everyone loves - especially a hearty bowl of soup. Soup is the perfect cool (or cold) weather comfort food that is easy to make and fills up a hungry stomach in no time. 




As a busy mom, I love recipes that are filling, full of healthy ingredients, and whip up quickly. There are so many soups that fit these requirements!


Soup is also a great meal to make when you need to use up whatever produce you have on hand in the refrigerator before it goes bad. Soup is very forgiving allowing you to customize the flavor to your family's liking. 


How To Freeze Soup

Did you know that you can freeze (non-cream-based) soup? Next time you make a pot of soup double the recipe so you can freeze half of it for a future meal. Make sure to leave out any noodles or rice before freezing though since they don't freeze well in soups. 

If you are making a cream-based soup leave out the cream or milk and freeze the remaining ingredients. Add the cream or milk after the soup has thawed and you are ready to re-heat it. 

When the soup is cool pour it into a Tupperware container pop on the lid and put it in the freezer. If your recipe calls for noodles or rice just measure out the amount of dry pasta or rice and put it into a zip lock back that you can put in the freezer with the soup so that you are sure to have all the ingredients ready when you go to make it. 

Soup can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Broths will stay good in the freezer for up to 6 months. 




Must-Have Kitchen Tools To Make Soup

The first step in making a good bowl of soup is starting with the right soup pot. I have a large family so I always use my large stockpot to make soup in but you can make many kinds of soups in a crockpot or even an Instant pot. 

Stockpot 

The stockpot that works best for my family is an 8-quart Calphalon stockpot. When I'm making soup I have to make enough to feed four hungry and growing kids, my husband and me so this size stockpot does the trick for us. 

Buying a good stockpot is important for every home because it is such a versatile kitchen tool. I use my stockpot for SOOO many things besides soup like cooking pasta, braising meat, making stocks, and making homemade tomato pasta sauce. When you buy a stockpot make sure it will work for all the different types of cooking you do. If your budget allows it will be worth spending a little extra to get a good quality stockpot that will last for many years to come. 

No matter what pot you end up using for soup make sure the pot has a thick heavy bottom to help prevent burning. Pans that are too thin can cause the soup to stick to the bottom or burn more easily so keep that in mind as you shop for a soup or stockpot


Crockpot 

When I know I'm going to be gone all day I love to use my crockpot to make soup so that when I get home dinner is ready. Crockpots come in lots of different shapes like oval or round and different sizes the standard size being between 5 and 6 quarts perfect for a regular sized family. If you have a big family a large 8 to 10-quart crockpot might fit your needs better than the standard size. Check out this Crock Pot Size Guide from OvenSpot.com to figure out the best option for your family!

If you make soup in a crockpot be sure to add the dried pasta or rice about 30 minutes before you plan to eat to give it time to soften and cook. Adding it to the crockpot and allowing it to cook all day will result in mushy noodles and gummy rice. 

A programmable crockpot is handy when making soup too. Set it and forget it! Set the timer to start cooking then when the food is done let the crockpot switch to warm mode to keep the soup warm until you are ready to eat. 


Instant Pot 

Instant pots are multi-functional pressure cookers that cook food quickly using pressure. The instant pot can be used to make soups when you are in a hurry and want to get dinner on the table lickety-split fast! Because instant pots use pressure to cook food quickly be sure to follow instructions completely since the pressure can cause injury if you are not careful. 

Like crockpots, Instant pots are available in different sizes to meet your needs. Instant pots are also programmable so you can set the cooking time and let it do its job preparing a delicious pot of soup. 




10 Delicious & Hearty Fall Soup Recipes

Today I wanted to share with you my favorite fall soup recipes! Grab your favorite stockpot, crockpot, or Instapot, and let's get cooking!


01. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Shredded rotisserie chicken, thick-cut carrots, celery, and onion in a rich flavorful broth make this one of the best fall soup options. Chicken noodle soup is truly medicine for the body providing comfort, nourishment, and a wonderful meal for your family. Let your crockpot do the cooking in order to make Grandma's Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup recipe from The Cabin Diary. Also, make sure to add the noodles at the end of the cooking time so they don't get mushy. Not only will your house smell amazing but your family will all enjoy an amazing cup of soup!



02. Hearty Basalmic Beef Stew

Let your BFF crockpot do all the work to make this recipe a delicious meal. Whether you consider it a stew or soup there is no question about beef stews' delicious flavor and filling ingredients. Tender chunks of beef, thick-cut veggies in a gravy-like broth make for a classic bowl of beef stew. Go ahead and try adding non-traditional veggies like Brussel sprouts, mushrooms, zucchini, and sweet potato in with the classic carrots, celery, and onion veggies. Find the full Basalmic Beef Step recipe at The Blond Cook


via: The Blond Cook


03. Broccoli Cheddar Soup

 A beautiful blend of cheeses along with fresh or frozen broccoli are the stars of this show. Cheddar cheese is the traditional cheese used in this soup but, feel free to spice it up with some pepper jack or add gouda for a smoky flavor. If you want to get your kids to eat their broccoli try serving them a bowl of this creamy broccoli cheese soup from Little Spoon Farm


via: Little Spoon Farm


04. Beef Barley Soup

A rich, flavorful, and super healthy meal your family will rave about. This soup will keep the winter chills at bay as you enjoy a big bowl of beef barley soup. Don't let the barley scare you - this super grain is packed full of fiber and can help boost your immune system which everyone needs during the cold winter months. Substitute ground beef as a budget-friendly adjustment to the recipe without losing the delicious beef flavor. Try Cooktoria's recipe for the best bowl of beef barley soup around!


via: Cooktoria


05. Creamy Tomato & Tortellini Soup

If your garden yielded an abundance of tomatoes now is the time to use them up in this delicious fall soup recipe. Creamy tomato with cheese tortellini pair well together with a sprinkle of dried basil and slivers of parmesan to top it off. Follow the recipe from Salt & Lavendar and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.  


via: Salt & Lavendar

06. Italian Sausage and Lentil

My family LOVES this soup recipe - even my picky eater! I love it because it is super easy to make and I can freeze it and pull it out for a future meal in the weeks to come. This soup makes a regular appearance during the fall and winter months at our dinner table. To make it for your family follow the full recipe with this handy printable recipe card below.  





07. Pasta Fagioli Soup

This soup recipe is better than the popular chain restaurant's version because of its secret ingredient. Full of the traditional veggies, pasta, and beef broth this soup is a winner any night of the week. To get the recipe and learn what the secret ingredient is head over to Together As A Family!

via: Together As A Family


08. Stuffed Pepper Soup

Turn the classic dish of stuffed peppers into a delicious soup for dinner tonight. This soup is a re-boot with an amazing outcome your family is sure to enjoy. Rice, peppers, ground beef, and plenty of flavors all in a big hearty bowl of soup. Try this recipe from Skinny Taste

 

via: Skinny Taste

09. Cuban Black Bean Soup

Loaded with veggies, protein, and flavor this soup will warm you up on a cold winter night. Substitute canned black beans to speed up the cooking time without sacrificing flavor. Orange juice or freshly squeezed oranges give this Cuban black bean soup its fresh flavor while cumin and smoked paprika provide a little "kick". To make this soup check out this recipe by Simple-Veganista.


via: Simple-Veganista

10. Creamy Potato Soup

Chunky pieces of potato in a creamy soup base will leave you full and satisfied on a cool fall day. This is my "go-to" potato soup recipe I have used for years so I know you will love it too. I like to add shredded carrot to it when I make this soup but feel free to doctor it up any way you like. Gimme Some Oven's potato soup recipe claims to be the best and I think it is!


via: Gimme Some Oven

Make sure to serve your family a hot bowl of soup in a big soup bowl too. When I got married one of the things I registered for and we received as a wedding gift was a set of ceramic soup bowls. These bowls are deeper and wider than a typical cereal bowl. When I serve soup for dinner I know my family is hungry and will want a big bowl of soup to eat which is why I love these bowls. Everyone knows what I'm serving for dinner when I stack these bowls on the counter - soup! 



More Delicious Recipes

By now your stomach should be growling letting you know that a big hearty bowl of soup is what you need! So go get out that stockpot and get cooking - your family will thank you!

For more delicious recipes make sure to check out these other easy to make recipes:


Easy Homemade Caramel Corn & Kettle Corn

The Best Pancake Recipe

Easy Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread Recipe

Cinnamon & Sugar Soft Pretzels


What are your family's favorite fall comfort foods? Please share your thoughts in the comments - I'd love to hear from you!



Thursday, September 16, 2021

How To Make Seat Belt Covers For Your Baby's Car Seat

Seat belt covers are a must-have for anyone with a young child who has to be in a car seat or booster seat! They make traveling in the car so much more enjoyable.



This post is brought to you in partnership with Zulily. While I may have been compensated, as always, all opinions are my own.

Do you have young children or a baby? Then you probably have a car seat or two anchored into the back seat of your minivan or car! We all know how much children dislike being strapped into their car seats so they buck like a rodeo bull or arch their back while you are trying to secure the seat belt straps to buckle them in. (ask me how I know this!)

Can you blame them? Not only are they unable to move around freely but most of the time the seat belt straps rub or dig into the sides of their neck causing your child a great deal of agony. 

When my children were young enough to be in car seats I always felt so bad when I would take them out and see a little red line on each side of their neck where the seat belt rubbed. (Please know that I didn't over tighten the straps causing them any pain but when they moved their head back and forth to look around the seat belt would cause a light red indented rub mark that looked irritated) 

I wasn't about to compromise safety by loosening the straps too much - what if we got in an accident and their little body wasn't held into their car seat because of slackened seat belt straps? But I did want to find a way to make the car seat more comfortable for them without compromising safety. 




Seat belt covers changed our whole traveling in the car experience! I sewed each child a pair that fit snugly around their car seat straps and adjusted the seat belt covers so that the soft minky or fleece fabric rested between their neck and the seat belt. No more chaffing marks on their neck, and much happier travelers! Since the seat belt covers are made from fabric they are completely washable which I found out right away to be a huge bonus! I made several spare sets to keep in the car in case of an accident (spit up, drool, spills...) so I could change them right away. 


These seat belt strap covers are super simple to make and only require basic sewing skills. Today I'm going to walk you through how to make your own kid-size (infant & toddler) seat belt strap covers for their car seat straps. If you don't have a little one who is in a car seat anymore you can still use a seat belt cover for a regular seat belt when they transition to a booster seat. Follow along as I make a set of seat belt strap covers. 

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclaimer page for more information.

Seat Belt Covers For Infant & Toddler Car Seats


Materials list (I've included links to products I recommend):


Step-by-Step Instructions:


1. Cut 2 - 6" x 6" squares from the cotton fabric, minky/fleece fabric and cotton batting. You should now have a total of six individual squares. 

2. Place the batting square down on a flat surface first. Next place the minky or fleece square right side up on top of the batting. Lastly, place the cotton fabric right side facing the minky / fleece square (the cotton piece should be upside down so you see the back of it and not the pretty printed side). 

Pin or clip all three layers together in several places so they do not shift around when you start to sew them. 

Tip - I love these handy sewing clips to use instead of pins to hold the fabric in place! No more accidental pokes from a needle or a broken sewing machine needle because you sewed over a pin. 

3. Before you start sewing select one side and insert two pins one inch apart from each other. Starting from the first pin begin sewing around the square with a 1/4" seam allowance. Stop sewing once you get to the second pin. Clip all of the corners to reduce the bulk of fabric. Turn the fabric square right side out through the 1" opening and use a blunt pencil or this cool sewing tool (That Purple Thang) to push out the corners. Make sure your pencil or stick doesn't poke through the corners! 

4. Iron the fabric square to chase out any wrinkles and to press the 1" opening flat with a small amount of fabric turned inside. This helps with the next step - topstitching.

5. Sew around the entire seat belt cover with a 1/4" seam allowance making sure to sew the 1" gap closed with a straight stitch or zig-zag stitch. This is totally up to you but both stitches look nice. 

6. Now it is time to add the Velcro to each seat belt cover. The velcro will be sewn along one side of the seat belt cover. Cut a 5" strip of Velcro then pin the hook side along one edge of the minky side of the square with a 1/2" space above and below the Velcro. Flip the fabric square over then pin the fuzzy Velcro piece to the opposite edge of the cotton fabric. Sew all around the perimeter of both Velcro strips. 

7. Repeat these steps with the second seat belt cover. 

Congratulations, you are all done! 

PIN this post for later!!

Tip - If you want to make an adult size seat belt cover adjust the size of the cut fabrics to measure 6" x 12". The velcro should be attached to the long 12" sides. 


No time to make your own seat belt covers? No problem! I have several sets for children's car seats listed for sale in my Etsy shop Sapucha. I also love custom orders and can accommodate custom orders via Etsy too. 

If you love to sew here are some more fun sewing projects I know you will enjoy making as much as these seat belt covers!




What have you been sewing lately? Make sure to check back often to see what I'm working on! 

Also, check out the 10 Sewing Projects For Beginners I shared on the Zulily blog The Find. I'm sure you will be able to find something to inspire you! 

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Easy Fall Pumpkin Craft Project For Kids

With fall just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about all of the fun fall crafts to make. Fall is such an inspiring season full of colorful leaves, apples, cider, and of course pumpkins! Pumpkins can be used for decoration, carving, and of course to make pumpkin pie (my hubby's favorite).




Fall just isn't fall without pumpkins - everyone loves pumpkins! 

Today's craft project uses pumpkins as the main attraction however you could use any shape or design you like too. This project uses everyday household items and is very budget-friendly. I guarantee kids of all ages will enjoy making their own aluminum foil pumpkin.

This project would also work well in a group setting like a co-op, youth group, Sunday school or school. Because it comes together so quickly and requires minimal supplies or pre-planning you can certainly have your kids make these with friends too. I recommend an adult or older child be in charge of the hot glue gun to prevent any injuries though.




Aluminum foil (a.k.a. tin foil) is the star medium for this project so go raid your pantry and grab that roll of foil. The shiny, smooth texture of tin foil and its ability to be easily bent makes it so much fun to use for craft projects. 

The project we will be making today is a colorful foil embossed pumpkin. Embossing is just a fancy term that means carving, molding, or stamping a design on a surface or object. Don't let this big word scare you away from this easy and fun project. 


Aluminum Foil Embossed Fall Pumpkin Craft


Supplies:


* feel free to use this free pumpkin printable template if you are not comfortable drawing a pumpkin freehand. Coloring book pages work well for this project too!



Download the free pumpkin template here.


 


Download free pumpkin template (without words) here




Instructions:

Because we are using permanent markers it would be a good idea to cover your work surface (a.k.a the kitchen table) with a placemat or plastic tablecloth before doing this craft project. 

1. Print off the free printable pumpkin template or draw your own on a piece of regular size printer paper making sure to include the vertical lines along the front of the pumpkin, stem, and any leaves. Tape the paper onto the piece of cardboard with the pumpkin picture right side up. 

2. Use your hot glue gun to trace the outline of the pumpkin along the lines from the template or from the pumpkin shape you drew making sure to cover all of the lines completely leaving the inside empty space of the pumpkin free from hot glue. Try to prevent any gaps or blobs of hot glue which will show up when we emboss the design onto the foil. 





3. Tear off a large sheet of aluminum foil taking care not to wrinkle it too much. Place the sheet of foil over the paper with the hot glue outline and smooth it down taping the edges to the back of the cardboard. With your fingers gently press the foil down around the glue molding the foil to the glue outline. Smooth out any wrinkles with your finger being careful not to tear the foil. 

4. Use the Sharpie markers to color in the smooth flat spaces inside the center of the embossed pumpkin shape to make your fall pumpkin. 

5. (Optional Step) Trace around the outside edges of the embossed lines with a black or other dark color Sharpie marker.

You are all done! Pop your finished fall foil art into a frame (minus the glass) and enjoy it all season long. 

My boys were so inspired by this pumpkin project that they ended up raiding our craft cupboard to find great pictures from their favorite coloring books to use next. My youngest found the coolest mini-spider man picture and my other son used a picture of a basketball to emboss in foil and color just like we did with the pumpkins. 





Once you get your kids started the sky is the limit on what they can make! Let their imagination go wild and see what they make.