Customer Reviews

Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Slow Cooker Recipes 2

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There are a ton of slow cooker receipe books on the market, but this one is the very best. I think it is even better than her first book of slow cooker recipes. I had borrowed a copy of the book from my library before buying it and already knew I was going to be crazy about it. I loved it so much I bought an extra copy for my neice who was pregnant with her third child. I figured she needed a good slow cooker recipe book more than another receiving blanket.

Not all of the brand names she calls for in her recipes are available at my supermarket, but it is hardly rocket science to make substitutions. I also think buying all of the convenience foods she calls for makes the recipes more expensive, but I recognize she includes them to make things easier. I have successfully made substitutes for some of the convenience items (i.e. regular bacon for pre-cooked bacon).

I love the twists she puts on tried-and-true recipes. When you feel you can't possibly think of another way of cooking chicken,Sandra Lee is there with a new, tasty, easy-to-make recipe. My family loved the Bourbon-Mustard Brisket, Smothered Meatloaf, Borracho Chicken (made with Jose Cuervo) and Cajun Red Beans with Andouille Sausage.

I'll be using some of the party foods and warm-up drinks receipes for the holidays.

I purchased this book looking for some different recipes than the same old thing I usually make in my slow cooker.
I found the recipes wonderful, I also loved the fact that the recipes had photos. However, I use my slow cooker so I can put things in it in the morning before I go to work and it will be done when I get home. A great majority of the recipes call for a 3-4 hours cook time or cook this part for 1 hour then add rest and cook 3-4 hours. For my needs this just doesn't work. If you are looking for the 8-10 hour cook times this book is not for you.

I hate cooking, but this book had a lot of recipes I wanted to try. I love that most of the recipes have the finished product picture right next to the recipe. The only complaint is I can't find some of the ingredients. But that hasn't been that big of a problem since most of the stuff I can't find are the pre-cut vegetables. I would defiantly recommend this to all the beginner cooks.

This cookbook is just as great as the first one. Again I have not put my slow cooker away yet as I have many more meals to try out.

I borrowed this cookbook from a friend because I <3 the crock pot. What's not to love--you throw stuff in, walk away, and come back to a finished meal. Apparently, however, I do NOT <3 semi-homemade.

This could be my fault. See, I am cheap, so when a recipe in this book called for "bacon crumbles, Hormel," I'd think, "doubtful" and just make some bacon and crumble it myself. Or when I was supposed to use diced frozen onions, I'd just dice an onion instead. Maybe that contributed to my disapointment in these recipes. But I think the main issue is that I like food that tastes good (and fresh). And you can't do BOTH "semi" homemade and fresh in the crock pot.

I'm not accustomed to drowning my chicken in cream-of-whatever soup. And you know, I don't care for the flavor of cream-of-whatever soup. I was surprised by that, because I ate plenty of chicken doused with cream-of-whatever soup growing up. But now, it's just not my thing.

The first recipe I tried was for red beans and rice with Andouille sausage. It actually tasted pretty good, although I ended up with red beans and mush. This, though, was most likely my fault for two reasons. First of all, the recipe called for "converted" rice. I foolishly used REAL rice. Second, I let it cook for WAY longer than it was supposed to, because that's how things worked out that day. Still, it tasted good even if the texture of the rice was WAAAY off. I have to say I'll try this again on the stove without any particular recipe.

The second I tried was tukey cutlets with green chili scalloped potatoes. I know, right? Sounds good. However, my grocery store didn't have the cream-of-chicken verde soup that was needed. I tried to improvise by using cream-of-chicken and then tossing in a bit of salsa verde. Either that didn't work out or the recipe sucked, because the potatoes are still in my fridge a week later. I tried to throw them away last night, but they are glued to the container and I'd already started the dishwasher and didn't want to dirty another utensil. Maybe tonight.

At this point I should have given up. But I'd already purchased ingredients for another dish, cheddar beer chicken. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. The recipe used a prepared cheese soup, but would have been better with actual cheese. Also, there was FAR too much liquid in the pot after it cooked. But the chicken was very tender and I liked the beer flavor (even though I don't like beer--go figure).

The most annoying thing for me was the way she tacks a specific brand onto every damned ingredient. I realize you don't really have to use that brand, but still--someone BOUGHT the cookbook, do you have to advertise in it, too? If you're going to use your cookbook to sell endorsements, you should give it away for free.

In addition, the cook times were not good for most crock pot cooks. Most people using the crock pot want to put stuff in before they go to work (or start their day), and then not come back for 8-10 hours. This book contains a lot of recipes that only cook for 3-4 hours, plus (and this is SUPER inconvenient), ones that cook for an hour, then need more ingredients, or have to rest, or change from "high" to "low" or whatever. If I'm going to have to be that involved with my crock pot, I'll just use the stove or oven.

I know a lot of people like Sandra Lee, and I appreciate that many cooks are busy and just want to do things quickly. But really, buying so many "convenience" items is super-expensive, and it would probably cost about the same amount (and taste much better) if you just went out to dinner. I'm giving this one back to my friend.

I was skeptical when I first purchased this book, because I've watched her show and am not a fan. But the concept seemed intriguing, as time is a factor for me. I really enjoy quickly preparing my dinner in the crock pot before work or before running errands then returning to a fully cooked meal. The recipes in this book are inventive and taste great. I've tried nearly half of them so far. All thumbs up here!!

After visiting my sister-law and going through her cookbooks - I made a rib dish from Sandra Lees first slow cooker recipes and just loved it! I purchased her second book for myself and her fist book for other family members.

I am a hopeless, hopeless cook - so when I discover Slow Cooker Recipe books, I always jump on them.

This book was okay - most of the recipes were simple enough to prepare, but some of the ingredients were a little doubtful to me. Too many condensed soups (fatty, fatty) and some very specific items that were not always that easy to find at the supermarket. Part of the reason I hate cooking is the shopping aspect and with this book, you have to shop. I am still trying to find a store that sells bacon crumble. The diversification of the recipes is somewhat limited. I thought there were alot of meat recipes - and if there is no meat, there is some other fatty ingredient.

I tried a few of the recipes such as the beef and root vegetables stew (although I don't really eat meat very much) and frankly, although I followed the recipe, the stew came out tasting average.

I don't dislike this book, I just thought it would be better than it was.

This cookbook came highly recommended. I've tried several of the recipes, and all of them were delicious. I substituted spare ribs for short ribs in the Marmalade BBQ Short Ribs recipe. My husband loved them.

I bought this book someplace else - not Amazon. But I love the book. Recipes are great. Have used slow cookers for decades but wish something like this was out years ago.