Congrats! I love my crock pot! But 'medium rare to rare' is not what comes to mind...think slow cooked pot roast, pork roast, etc.

A. GOOD cut of meat, usually roasted. I've never tried a crock pot. (Crock pots are good for cheaper cuts of meat you can cook for a long time and makes it oh-so tender)

B. Your crock pot should have come with a cookbook or some recipes. It varies with the size of the crock pot (also see comment about about 'rare meat')

C. My typical recipe is a chuck roast with mushroom, potatoes, carrots, onions, can of cream of something soup, broth. Set it on low, go to work, 8 hours later its dinner. So yes, you can throw all those things in there too. Some people prefer to throw them in later in the cooking process instead of right from the beginning. I like to put sliced onions on the bottom of the pot, meat on top, then liquids.

D. can't help ya

E. you're thinking the right things! You can also put a chunk of meat in the crock pot with a package of fajita seasonings and a big can of beer. Best taco/burrito fillings I've ever had.

Lots of slow cooker, crock pot recipes online. You'll find plenty to fit your tastes Have fun!

edit: marinate? never have tried it


image It never ceases to amaze me
how people cling to ignorance.