As for the crockpot......check thrift stores. Usually they have a place where you can plug one in to test it and are usually pretty cheap.
OR if you have a pot or skillet with a good fitting lid, you can do alot on the stovetop too.
Italian Chicken & pasta
Large pieces of chicken, with or without bone (I use either 1/2 breast pieces or legs or thighs or leg quarters)
bottle of zesty italian salad dressing.
cooked & drained pasta
veggies of your choice.
Brown the chicken in a skillet with a little EVOO, then pour in the dressing. Heat to boiling, turn down to low, cover the pan and simmer a couple hours till chicken is done. Add any veggies the last 10 minutes, then top pasta with meat, veggies and 'sauce'
Smothered ????? (beef steaks, pork chops, chicken)
whatever type of meat you have will become fall apart tender.
1 large can of cream of mushroom soup
quick brown the meat on both sides, add the can of soup, heat to boil, cover, turn heat on low and simmer a couple hours. The condensation in the pan will thin out the soup (maybe even a little too thin). Serve over potatoes, pasta, rice or whatever, add a veggie either on the side or into the gravy
Cheater Chicken & Dumplings
Chicken meat
1 large can Chicken Noodle Soup or broth
1 reg can Cream of Chicken Soup
frozen mixed veggies (or canned mix)
1 can biscuits
Dump the first 4 into a pot with tight lid and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Separate the biscuits and add to the top of mix. Cover & simmer about 10 minutes
Sheppards Pie
Ground meat
Mixed veggies
Large can of cream of mushroom soup
Worchestershire sauce
Tater tots
shredded cheese
Brown the meat, add veggies to heat thru. Add soup a spoon or so of Worchestershire sauce and pour it all into a baking pan. Top with tater tots and bake about 30-45 minutes or until tots are browned @ about 400 (?) Top with cheese and back into the oven till melted.