PULLED PORK BARBECUE SANDWICHES

2 medium yellow onions, cut into wedges

1/2 cup water
1 (2 - 2 1/2-lb) boneless pork sirloin roast
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 cup bottled barbecue sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp ground ginger
10 whole-grain hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted

In a slow cooker or crockpot (about 4-qt size) combine the onions, and 1/2 cup water; set aside.

Trim excess fat from the roast and cut if necessary to fit in cooker.

In a small bowl combine the black pepper, chili powder, half the cumin, and the garlic powder.  Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the meat and rub in with your hands.  Place the pork into the cooker.  Cover and cook on low setting 8 to 9 hours or on high setting for 4 to 5 hours.

Using a large slotted spoon, remove the meat and onions from the cooker.  Using two forks, shred the meat.

In a large bowl combine the barbecue sauce, vinegar, honey, ginger, and the other half of the cumin.  Add the meat and toss gently to coat thoroughly.  Fill each bun with approximately 1/3 cup of the mixture and about a tablespoon of the onions.

 

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CHICKEN FAJITAS WITH BBQ SAUCE

BARBECUE SAUCE:

3/4 cup chopped green onions
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (14.5-oz) crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tsp chili sauce
dash of Worcestershire sauce

Combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker or crock-pot; cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours.

FAJITAS:

3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut lengthwise into strips
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced lengthwise
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced lengthwise
1 cup sliced onion
2 cups tomato wedges
4 (6-inch) flour tortillas, warmed

Spray a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and add the chicken.  Cook over medium heat to brown.  Reduce the heat in the cooker to low and add the browned chicken, peppers, and onion.  Stir until all are well coated.  Cover and cook approximately 4 hours or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

Add the tomato and cook another 30 to 45 minutes or until heated through.

Serve the mixture with or on the warmed tortillas.

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APPLE CIDER BABY BACK RIBS

2 racks baby back ribs

2 packets (individual serving size) apple cider drink mix
1 package (1 1/4-oz) chili seasoning, mild
1 1/2 cups your favorite barbecue sauce
1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp dried onion flakes

Preheat broiler.
Line a large baking sheet with foil; set aside.

Combine the cider drink mix and chili seasoning; set aside.

Cut ribs into serving-size pieces and dredge through the cider/chile mixture; place on the prepared baking sheet with the meat side up.  Broil approximately 10 minutes, turn, cook another 10 to 12 minutes to brown.

Place the ribs in a large slow cooker or crock-pot, meat side up.

Combine the barbecue sauce, apple juice concentrate, vinegar, and onion flakes; pour over the ribs.  Cover pot and cook ribs on low for approximately 8 hours.
Yield: 10 to 12 servings

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BARBECUE BEEF STEW II

1 boneless beef chuck roast, cut away fat and cut into bite-size cubes

2 cups water
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
3 large potatoes, cut into chunks
6 carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup thick steak sauce (such as A1)

Place all ingredients in a crock-pot or slow cooker.  Cook on high for 30-34 minutes.  Lower heat to low setting and cook approximately 8 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender.

 

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APPLE-CIDER-BRAISED PORK

1 (4-lb) boneless pork shoulder roast, trimmed of excess fat

2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 shallots, sliced

1 stalk celery, chopped

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

2 1/2 cups apple cider

4 garlic cloves, peeled

1 bay leaf

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

2 tbsp cold butter, cut into pieces

1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs ie Italian parsley, sage or thyme

Pat pork dry then sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Sear pork until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a 41/2-5-quart slow cooker (do not clean skillet).

Reduce stove temperature to medium and cook shallots and celery in the skillet, stirring, until they start to soften. Add vinegar and cook, stirring to scrape up any browned bits, until liquid is nearly evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes.

Pour shallots mixture over pork in the cooker. Add cider, garlic, and bay leaf. Cover and cook on low setting, turning pork every 1 to 2 hours, until fork-tender but not falling apart. This should take around 6 hours. Transfer the roast to a warm plate and cover loosely with foil.

Pour remaining liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a large saucepan over high heat, discard bay leaf and other solids. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cook, skimming fat from the top, until reduced to 1/4 the original amount, about 25 minutes.

Remove liquid from heat and stir in mustard and cayenne. Slowly add the cold butter, whisking until each addition is incorporated. Sprinkle in the herbs and season with salt and black pepper.

Cut pork into 1/4-inch slices and top with the sauce.

Yield: 8 servings

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WEIGHT WATCHERS CHICKEN, SAUSAGE, AND WHITE BEAN STEW

4 carrots, quartered lengthwise and sliced

1 leek, cleaned and chopped, white and light green parts only
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 1/2 tsps herbs de Provence OR Italian seasoning
3 (5-oz each) skinless chicken thighs
3 slices turkey bacon, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 oz (3/4 cup) turkey kielbasa, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 can (19-oz) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

Combine the carrots, leek, garlic, and herbs de Provence in a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker or crockpot.

Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray and set over medium heat.  Add the chicken and cook until browned, about 4 minutes.  Turn chicken and sprinkle bacon around the chicken.  Cook, stirring the bacon occasionally, until the chicken and bacon are browned, about another 4 minutes.

Transfer the chicken and bacon to the cooker.  Add the wine, broth, salt, and pepper to the skillet; bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.  Pour the broth mixture over the chicken.  Top with the kielbasa and beans.  Cover and cook until the chicken and vegetables are fork tender.  This will take about 3 to 4 hours on high or 6 to 8 hours on low.

Using a large, slotted spoon to transfer the chicken to serving plate and let stand until cool enough to handle.  It should be cooled enough in about 15 minutes.  Remove the bones from chicken and discard.  Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.  Stir chicken back into the slow cooker.  Cover and cook on high until chicken is hot, about 2 minutes.

Yield: 6 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each)
Per serving: 242 cal, 7 g fat, 2 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 42 mg chol, 651 mg sod, 23 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 21 g pro, 98 mg calc
WW point values = 5

HOOSIER SWISS STEAK

This recipe is from a country recipe book from Indiana, were I was born, raised, and spent several years of my adult life.

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 lb round steak (cut into 6 pieces after cooking*)

1 medium onion, cut into 1/4-inch slices

1 celery rib, cut into 1/2-inch slices

1 can (16-oz) tomato sauce

In a large shallow dish, combine the flour, salt and pepper. Add the meat and coat well on both sides. Place the onion over the bottom of a greased slow cooker. Lay the meat over the onion. Top meat with the celery and tomato sauce. Cover and cook on low 5 to 8 hours or until the meat is tender.

*I was an USAF wife. When we lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, there was a small grocery store/meat market around the corner. I often bought meat there. On day when I purchased a round steak, the butcher told me to never cut the steak into pieces until after it was cooked. He said leaving it whole during the cooking process, produced less shrinkage.

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MIXED BEAN POT

1/2 lb lean ground beef

1 small onion, chopped
8 bacon strips, chopped
1 can pinto beans, do not drain
1 can butter beans, rinsed and drained, reserving 1/4 cup liquid
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp molasses
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar

Brown ground beef, onion, and bacon in medium saucepan over high heat.  Stir in the beans and liquid; set aside.

In a medium bowl combine the ketchup, molasses, and mustard; mix in the sugars.  Stir the ketchup mixture into the beef mixture and mix well.  Transfer to the slow cooker or crock-pot.  Place lid on cooker and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours or until heated through.

Serves 6 to 8.

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BEEF AND BARLEY

1 1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast

1 cup pearl barley
1/2 lb mushrooms, halved if small, quartered if large
4 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
6 medium - large carrots, chunked
2 medium leeks, white and light green only, sliced
1 cup tap water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 sprig fresh thyme
4 cups beef broth
1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

In the slow cooker or crockpot, combine the roast, barley, mushrooms, celery, carrots, and leeks.  Add the water, thyme, salt and pepper.  Stir in the beef broth and soy sauce. Cover and cook on low, without lifting lid, for 8 hours.

Remove lid and skim off any excess fat; transfer the meat to a plate and shred into bite-size pieces.
To serve, dip the barley/vegetable mixture into 4 shallow bowls and top with the meat.

Yield: 4 servings

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OLD WORLD SAUERKRAUT SUPPER

 

OLD WORLD SAUERKRAUT SUPPER

3 strips bacon, cut into small pieces

1 1/2 tablespoon flour
2 large cans (No. 2 1/2) sauerkraut
2 small potatoes, cubed
2 small apples, cubed
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons caraway seeds
3 lbs Polish sausage, cut up into pieces
1/2 cup water

Fry the bacon until crisp; drain.  Add flour to bacon drippings and blend well.  Stir in sauerkraut; mix well.  Place sauerkraut mixture and bacon pieces in crock-pot.  Add all other ingredients; stir together thoroughly.  Cover and cook on Low for 7 to 9 hours. (High: 3 to 4 hours.)

This is another recipe from the little recipe book pictured above.  It came with my first crockpot.