WELCOME

Welcome to this slow cooker/crockpot blog. I believe slow cookers are the best thing to happen to modern day cooks. I used mine often when I worked outside the home and continue to do so even in retirement. It is so nice to put food on and forget about it. Slow cookers also allow us to cook many things we would normally have to use the oven for; what a relief in hot Texas weather! Some of these recipes are mine, many are ones I have collected over the years.

Monday, March 18, 2024

BARBARA'S NAVY BEAN SOUP

 

1 lb bag navy beans, sorted and soaked

2 quarts water
1 lb meaty ham bone or ham chunks
1 celery stalk with leaves, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 bay leaf

Drain the soaked beans, rinse and place in crockpot or slow cooker.  Add the remaining ingredients and cover the cooker.

Cook soup on high 5 to 6 hours; lower temperature, remove bay leaf and soup is ready to serve.

NOTE: Personally, I like to add some salt and freshly ground black pepper.

file photo

Sunday, March 17, 2024

"CHICKEN LICKIN' GOOD" PORK CHOPS

Note: This recipe was from an old newspaper clipping many years ago. The picture is a file photo.

6 to 8 lean pork chops, 1-inch thick
1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp salt
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp canola oil
1 can chicken rice soup, undiluted

In a shallow dish or pie plate, combine the flour, salt, dry mustard, and garlic powder. Dredge the pork chops in the flour mixture.

Heat the oil in a large skillet and brown the pork chops on both sides. Place the pork chops in the slow cooker or crock pot. Add the soup. Cover the pot and cook chops on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

file photo

Saturday, March 16, 2024

CROCK POT JAMBALAYA

2 cups diced boiled ham

2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
2 celery stalks, sliced
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 can (28-oz) whole tomatoes
1/4 cup tomato paste
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp minced parsley
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 whole cloves
2 tbsp canola oil
1 cup uncooked long-grain converted rice
1 lb fresh or frozen shrimp, shelled and deveined

Combine all ingredients except shrimp in a crock pot. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 hours on low.

One hour before serving time, turn crock pot to high. Stir in the uncooked shrimp; cover and cook until the shrimp are pink and tender.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

file photo

Friday, March 15, 2024

BBQ PORK CHOPS


1 tbsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 (6-oz each) bone-in center-cut pork loin chops, trimmed
1 tsp olive oil
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 cup tomato puree
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp chili powder

Preheat broiler. Spray a cookie sheet that has sides with nonstick cooking spray.

Mix paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in cup. Rub pork chops with the oil then the spice mixture. Place the chops on the prepared cookie sheet and broil 5-inches from the heat until lightly browned on each side.

In a saucepan, cook the onion, tomato puree, ketchup, honey, and chili powder to soften onion and blend flavors. Spread half the sauce in the bottom of a 5 to 6-quarts slow cooker. Place the browned chops over the sauce in the slow cooker. Mix any drippings from the chops into the remaining sauce. Pour sauce over the chops. Cover and cook on low until the chops are fork tender, 3 to 4 hours.

file photo

Thursday, March 14, 2024

TURKEY-CHILI MEATLOAF

2 lbs lean ground turkey

1 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup Italian-style seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chili sauce
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tbsp horseradish mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp black pepper
Your favorite salsa, optional

Line you slow cooker with foil, extending the ends to use as handles to lift cooked meatloaf from the cooker.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the salsa; mix well. Form in a shape to fit your slow cooker.
Place in the cooker.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low approximately 5 hours or until cooked through. Temperature must register 170 on a meat thermometer.

Using the foil handles, carefully lift the meatloaf to a serving plate. Cut into slices or wedges and top with the salsa, if using.

Yield: 8 servings
file photo


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

TUSCAN PASTA

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed

1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15-oz) tomato sauce
2 can (14.5-oz each) Italian-style stewed tomatoes
1 jar (4.5-oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup water
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
6-oz uncooked thin spaghetti, broken in half

Combine all ingredients except spaghetti in a crock pot. Cover and cook on low 4 hours or until veggies are tender.

Turn heat to high; stir in the spaghetti and replace cover. Stir again after 10 minutes. Replace lid and cook 45 minutes or until the spaghetti is tender.

Garnish with fresh basil, if desired.

file photo

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024

POTATO, CARROT, AND ONION POT ROAST

2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp canola oil
1 large onion, cut into wedges
3 lb rump roast
3 carrots peeled and sliced
3 medium russet potatoes, cut into large cubes
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp salt
1 box dry onion soup mix (both packets)
3 cups boiling water
1 tbsp cornstarch

Melt the butter in the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion wedges and roast. Brown the beef on all sides. Transfer the beef and onion to the slow cooker.

Arrange the potatoes, carrots, and bay leaves around the roast. Sprinkle the salt over all.

In a heatproof bowl, combine the onion soup mix with the boiling water. Stir until smooth. Pour over the meat and vegetables in the slow cooker. Cover cooker and cook on high 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

In a medium saucepan, combine the cornstarch and about 1 teaspoon water; stir to form a paste. Add 2 cups of the hot liquid from the slow cooker and bring to a boil, stirring until the gravy is thickened. Serve the roast with the vegetables and gravy.

Note: Replace the onion soup mix with onion-mushroom soup mix, if desired.

file photo





 


Monday, March 11, 2024

APPLE CHICKEN MEATBALLS

1 lb ground skinless chicken breast

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and shredded
1 slice whole-wheat bread, crumbled fine
1/2 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp dried thyme
dash of garlic powder

Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl; mix well. Form the mixture into 36 meatballs.

Place meatballs in a 5 to 6-quart crockpot or slow cooker. Cover and cook 5 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low.

Yield: 12 servings of 3 meatballs
Per serving: 82 calories, 2 g (1 sat) fat,250 mg sodium, 4 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 11 g protein

file photo

Sunday, March 10, 2024

ITALIAN CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN

 1 packet (.07-oz) Zesty Italian Salad Dressing Mix

2 cans (10.5-oz each) cream of chicken soup
1 pkg (12-oz) fettuccine noodles
1 1/2 cups butter, melted
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 oz cream cheese

Melt the butter and stir in the packet of salad dressing mix; stir to combine well.

Place chicken in a crock pot and pour the butter mixture over all. Place lid on cooker and cook on high 4 hours or low for 7 hours.

When chicken is cooked through, remove from crock pot to a plate or cutting board. Using two forks, shred the chicken.

Add the soup and cream cheese to the crock pot and stir until cream cheese is melted and blended. Add the chicken back to the crock pot and cook approximately 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through.

Meanwhile, cook the fettuccine according to the package directions.

To serve, place fettuccine on a plate and top with the chicken mixture.

Yield: 4 servings

Note: This is my version of a recipe from Free Recipe Network.com
The photo is courtesy of the same.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

CHICKEN CACCIATORE


4 chicken thighs, skin removed
4 chicken drumsticks, skin removed
1 can (15-oz) chunky Italian-style tomato sauce
1 jar (4.5-oz) whole mushrooms, drained
1 tsp dried oregano
1 small onion, sliced
1 small green bell pepper, cut into chunks
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Shredded mozzarella cheese for garnish, if desired

Combine all ingredients, except water and flour, in a slow cooker; mix together gently.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for 6 hours or until chicken is tender and cooked through.

Remove chicken and vegetables from the crock pot with a slotted spoon. Place in a serving bowl and cover to keep warm.

In a small bowl, combine the water and flour until smooth; stir into the liquid in the cooker. Replace lid and cook on high 5 to 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir well and spoon over the chicken and sprinkle the cheese over chicken, if using.

Serving suggestion: Serve with or over hot spaghetti.

Yield: 4 servings
This is a file photo.