HUNGARIAN GOULASH

2 lb round steak, cut into bite-size cubes
1 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp paprika
1/4 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
1 can (28-oz) tomatoes
1 cup sour cream
hot buttered noodles for serving

Place the steak cubes, onion, and garlic in the crock pot or slow cooker.  Stir in the flour, stirring to coat all the steak pieces.  Add the salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, bay leaf, and tomatoes, including the juice.  Stir to blend well.  Place lid on cooker and cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours.  May cook 5 to 6 hours on high heat, stirring occasionally.  30 minutes before serving, stir in the sour cream, mixing in thoroughly.  Serve over the hot buttered noodles.

OLD FASHION RICE PUDDING WITH RAISINS

2 1/2 cups cooked rice
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
2/3 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp soft butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 beaten eggs
3/4 cup raisins

Lightly grease or spray with nonstick cooking spray the inside of a crockpot or slow cooker.

In a mixing bowl thoroughly combine the rice with the remaining ingredients.  Pour the mixture into the prepared cooker.  Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for 4 to 6 hours or on high setting for 1 to 2 hours.  Stir once or twice during the first 30 minutes of cooking to rice from clumping together.

SPARERIBS & SAUERKRAUT

3 - 4 lbs lean pork spareribs, cut into serving-size pieces
salt to your taste
pepper to your taste
2 cans sauerkraut
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 apple, quartered, cored, sliced
1 tsp caraway seeds
1 cup water
1 tsp salt, optional

Sprinkle the salt and pepper to taste on the spareribs and brown ribs in a heavy skillet or the broiler.  Layer half of each of the following; ribs, sauerkraut, onion, and apple.  Repeat with the remaining half.
Add the caraway seeds to the water with additional salt, if using, and pour over the layers.  Cover and cook on low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high for about 4 hours.

PORK STROGANOFF

1 1/2 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cubed 

1 tbsp canola oil 

1/2 cup chopped onion 

1 garlic clove, minced 

1 cup water 

1 can (3-oz) mushrooms stems and pieces, drained 

1 tbsp instant beef bouillon granules 

1 tsp dillweed 

1/8 tsp pepper 

1/2 cup dairy sour cream 

1/4 cup cooking white wine, optional 

3 tbsp flour 

Hot cooked noodles for 6 servings. 

Heat the canola oil in a large skillet and brown the pork cubes with the garlic and onion; drain. Transfer the meat mixture to the cooker. In a small bowl combine the water, mushrooms, bouillon, dillweed, and pepper; pour over the meat in the cooker. Add lid to the cooker and cook on the low setting for 8 to 10 hours. Turn cooker heat to high and heat until bubbly, about 15 or 20 minutes. Blend the sour cream, wine-if using, and the flour together until smooth. Stir sour cream mixture into the cooker and cook about another 15 minutes until heated through and slightly thickened. To serve, place stroganoff over the hot cooked noodles. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

file photo for reference

file photo

HAMBURGER-PEPPERONI CROCKPOT PIZZA

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 yellow onion, chopped
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 lb rigatoni pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 small can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 small pkg sliced pepperoni
10-oz mozzarella cheese
10-oz pkg cheddar cheese
2 cans (8-oz each) pizza sauce

Brown the ground beef with the onion, salt, and pepper until no longer pink; drain. In the crockpot (or slowcooker) put half the ground beef/onion mixture. Top with half the rigatoni, half the bell pepper, half the mushrooms, and half the pepperoni. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the pepperoni and pour 1 can of the pizza sauce over all.

Repeat layer with the remaining ground beef/onion mixture, remaining rigatoni, bell pepper, mushrooms then the sauce, remaining pepperoni and end with the mozzarella cheese.

Cook on low heat in the crockpot for at least 3 hours up to 5 hours or until the cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired, when serving.