HEARTY BEEF STEW WITH TAPIOCA

2 lbs stew beef, cut into 1-inch cubes

5 carrots, cut in 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, cut in chunks
3 stalks celery, sliced
1 large size can tomatoes
1/2 cup quick-cooking tapioca
1 whole clove (or 1/2 teaspoon ground clove)
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste

Trim all the fat from the meat.  Put all ingredients in CROCK-POT.  Mix thoroughly.  Cover and cook on Low 12 hours. (high: 5 to 6 hours.)

This is an old recipe that came from this book I got with my first crockpot in the 1970s.

WISCONSIN BEER AND CHEESE SOUP

Note: I have never made this soup but it has been recommended as a good one for those of you who have asked for a beer/cheese soup.

2 to 3 slices pumpernickel or rye bread
1 can (14.5-oz) chicken broth
1 cup light-tasting beer
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 tsp dried thyme
6-oz  American cheese, shredded
4 to 6-oz sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp paprika

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Slice bread into 1/2-inch cubes and place on a baking sheet.  Bake at 425 degrees for around 10 minutes or until crisp, stirring once. Set your homemade croutons aside.

In a 4 1/2-quart crockpot or slow cooker, combine the broth, beer, onion, garlic, and thyme; cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

Turn cooker to high.  Stir in the cheeses, milk, and paprika.  Cover and cook for another 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the soup is hot and the cheeses are melted.  Stir soup well the blend in the cheeses.  Ladle soup into bowls and top with the homemade croutons.

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LEMON-DIJON CHICKEN

1/4 cup canola oil
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup lemon juice
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1/2 tsp dried basil
2 tbsp minced onion
3 to 4 lb whole chicken

In a small bowl combine the oil, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, basil, and onion.

Place the chicken in crockpot or slow cooker; pour the seasoning mixture over chicken.

Place lid on cooker and cook on high for 1-hour, lower temperature to low and cook another 3 to 4 hours until chicken is cooked through.
Serving suggestion: serve over cooked brown rice. 

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ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND VEGETABLE STEW

1 lb Italian sausage, cut into bite-size pieces

1 pkg (16-oz) frozen vegetable mix of onion, and colorful bell peppers
1 can (14.5-oz) diced Italian-style tomatoes
2 medium zucchini, sliced
1 jar (4.5-oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/4 tsp basil

Brown the sausage in a large skillet; drain.

Add the sausage to a slow cooker or crockpot along with the frozen vegetables, tomatoes with the juice, zucchini, mushrooms, and garlic.  Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for around 4 hours until zucchini is tender.

Stir the basil into the tomato paste; stir mixture into the other ingredients in the cooker.  Replace the lid and cook another 30 to 45 minutes until the juices have thickened.

Yield: 6 cups

Note:  Goes great with Italian or Garlic Bread.

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HAMBURGER DIP

2 lbs lean ground beef

1 cup chopped onion
1 cans (8-oz each) tomato sauce
2 pkg (8-oz each) cream cheese, cut into cubes and softened
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup ketchup
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp mild chili powder
salt to taste

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef along with the onion; drain well.  Tranfer to a crockpot or slow cooker.  Add the tomato sauce, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, ketchup, garlic, sugar, oregano, chili powder and salt.  Stir to blend.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low for about 2 hours until cheese is melted and thoroughly blended in.  Stir and taste before serving.  Adjust seasonings if desired.

Serve with Fritos or Tortilla Chips.

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Note: For a spicier dip, use hot chili powder.

TACO MEAT LOAF

I got this recipe in 2014 in my emails from TOH. Two things I love are tacos and meatloaf so just thinking about this combination has my mouth watering.  

• 2 cups crushed tortilla chips

• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 cup salsa

• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

• 1/4 cup sliced ripe olives

• 1 envelope taco seasoning

• 2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)

• 1/2 cup ketchup

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce

• Cut four 20-in. x 3-in. strips of heavy-duty foil; crisscross so they resemble spokes of a wheel. Place strips on the bottom and up the sides of a 3-qt. slow cooker. Coat strips with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into a round loaf. Place meat loaf in the center of the strips. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until no pink remains and a thermometer reads 160°.
• Combine the ketchup, brown sugar and hot sauce; pour over meat loaf during the last hour of cooking. Let stand for 10 minutes. Using foil strips as handles, remove the meat loaf to a platter. Yield: 8 servings.
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CHICKEN TANGINE

2 1/2 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cit into 1-inch pieces

5 large carrots, thinly sliced

2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup dried apricots, coarsely snipped

2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp black pepper

4 cups hot cooked whole wheat couscous

 In a 6-quart slow cooker combine chicken, carrots, onions, raisins and apricots.

In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, flour, tomato paste, lemon juice, cumin, ginger garlic salt, cinnamon and pepper. Pour over mixture in the cooker.

Cover and cook on low 8 hours or on high 5 hours. Serve chicken mixture over the hot cooked couscous.

Yield: 8 servings

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CHINESE CHICKEN STEW

1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp peanut or canola oil
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
1 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (14-oz) chicken broth, divided
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 large red bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces
2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 large or 3 medium green onions, cut into half-inch pieces
3 cups hot cooked rice, optional
1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro, optional

In a bowl, toss the cut-up chicken pieces with the Chinese spice.  Stir in the red pepper flakes. 

In a large skillet, heat the peanut or canola oil and add the onion and chicken; cook, stirring, about 5 minutes or until the chicken is browned.  Add the mushrooms and garlic, cooking until the chicken is cooked through.

Combine 1/4 cup chicken broth and cornstarch in a small bowl; set aside.  Place the cooked chicken mixture into a slow cooker or crockpot.  Add the remaining broth, bell pepper, and soy sauce; stir to blend.  Place lid on the cooker and cook for 3 1/2 hours or until the bell pepper is tender.

Stir in the cornstarch mixture, sesame oil, and the green onions.  Cook another 30 to 45 minutes until the juices have thickened. 

To serve, ladle into soup bowls and scoop a half cup rice, if using, into center of each bowl.  Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro, if desired.

yield: 6 servings

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EASY SLOW COOKER HAM

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 (about 8 lb) bone-in picnic ham
1 can (6-oz) crushed pineapple, optional
Pineapple rings for serving, if desired

Place 1 1/2 cups of the brown sugar over the bottom to a slow cooker/crockpot.  Place the ham over the brown sugar, flat side down.  Trim bottom a little if needed to be able to fit lid over cooker.

Using your hands, rub the remaining brown sugar all over the ham.  Add the pineapple, if using.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.  (This time is for a picnic ham.  It is too long for a spiral sliced ham!)

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SPINACH-PARMESAN DIP

Nonstick cooking spray

2 (10-oz ea) pkgs frozen chopped spinach, thawed

1 (14-oz) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped 

1 cup chopped onion

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 cup light mayonnaise (I use olive oil mayo)

1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup shredded Italian cheese blend

1 tbsp lemon juice

Crackers and/or fresh veggies for serving

Coat a 3 1/2 or 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

Squeeze spinach dry, reserving 1/3 cup of the spinach liquid. Combine spinach, spinach liquid, artichoke hearts, onion, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, cayenne pepper.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low 2 1/2 to 3 hours or on high 1 1/2 hours. Turn off cooker, stir in the mayo, sour cream, cheeses and lemon juice. Serve with the crackers and/or fresh veggies.

Yields: 16 serving

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CHICKEN STEW WITH DUMPLINGS

2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup chopped onion
1 large green bell pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 cup sliced celery
2 cans (approx 14-oz each) chicken broth
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large red potatoes, skin on and cut into bite-size cubes
1 pkg (6-oz) fresh mushrooms, halved
3/4 cup frozen peas
1 tsp dried basil
3/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp dried tarragon
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream (or 1/4 cup fat-free evaporated milk)

Combine the carrots, onion, bell pepper, and celery in a slow cooker or crockpot.  Stir in the chicken broth, saving 1 cup for later.  Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for 2 hours.

Stir the flour into the 1 cup of saved chicken broth until smooth.  Slowly stir the mixture into the mixture in the cooker.  Add the chicken, potatoes, mushrooms, peas, and seasonings to the cooker; cover and cook an additional 4 hours until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies are tender.  Stir in the cream.

DUMPLINGS:
1 cup biscuit mix
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
1/8 tsp dried tarragon
1/3 cup low-fat milk

In a small bowl combine the biscuit mix and herbs.  Stir in the milk to form a soft dough.  Spoon the dough on top of the stew in four large spoonfuls.  Cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes then cover and cook for another 30 to 45 minutes.  The dumplings should be firm and a wooden toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.   

Yield: 4 servings

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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.

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EASY SOUTHERN BRUNSWICK STEW

2 to 3 lbs pork butt

17-oz can white whole-kernel corn, undrained

14-oz bottle ketchup

2 cups diced cooked potatoes

1 lb pkg frozen green peas

2 cans (10 1/2-oz) tomato soup

2 tsp hot sauce

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Place pork in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 1 hour; turn heat to low and cook another 4 to 6 hours. Remove meat from the bone and shred, Discard the juices.

Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker, cover and bring to a boil on high. Reduce heat to low and cook another 30 minutes.

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

file photo for reference, not this exact recipe

FRUITED PORK CHOPS

• 6 boneless pork loin chops, approximately 1-inch thick
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 pkgs (7-oz each) mixed dried fruit
• 1 medium-size red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
• 1 cup favorite barbecue sauce
• Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish, if desired 

Trim any excess fat from the chops; place in slow cooker or crock pot.  Sprinkle the dried thyme over the chops.  Top with the dried fruit and bell pepper.  Pour the barbecue sauce overall.

Place cover on cooker and cook on low for 4 to 4 1/2 hours or on high for half that time.

Remove pork chops to serving platter, top each with some of the peppers and fruit. Skim fat from the cooking juices in the cooker.  Spoon some sauce over the chops and serve remaining sauce alongside, if desired.  

Garnish with the fresh thyme, if desired.

Photo and basic recipe from an old BH&G