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.

TIPS FOR COOKING IN A SLOW COOKER OR CROCKPOT

Here are a few tips to make your crockpot or slow cooker meals turn out at their very best:

• If you are cooking meats and vegetables together, place the vegetables in the bottom of the cooker with the meat on top.  This will keep the vegetables from drying out and will allow the meat to absorb more flavors from the vegetables.
• When a recipe calls for cooking 10 to 12 hours on low, you may shorten the cooking time by first cooking on high for an hour then lowering the heat to low.  This can cut a couple hours off the low temp cooking time.
• It is not necessary to brown lean meats before putting in the cooker.  Brown fatty meats first to eleminate some of the fat before placing in the cooker.
• If a recipe calls for cooking pasta before adding to the cooker, be careful not to overcook.  Pasta should only be cooked to just tender, otherwise it will become too limp in the cooker.

TRISHA YEARWOOD'S CROCKPOT MACARONI AND CHEESE

This is from Singer (and cook) Trisha Yearwood's Second Cookbook -- home cooking with tricia yearwood

8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 10-ounce bricks sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups)
Dash of paprika

In a large 4-quart crockpot sprayed with cooking spray, mix the macaroni, milks, eggs, butter, salt, pepper, and all but 1/2 cup of the grated cheese.  Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the mixture and then sprinkle with paprika.  Cook on low heat for 3 hours and 15 minute Turn off the crockpot, stir the mixture, and serve hot.

If you don't have a crockpot, grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan with butter, add the mixture, and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

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.

file photo

GOLDEN CROCKPOT APPLE BUTTER

4 lb Golden Delicious apples, peeled
2 cups apple cider
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon alspice
3 cups sugar

Cut the peeled apples into quarter and combine in a crockpot or slow cooker with the cider.  Place lid on cooker and cook apples on low for 10 hours.  Add the spices and the sugar, mixing together well.  Leave the lid off and cook on high for approximately 3 hours until thickened; stir occasionally.  Spoon the hot mixture into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/2-inch of space at the top.  Seal with two piece lids.  Once opened, or any jars that did not seal, should be refrigerated.

Yield: 4 pints or 8 half pints

Delicious with pork chops, etc, on toast or biscuits for breakfast, sprinkled with cinnamon as a snack, or makes a great gift with a pretty ribbon tied around the neck of the jar.

TASTY BEEF BOURGUIGNON

3 lb boneless beef sirloin steak, trimmed, cubed
1/2 cup flour
4 bacon slices, cut up
2 medium carrots, diced
8 new red potatoes, quartered
approx. 10 mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 to 2 dozen fresh pearl onions
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1 tsp marjoram
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
2 1/2 cups Burgandy wine or beef broth

Coat the beef with flour, shaking off the excess; set aside.

Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until partially cooked.  Add the floured beef to the skillet and cook until browned.  Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and beef from the skillet.

In a slow cooker or crockpot layer the carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, onion, garlic, bay leaf, spices, and meat mixture.  Pour the wine or beef broth over all.  Place a lid on the cooker and cook on low setting for 8 to 9 hours or until the beef is tender. 

Discard the bay leaf before serving.

Yield: 10 to 12 servings.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CORN AND TOMATOES

1 butternut squash (approx. 2 lb) peeled, seeded, diced
1 can (14.5-oz) tomatoes, including juice
1 can (15-oz) whole-kernel corn, drained
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 canned green chili, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chicken (or vegetable for vegetarians) broth
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste

Combine everything except the tomato paste in a slow cooker or crockpot.  Place lid on cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or until the squash is tender.

Remove 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and mix with the tomato paste; stir into the cooker.  Cook another half hour or so until the mixture is slightly thickened and heat through.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

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.

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.

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.