HEALTHIER SLOW COOKER CHICKEN STROGANOFF

I got this recipe from allrecipes.com for all my readers who want more chicken recipes and healthy recipes.

1 tablespoon chopped carrot

• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  1 tablespoon chopped onion
  1 clove garlic
  1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
  1 teaspoon salt
  1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts halves, cubed
  2 tablespoons butter
  4 ounces Neufchatel cheese
  8 ounces natural cream of chicken soup
  1 cup frozen peas
  
  

  1. Combine the carrot, parsley, onion, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and ground pepper in a small blender or food processor. Process until finely chopped and transfer to slow cooker. Add chicken and butter and mix. Cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours.
  2. Stir in Neufchatel cheese, chicken soup, and peas. Cook on High until heated through, about 30 minutes.

Slow-Cooked Taco Chicken

You all know I don't eat chicken and I know most of you do, a lot!  So here is a recipe from Campbell's Kitchens that you and my family can enjoy!

2 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 
Salt and ground black pepper 
3 medium onions, diced (about 1 1/2 cups) 
2 cups Swanson® Mexican Tortilla Flavor Infused Broth 
2 tablespoons tomato paste 
20 flour tortillas (8-inch) or taco shells, warmed 
Shredded lettuce, sour cream, shredded Cheddar cheese, salsa and/or guacamole 

• Season the chicken with the salt and black pepper.  Place the chicken into a 6-quart slow cooker.  Add the onions and broth.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours or until the chicken is fork-tender.  Using 2 forks, shred the chicken.  Stir in the tomato paste.
• Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla.  Top with the lettuce, sour cream, cheese, salsa and/or guacamole, if desired.  Fold the tortillas around the filling.
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CROCKPOT STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

• 6 bell peppers, green, red, or orange (washed, topped, and seeded)

1 tbsp shortening

1 1/2 lb ground beef

1 cup cooked brown rice

1 small onion, chopped

1 tsp salt

1/8 black pepper

1/8 tsp basil

1/2 cup ketchup

1 8-oz can tomato sauce 

Heat shortening in skillet and brown beef.  Combine meat and next 6 ingredients.  Stuff bell peppers.  Arrange peppers in large crock pot (may be stacked if necessary).  Pour tomato sauce over peppers.  Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

Personal note: I like to use 2 red, 2 green, and 2 orange bell peppers for color and replace the ketchup and tomato sauce with a favorite pasta sauce.

Note: I got the main ideas for this recipe from Recipes4Living.

BEEF BURGUNDY AND BACON

1 slice bacon, cut into squares
2 lbs sirloin tip or round steak, cubed, trimmed
1 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 beef bouillon cube, crushed
1 cup burgundy cooking
wine
1/4 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp cold water
Hot butter noodles for 6, for serving

Cook the bacon in a skillet until browned; remove bacon.

Coat the beef with the flour and brown on all sides in canola oil. Cut meat into bite-size pieces.

Combine steak, bacon drippings, bacon, seasonings, garlic, bouillon, and wine in the slow cooker or crock pot.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low 6 to 8 hours.

Add the mushrooms.

Dissolve the cornstarch in the cold water and stir into the cooker.

Replace lid on cooker and cook on high for 15 minutes.

Serve over hot buttered noodles.

EASY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

2 cans (18-oz each) sweet potatoes, drained and mashed
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp + 1/3 cup brown sugar, divided
1 tbsp orange juice
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup chopped pecans
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp butter, melted

Lightly grease a crock pot or slow cooker.

In a large mixing bowl mix the sweet potatoes, 1/3 cup margarine, granulated sugar and the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Beat in the orange juice, eggs, and milk. Transfer the mixture to the greased cooker.

In a small bowl combine the pecans, flour, and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Spread this mixture over the sweet potato mixture. Place lid on the cooker and cook on high 3 to 4 hours.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

FORGOTTEN JAMBALAYA RECIPE

This is a Taste of Home recipe that was submitted by a lady from my neighboring city of Coppell, Texas a few years ago.

1 can (14.5-oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (14.5-oz) beef or chicken broth
1 can (6-oz) tomato paste
3 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium green bell peppers, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
3 tsps dried parsley flakes
2 tsps dried basil
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/4 tsps salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 lb smoked sausage, halved and cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 lb uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
Hot cooked rice for serving

In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the tomatoes, broth and tomato paste. Stir in the celery, green peppers, onion, garlic and seasonings. Stir in chicken and sausage.

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in shrimp. Cover and cook 15-30 minutes longer or until shrimp turns pink. 

Serve with rice. 

Yield: 11 servings.

CROCK POT BUFFALO PULLED CHICKEN

As most of you know by now, I simply do not put chicken into my mouth!  However, most of you request chicken recipes and my family members all love chicken.  I got this recipe from A Family Feast.

Ingredients

• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1 pound skinless boneless chicken breast
• 1 pound skinless boneless chicken thighs
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons Franks' RedHot Original sauce
• 1 stick butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

Instructions

1. In a large slow-cooker, spray the bottom and sides of the insert. Add chicken in single layer.
2. In a microwave safe bowl or saucepan, melt butter. Add 1 cup of hot sauce and cumin and stir to combine. Pour over chicken.
3. Cover and set on high for four hours.
4. When done, remove chicken and shred with two forks and place in bowl. Stir liquid from pot and add ¼ cup to shredded chicken. Add two tablespoons (or more if you like it hotter) of Franks' hot sauce and mix well.

CROCK POT SAUSAGE & VEGGIES WITH PEPPERS

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook page.  I thought it was worth sharing.  I will try this as I have grandkids who love sausage.

1 pound smoked sausage, cut in pieces

6 potatoes, peeled and halved

1 large onion, peeled and sliced or chopped

3 or 4 large carrots, scraped and cut in pieces

1 large green pepper

1 large red sweet pepper

1 (14 ounce) can beef broth or 2 cups

1 package onion soup mix

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

 

Place sausage and vegetables in crock pot.  Mix together the broth, onion soup, spices and Worcestershire sauce and pour over the vegetables.  Cook on low for 5 or 6 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours until the potatoes and carrots are done.  Makes six to eight servings. 

SWEET SPICY SLOW COOKER BAKED BEANS

Slow Cooker Baked Beans
thehalfbakedlife.com
Serves 8

A slow cooker baked bean recipe that is sweet, spicy and loaded with flavor.

Prep Time 12 hr
Cook Time 10 hr

Ingredients

4 slices cooked bacon - crumbled
2 cups dry navy beans - soaked and drained
1 onion - chopped
3 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp ketchup
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp. minced garlic
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups water

Instructions

Fill a large bowl with water to cover the beans with 1/2 inch-1 inch of water. Soak for at least 6 hours, but overnight is best.

Pick out the ones that float to the top, drain and rinse

Cook bacon and crumble

In a large bowl combine remaining ingredients, taste and adjust seasoning if needed

In a large slow cooker place beans and sauce and stir gently

Cook on low for 8 hours, check and continue cooking until desired consistency is reached. We cooked ours for 9 hours.

Notes
Each serving (about 1/2 cup) is 2 points

**Calories: 81 Total Fat: 0.7 g Saturated Fat: 0.3 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0.7 mg Sodium: 592.2 mg Total Carbs: 17.8 g Dietary Fiber: 2.7 g Sugars: 12.6 g Protein: 1.7 g

Thanks Lavonne Lea Rae for sharing this recipe with us.

RIVAL CROCK-POT SMOTHERED STEAK

1 1/2 lbs chuck or round steak, cut in strips
1/3 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 large onion, sliced
1 - 2 green peppers, sliced
1 lb can tomatoes
1 4-oz can mushrooms, drained
2 tbsp molasses, optional
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 10-ounce package frozen green beans, french-style, optional

Put the steak strips, flour, salt and pepper in crock-pot.  Stir well to coat steak.  Add all the remaining ingredients.  Cover and cook on High 1 hour then turn to Low for 8 hours. (High: 5 hours). Serve with rice.

Note: This is a recipe that came in the booklet pictured below that came with my first crockpot in the 1970s.