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.

CHICKEN GNOCCHI SOUP

2 15-oz jars Alfredo sauce

1. 2 cups water
2. 2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
3. 2 16-oz. pkgs potato gnocchi
4. 2 cans chopped spinach
5. 1 can creamed corn
6. 1 10-oz evaporated milk

    

    Add all ingredients except gnocchi to the slow cooker and combine well.

1. Cook on high for 2 hours or low 4 hours.
2. Add gnocchi to soup and combine well. Cook for 1 hour longer on low.
3. Fills a 6 qt slow cooker to capacity. Cut recipe in half for a 4 qt. cooker.

Note: If you have leftovers to warm later, add a little water.  Soup thickens when it sits.

As you know, I am not a chicken eater.  I saw this recipe and thought my family would like it and you might want it, too.  I cannot give my opinion of this recipe either good or bad.  This recipe is from Marty's Musings.

SLOW COOKER PEACH COBBLER

4 cups fresh, peeled, sliced peaches

1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup baking mix
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsps butter
vanilla ice cream for serving

Spray interior of cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Add the peaches, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and cinnamon; stir to mix.

In a medium mixing bowl combine the baking mix, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, milk, and vanilla until well blended.  Pour this mixture over the peach mixture in the cooker.  Cut butter into slices and arrange over all.

Place the lid on cooker and cook on low for 2 hours and 45 minutes.  Turn cooker to high and cook another 30 minutes.

Serve warm with ice cream.  Yummy!

file photo for reference

DUTCH APPLE PUDDING CAKE

nonstick cooking spray

1 can (20-21 oz) apple pie filling

1/2 cup dried cherries, cranberries or raisins

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

2 tbsp butter, melted

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

1 1/4 cups apple juice

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tbsp butter

Whipped cream for serving, optional

Toasted chopped walnuts for garnish, optional

Lightly coat a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray, set aside.

In a small saucepan bring apple pie filling to boiling. Stir in the dried fruit. Transfer to the slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the milk and melted butter, stir just until combined. Stir in the 1/2 cup of walnuts. Pour mixture and spread evenly over the apple mixture in the cooker.

Foor the sauce, in the same small saucepan, combine apple juice, brown sugar and the tablespoon of butter. Bring to boiling. Boil gently, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Carefully pour sauce over the batter in the cooker.

Place lid on cooker and cook on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove crockery insert from the cooker (if possible) or turn off cooker. Cool uncovered, 30 to 45 minutes.

To serve, spoon warm cake and sauce into dessert dishes. Top with whipped cream and chopped walnuts, if desired. 

file photo of this recipe

BALSAMIC GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN

2 pork tenderloins, approximately 3 lbs total

2 tsp ground sage
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1 cup water, divided
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce

Lay the tenderloins in the bottom of a large crockpot or slow cooker; rub with the sage, salt, pepper.  Pour half the water in the bottom of the cooker; add the pressed garlic. Place lid on cooker and cook on low for 6 hours.
In a small microwave-safe bowl combine the remaining water, brown sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, and soy sauce.  Cook on high for one minute; whisk and cook another minute or until thickened.   Pour half the mixture over the tenderloins and continue cooking for another hour or two.

Before serving, warm the remaining glaze and serve with the tenderloin.

from Shugary Sweets over a dozen years ago

HEAVENLY CROCKPOT DESSERT

1 box Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 eggs
1 pouch Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Mix all ingredients together and put into a crockpot that has been sprayed lightly with cooking oil spray.
Place lid on cooker and cook on low approximately 3 hours.

Delicious served with ice cream.

file photo 

CROCKIN' GIRLS CHICKEN SOUP

This recipe is from the Crockin' Girls in 2013.  I friend of mine recommended this.  As you all know if you follow my blog, I don't eat chicken.  However, I get more requests for chicken dishes than any other so here you are: 

• 4 Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
• 3 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth
• 1 Onion, finely diced
• 1 Cup Celery, diced
• 1 Cup Carrots, diced
• 2 Chicken bouillon cube
• 10 Ounces Can of Biscuits, but you can make your own

EXCLUDING THE BISCUITS put all ingredients in, then cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.

1. About an hour (give or take) before serving, remove chicken and pull into pieces and return to the soup mixture.

2. Place the torn biscuit dough in and cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.

   
   
   
   
   
   Note: This recipe has a 4 out of 5 star rating on the Crockin' Girls site.

 

SLOW COOKER CABBAGE ROLLS WITH V8 JUICE

I love cabbage and by extension cabbage rolls.  A friend of mine posted this recipe on facebook about a dozen years ago so I got it from her. I had never used V8 juice in my cabbage rolls before. I like these but I still like the originals, too. Both are quite tasty. If you want to try something different, give this recipe a try.

•1 large head cabbage
•1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
•3/4 cup quick-cooking rice
•1/2 cup chopped green pepper
•1/2 cup crushed saltines (about 15 crackers)
•1 egg, lightly beaten
•1 ounce onion soup mix
•1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
•1 can (46 ounces) V8 juice
•Salt to taste
•Grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions

•Cook cabbage in boiling water just until leaves fall off head. Set aside 12 large leaves for rolls; drain well. (Refrigerate remaining cabbage for another use.) Cut out the thick vein from the bottom of each reserved leaf, making a V-shaped cut; set aside.
•In a large bowl, combine the tomato sauce, rice, green pepper, cracker crumbs, egg and soup mix. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.
•Place about 1/3 cup meat mixture on each cabbage leaf; overlap cut ends of leaf. Fold in sides, beginning from the cut end. Roll up completely to enclose filling. Secure with toothpicks if desired.
•Place cabbage rolls in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Pour V8 juice over rolls. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until filling reaches 160°. Just before serving, sprinkle with salt and cheese if desired

file photo

SLOW COOKER CABBAGE ROLLS

4 cups water

12 large cabbage leaves
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup cooked rice
1/2 tsp salt
dash of freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 can (6-oz) tomato paste
3/4 cup water

Place the 4 cups of water into a deep pan and bring to a boil.  Remove the water from the heat and soak cabbage leaves in the hot water for 5 minutes or just until softened.  Remove from water and drain well.  Allow to cool enough to handle.

Combine the ground beef, rice, salt, pepper, thyme, nutmeg, and cinnamon until well blended.  Place 2 tablespoons of this mixture on each cabbage leaf.  Roll up firmly and stack in the slow cooker or crockpot.

Combine the tomato paste and 3/4 cup of water; pour over the cabbage rolls.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting approximately 8 hours.

Yield: 6 servings 

file photo for reference

BBQ RIBEYE CHOPS

This is a recipe I got from Pinterest and transferred here to my own recipe file.  Perhaps you would enjoy it, too. Note: This is pork, not beef.

3 1/2    pounds    beef, ribeye petite roast/filet 
1    cup    barbecue sauce ( I love Sweet Baby Rays ) 
1/2    cup    ketchup 
2    tablespoon    red wine vinegar 
1/4    cup    brown sugar 
1    teaspoon    liquid smoke ( optional ) 
   to taste    garlic powder 
   to taste    onion salt 
   to taste    black pepper 
   to taste    red pepper flakes ( if you want it spicy (optional) ) 

Season the pork with garlic powder, onion salt, and pepper.

Mix the barbecue sauce, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, liquid smoke, and pepper flakes together in a seperate bowl.  Layer the pork chops in your slow cooker, making sure to put the sauce on each chop as you go.  Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.  The meat should fall to pieces nicely!