HAM AND SPLIT PEA SOUP

 

1 lb diced cooked ham

6 cups water
1 lb dry split peas
2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery

1 large carrot, sliced, optional
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried marjoram, crushed
1/4 tsp black pepper

Place the ham in the slow cooker or crock pot. Add the water, split peas, potatoes, onion, celery, salt, marjoram, and pepper; stir to blend ingredients. Add the lid to the cooker and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours. Before servings, stir the mixture and add more salt and pepper if needed to suit your taste.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings.

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HOMESTYLE APPLE BROWN BETTY

 

6 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eight pieces each

3 cups fine bread crumbs
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped fine

Lightly spray your crock pot or slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray only on the bottom and a couple of inches up the sides.

Place the apples in the bottom of the cooker.

In a mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, brown sugar, butter, and nuts. Spread this mixture over the apples in the cooker. Place the lid on the cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours until apples are tender. Or you can cook on high setting for 2 hours.

Yield: 8 servings

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SMOKED SAUSAGE WITH CABBAGE AND APPLES

 

1 1/2 lbs smoked sausage of your choice ie beef, pork, turkey, etc

3 apples, sliced thickly

1/2 large head of red cabbage, shredded

1 medium onion, sliced

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup apple juice

Layer in the crock pot or slow cooker, in this order, smoked sausage cut into large pieces, thickly sliced apples, shredded cabbage, and the sliced onion. Sprinkle the brown sugar, salt, and pepper over all. Lastly, pour the apple juice over the other ingredients. Leave layered, do not stir. Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high setting for 3 to 4 hours.

Yield: 6 servings

This is a file photo.

CROCK POT LENTILS

 

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup dry lentils
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp salt
1 can (16-oz) diced tomatoes
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp chili sauce
1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 crisp cooked slices of bacon, crumbled

Bring the water, lentils, onion, and salt to boil in a saucepan. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Transfer the lentils to the crockpot (or slowcooker) and stir in the tomatoes, sugar, chili sauce, and mustard. Place the lid on the cooker and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours on low.

Remove lid from cooker and move heat setting to high. Cook for another 30 minutes. Stir and then top with the crumbled bacon.

Yield: 6 servings

Note: File photo of a very similar recipe

MEAT LOAF FLORENTINE WITH OPTIONAL MUSHROOM SAUCE

 

1 pkg (10-oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed

2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauc

2 lb lean ground beef

Drain the spinach well. In a large bowl combine the spinach, eggs, breadcrumbs, milk, soy sauce, salt, and hot pepper sauce. Add the ground beef to the spinach mixture and mix well using hands. Make into either a round or oblong loaf slightly smaller than your crockpot or slow cooker's interior.

Place a wire rack (or make one using double thick strips of heavy-duty foil) in the bottom of the cooker. Place meatloaf atop rack not allowing it to touch cooker's sides. Place lid on cooker and cook on high setting for 4 hours. 

Top with the traditional ketchup topping or serve with the following sauce.

Serve with this MUSHROOM SAUCE:
1 can (3-oz) sliced mushrooms with juices
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup sour cream
2 tbsp snipped chives

In a saucepan combine the mushrooms and flour, stirring until flour is blend in. Stir in the sour cream and chives. Cook, while stirring, just until thickened. Do not boil!

Yield: 1 1/2 cups of sauce
Yield: 8 servings meat loaf

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CHICKEN SPAGHETTI

 

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

salt and pepper to taste
1 can (8-oz) tomato sauce
1 can (6-oz) tomato paste
1/4 cup water
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp sugar
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese
Hot cooked spaghetti for 4 servings

Generously sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper; place in slow cooker or crock pot. In a small bowl combine the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, garlic, oregano, basil, and sugar together well; pour over the chicken in the cooker. Put lid on cooker and cook chicken on low setting for approximately 8 hours.

Remove the chicken from the cooker to a warm platter. Turn cooker to high setting and stir in the mozzarella cheese. Replace lid and cook until the cheese is melted and the sauce is heated thoroughly.

To serve, divide the spaghetti into four servings. Top each serving with a chicken breast and a fourth of the sauce. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese.

file photo for reference

APPLE CIDER STEW

  

2 lbs beef stew meat

3 tbsp canola oil
3 tbsp flour
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 carrots, chopped
3 potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 onions, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 apple, chopped
2 cups apple cider
1 tbsp vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup flour

In skillet or large saucepan brown meat in canola oil. Drain off excess fat. Combine the 3 tablespoons of flour, salt, thyme, and black pepper. Toss browned meat in the flour mixture to coat. Place the carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, and apple in the cooker. Place the meat over the vegetables. Combine the apple cider and the vinegar; pour over the meat. Place lid on cooker and cook on low 10 to 12 hours.

Turn cooker to high setting. Blend the cold water into the 1/4 cup flour until smooth. Stir slowly into the stew. Replace lid and cook another 15 minutes until thickened.

Yield: 8 servings.

File Photo

CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE CAKE

 

Cake:

• 1 package (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Pecan Pie Topping:
• 2 cups chopped pecans
• 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Spray inside of 6-quart slow cooker with no stick cooking spray. 
• For the Chocolate Cake, prepare cake batter as directed on package, stirring in cinnamon and vanilla. Pour into greased slow cooker. Place towel over slow cooker and cover with lid.
• Cook 2 hours on LOW or until cake is almost set.
• For the Pecan Pie Topping, sprinkle pecans over cake. Beat remaining ingredients with wire whisk until smooth. Slowly pour over pecans. Cover.
• Cook 10 minutes longer on LOW. Turn off slow cooker. Carefully remove slow cooker insert and place on wire rack. Cool 20 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
• Yield: 12-14 servings
•  
• This is a McCormick's recipe.

CHEESY TURKEY COTTAGE FRIES

3 to 4 cups frozen cottage-style potatoes

2 cups cubed cooked turkey

2 cups frozen cut broccoli, thawed and drained

1 cup pasteurized processed cheese product

1 jar (2-oz) diced pimiento, drained

Spray the inside of a crock-pot or slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Layer the potatoes over the bottom of the cooker.

In a bowl, combine the turkey, broccoli, cheese, and pimento; stir to mix well. Pour over the potatoes in the cooker.

Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours or on high 3 to 4 hours.

Yield: Serves 4

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GINGER BAKED BEANS

 

2 tsp instant minced onion

1/4 cup water
2 cans (16-oz) cans pork and beans
1/2 cup finely crushed gingersnap cookies
1/4 cup catsup
2 tbsp light molasses

Place the instant minced onion and the water in a crock pot or slow cooker; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the pork and beans, gingersnap crumbs, catsup and molasses. Stir to combine the mixture. Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for 3 to 4 hours.

Yield: 6 servings

Note: File Photo