TURKEY VEGETABLE SOUP

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 pkg (16-oz each) frozen soup vegetables
1 can black-eyed peas
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can purple hulled peas
1 large can tomato juice
1 quart water

Brown the turkey meat in a nonstick skillet that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Place the two packages of frozen vegetables, slightly thawed, in bottom of crock-pot or slow cooker. Add the browned turkey, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans, and hulled peas. Pour the tomato juice and water over all.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for approximately 4 hours.

File photo for reference only. Not this exact recipe.

BARBECUE BEEF STEW

2 lbs beef stew meat

2 tbsp canola oil
1 cup thinly sliced onion, separated into rings
1/2 diced green bell pepper
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups beef broth
1 can (8-oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (4-oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
Hot cooked rice or noodles for serving, if desired

In a large skillet heat the oil and brown the meat on all sides. Drain off the excess fat.

Place the onion rings in the bottom of the crock-pot or slow cooker; add the garlic. Place the meat over the onion rings and garlic; sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Pour the beef broth, tomatoes, mushroom pieces, and barbecue sauce, stirring to mix. Add the lid to the cooker and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.

Turn the cooker to high. Blend the cold water slowly into the cornstarch until smooth; stir into the stew. Cover and cook until thickened and bubbly, stirring occasionally.

Serve over hot cooked rice or noodles, if desired.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

 File Photo used for reference only. Not this exact recipe.

PIZZA SWISS STEAK OVER SPAGHETTI

1 (2 lb) round steak, 1-inch thick

2 tbsp flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp hot canola oil
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 can (8-oz) tomato sauce
1 can (8-oz) pizza sauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp oregano
Hot cooked spaghetti for 6

Cut the round steak into 6 serving size pieces.
Stir the flour, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl or pie plate. Dredge meat in the flour mixture to coat. Using a meat mallet or a saucer, pound steak to about half the original thickness. Brown the meat in a skillet in the hot canola oil; drain.

Separate the onion slices into rings and layer over the bottom of the cooker. Place the steaks over the onion rings. In a small bowl stir the tomato sauce, pizza sauce, water, sugar, and oregano together; pour over the meat.

Place lid on cooker and cook meat on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.

Serve over the hot cooked spaghetti.

Yield: 6 servings

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VEGGIE TOPPED RUMP ROAST

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp paprika
dash of pepper
1 (2-lb) boneless beef rump roast
2 tbsp canola oil
12 small potatoes
6 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium onions, sliced
1 green bell pepper, large diced
1 can (10.5-oz) vegetable beef soup
1/4 cup water
1 bay leaf
1/3 cup cold water
3 tbsp all-purpose flour

Combine the 2 tablespoons of flour, salt, paprika, and pepper; coat meat with the mixture. In a heavy skillet, heat the canola oil and brown the roast in the oil. Brown on all sides.

Put the potatoes, carrots, onions, and bell pepper into the cooker. Place the browned roast over the vegetables. Combine the soup with the 1/4 cup of water and the bay leaf. Pour mixture over the roast. Place the lid on the cooker and cook on low setting 10 to 12 hours.

To serve, remove the bay leaf. Arrange the meat in the center of a large serving platter and arrange the vegetables around the meat. To make a thicker gravy, if desired, blend the cold water into the flour in a saucepan and add the liquid from the cooker. Cook, stirring, until thickened and bubbly. Serve over or with the meat.

Yield: 6 servings

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CHICKEN, BROCCOLI, AND RICE CASSEROLE

1 small onion, chopped

1 cup brown rice, rinsed and drained
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
1 pound broccoli, cut into small pieces (4-5 cups)
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Combine onion and rice in bottom of slow cooker. Place chicken on top and sprinkle with the garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper. Pour in chicken broth and water.
Cook on low heat for 6 hours, or on high heat for 3 hours.
Transfer chicken to a cutting board and chop into bite-size pieces (or shred it in the slow cooker). Stir chicken back into the rice mixture in the slow cooker.
Place broccoli on top of chicken and rice; do not stir in. (This will steam the broccoli.) Continue cooking on high for about 1 hour, until broccoli is crisp-tender. Alternatively, you can steam the broccoli in the microwave and then add it to the casserole. See directions below.*

Turn slow cooker off. Stir in Greek yogurt, Parmesan and cheddar. Serve.

*If you don’t want to have to do the step of adding the broccoli to the slow cooker an hour before the casserole is cooked (or you won’t be home to do so), you can steam the broccoli in the microwave. This will also keep the broccoli a nice bright green color, if that is important to you.  Here’s what you’ll do:
1. After step 1 in the recipe, cook the chicken and rice for 7-8 hours on low, or 3 ½-4 hours on high, until completely cooked.
2. When the chicken and rice are done, chop the chicken into bite-size pieces and stir it back in to the rice in the slow cooker.
3. Steam the broccoli: place broccoli and 1-2 inches water in a microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Cook on high heat for 3-4 minutes, until broccoli is crisp-tender. Drain. Stir broccoli into the slow cooker mixture, followed by the Greek yogurt and cheeses. Serve.

Note: This recipe is from fellow blogger Kristine's Kitchen. She recommends you do not use white rice or double this recipe as it does not adapt well.

DEVILED STEAK CUBES

1 (1 1/2 lb) beef round steak, 3/4-inch thick

2 tbsp cooking oil
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp prepared mustard
2 tsp prepared horseradish
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup water
2/3 cup cold water
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
hot cooked noodles for 6 servings

Trim the excess fat from the meat and cut meat into cubes. Heat the oil in a skillet and brown the cubed meat on all sides; drain. Transfer the meat to the cooker. Stir in the tomato sauce, onion, vinegar, mustard, horseradish, garlic, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of water. Add the lid to the cooker, set cooker on low setting and cook for 8 to 10 hours.

Turn setting to high. Blend the cold water with the flour until smooth. Gradually stir the mixture into the meat mixture. Cook until thickened, stirring occasionally.

Serve over the hot noodles or rice.
Yield: 6 servings

 

MEXI-STYLE CHILI

2 cans (15 1/2-oz each) red kidney beans

1 can (28-oz) tomatoes, cut up
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (6-oz) tomato paste
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 can (4-oz) green chili peppers, drained, seeded, and chopped
2 tbsp sugar
1 bay leaf
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried marjoram
1/2 tsp garlic powder
dash of black pepper
1 lb ground beef

In a crock-pot or slow cooker combine the kidney beans, tomatoes with their juice, celery, onion, tomato paste, bell pepper, green chili peppers, sugar, bay leaf, salt, marjoram, garlic powder, and black pepper.

Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain well. Stir the drained beef into the mixture in the cooker. Place lid on cooker and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Yield: approximately 10 servings

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ROUND STEAK WITH VEGETABLE GRAVY

3/4 cup finely chopped carrot

3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 (2 lb) round steak about 3/4-inch thick
salt and pepper
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup catsup
1 tbsp cider vinegar
1/2 cup cold water
2 tbsp all-purpose flour

In crockpot or slow cooker put the carrot, onion, celery and bell pepper. Trim excess fat from the round steak and cut it into 6 equal-sized pieces. Place the meat atop the vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine the catsup with the 1/3 cup of water and vinegar; pour mixture over the steak. Place lid on the pot and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.

Remove the meat from the cooker. Skim the excess fat from the cooking liquid then pour the vegetable/liquid mixture into a saucepan. Return the meat to the cooking pot.

Slowly pour the cold water into the flour blending well; stir into the vegetable mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Place the meat on a serving platter. Spoon some of the gravy over the meat. Pass the remaining gravy, if others want more.

Serves 6 to 8 people.

File Photo

SMOKED PORK WITH SAUERKRAUT

2 medium yellow onions, cut into 8 wedges

1 (2 b) boneless smoked pork shoulder
1 can (27-oz) sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
1 can (8-oz) diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp caraway seed
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup cold water
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup sour cream

Place the onion wedges over the bottom of the slow cooker or crockpot. Place the pork shoulder over the onions. In a mixing bowl combine the sauerkraut, undrained diced tomatoes, bay leaf, paprika, caraway seed, and black pepper; pour over the pork. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours. Remove the bay leaf. Remove the pork to a warm serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm.

Skim the excess fat from the surface of the sauerkraut mixture, if necessary. Pour the sauerkraut mixture into a saucepan. Blend the cold water into the cornstarch until smooth and stir slowly into the sauerkraut mixture. Cook while stirring until slightly thickened and bubbly. Stir in the sour cream. Sprinkle with a dash of paprika for garnish, if desired. Serve the sauerkraut mixture with the pork.

File photo of similar recipe.

ROUND STEAK CASSEROLE

2 lb round steak, 1/2-inch thick

garlic salt, according to taste
salt, according to taste
pepper, according to taste
1 onion, sliced
3 large or 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
1 can green beans, drained
1 can (10 3/4-oz) tomato soup
1 can (16-oz) stewed tomatoes

Season the steak with the garlic salt, salt, and pepper according to your taste. Cut into serving-size pieces and place in the crock-pot or slow cooker. Add the onion, separated into rings. Add the potatoes and top with the green beans. Pour the tomato soup overall and top with the stewed tomatoes. Cover and cook 8 to 10 hours on low.

file photo