TURKEY-CHEESE MEATLOAF

1 1/2 lbs lean ground turkey (read label to be sure you are getting lean - no skin)

2 cups bread crumbs
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 large eggs, beaten
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
8 slices American cheese, cut into 2 strips each
2 tbsp tomato paste

In a large mixing bowl, using your hands, combine the turkey, bread crumbs, ketchup, onion, eggs, salt and pepper.  Shape half the mixture into a loaf and top half the cheese strips.  Make the remaining meat into a loaf and top the cheese, sealing the two loaves together to seal in the cheese.  Place meatloaf in the slow cooker.  Spread  tomato paste over the top of the meatloaf and top it with the remaining slices of cheese.

Place cover on cooker and cook on low 6 to 8 hours or on high 3 to 4 hours.

Yield: 6 servings

filel photo for reference

APPLE PEANUT BUTTER CRUMBLE

4 medium cooking apples, peeled and sliced

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tbsp peanut butter
ice cream or whipped cream for serving, optional

Place the apples in a slow cooker.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg together until well mixed. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in the butter and the peanut butter until crumbly. Sprinkle the mixture over the apples in cooker.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low 5 to 6 hours.

Serve warm and top with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

Note: This is a file photo used for reference only.

Diabetic-Friendly Beef Stew

2 lbs. beef chuck, cubed, fat cut away

1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 minced garlic clove
1 bay leaf
4 medium carrots, chopped into bite-sized pieces
2 medium yellow onions, quartered
1 celery rib, sliced into bite-sized pieces
3 medium to large red potatoes, unpeeled, large diced

Place the meat cubes into the slow cooker or crockpot.  In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, pepper, and paprika; stir into the meat until the meat is thoroughly coated.

Add the remaining ingredients, mixing up well.

Place lid on cooker and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours.

Yield: 6 servings
Per serving: 278 calories, 6 g (1.9 g sat) fat, 75 mg chol, 598 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, fiber 4 g, 28 g protein (I suggest cutting the salt to 1/2 tsp and using reduced sodium beef broth to lower sodium)

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QUILTER'S CALICO BEAN SOUP

 

1/2 cup dry navy beans
1/2 cup dry black beans
1/2 cup dry lima beans
1/2 cup dry garbanzo beans
1/2 cup dry split peas
6 cups water
2 cups chopped ham
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrot
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 bay leaves
6 cups water

Rinse and drain all the beans.

In a large pot, combine the beans with the first 6 cups of water and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes, uncovered.  Drain and rinse.

In a crock pot or slow cooker combine the beans, ham, onion, carrot, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and the second 6 cups of water.  Place lid on cooker and cook 8 to 10 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high.

Note: 2 1/2 cups of any combination of dried beans may be used rather than the ones listed above.

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CROCKPOT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

 

14 slices whole-wheat bread, quartered

1 lb sausage, browned, crumbled, drained
2 1/2 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese
1 dozen eggs, beaten
2 1/4 cups low-fat milk
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Spray the liner of a crock
pot or slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.  Make layers in the cooker in the following order; bread, sausage, cheese, repeat at least twice possibly more times until all the ingredients are used up. 

In a large mixing bowl beat together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper; pour over the layers in the cooker.
DO NOT STIR! 

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

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

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MEATLESS TORTILLA SOUP

 

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp bottled hot sauce
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
2 cans (8-oz each) tomato sauce
4 cups chicken broth
2 limes, cut into wedges
1 ripe avocado, cut into bite-sized pieces
6 oz crumbly fresh cheese, such as feta or shredded cheese of your choice
tortilla chips, crumbled for garnish

Combine the garlic, onion, hot sauce, peppers, tomato sauce, and chicken broth in a crockpot or slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours.

To serve ladle the soup into serving bowls and squeeze lime wedges into each bowl.  Top with the fresh avocado, cheese, and crumbled chips.

Yield: 6 servings

file photo of similar recipe

DIABETIC-FRIENDLY PEACH BUTTER

 

4 cans (1 lb 13oz each) no sugar added peaches

3/4 cup Splenda granulated
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves

Drain peaches completely; puree in blender. Pour puree into a 4-quart slow cooker. Stir in the Splenda, cinnamon and cloves.

Place lid on cooker and cook on high 8 to 10 hours. Remove the lid during the last half of the cooking time. Stir occasionally during cooking.

Note: This is delicious on whole-grain toast, whole-grain pancakes, biscuits, pound cake or as an ice cream topping.

Yield: 48 servings
Serving size 2 tablespoons
Per serving: Calories 39, Fat 0g, Carbs 10g, Fiber 1g, Protein 0g
Diabetic Exchange = 0.5 carb

Notes: May use apricots instead of peaches
          This recipe is from my diabetic blog. Granulated sugar may be substituted for the Splenda if you are not diabetic.

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ITALIAN SEASONED SNACK MIX

1/2 stick butter

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
8 cups multigrain oat cereal
2 cups tiny pretzels
2 cups goldfish crackers
12 dried apricots, chopped

Place the butter into the slow cooker; add lid and cook on high 5 minutes or until butter is melted.  Add the cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning; stir to mix together well.  Stir in the remaining ingredients and cook, without lid, for about 45 minutes on high.  Stir every 15 minutes to keep mixed.

Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the mix is crisp and fragrant.  This will take about 2 to 3 hours.

Remove to a large bowl and allow to cool completely before serving.

Mix may be stored in an airtight container.

Yield: Serves approximately 20 people.

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CLASSIC CROCKPOT BAKED BEANS

 

3 cans (16-oz each) baked beans,  2 cans drained

1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
6 bacon slices, fried crisp and crumbled

Combine all the ingredients together in a crockpot or slow cooker.  Place lid on cooker and cook on low for approximately 8-9 hours or on high for about 4 hours.

Yield: 6 servings

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BROCCOLI, CHEESE, MUSHROOM DIP

2 pkg (10-oz each) frozen chopped broccoli, cooked & drained

1 lb box Mexican Velveeta cheese
1 small can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 tsp minced garlic

Combine the cheese, soup, and garlic together in a crockpot or slow cooker.  With cooker on high, heat the ingredients until the cheese melts, stirring frequently to blend.  Add the broccoli and mushrooms; heat until heated through.  Serve directly from cooker, if desired.

Serve with tortilla chips, melba toast or whole grain crackers.

Yields: 20 cups

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