Slow Cooker

Hamburger Lentil Soup

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    This is a dish that is hearty, inexpensive, and delicious! It is one of my hubby’s favorites. It is also a good crockpot dish. You should try it while the weather is still wintery!

Hamburger Lentil Soup                                      
1 lb. ground beef
1 46 oz. can tomato juice (or puree about 3 cups of diced tomatoes, I use one jar of home-canned)
4 c. hot water
1 1/2 cups dried lentils (rinsed and sorted)
1 c carrots, chopped
1 c celery, chopped
1/2 c. onion, minced or use dried minced onion
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. minced green bell pepper (I’ve never added this)
1 tsp salt (don’t skimp, I think it needs the whole tsp)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 c brown sugar

Cook hamburger until browned.  Drain fat.  Add juice and water and bring to a boil.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil again.  Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or cook in a Crockpot all day on low or half a day on high.  Serves  8.

Source: Julie Roberts

Sausage, Peppers, and Bean Stew

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As a side note, I used cranberry beans that needed to be rotated through my food storage.  They added a pretty color and sweetness.  I also added cubed potatoes because they go so well with sausage.

Ingredients:

2 medium onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 T olive oil, plus more for browning sausage if needed
5 links hot Italian sausage
2 (15.5 oz.) cans Cannellini beans, rinsed in cold water until no more foam appears
2(14.5) cans petite diced tomatoes
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried Greek Oregano
1 tsp. ground fennel
ground pepper to taste
2-3 bay leaves
4 cups homemade chicken stock (or use 2 cans chicken broth and add a little water to make 4 cups)
freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving

Directions:

1.  Chop onions, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper into pieces about 1/2 inch square. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan, then saute onions and peppers until they begin to soften, then add to slow cooker.

2.  Squeeze Italian sausage out of casings and add to frying pan, adding a bit more olive oil if needed. Brown sausage well, breaking apart with turner as it cooks, then add to slow cooker.

3.  Pour beans into a colander placed in the sink and rinse with cold water until no more foam appears, then add to slow cooker. Add tomatoes with juice, dried basil, dried oregano, ground fennel, black pepper and bay leaves to slow cooker. Pour chicken stock over other ingredients and stir to combine.

4.  Cook on high about 4 hours or on low for all day. Serve hot, with freshly grated parmesan cheese for sprinkling on the stew.

Source:  KalynsKitchen.com.

Crock Pot Chicken

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This is sooooo easy!  It always comes out moist and delicious! 

Rinse off a whole chicken (I like free range organically fed)
Put in the Crockpot (do not add any water unless the chicken is frozen then add 1 cup of water)
Season with Salt, Pepper, Sage, Parsley, and Thyme
Cook on High for 4-5 hours or Low for 6-8 Hours.
Serve with your favorite sides.

Another reason I love this is because I love bone broth!  After I have taken as much meat off the bones that I can I put the bones back in the crockpot, add 3 quarts of water, turn on low, and let cook 12 to 24 hours (you can also add onions, celery, etc.).  I then strain the bones out and refrigerate or freeze my broth for the next time I make soup.   I really believe that the bone broth has been a HUGE reason my children haven’t gotten sick this winter.  If you get a chance look up the benefits of bone broth and you will be amazed.

Best Venison Chili Recipe

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Here’s a great recipe for hunting season.  The kiddos will never know you used deer meat instead of hamburger.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. ground venison
2 15 oz. cans kidney beans, drained
2 15 oz. cans black beans, drained
2 15 oz. cans diced tomatoes
2 medium onions, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 t. ground cumin
2 T. chili powder
1 T. hot pepper sauce
1 t. salt

Directions:

1.  Saute onions and garlic in a pan over medium heat.  Add ground venison and brown.

2.  Add spices to mixture and transfer to crockpot.  Place remaining ingredients in crockpot.  Stir.  Cook on low 8-10 hours or high 4-6 hours.  (I recommend the low setting.)

Source:  id-rather-be-deer-hunting.com

Full-Flavored Beef Stew

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This is a quick crock pot recipe.  It makes your house smell wonderful all day long!

Ingredients:

2 lb. beef roast or stew beef, cubed
2 c. sliced carrots
2 c. diced potatoes (I like to leave the skins on)
1 medium onion, sliced
1 1/2 c. peas
2 t. quick-cooking tapioca
1 T. salt
1/2 t. pepper
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. water
1 T. brown sugar

Directions:

1.  Combine beef and vegetables in slow cooker.  Sprinkle with tapioca, salt and pepper.

2.  Combine tomato sauce and water.  Pour over ingredients in slow cooker.  Sprinkle with brown sugar.

3.  Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours.

Source:  Stacy Petersheim, Mechanicsville, PA

Slow Cooker Mac n’ Cheese

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I first had this recipe at a baby shower a friend was having. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! I am from the “boxed macaroni” generation, but this homemade recipe changed my ways! It is so simple and so tasty. Try it, you won’t forget it!



Slow Cooker Mac n’ Cheese

Ingredients:
2 cups evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter
16 oz. Velveeta Cheese, cubed
10 oz. Cheddar cheese, cubed
1 (8 ounce) package macaroni

Directions:
– Combine evaporated milk, paprika, salt, egg, butter and cheeses in a slow cooker; stir. Cook on high for 1 hour.
– Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until al dente; drain.
= Stir cooked macaroni into cheese sauce, reduce temperature to low and cook for 3 to 5 hours. Stir frequently to avoid burning on the bottom.

Adapted slightly from allrecipes.com

Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

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Oh my goodness, this is so yummy and definitely on my “comfort foods” list from now on.  The recipe was super easy to put together. We enjoyed it, and it looked a little on the fancy side to serve to our guest. Yet all I had to do was put it all in the slow cooker and wait for it. It was creamy and really satisfying. We served a really great spinach salad with it and some rolls and corn on the cobb. Enjoy!          
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
(or one breast per person. I had 8.)
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup of milk (I used 1-1/4c)
6 slices of deli ham
(OR 1 slice per breast…get some really good ham!)
6 slices of Swiss cheese (1 slice per chicken breast.)
1 (8 Oz) package of Stovetop Herb Stuffing mix 
1/4 cup melted butter
Mix the soup and milk in a bowl. Pour some of the soup onto the bottom of the slow cooker and spread it around so it coats the bottom of the cooker. Then layer the chicken breasts over the sauce.  Next layer the ham over the chicken and then layer the Swiss cheese over the ham. If you had more chicken breast, like I did, then you would do another layer of chicken breasts and ham and cheese.
 Sprinkle the stuffing over the top and then pour the remaining soup mixture over the stuffing. Try to cover the stuffing. Then pour the melted butter over the that.  I think it works best if you try to wet your stuffing. You don’t want it to be crunchy. Spread the soup mixture a bit over the stuffing or even try to poke a spoon or fork down and in between the layers. Cover the slow cooker and cook on med to high for 4-6 hours.
Adapted from recipe by Six Sister’s Stuff

Crockpot Mac & Cheese

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This is probably the recipe I get asked for more than any other. It is heavenly! If you like creamy, cheesy, gooey mac and cheese, this recipe is for you! The youth at church ask me to bring it to every pot luck dinner, and they scrape the pot clean! 
 
 
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
 
 
Ingredients:
4 cups dry macaroni noodles
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cans evaporated milk (you can use regular milk if you don’t have this)
3 cups milk (Ok, I never measure this…I just add it until it looks almost right. See photo and note below.)
4 eggs, beaten
8 cups shredded cheese (I personally like the shredded Mexican Blend, but sharp cheddar is yummy too.)
Salt and pepper to taste 
 
Directions:
1. Cook macaroni noodles in salted water until done. Drain off water and put into crock pot.
 
2. Pour in melted butter, evaporated milk (or a few cups of milk), beaten eggs, salt and pepper. Stir until mixed.
 
3. Add about 6-7 cups of the shredded cheese. (You want to save a cup or two to spread over the top.) Mix in the cheese and add a few more cups of milk. Keep adding a little milk until you have it just right. You know you have enough milk when you pull back the noodles, and you can see milk a little below the surface. See photo. I have never measured the milk, because this is how my grandma and mom taught me to do it. : )
 
4. Put a cup or two of shredded cheese over the top of the mixture and cover with lid.
 
5. Cook on HIGH for 45 minutes to 1 hour (until it’s nice and hot), and then turn it to LOW or WARM for another few hours. In my crock pot, if I leave it on LOW, it will burn the edges and overcook it, so I turn it down to WARM. It’s done when the milk and eggs are absorbed and set.
 
6. Enjoy every last bite of this delicious macaroni and cheese! 
 
Notes:
1. This recipe makes enough to fill a huge 6 quart crock pot. If you have a smaller crock pot, you might want to half the recipe. You can also cook a half recipe in a casserole dish in the oven. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. It’s done when the milk and eggs are absorbed and set. Some people like to take the foil off and let it bake uncovered for about 10 minutes so the cheese gets crusty. I like creamy and melty cheese, so I keep mine covered the whole time.
 
2. You can use whatever cheese you like, and as much or as little as you like. I have a friend who puts in some Velveeta cheese, although I would never do that because I am crazy over cheddar cheese. My point is, use your favorite cheese and make it your own!
 
3. I often make it without the evaporated milk and just use 2% milk or whatever I have in the fridge. I’ve even used reconstituted powdered milk and it turned out great. 
 
Source: I have made this for years and years and cannot remember when or why I first made it, or who might have given me the idea. All I know is that it is the best mac and cheese I have ever had!
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Chicken with Tropical Barbecue Sauce

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It was late in the day on Sunday and I really just wanted to throw something in the slow cooker for even later.  What did I have on hand?  First I checked my trusty Fix-It and Forget-It  Cookbook and right there on page 176 was the answer.  Thank you Lois Stoltzfus from Honey Brook, PA.  It was just a simple, no fuss meal but I was grateful to have it cooking away as I watched the afternoon session of our Church’s world-wide conference.  Love my slow cooker.  Seriously.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup molasses
2 T. cider vinegar
2 T. Worcestershire Sauce
2 t. prepared mustard
1/8-1/4 hot pepper sauce (I used about a teaspoon of Sriracha sauce, but that wasn’t spicy enough)
2 T. orange juice
3 whole chicken breasts, halved ( I used about 5 boneless, skinless breasts)

1.  Combine molasses, vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce, and orange juice.  Brush over chicken.
2.  Place chicken in slow cooker (I poured the rest of the sauce mixture over the chicken).
3.  Cover.  Cook on Low 7-9 hours, or Hight 3-4 hours.

I served this with rice and some canned tropical fruit, chilled.  Yummmm….

Source:  Lois Stoltzfus, Fix-It and Forget-It, p. 176.

3 Ingredient White Bean Chicken Chili

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I love a quick, yummy meal, and this is definitely one of them!

One day I watched my friend dump some things in a pot, stir a bit, and then call her kids down for dinner. I was truly impressed because it took 5 minutes from start to finish, and it looked so delicious and healthy too!

3 Ingredient White Bean Chicken Chili

Ingredients:
A few cans of white beans, drained
1 can of chicken 
A cup or two of your favorite salsa

I am not going to give an exact recipe, well, because there isn’t one and I have made it differently every time depending on how many I needed to feed and what I had on hand. But basically you just dump those ingredients into a pot, in whatever quantities you want, add a little water if needed, and maybe some black pepper. If you want to get fancy, you can add a can of corn! Let it simmer for a few minutes. Serve with your favorite shredded cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips!

A delicious and quick meal! I hope you enjoy! 

PS – You could also make this in a crock pot.

Source: My amazing friend Kim Jones