Crockpot Sloppy Joes

3lbs hamburger
1 medium onion, chopped
1 c sliced celery
1 c chopped green pepper
1 ½ c ketchup
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 6oz can tomato paste
¾ c water
2 T apple cider vinegar (or3T if you like a bit more tang)
3 T brown sugar
1 t dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste

In a large frying pan cook hamburger and vegetables.  Put this in crockpot and add remaining ingredients.  Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve over sandwich rolls.

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

 1lb boneless skinless chicken meat, cut into bite size pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
1t minced garlic
2T olive oil
8oz cream cheese, cut into chunks and softened
Milk, to thin sauce
2t chili powder
1t cumin
1 cup salsa
12 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup cream
 In a large frying pan cook chicken, onion, and garlic in olive oil.  When the chicken meat is fully cooked and the onions are soft add the cream cheese and stir around a bit to melt and mix up with the chicken and onions.  Add a little milk to make a sauce that is about the consistency of gravy.  Add chili powder, cumin and salsa.  You can taste and add a little salt and pepper to your liking.

Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.  Lay half of the corn tortillas in the pan.  Spread half of the chicken enchilada sauce over the tortillas.  Sprinkle half the cheese over the sauce.  Repeat layers. Pour cream over the top.

Bake at 375 for 30 to 45 minutes, until enchiladas are golden brown on the top.  Serve with Spanish rice and refried beans and a big green salad.

SAVORY CORN CHOWDER

6 slices bacon, cooked crisp

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

4 or 5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

2 cups water

1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk

1 (14.75 ounce) can cream style corn

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup 2% or regular milk

3/4 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (Optional)

 

Cook bacon in skillet on top of the stove until crisp.  Remove and drain on paper towel.  Fry onion and garlic in about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease left in skillet.  Drain. In a pot on top of the stove cover potatoes with the 2 cups of water, bring to a boil and cook about 10 minutes until soft.  Add onion, garlic, milk, corn, salt and pepper and continue cooking on simmer about 20 minutes longer stirring several times. Crumble bacon into soup. Stir to mix. Add cheese.  Makes 8 to 10 servings. Enjoy!

 

Cranberry Chicken

1 small onion, sliced thinly
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, if frozen do not thaw them
2 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
¼ cup ketchup
2 T sugar
1 t dry mustard
2 t cider vinegar

Place onion slices and cranberries in the bottom of your crockpot.  Arrange chicken on top.  In a small bowl mix together the ketchup,sugar, dry mustard and vinegar.  Pour this over the chicken.  Cover and cook on low setting 6 to 7 hours or until the chicken is tender.

To serve, lift the chicken out and set on serving platter (you can cover it and keep it warm in your oven on a warm setting) and mix 1 ½ T cornstarch with 2 T cold water.  Turn the crock pot to HIGH and add mixture. Cover and cook this for about 15 minutes more or until the sauce thickens.  Season to taste with salt and pour this over the chicken.  This tastes good with brown rice pilaf and a spinach salad.

VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP

2 pounds stew beef
1 medium to large sized onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 potatoes, washed and diced
1 quart green beans, drained
1 cup red wine, optional
1 large can (49.5 oz) beef broth
salt and pepper
thyme


How to:


Heat your pot with some oil on med-high heat. I used lard. Once it's nice and hot, add your stew beef. Brown it on all sides, by stirring occasionally. Next, add your onion and garlic and just a bit of salt and pepper. If you add the salt and pepper in stages, the soup will have a richer flavor because one ingredient won't taste flat.  


Once the onion starts to become translucent, add the wine if you're using it. If not, use 1 cup of your broth. Although the wine is optional, I feel it really adds a depth to the flavor that you won't get otherwise. Turn your heat down to medium and let cook for about 5 minutes while you prepare your other vegetables. As they're cleaned and chopped, add the celery, carrots and potatoes in that order. Add the rest of your broth, cover and simmer until the carrots and potatoes are tender.  


Once your veggies are done, add the green beans. Taste the broth and add bit more salt and pepper and some thyme. I didn't measure the thyme, but I would start with a couple of teaspoons for this amount of soup. Let the soup simmer for about another half hour to marry the flavors. Just before serving, taste the broth and adjust the seasonings again, if necessary.


Notes:


It's better to add seasonings a bit at a time. You can always add more, but can't take it out if you add too much.  


This is a huge batch of soup. I feel it's better to make more and then have extra to freeze for lunches or another dinner because it's no extra work. If that's not your bag, cut the recipe in half.


If you don't have a garden and can your own beans, use two cans of store bought beans instead.


Sometimes I add corn to this. You could also add parsnips, green pepper, mushrooms or any other veggie you love. Also, you could add rice, barley or noodles to the broth at the time you add your green beans.


If you make steak, roasts or ribs - save those bones and make your own beef stock. Not only will it save you $$, it doesn't get any more nutritious than homemade bone broth. We just bought a grass-fed cow and I have a freezer full of bones that I will be using to make lots of broth with with the next week or so. Unfortunately, I didn't have it ready for this pot of soup.

Turnip Gratin

2 to 10 turnips (depending on the size of your turnips and the size of your pan)
1 1/2 cups grated mozarella cheese
1 can evaporated milk (or 1 1/2 cups heavy cream)
2 Tbsp butter
2 tsp chicken bullion
salt and pepper
1 tsp granulated garlic


Preheat oven to  375º.

Wash turnips thoroughly. Cut off any greens (these can be cooked in another dish if you like). If using store-bought turnips or turnips where the rind has started to harden (from being in storage), you can peel the turnips as you would an apple. However, fresh turnips from the garden do not usually need to be peeled. The outside skin has the most bite, and the inside is more mild, so if you wish to peel them for that reason, go ahead!
Put butter in the bottom of an 11-inch tart pan (or a 9 x 13 inch pan). Put in the oven to melt. After the butter is melted, remove pan from oven, and swirl the pan to coat the bottom of the pan with buter.

Layer the bottom of the dish with a single layer of turnips. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, granualted garlic and a little of the chicken bullion. Pour a small amount of evaporated milk around the top of the turnips. Sprinkle with part of the cheese.

Repeat the steps above, adding more layers of turnips, until your pan is full (about 4 layers). Make sure to have plenty of cheese for the top.

Cook in the oven for 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned.

Texas Barbeque Sauce

~This recipe makes a big batch of BBQ sauce with just a hint of spiciness!
1- 6 oz. can tomato paste
2 c water
½ c ketchup, fruit sweetened if possible
1/3 c apple cider vinegar
¼ c Worcestershire sauce
¼ c brown sugar
2 t dry mustard
2 t salt
½ t chili powder
¼ t cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients in a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, to blend flavors.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

1 lb. ground turkey or hamburger
Italian seasoning

Cook your turkey/hamburger with the Italian seasoning and set aside.

1 4-oz. can mushrooms
1 15-oz. container ricotta (I would only use half of this next time)
1 pkg part-skim shredded mozarrella cheese
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1/3 c. water
Some lasagna noodles.

Spray the cooker with Pam. Mix 1/3 c. water with jar of spaghetti sauce.
Layer four noodles, half the turkey/hamburger, mushrooms, half the spaghetti sauce, the ricotta, and half the mozzarrella. Repeat with the other half of half the turkey/hamburger, mushrooms, half the spaghetti sauce and half the mozzarrella.
Turn on HIGH for one hour.
Turn down to LOW for five hours.
Go do something constructive.
Turn off after hour six and enjoy.
It came out easily. I used a spatula to cut it into pieces like a pie.

Santa Fe Chicken

1 tbsp butter in fry pan.
Add one chopped large onion.
Saute till tender.
Add 1-1/4 c. chicken broth to pan with one cup of salsa.
Bring it to a boil.
Add 1 c. long grain rice.
Add 4 boneless chicken breasts and 1/8 tsp. garlic powder.
Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. (I used the already cooked chopped chicken breasts and added it later since it is already cooked).
Simmer for 10 minutes then turn over the chicken breasts, and cook another 10-15 min.
(At this point, add in cooked breast meat if you are taking that route)
Add a cup of pinto and black beans (1/2 c. of each).
Stir it up, turn off the heat. Add green onions, cilantro and 3/4 c. of cheddar cheese. Let rest for 5 minutes. ENJOY!
  You can do this in the crockpot

• 24 oz. (1 1/2 lbs) chicken breast
• 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies *Or a jar of salsa 
• 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 8 oz frozen corn (*We use canned.)
• 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
• 3 onions
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
• salt to taste
  
  

Directions:

1. Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt in the crock pot.
   1. Season chicken breast with salt and lay on top.
   2. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours.
   3. A half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred.
   4. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in.
   5. Adjust salt and seasoning. 
   6. Serve over rice with cilantro, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Red Velvet Cheesecake

1 box Betty Crocker Super Moist devil's food cake mix
1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz) melted, cooled slightly
1/2 c. sour cream
3/4 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. red food coloring
3 eggs

Heat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrap outside bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with heavy duty foil. Spray inside of pan with baking spray with flour. Reserve 1/4 cup cake mix for filling. In large bowl, beat remaining cake mix and butter with electric mixer on low speed. Press in bottom and 1-1/2 inches up side of pan.

In large bowl, beat reserved 1/4 cup cake mix, cream cheese, chocolate, sour cream, sugar and food color with electric mixture on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until blended. Pour over crust. Bake 1 hour 5 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes or until edge of cheesecake is set 2 inches from edge of pan but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Turn oven off; open oven door 3 inches. Let cheesecake remain in oven 30 minutes. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. Run small metal spatula around edge of pain; remove side of pan. Store covered in frigerator.

Serves 16.

Ranch House Chicken Casserole

4 to 5 cups cooked, cubed chicken
2 cups cheddar cheese
12 corn tortillas
2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
5 large mushrooms, chopped

Sauce
6 T butter
6 T whole wheat flour
1 cup water
2 ¼ cups milk
2 chicken bullion cubes
½ t seasoning salt
½ t pepper

In a frying pan heat olive oil and cook onions and mushrooms until soft.  Add cooked chicken and set aside.

In a saucepan over medium high heat melt butter.  Add ww flour and stir with whisk until any lumps are broken up and the mixture is smooth.  Add water, milk and bullion cubes.  Turn up heat a little and whisk and stir until the sauce is thick and bubbly. Remove from heat.

 

To assemble casserole, layer half of the chicken on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Cover with half the cheese, half the tortillas, and half the sauce.  Repeat for second layer only ending with cheese on top. 

 

Bake at 350 for one hour. 

Quick and Easy Coca-Cola Chicken

1 large fryer, cut up
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 c. ketchup
1 c. Coca-Cola
1 T. worcestershire

Wash chicken and pat dry. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Place in large fring pan. Combine ketchup, Coca-Cola and worcestershire sauce and pour over chicken. Simmer, covered, 55-60 minutes, turning once. Serve with rice.

Pizza Rice Casserole

2 cups cooked brown rice
1 ½ cups cottage cheese
1 lb. sausage or hamburger or a combo of both
1 onion, chopped
1 -14oz can diced tomatoes
1 -8oz can tomato sauce
2 t Italian seasonings
½ t salt
Mozzarella cheese
Optional:
Pepperoni
Black olives, sliced

Combine cooked rice and cottage cheese and spread into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Cook sausage and onions until sausage is done and onions are soft. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasonings and salt. Spread this over the top of the rice. If you want to use the optional items layer those on top of the sausage/tomato mixture. Top with mozzarella cheese (as much or as little as desired). Bake at 325 for 30 minutes or until all is bubbly and hot and cheese has melted.

Delicious Italian Casserole

1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 lb hamburger
*note: you can also use all sausage or all hamburger
½ onion, chopped
¼ c. Italian seasoning
2 c. tomato sauce
*note—You can substitute 2 cups spaghetti sauce for the Italian seasonings and tomato sauce
1½ c. mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ c. sour cream
enough whole wheat dough to make one loaf of bread
*note, in a pinch you can use frozen bread dough or even canned biscuits
2 T. butter
1/3 c. Parmesan cheese

To begin with brown your sausage and along with the onions. Drain excess fat. Stir in tomato sauce and seasoning. Remove from heat and spoon into ungreased 9 x 13 baking dish. Combine mozzarella cheese and sour cream. Spoon over meat sauce. Roll out bread dough and lay across top of casserole. Melt butter and combine with Parmesan cheese. Spread this over the dough. Bake this in a 350 degree oven for about 35 to 40minutes, or until bread is cooked and casserole is heated and bubbly. If using canned biscuits it may not take as long, so watch carefully. Serve this with a large tossed green salad and enjoy!

This casserole freezes very nicely too. Freeze before baking. On cooking day thaw first and bake as above.

Mongolian Beef

2 lbs round steak, cut into small pieces
2 T soy sauce
2 T cornstarch
4 carrots, peeled and sliced very think
1 bunch green onions, cut into 2” lengths
6 large mushrooms, sliced very thin
¼ cup olive oil, divided

Sauce
¼ c soy sauce
1 T cornstarch
1 t sugar
2 t red pepper flakes (this makes this dish quite spicy.. so reduce if you don’t like your food real spicy)
1 t salt
pepper, a few shakes
1 ½ cups water

In a medium size bowl combine meat, 2 T soy sauce and 2 T cornstarch and let sit for a few minutes.

In a small bowl combine sauce ingredients.

Heat a large frying pan and add half the olive oil.  Add meat and cook until meat is no longer pink.  Remove from pan and put in a bowl.  Add rest of oil to frying pan and add carrots.  Cook until the carrots are just tender and add onions and mushrooms.  Stir fry these until the veggies are soft.  Add the meat and heat.  When everything is hot add sauce ingredients and cook and stir until sauce is thick and bubbly.

Serve over brown rice..

Minute Chicken

1-1/2 lbs. boneless skinless thighs
cut into bite sized pieces and dredge them in flour. Let them sit for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile make the sauce!
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 c. oyster sauce
1/3 c. water
1/2 c. green onions
Mix and set aside.

In skillet, add 2 Tbsp. oil heat and add 1 clove crushed garlic. Cook chicken until brown and done. Lower the heat add the sauce and keep it on low for a few minutes for sauce to thicken up just a bit. Done! Enjoy with  rice.  If you want to do this for OAMC you can  have your chicken all cut and your sauce mixed and just have to add your green onions  at the last  minute  ..

Mexican Hamburger Rice Bake

 This recipe is a family favorite..It belongs to my friend Crystal she has a ton of recipes on her blog.. check it out and enjoy ..

5 to 6 cups of cooked brown rice (a great use of leftover rice)
1 lb hamburger
½ small onion
1 10oz can Rotel tomatoes
8 oz. tomato sauce
½ cup water
salt or seasoning salt to taste
1 cup or more cheddar cheese

Cook hamburger and onion in fry pan till hamburger is no longer pink and onion is soft.  Add rice, rotels, tomato sauce, water,  and seasonings and mix and simmer everything for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Put this in a 9x13 inch pan (I sprayed mine with Pam) and top with cheese.  Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes until everything is hot and bubbly.

Korean Chicken

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (or 2 lbs. chicken drumettes)
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 c. flour mixed with 3/4 c. cornstarch
Oil for frying.
Cut chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and toss in beaten egggs. Dredge chicken in flour/cornstarch mixture and shake off excess. Deep fry in oil until golden brown and cooked through. Dip in Korean Dipping Sauce before serving.

Korean Dipping Sauce
1 c. shoyu (soy sauce)
3/4 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. sliced green onions
2 tsp. toasted sesame seeds

Heat shoyu, sugar, garlic and sesame oil until sugar dissolves. Cool, then add green onions and sesame seeds.

*NOTE: I just thought it was okay. HOWEVER, the next day it was WAY WAY WAY better. The sauce needs to be made the day before, definitely.

Japanese Deli / Bento Style Hamburgers

2 lbs. ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 c. bread crumbs
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. garlic Salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. onion powder

Combine all ingredients. Form into patties and fry until cooked through.
These were not firm enough to put on the grill (fell apart), but they are more than fine in a fry pan.
It says it serves 6.

Italian Beef

1 3lb beef roast
1 cup water
1 t chopped garlic, or more if you love garlic like we do
½ medium onion, sliced thin
2 t Italian seasonings
1 t salt
½ t pepper
½ t sugar
1 jar (12 to 16 oz) greek pepperoncini’s

The night before you want to serve this meal place roast and water in crockpot and set on low.  In the morning there should be lots of juices.  Using 2 forks shred beef.  Add garlic, onion, seasonings and stir well.  Now add the pepperoncini’s and as much of the juice from the jar as you would like (according to your tastes).

Let this continue to cook on low for the remainder of the day.  Serve on toasted whole wheat hamburger buns or brown rice.