3 SIDES OF CRAZY: Slow Cooking Thursday

Showing posts with label Slow Cooking Thursday. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday - Fiesta Chicken Tortilla Soup

During the summer I use the slow cooker a lot to keep from
turning on the stove, but we still like our soups!

FIESTA CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
1 can refried beans
1 can chicken broth
2 cups water
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can whole kernel corn with liquid

1 jar PACE chunky salsa
4 chicken thighs, sliced into thin strips or chunks
1/2 cup shredded cheese
thin tortilla strips

Put everything in the sow cooker except the cheese and tortilla strips.
Cook on low 2-3 hours.
Top with tortilla strips and cheese before serving.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday & Favorite Ingredient Friday- Ginger Ale BBQ Pork & Rice

Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Overwhelmed with Joy

2 1/2 pounds boneless pork ribs
1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped
1 can ginger ale
1/2 bottle Famous Dave's Apricot Bourbon BBQ sauce
1 cup hot water
3/4 cup long grain rice

Pour ginger ale and BBQ sauce into slow cooker and mix well.
Sprinkle chopped onions over sauce mixture.
Place meat on top and cover with lid.
Set for 6 hours on medium (or 8 hours on low).
At this point, sauce should be fairly thick.
Add the hot water and long grain rice.
Cook until rice is tender.
Serve as sandwiches or with a salad.
Enjoy.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday collides with Scrumptious Sunday this week with Beef Bourguignon

Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks
Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
BEEF BOURGUIGNON

1 1/2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cubed
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
4 slices bacon, cubed
2 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
12 pearl onions, peeled
8 ounce package sliced mushrooms
flour
1 tablespoon Classico sun dried tomato pesto
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
2 cups red wine of your choice

Melt the butter and saute' the beef chunks and garlic until browned. Remove to small crock pot.
Sprinkle flour over the browned beef chunks.
Add bacon and brown until crisp. Add to the slow cooker.
Sprinkle flour over the bacon.
Add the onions and carrots and saute'. Add to the slow cooker.
Whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour over the slow cooker contents, adding bay leaf last.
Set slow cooker to low and cook 2 hours undisturbed until meat is tender.
Add the pearl onions and mushrooms during the last 1/2 hour at least.
Check every 20 minutes after 2 hours until desired consistency is reached.
Good over mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles.

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks, Tasty Thursday hosted by Pumpkin Patch, Watchin' What We Eat hosted by Lorie at Honey I Shrank Myself and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Scrumptious Sunday Pasta collides again with Slow Cooking Thrusday with crock pot Lasagna

Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and
Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
Crockpot Lasagna

1 1/2 pounds hamburger
1 medium onion, chopped
2 teaspoons garlic, minced jar
14.5 ounce can Hunt's Diced Balsamic vinegar, Basil and olive oil tomatoes
13.5 ounce can Popeye chopped Spinach
15 ounce can Contadina Italian Herb tomato sauce
2 tablespoons Classico Sun Dried tomato pesto
1 tablespoon Pampered Chef Italian Herb mix or equivalent
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
16 ounces ricotta cheese
8 Lasagna noodles, no boil bake
8 ounces mozzarella cheese
PURE

Brown hamburger with onion and garlic. Drain off fat.
Mix together the diced tomatoes and spinach, juice and all.
Whisk together the sauce,pesto and seasonings.
Pour the tomato and spinach mixture over the meat mixture and toss together. Allow to drain again.
Generously spray the crock pot liner with PURE.
Layer as follows & cook on low 3 hours

1/2 of the sauce
noodles broken to fit
meat mixture
noodles
ricotta cheese
meat mixture
noodles broken to fit
other 1/2 of sauce
mozzarella cheese

I cut into here so you could see the layers

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by aura at I'm an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday - Fiesta Chicken

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

FIESTA CHICKEN
2-3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
scant 1/4 cup light olive oil (just enough to coat chicken)
2 tablespoons creamy horseradish
1/2 cup chardonnay
1 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1 can Rotel original tomatoes, Drained - but save juice
1 small V8 juice

Coat chicken thighs in olive oil
In a large ziploc bag combine the bread crumbs, salt & pepper
Dredge chicken pieces in bread crumb mixture and alternately layer in slow cooker, pressing crumbs firmly onto chicken pieces
place the onions and tomatoes evenly around the edges
Whisk together the creamy horseradish, chardonnay, V8 juice and the juice from the Rotel tomatoes
Pour the liquid all around the edges over the tomatoes and onions
Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours
Serve over prepared Rice or noodles OR serve with warm tortillas and shredded cheese

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday~Twisted Pepper Steak in Gravy & Mountain White Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Icing

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

TWISTED PEPPER STEAK IN GRAVY
1-2 tablespoons light olive oil
2 pounds round steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 3 inch slices
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red pepper, sliced into thin strips
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons minced garlic (jar)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 can beef consomme or
a scant 2 cups hot water with 2 teaspoons beef granules
Roux

In a large skillet heat olive oil
When hot, brown the beef slices, drain and transfer to the slow cooker
In the same pan combine the consomme, onions, tomatoes and juice, brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic and soy sauce.
Bring to a slow boil.
Pour over beef.
Cover and cook on high for 1 hour
Reduce the heat to low and cook 3-4 hours until beef is tender
Add the red pepper
Cook 1 more hour
Return heat to high
Using a large pasta claw remove the meat and peppers to serving bowl
Add Roux
Stir into the gravy and cook until desired thickness
Pour over meat in serving bowl and toss to coat
Serve over white rice or noodles

WHITE CAKE & CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM ICING
1/4 cup Crisco
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
1 +/- tablespoons milk

With a hand mixer mix together the crisco and softened butter
Add the vanilla extract and beat smooth
Gradually add the sugar, adding the 1st tablespoon of milk midway
After adding all sugar beat until creamy adding a dash more milk if necessary

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH!

Joy @ JOY of DESSERTS gave me this great award with the task of passing it on to 10 other bloggers. That makes it quite difficult to choose since there are so many great ladies out there that I try to keep up with.

So, with no further ADO and in no particular order, here's the other 1/2 my list finally now that I'm back from vacation:

Alice at Alice's Restaurant for her Jack and Jill series alone earns this award. She finds new and inventive ways to keep us laughing.
Susan at Farmgirl Fare has flair for farm life and captures it in her pictures to keep us informed, amused and smiling from ear to ear.
Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for wonderful outlook on life, kids and food. She hosts Slow Cooking Thursday which is full of wonderful recipes and other wonderful ladies to visit.
Stephanie over Mississippi Songbird because she has a fun outlook on everything.
Sharon over at Hustle Hag because she makes me laugh. She has a wonderful sense of humor and great perspective on life.

Stop by and congratulate them on a job well done!
Your job ladies is to pass this award on to 10 more people and keep spreading the love!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday ~ Chicken Chili

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

CHICKEN CHILI

4 chicken breasts
2 cups water
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
1 tablespoon olive oil**
1 teaspoon minced garlic (jar)
2 large onions, chopped
1/4 cup lime juice
4 ounce can diced green chilies
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 cans cannelini beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
1 cup shredded jack cheese

Cook chicken in broth and drain reserving liquid.*
Shred the chicken and set aside.*
In the olive oil, saute the garlic and onion until carmelized.*
Place chicken, garlic and onions in the bottom of the slow cooker.
In the reserved broth stir in the lime juice, seasonings and chilies.
Pour over the chicken mixture.
Cook on low for 2-4 hours.
Ladle into bowls and garnish with cheese.
Enjoy!

*If you're in a hurry you can skip these steps, cut the chicken into small chunks and increase cooking time to 6-8 hours. We prefer the carmelized flavor of the garlic and onions and shredded chicken versus chunks.

**Omit if not sauteing.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

I'm on vacation and will be back next week!

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday~Tequila Chicken

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
TEQUILA CHICKEN

1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 tablespoon honey
3/4 cup margarita mix
1/4 cup tequila
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons minced garlic
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
PURE
1+ tablespoon flour*
1+ tablespoon water*

In a small bowl whisk together the oil, honey, margarita mix, tequila and seasonings until well blended.
Poke each chicken breast several times with a fork.
Lightly spray slow cooker with PURE.
Put chicken in bottom of slow cooker.
Pour the tequila mixture over chicken breasts.
Cover and cook 3-4 hours on low.
When chicken is tender, remove it from the slow cooker and keep warm
Whisk together the flour and water until well blended.
Turn heat to high on slow cooker.
Whisk in the flour mixture and cook uncovered 10 minutes until thickens.
Serve chicken with warm tortillas and margaritas.
Pour sauce over top and garnish with limes.

*Adjust as necessary for desired thickness.

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by aura at I'm an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday~Carnitas

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
CARNITAS

3 pound pork roast
5 teaspoons minced garlic
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
12 ounces Amberbock Beer

Place pork roast in bottom of slow cooker.
Toss the pepper, salt, cilantro and garlic together.
Spread around and over roast.
Pour beer over everything.
Cover and cook on high 5-6 hours until pork is tender and fork pulls easily.
Serve with warm tortillas, your favorite toppings and salsa.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday~Beef Stew

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
BEEF STEW

1 pound lean beef stew eat, cut into cubes
1/2 pound baby carrots
1 large potato, peeled and cubed
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup V8 juice*
1/4 cup red wine*
2 tablespoons brown sugar*
1 tablespoons tapioca*

Spray bottom of slow cooker lightly with PURE!
Place the beef cubes in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer vegetables over top of beef.
In a mortar and pestle, grind all the seasonings together to reactivate their properties.
Whisk together the wine, V8 juice, brown sugar and tapioca until sugar and tapioca is completely dissolved.
Pour this over meat and vegetables.
Cover and cook on low 5 hours, undisturbed.
DO NOT CHECK ON IT!
Serve Immediately.

*The tapioca, red wine and brown sugar make a really nice thick gravy consistency with robust flavor when mixed with the V8.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday & Scrumptious Sunday Collide again

If you'd like to play along, see other entries and share recipes please visit
Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and
Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks.

Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore

4 large boneless, skinless Chicken breasts
16 oz. can Contadina diced tomatoes with garlic and herbs
1/4 cup powdered Parmesan cheese
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup prepared beef broth (1 cup hot water + 2 teaspoons beef granules)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano

Dredge chicken breasts in the Parmesan cheese packing it on firm.
Spray bottom of slow cooker with PURE.
Place chicken breasts on bottom.
Layer chopped onions on top of those.
Pour tomatoes over onions.
Whisk herbs into the broth and pour over all.
Cook on high 1 hour.
Cook on low for 6 hours.
Serve over cooked noodles or prepared rice.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday & Scrumptious Sunday collide with Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks.

3 boneless, skinless chicken thighs,diced
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced
3 carrots. cleaned and slant cut into slices
2 celery ribs
1 large onion, chopped
3 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
8 cups water
8 teaspoons Wylers chicken granules or 3 tablespoons chicken bouillon base
2/3 cups frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup barley
1 1/2 cups egg noodles, dry

On bottom of slow cooker place chicken pieces, carrots, celery , onion and garlic.
Whisk together the water, chicken granules and seasonings.
Pour over chicken and vegetables.
Cook on low 4 hours.
Adjust seasonings to taste.
Add noodles, barley and peas.
Cook another hour.

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

ABC Pork Roast ~ Apricot Bourbon Cranberry Pork Roast

1/2 cup fresh cranberries (cut in half if fresh plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar) or craisins
1/2 cup dried apricots, diced
1 cup bourbon, divided
1/2 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
3/4 cup minced walnuts
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
2 teaspoons minced garlic (jar) or 2 fresh cloves
1 Jumbo egg, beaten
4-5 pound pork roast
1/4 cup chili sauce
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup white zinfandel
2 cups hot water
2 Tablespoons beef granules

In a small saucepan, cover the apricots and cranberries with 1/2 cup of the bourbon and bring to a simmer over a medium heat. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until tender and gooey.

In a large mixing bowl combine the fruit mixture, orange juice, bread crumbs, walnuts, garlic and green onions. Season with the salt and pepper and mix well. Add the beaten egg until well blended.

Untie the pork roast and pack with stuffing mix, roll and re-tie. Generously smear the chili sauce over entire roast and then pack all the brown sugar over the chili sauce. Place the roast in the bottom of your slow cooker.

Mix together the wine, 1/2 cup bourbon, 2 cups hot water and beef granules until granules are dissolved. Pour around edges of roast.

Cook on low 6-8 hours. Keep covered tightly. Baste Roast with pan juices periodically.

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

BBQ Chicken Casserole

1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs, diced
2 cups Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
1 cup dried apricots, diced
1 small white onion, diced
1 1/2 cups long grain rice

Mix all together and put into slow cooker. Cook 6 hours on low.

As a variation I like to add leftover charred kielbasa sausage.

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday

Chicken and Biscuits or a Crustless Chicken Pot Pie

4 boneless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
1 small package baby carrots
1/4 pound fresh green beans, cleaned and cut in half
1 small onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 can cream of celery soup
2 cups milk
1 can Grands biscuits or 6-8 Pillsbury frozen

Lightly spray the bottom of the slow cooker.
In the bottom of the slow cooker, layer the chicken pieces and onion.
Whisk together milk, soup and seasoning. Pour over chicken breasts.
Layer carrots and green beans on TOP of soup layer.
Cover and cook 6+ hours on low.
Stir all together and add biscuits.
Cook 1 more hour or until desired consistency is reached on biscuits.

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Slow Cooking Thursday ~ Sweet & Sour Tangy Chicken

4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup 7-up or Squirt
4 tabespoons minced garlic from the jar
4 tablespoons apricot pineapple jam
4 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoon white pepper

Place chicken breasts in bottom of the crock pot. Whisk the remaining ingredients together and pour over chicken. Cook 6-8 hours on low. Thicken juice with a bit of cornstarch if you like. Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Cranberry Chicken

4 boneless chicken breast
1 package Craisins
1 bunch chopped green onions (greens and all)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
2 cups chicken broth (I make my own with hot water and 1 tablespoon chicken soup base)
1 can Campbell's Cream of Celery soup
6 oz. shredded Monterey jack cheese

Layer chicken breasts and Craisins in bottom of slow cooker. Whisk together the soup, broth and seasonings. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle cheese on top (don't stir in). Set slow cooker for low. Cook for 6 hours.

Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles.

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

BBQ Bean Dinner

2 pounds ground beef
1/2 pound bacon
1 large onion, chopped small
2 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 cup ketchup
3 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
4 large cans Bush maple flavored baked beans

Brown hamburger and then drain. Fry bacon until crisp. Crumble bacon into pieces. Add to the remaining ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low for 5-7 hours. Serve with beer bread or cheddar cheese biscuits. Great dish for a church pot luck.