Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken, cooked and shredded
1 can (15 oz) whole tomatoes
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups water
1 can (14 1/2 oz) chicken broth
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 package (10 oz) frozen corn
1 TBSP dried chopped cilantro
tortilla chips
grated Parmesan cheese

Combine chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chilies, and garlic in slow cooker. Add water, chicken broth, cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover and cook on Low 6 - 8 hours, or on High 3 -4 hours. Remove and discard baby leaf.

Serve with tortilla chips and grated Parmesan cheese on top.

From the book Best Loved Slow Cooker Recipes, page 44.

Roasted Veggies in Pasta

I just made this tonight and it's not the theme but I wanted to post it before I forgot what I did. I'll repost it when we do pasta.

5-6 garlic cloves
8 asparagas spears
10-12 mushrooms
1/2 onion
1/3 box penne pasta (I like Ronzoni Smart Taste - high in fiber and protein)
1 breast chicken - cooked and cubed (I just used Tyson precooked, frozen.)
1/4 c. fresh parsley
olive oil
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Get water going for pasta. Crack open garlic but leave in skin. Cut onion into 1/2 inch chuncks. Drizzle garlic and onion with EVOO, salt, pepper and put in oven for about 10 minutes (but will be 20 minutes total). Then half mushrooms and cut asparagas into thirds. When you put the pasta in to cook, put the shrooms and asparagas in the oven with the garlic and onion (same tray) and drizzle with EVOO, salt, pepper. Cook for 10 minutes.

Chop parsley. Remove garlic from skins and mash. Add to parsley with some more salt, a little lemon zest and a 1/4 tsp lemon juice and stream in about 1/4 c of EVOO into parsley/garlic mixture to make a sauce (will be very thick).

Add all veggies, chicken, and sauce to hot pasta. Toss and enjoy.

Creamed Eggs on Toast

I'm a little late on this post. I was going to when we were doing eggs, then I forgot. I just made it this morning, and remembered. Here ya go.

1 cube butter
1 cup flour
Milk

Boiled eggs, peeled and sliced up

Melt the butter, add the flour, into like a crumbly paste. Then add the milk slowly, stirring frequently. (It's making the creamy, gravy based. If you like it runnier, add lots of milk, thicker, add less milk. I just add until it looks how I like it...probably 4 of 5 cups)

Once the gravy is the consistency you like, add the boiled eggs. I did 8. Again, depends on how eggy you want it.

Then toast your bread. Pour gravy over toast. Enjoy.


Chip Beef on Toast

Do the same thing for the gravy. Only when you melt the butter, add sliced up Kroger Brand thin sliced beef, like lunch meat in the little packets, like 40cents a package. I freeze mine and just slice it up frozen then add to the butter. It doesn't have to be frozen. Anyhoo, add 4 packages of chip beef meat to the butter. Then make the gravy like above. Serve over toast. Very easy. Remember to stir constantly.

Zippy Beef Tips

• 2 lbs stewing meat, cubed
• 2 Cups sliced, fresh mushrooms
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
• 1 envelope dry onion soup mix
• 1 Cup 7-Up or other lemon-lime soda

Place meat and mushrooms in slow cooker. Combine mushroom soup, soup mix and soda. Pour over meat. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours. Serve over rice.

Amazing Pot Roast

3-4 lb. roast
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing mix
1 pkg. dry Italian dressing mix
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix

Place roast in crock pot. Sprinkle dressings on top. Cover with water. Cook on high 3-4 hours or low for 6-8.

One Pot Dinner

I am not sure why this is called one pot dinner, because you cook the hamburger and bacon/onions seperately. But I can't think of another name for it, so I am going to leave it as is. This is very flavorful, and my family LOVES it!

1/2 pound hamburger (or ground turkey)

3/4 lb bacon ( I usually do 1/2 a package of bacon)

1 cup chopped onion

2 cans pork and beans

1 can Kidney beans

1 can lima beans (optional)

1 cup Ketchup

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon liquid smoke

3 Tablespoons white vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

pepper

* Brown hamburger, then put in crock pot. Chop up the bacon and brown the bacon and onions together. (I don't always cook them together. You can always cook you bacon in the oven before you chop it up, on a cookie sheet lined with foil at 400 degrees for approx 20-25 minutes. and then you can cook the onions with the hamburger instead, if you like. I have tried everyway and it comes out about the same flavor). Then add onions and bacon to the crockpot with the hamburger. Add the remaining ingredients into crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Lasagna In A Crock-Pot

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 c. finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce
1 c. water
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 (8 oz) pkg. oven ready lasagna noodles
4 c. (16 oz) shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 c. small curd cottage cheese
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Allow 5 - 5 1/2 hrs to cook on LOW in 5 Quart crockpot. In a large skillet cook beef, onion and garlic. Add tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, salt and oregano; mix well. Bring to a boil; remove from heat.

Spread a fourth of the meat sauce in the ungreased crock-pot. Arrange a third of the noodles over sauce, breaking noodles to fit.

In large bowl, combine Mozzarella, cottage cheese and Parmesan; mix well. Spread a third of the mixture over the noodles. Repeat layers two more times: Sauce, noodles and cheese. Top with the remaining meat sauce. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 - 51/2 hrs or until noodles are tender. Makes 6-8 servings

Mexican Chalupas

This makes a lot. Half it for small families.

1 pork tenderloin ( small picnic roast)

1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 large can chopped green chiles
16oz jar picante sauce
16oz green salsa
2 cans pinto beans

Flour tortillas
Grated cheese
Sour cream

Cook roast in crock pot on high 3-4 hours, season with salt and pepper. Remove meat and shred with fork. Rinse out crock pot and put meat back in. Add all the seasonings, salsa, beans and heat until warm. Serve in warmed tortillas & garnish with sour cream and cheese.

Beef Roast

Brown any roast in frying pan sprayed with Pam. Season while browning. Or if I'm short on time, season and no browning...just put in crock pot.

Peel carrots & potatoes, dice and put in crock pot. Add sliced up onion. Add 5 Beef bullion cubes and packet of dry onion mix. Add 1/2 cup water.

Cook on low all day or high 5-6 hours.

Use the liquid from the roast to make the gravy. Pour roast liquid into pan. Mix a couple Tablespoons of flour with COLD water, using a whisk, in a separate bowl or cup, add mixed up water and flour to roast liquid until desired thickness.

BBQ Ribs

1 bottle favorite BBQ Sauce- I like Bulls Eye
Ribs, boneless or bone in (pork or beef)

Brown ribs in frying pan with Pam. Put sauce into crock pot then add browned ribs. Cook on low all day or high for 3-4 hours.

Crock Pot BBQ Beef

4 large onions, slice thin
2-3 Tbsp Olive Oil
3-5lb Roast Beef (chuck or round)
18oz bottle of BBQ sauce
1/3 Cup Water

Peel & slice onions. Pour olive oil into hot pan and add onions. Cook on med heat until soft. Trim fat off roast. Place in crock pot. Pour BBQ Sauce over roast, add water and onions. Mix it all up. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Or until meet is tender and can be pulled apart with a fork.

Serve with sides or on rolls for sandwiches. Option: use chicken instead.

Tin Foil Dinners

Hamburger or sausage
Carrots
Potatoes
Onions
Salt & Pepper to taste

Wrap in tin foil.

Stack your dinners in the crock pot. Cook on low all day. Or high for at least 3 hours.

Crock Pot Pork Chops

Pork Chops, any kid Season and brown in frying pan sprayed with Pam
Cream of mushroom soup (I've also used c/of chicken if I don't have mushroom)
Cream of celery soup

After browning pork chops, place in crock pot, layered onto the soups. Cook all day on low.

Sweet Pork

SWEET PORK

1 cup Pace salsa
1 cup brown sugar (I've used 1/2 cup and tastes great)
1 cups Dr. Pepper
pork sirloin roast (about 2 lbs.) (I use a tenderloin)

Mix salsa, brown sugar and Dr. Pepper together and pour 2/3 of the mixture over a pork roast. Cook in crock pot on low all day. About 1 hour before serving shred the pork in the crock pot and add the! remain ing salsa mixture, cover and let simmer till ready to serve.

Cream Cheese Chicken

4 Chicken Breasts or Tenders
1 brick cream cheese ( I use fat free or 1/3 less fat)
1 can cream of chicken soup
Pkg of dry Italian packet

Mix together in crock pot. Cook in crockpot on low 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.

Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken

2 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup

Rinse chicken and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Put in crock pot and add three soups. Cook on low at least 8 hours- don't lift lid. Or high 4-5 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.

Easy Beef Stew(more soup than stew)

This is what I made for our conference meal. It's great to keep cook and keep warm in the crock pot. Then you can dish up as your hungry. Enjoy.

Tip Sirloin Steak (cut up and brown in pan sprayed with Pam) (I just get Beef Chunks for stew already cut up)

3 Potatoes- Peeled, cut up
2 Carrots- Peeled, cut up
2 Celery Sticks- Cut up
4 Beef Bullion cubes (or more to taste)
Onion- Cut up (as much as you like)
2- Cans or frozen bags of mixed vegies (Can has more varieties of veggies)

Place everything in crock pot. Add hot water to cover the veggies and steak. Boil. Cook on low all day or high for a few hours.

Pull-apart roast

roast-any cut of meat will do, I usually get a cheaper cut, just make sure is fits in your corckpot
2 cans beef broth
1 pkg onion soup mix

Place everything into the crockpot: roast, 2 cans of broth, onion soup mix; put lid on & cook on low for all day-usually about 6-8 hours. When this is done, the beef should just pull apart. We usually serve with mashed potatoes. I never have left overs, no matter how big of a roast I start out with. I also make gravy out of the "beef juice".

Beef Stew

I got this recipe from Jeanette and it's yummy.

1 lb beef stew meat
1 Tbsp cooking oil

5-7 large peeled, cubed potatoes
2-3 large peeled, sliced carrots
1-2 celery ribs, sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion (optional)
2 tsp instant beef bouillon granules
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp, dried basil, crushed
1/2 tsp dried thyme, crushed
1 LARGE can tomato juice (I buy the big can of Wal-mart brand juice on the bottom shelf)

Brown the stew meat in oil. Layer vegetables in crockpot. Sprinkle bouillon, garlic, basil and thyme over vegetables. Add meat on top. Pour tomato juice over meat. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3 1/2-4 1/2 hours until meat and vegetables are tender.

Pork Barbacoa

I know there are lots of versions of this recipe- here's mine.

4 lb pork roast (boneless, shoulder or butt roast)
5 cans tomato sauce
3 tsp. garlic
1 ½- 3 cups brown sugar— (I use 2)
4 tsp cumin
4 cups Dr. Pepper
2-4 Tbsp. molasses— (I use 2)
Mix everything and pour over roast. Cook on low in crockpot 6-7 hours. Shred meat and continue cooking in sauce another hour on low. Keep warm until served. Put on salad or in burritos or enchiladas.

If you're making it into a salad, you've got to have the right dressing!

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
3 fresh tomatillos, husked, washed and cut into quarters
1 pkg Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Mix
I cup Mayo
1/3 to ½ cup buttermilk
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 garlic cloves, crushed
¼ tsp crushed or ground cayenne pepper
Fresh lime juice to taste, 1-3 Tbsp (about 1 lime)
Cumin (a couple of sprinkles)
Green Tabasco sauce (2-4 drops)
Sugar (1-4 spoonfuls)
*Combine all ingredients in a blender. The amount of buttermilk you add depends on how thick you want the dressing. The last four ingredients are all based on your personal taste. Add more or less depending on what you want. Refrigerate at least 1 hour to let flavors blend.

Sunday Chicken Dinner

6 medium potatoes, cut into cubes (red or regular)
4 medium carrots, cut into 1/2 pieces
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halved (I usually use 2-3)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/8 tsp garlic salt

Place potatoes and carrots in crockpot. Top with chicken. Combine the soups and garlic salt, pour over chicken. Cook on low 8 hours. If you want to thicken sauce, stir in 2-4 Tbsp potato flakes and cook 30 minutes longer.

BBQ Pork

3 to 3 1/2 lb pork roast
1 18 oz. bottle of hickory flavored BBQ sauce
1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 tsp prepared mustard
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
1/2 tsp curry powder
2 1/2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp minced onion
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt

Cook pork roast in crockpot on low for several hours or until meat is very tender. Shred pork. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over drained meat. Cover ans simmer for at least 3 hours or until thick. Serve in buttered, toasted sesame buns.

* I usually have enough leftover to freeze.

Thai Pork Stew

2 lb boneless pork loin, cut into 4 pieces
2 c. cut red or green bell peppers
1/4 c. teriyaki sauce
2 Tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp crushed red pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c. chunky peanut butter

Remaining ingredients:
6 c. hot cooked rice
1/2 c. green onion
2 Tbsp chopped dry-roasted peanuts

To prepare stew, trim fat from pork. Place pork and next 5 ingredients (through garlic) in crockpot. Cover with lid and cook on low heat for 8 hours. Remove pork from crockpot and coarsely chop. Add peanut butter to liquid in crockpot and stir well. Stir in pork.

Combine stew and rice in large bowl and top each sering with onions and peanuts.

Favorite, Easy Sunday Roast In A Crockpot

2-3 lb. rump roast
1 pkg. onion soup mix
2 cans cream of celery soup, undiluted
1 soup can full of water.
*Sometimes I add a can of mushrooms for texture

Trim fat off meat. Spray inside of crockpot with cooking spray. In a separate bowl, mix the soup mix, cream of celery and water. Pour over roast and cook on low for 8 hours. It makes its own gravy! Yummy! To thicken the gravy, take the roast out and mix a couple Tablespoons of white flour with COLD water, using a whisk (to keep the lumps out), in a separate bowl. Turn up the gravy to high on the crockpot and slowly whisk in the flour/water mixture. It will thicken immediately.

April Theme

Hey Ladies,

By popular vote, April's theme is

CROCKPOT recipes.

Don't forget that you can add recipes from the previous months any time!