Slow Cooker Bacon Potato Chowder

November 1, 2011 by

This recipe from Campbell’s (original online) is fast and simple. The site explains, “This hearty and flavorful soup is so easy to make…simply mix the ingredients in a slow cooker and let it do the work for you. And to make it even better, stir in Cheddar just before serving and top with a sprinkle of chives.”

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 large onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 4 cans (10 3/4 ounces each) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Potato Soup
  • 4 soup cans milk 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 large potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into
  • 1/2-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)

Directions

  1. Stir the bacon, onion, soup, milk, black pepper, potatoes and 1/4 cup chives in a 6-quart slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or until the potatoes are tender.
  3. Add the cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.
  4. Sprinkle with the remaining chives.

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Slow Cooker Chicken, Broccoli & Rice

October 30, 2011 by

I love everything about this recipe. I often buy similar frozen meals, ready for the microwave. This recipe from Campbell’s (original online) makes a satisfying, homemade version that is even better than those microwave meals.

Ingredients

  • Vegetable cooking spray
  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked instant white rice
  • 1 3/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
  • 1 bag (about 16 ounces) frozen broccoli cuts, thawed
  • 3 large carrots, sliced (about 2 1/4 cups)
  • 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Chicken and Mushroom Soup
  • 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 1 1/2 cups water

Directions

  1. Spray a 5-quart slow cooker with the cooking spray.
  2. Place the rice in the slow cooker. 
  3. Layer the chicken, 1 cup cheese, broccoli, carrots, soups and the remaining cheese on top of the rice.
  4. Pour the water around the edges of the slow cooker and do not stir.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through.
  6. Stir the rice and vegetables before serving.

Variations

  • Speed up the meal by using canned chicken breast. The casserole only needs to cook long enough to warm all the ingredients and cook the rice.
  • If I use chicken breasts, I cut them into chunks before adding to the crockpot to make serving the meal simpler.

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Autumn Beef Pot Roast Au Jus

October 29, 2011 by

This recipe from Campbell’s (original online) makes a simple crockpot meal that will satisfy the everyone.

Ingredients

  • 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Beef Broth
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves, crushed
  • 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (about 4 cups)
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, cut into wedges
  • 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 boneless beef chuck pot roast (about 2 pounds)

Directions

  1. Stir the broth, thyme, sweet potatoes, apples and onion in a 3 1/2-quart slow cooker.
  2. Add the beef and turn to coat.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 10 to 11 hours or until the beef is fork-tender.

Variations

  • Flavor Variation: Use a combination of red potatoes and peeled sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces.
  • Time-Saving: You may also cook this recipe on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours.

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Easy Mexican Black Bean Casserole

October 21, 2011 by

A recipe from the November 2010 issue of All You (original here). The note with the recipe explains, “This is a tasty vegetarian meal, but you can please meat eaters by cooking a few slices of bacon until crisp and crumbling them into the slow cooker with the beans before warming.”

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces dried black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 16-oz. jar salsa, plus extra for serving, optional
  • Salt
  • 6 ounces shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack
  • Tortilla chips for serving, optional

Directions

  1. Stir together beans, 4 cups water and salsa, if using, in slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on high until liquid is absorbed and beans are soft, 4 to 6 hours.
  3. Season with salt.
  4. Sprinkle cheese over beans, cover and continue to cook until cheese is melted, 5 to 10 minutes.
  5. Spoon into bowls, top with additional salsa and serve with tortilla chips, if desired.

Variations from the Original (listed as “Kitchen Tips”)

  • Change the flavor. Tomato salsa works well with black beans, but you can also try a different type. Chipotle salsa lends a smoky taste. Or try a pineapple or mango salsa for a touch of sweetness.
  • Turn up up the head. Add a few dashes of hot sauce if you like a kick, or use a spicy salsa. Sprinkle pepper Jack cheese on top.
  • Use more veggies. Sauté a chopped onion and a diced, seeded jalapeño until tender and stir them into the beans before sprinkling the cheese on top.
  • Make it meaty. This is a warming vegetarian meal, but you can please meat eaters by cooking a few slices of bacon until crisp and crumbling them into the slow cooker with the beans before cooking.
  • Wrap it up. Instead of chips, serve the beans with tortillas, more salsa, rice, lettuce, cheese, and guacamole, and let everyone make their own burritos.

Time Required: 7 hours

Servings: 6

Filed under Casseroles, Mexican Tagged with , ,

Slow-Cooker Tuscan Beans

October 10, 2011 by

A recipe from the September 2011 issue of All You (original here). The note with the recipe explains that “At less than 50 ¢ per serving, this hearty dish will fill you up without emptying your wallet. Complete this meal by serving the beans the Tuscan way, with crusty bread and a green salad.”

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried cannellini beans, rinsed and picked over
  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 sprig fresh sage
  • Salt and pepper
  • 6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

  1. Combine beans, garlic, sage, 1 tsp. salt and 8 cups water in slow cooker.
  2. Cover; cook on high until beans are tender, about 3 hours and 15 minutes.
  3. Drain mixture; discard garlic and sage.
  4. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Spoon into bowls; drizzle each portion with 1 tsp. olive oil.

Filed under Casseroles, Italian, Main Dish, Side Dish Tagged with , ,

Lisa’s Cheddar Spirals

September 24, 2011 by

My friend Lisa introduced me to this great mac and cheese It’s simple and delicious—and you can easily vary it by adding some meat or veggies.

Ingredients

  • 1 package (16 oz) spiral pasta
  • 2 cups half-and-half cream
  • 1 can (10 ¾ ounces) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
  • ½ cup butter (1 stick), melted
  • 4 cups (16 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
  2. In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the cream, soup and butter until smooth.
  3. Stir in the cheese and pasta.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 2-1/2 hours or until cheese is melted. Yield: 12-15 servings.

Variations

  • Make a spicier version by using Nacho Cheese soup and shredded pepper jack cheese.
  • Toss in your favorite meat: browned ground beef or sausage, sliced kielbasa or hot dogs, meatballs, or bacon crumbles. Whatever you like.
  • Saute and add some chopped onion and pepper as you brown your meat.
  • Cook and add a bag of California Blend veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots) for a cheddar primavera.

Time Required: 3 hours

Servings: 12–15

Filed under Casseroles, Main Dish Tagged with , ,

Sausage and Lentil Stew

June 2, 2011 by

I made lentils often in Austin, where I learned to cook them from a friend, but resisted making them since because I didn’t want to stand in the kitchen, tending the pot for two hours. This recipe solves the problem simply—just throw everything in the crockpot, and you have perfect lentils in a few hours. I found my inspiration from Vocalpoint. What a delightful discovery!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cooked sausage, sliced
  • 2 cups dried lentils, rinsed
  • 1 diced onion
  • 1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • Seasonings (see Variations below)

Directions

  1. Add all ingredients to crockpot, and stir to combine.
  2. Cook on low setting for 5 to 7 hours until lentils are done, stirring occasionally.

Variations

  • Choose one of these options for the spices to add, based on the mood you’re in:
    • 1 tbsp curry powder and 1 tsp cumin
    • 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp basil, and 1 tsp oregano (or a couple tsps of Italian seasonings)
    • 2 tsp herbes de provence
  • Match the sausage to the spices you choose. You can go with a basic brat or keilbasa for any of the options. If you’re using Italian seasonings, however, try some italian sausage. You could substituted cooked ground beef as well. Or skip the meat and go vegetarian—it’s great with or without the meat!

Time Required: 5 to 7 hours

Servings: 8

Filed under Casseroles, Main Dish Tagged with , ,

Pineapple Honey-Glazed Pork with Broiled Pineapple

September 26, 2010 by

This recipe was torn from a magazine and held on the refrigerator with a magnet for years. When I moved to Texas, I wanted desperately to make it, but didn’t have the recipe. I sent an email message home with instructions on where the recipe was on the refrigerator. Mom typed it up and sent it to me. So tasty!

The recipe works well for ribs, but I’m too lazy to deal with all the bones. I typically substitute boneless pork chops (see the Variations below).

Ingredients

  • 2 slabs (5-6 lbs) pork spareribs
  • 1 (12 oz) can sliced pineapple, packed in juice
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet, arrange ribs on top and bake for 1 hour.
  3. Drain pineapple, retaining 1/2 cup pineapple juice.
  4. In a small bowl, stir ketchup, soy sauce, honey, and pineapple juice together.
  5. Increase the heat to 375°F.
  6. Baste the ribs with the marinade, and bake for another half hour, basting every 10 minutes.
  7. Turn ribs over and continue baking and basting for half an hour more, until ribs are dark, glazed, and fork tender.
  8. Lightly brush pineapple slices with oil.
  9. Arrange in one layer on baking sheet.
  10. Broil for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden.
  11. Cut ribs apart, and serve with broiled pineapple.

Variations

  • Substitute boneless pork chops or sliced pork tenderloin. Adjust cooking time for the size and thickness of the pork.
  • Try this Crockpot Variation, which tastes much like sweet and sour pork:
    1. Substitute boneless pork chops or pork tenderloin and cubed pineapple, packed in juice. Double remaining ingredients. You can add chopped green and red peppers as well.
    2. Cut boneless pork chops or pork tenderloin into 1" cubes, and pan fry until edges are no longer pink.
    3. Place the pork and drained pineapple (retain 1 cup juice) in a crockpot.
    4. In a separate bowl, combine retained pineapple juice, 1 cup ketchup, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 cup honey, and a cup of water.
    5. Pour sauce over pork and pineapple, stirring to coat evenly.
    6. Allow to cook 3 to 4 hours, or until pork is fork tender.
    7. Serve over rice.

Time Required: 2½ hours

Servings: 6

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Crockpot Cabbage Roll Casserole

September 7, 2010 by

Love cabbage rolls (Mama calls the dish halupki) but not the work of putting them together? This crockpot version is for you!

It has the same taste, but relies on shredded cabbage from the produce section of your grocery store. Serve the finished dish with a side of mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

  • 2 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 bag shredded cabbage
  • 1 cup uncooked instant rice
  • 2 to 3 cans (15 ounces) stewed tomatoes

Directions

  1. Spray crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Turn crockpot on to low.
  3. Brown ground beef and onion in a medium skillet, breaking up the meat.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. When meat is browned, pour water into pan and reduce heat to low.
  6. If desired, chop stewed tomatoes in blender or food processor.
  7. Pour tomatoes into prepared crockpot.
  8. Stir in instant rice.
  9. Add shredded cabbage and pour ground beef mixture on top of cabbage.
  10. Stir to combine ingredients well. The crockpot will be full, but will cook down as the cabbage wilts.
  11. Cover and cook on low setting, stir occasionally to ensure the casserole is well-mixed.
  12. Allow meal to cook 4 to 6 hours or until cabbage is tender.

Variations

  • Substitute a bag of shredded coleslaw mix (cabbage and carrots, typically) for the shredded cabbage.
  • If casserole absorbs the sauce, stir in another can of stewed tomatoes or a can of tomato sauce.
  • Sprinkle individual servings with Cheddar cheese.

Time Required: 4 to 6 hours

Servings:8–12

Filed under Casseroles, Main Dish Tagged with , , ,

Taco Soup

August 27, 2010 by

We loved this soup so much that the first time we made it, we ate it three days in a row. It’s one of those meals that sits in the crockpot on the kitchen counter taunting you all day long.
 
A definite treat for a cool fall or winter day, the soup can be easily modified to your tastes—just add or remove any of the ingredients. Because several family members have difficulty with spicy foods, for instance, we modified the recipe to make it a bit less spicy than Paula Deen’s original recipe. This is how we serve it at our house.

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs ground beef
  • 2 cups diced onions
  • 1 (15 1/2-oz) can pinto beans
  • 1 (15 1/2-oz) can red kidney beans
  • 1 (15 1/2-oz) can black beans
  • 1 (15 1/4-oz) can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 (15 1/4-oz) can white corn, drained
  • 1 (14 1/2-oz) can stewed tomatoes
  • 1 (14 1/2-oz) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 (4 1/2-oz) cans green chiles, diced with no seeds
  • 1 (4.6-oz) can black olives, drained and sliced
  • 1 (1 1/4-oz) package taco seasoning mix
  • 1 (1-oz) package ranch salad dressing mix
  • Corn chips
  • Sour cream
  • Grated cheese
  • Chopped green onions

Directions

  1. Brown the ground beef and onions in a skillet. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Transfer the browned beef and onions to a large slow cooker or a stockpot.
  3. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, green olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix.
  4. Cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in a pot on the stove.
  5. Garnish bowls with corn chips, sour cream, cheese, and green onions. Add tabasco sauce, if desired.

Time Required: 6 hrs

Servings: 10–12

Rating: 5 stars (★★★★★)

Filed under Mexican, Soups & Stews Tagged with , , , ,

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