Pork Ragu

pic from Google images

3 lb pork shoulder cut into quarters, trim some of the fat

2 14oz cans diced tomatoes, drain well

2 med carrots cut into small dice

1 large onion chopped

1/2 C chicken broth or your own stock

oregano, salt and pepper to taste

12-16oz box substantial pasta, pic shows pappardelle we used rigatoni and very al dente bowties

serve with parmesan on top

combine all ingredients except pork in 6 qt slow cooker

gently add pork

cover and cook 7-8 hours on low, 4-5 hours on high

remove the pork and shred

add back to slow cooker and stir well

prepare pasta, when it is ready, so is the pork

serve pork mixture over pasta

French Onion Beef Stew

pic from Google images as mine didn't look good :)

1 - 1 1/2 lb stew meat

14oz can beef broth or your own stock

1 C apple juice

1/2 lb baby carrots cut into 1/4 inch or smaller pieces

2 onions thinly sliced

3 Tblsp flour

salt and pepper to taste

combine broth, juice, carrots and onions in 5-6 qt slow cooker

season beef with flour, salt and pepper

add beef and and left over flour to slow cooker, stir to combine

cover and cook 7-8 hours on low, 4-5 hours on high

serve with cheese toast, as shown

Chili Cheese Dip

8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 can of chili with or without beans, your call
1 2cup pkg colby-jack shredded cheese or mexican shredded cheese
corn or tortila chips for serving

in an 8x8 dish spread cream cheese on the bottom
spread chili on top of cream cheese
sprinkle shredded cheese on top
microwave on high for 5 minutes or bake in the oven until cheese is melted at 350

you could also layer these in a crock pot and cook on low 1-2 hours until melted

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 lb chicken breasts cur into bite size pieces
1 sm onion chopped
28oz can diced or crushed tomatoes undrained
2 Tblsp cumin
1 Tblsp chili powder
1 clove garlic minced
320z (4 cups) chicken broth

use a 4qt slow cooker (or pot on the stove)
add all ingredients together
cover and cook on low 6-8 hours (on stove bring to a boil, then turn down to simmer until desired thickness)
garnish with tortilla strips or crushed chips, cheese, sour cream or other favorite toppings

Crock Pot Cavatini

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

12-16oz pasta (thicker is better, like wheels, penne, etc. great time to use a little of everything if you have leftovers from different boxes)

2 C shredded mozzarella

pepperoni, as much or little as you like

28-32oz jar pasta sauce (I like Prego traditional flavor)

4oz can mushrooms, or equiv sauteed fresh

1 Tblsp Italian seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

cook ground beef with onions and garlic

meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions for  A LITTLE LESS THAN AL DENTE, should still be a little stiff

rinse immediately in cold water to stop cooking process, drain well

stir together meat mixture, sauce, seasonings and mushrooms

spray a 3-4 qt crock pot with non-stick spray

layer 1/3 meat sauce, then 1/2 pasta

add 1 C cheese

place 1/2 pepperoni on top of cheese

repeat layers, ending with meat sauce then cheese and pepperoni

cover and cook on low 2-4 hours (start checking at 2 hours, then write down how long your crock takes as each one is a little different)

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Sunday Chicken for Noodles

3-4 lbs cut up chicken or any kind (bone in for more flavor)

1 can cream of celery soup (or really any other cream of)

1/2 C chicken broth

paprika, salt and pepper to taste

sprinkle chicken with seasonings

combine soup and broth in small bowl

place 1/2 of the chicken in 4-5 qt crock pot

pour in 1/2 soup combo

repeat layers

cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 4 hours

cook noodles just before serving

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Hungry Man Beef and Noodles

3 lbs. beef stew meat, or cubed roast

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1 can golden mushroom soup

1 envelope beefy onion soup mix

mix all soups together well

place beef in 3-4 qt crock pot

pour soup over top and stir a little

cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours

serve over cooked, hot noodles

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Tuxedo Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts (1 - 1 1/2 lbs), cut into bite size pieces

2  14oz cans italian diced tomatoes

1 envelope savory herb and garlic soup mix

bowtie pasta

optional: parmesan cheese, fresh basil, olives or other vegetables you would like to add

Mix soup and tomatoes together (and any additional items you want to add, except cheese and basil)

place in bottom of 3-4 Qt crock pot

place chicken on top, stir slightly to mix

cover and cook on low 6-7 hours (in a newer crock pot, possibly could be done as soon as 4, check often the first time you make this)

close to serving time, cook bowtie pasta according to package directions

serve over pasta, or mix into pasta, top with cheese and/or fresh basil

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Diet Coke Roast

3-4 lb rump or chuck roast
1 glove garlic, minced
1 small onion, sliced
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 can golden mushroom soup
1 can diet coke (or any dark pop really)

(optional) brown roast on all sides
place onions and garlic on the bottom of a 5 qt crock pot
place roast on top
mix 2 soups together and pour over roast
pour diet coke over all
cover and cook on low 7-9 hours


Until Next Time.....
Franny

Crock Pot Beef and Beans

1 lb ground beef

1 28oz can baked beans (I like Bush's original)

1 tsp taco seasoning or chili powder

3/4 C BBQ sauce (I used a mix of honey and think & spicy)

1 small onion chopped - optional

brown ground beef and onion (if using) in skillet

mix all ingredients together

place in 2 qt crock pot

cover and cook on low 3-4 hours

this is easily doubled or tripled, just be sure to use a bigger crock pot

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Beef and Gravy

photo from the internet...I was just sure I had taken a picture!

1/3 C flour

3 pound roast (I used rump, also like chuck) or stew meat

1 Tblsp vegetable oil

3 cans cream of golden mushroom soup (or any cream of soup, really) I only used 2 cans

1 can cream of celery soup

1 envelope of onion soup mix

place roast in large zip top bag 

add flour and shake to coat

brown roast in oil on all sides (browning helps with the taste, but is optional)

place roast in 5 qt crock pot

stir together all soups

pour over roast

cover and cook on low 7-8 hours

great over mashed potatoes or noodles

if you want to make a whole meal, add carrots and potatoes to crock pot before the roast and add 1-2 hours cooking time

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

1  2lb pork tenderloin, or two 1lb tenderloins

1 envelope onion soup mix, or make your own (see "and more" tab)

1 C water

3/4 C red wine (or beef broth)

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 Tblsp soy sauce

salt and pepper to taste

place tenderloin(s) in crock pot (whatever size you have to fit the meat you have)

sprinkle onion soup mix on top

pour in all liquid ingredients, and turn the pork to coat

spread garlic over pork so that it will stay on top while cooking

salt and pepper to taste

cover and cook on low 4-5 hours

use liquid as au jus

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches

photo from Betty Crocker

1 3 lb boneless beef chuck roast, or similar cut - trimmed

1 can french onion soup

1 can beef consomme

1 can beef broth

1 tsp beef bullion granules

8-10 French or Italian cut rolls

halve roast and place in crock pot

combine rest of ingredients (not rolls) and pour over roast

cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or until meat is tender

remove meat and shred with two forks

serve on rolls

skim fat from cooking liquid and serve as dipping sauce

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Easy Pork Roast

2 lb cut from a pork tenderloin

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can golden mushroom soup

1 can french onion soup

place pork in crock pot
mix all soups together until smooth
pour over pork
cover and cook on low 7 hours

serve over mashed potatoes or noodles

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Hot Fudge Brownies

1 20 oz pkg brownie mix

ingredients for brownie mix

1 C chocolate syrup (like to make chocolate milk)

1 C hot water

spray crock pot with non-stick spray

make brownies according to package directions

mix syrup and water together

pour brownie batter into crock pot

pour syrup mixture over brownies

cover and cook on high 2 hours or until edges are set

let stand uncovered 30 minutes

serve warm...with ice cream is awesome!

Until Next time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Easy Pot Roast

1 1.5-2 lb boneless round or rump roast

4 med potatoes, quartered

1 8oz pkg baby carrots

2 stalks celery (optional)

1 can golden mushroom soup (optional)

1/2 tsp basil

minced garlic rubbed on (optional)

2 bay leaves (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

(add all optional ingredients for the most flavor, leave out for cheaper and easier)

brown roast on all sides in a skillet (optional)

place vegetables in 4 qt slow cooker

place roast on top of vegetables

in small bowl stir together soup and seasonings

pour over roast

cover and cook on low 8 hours, or high 4 hours

transfer meat and vegetables to platter

stir juices before spooning over roast

Until Next TIme.....

Franny

Crock Pot Buttered New Potatoes

18-20 new red potatoes with peel

1/4 C butter melted (or more if you like)

1 Tblsp Lawry's Garlic Salt w/ parsley (my fave)

diced onion optional

spray 4-5 qt crock pot with non-stick spray

place potatoes and onions, if using, in crock pot

mix garlic salt and butter together

pour over potatoes and stir

cover and cook on low 7 hours or high 3 1/2 hours

remove potatoes with a slotted spoon to a serving dish

add 2 Tblsp water to drippings and stir until well blended

pour drippings over potatoes

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Chicken and RIce

1 C regular rice uncooked

2 10oz cans cream of chicken soup

1 14oz can chicken broth (or equiv of your own stock)

1 packet (or make your own, see "more" page) onion soup mix

1 whole chicken, quartered or equiv of bone in pieces

spray 5-6 qt slow cooker with non-stick spray

place rice in slow cooker

in bowl, combine soups, broth and soup mix until well blended

place 1/2 of soup mix over rice

place chicken on top

pour remaining soup mix over chicken

cover and cook on low 6 hours

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Crock Pot Beef Stew

12 small red potatoes halved or quartered (I use regular potatoes too)

1 lb carrots cut into i inch pieces (or cut baby carrots in half)

1 large onion cut into wedges

2 lbs lean beef stew meat cut into 1 inch cubes

1/3 C butter

1 Tblsp flour

1 C water

salt and pepper to taste

pinch thyme

place potatoes, carrots and onions in 4.5 - 6.5 qt crock pot

in large skillet brown beef in butter

transfer beef to crock pot, leaving behind the drippings

stir flour into pan drippings until blended

cook and stir until browned

gradually add water

bring to a boil 

cook and stir 2 min or until thickened

add seasoning, then pour over everything in crock pot

cover and cook on low 8 hours

Until Next Time.....

Franny

Pork Stew - Crock Pot

2 lb boneless pork loin cut into 1 1/2inch cubes
8 small red potatoes cut into quarters
4 med carrots cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 med onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 bay leaves
2 tsp rubbed sage
1 28oz can crushed tomatoes undrained
salt and pepper to taste

spray 4.5 - 6.5 qt crock pot with non-stick spray
stir all ingredients together
cover and cook on low 6-7 hours
remove bay leaves before serving


Until Next Time.....
Franny