Food, Glorious Food:
Crock Pot Cooking
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CROCK POT CHICKEN SOUP, CROCK POT BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH BROWN SUGAR & CINNAMON, CROCK POT THREE-BEAN TURKEY CHILI, CROCK POT WASSAIL, CROCK POT BEEF STROGANOFF, CROCK POT APPLE PIE
photo: jaredanddebbie.com
No matter the season or whether it's cooked in a crock pot or on the stove, few things are so universally appreciated as a steaming bowl of chicken soup.
CROCK POT CHICKEN SOUP
4 chicken breasts
6 cups water
1 pound bag of carrots, peeled, sliced into chunks
7-8 medium stalks of celery, sliced into chunks
1 large onion, chopped
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
salt and pepper
Cooked small pasta shells or egg noodles
- Lightly season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Place in crock pot with all the remaining ingredients except the pasta.
- Cook on LOW for 6 hours. Do not cook longer than 6 hours or chicken may dry out. (However crock pots differ and some may cook faster or slower than others.)
- Take chicken out and shred into bite size pieces.
- Place chicken back into the soup. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot over cooked pasta or noodles. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese on top if desired.
Recipe courtesy of skinnymomskitchen.com
photo: home-ec101.com
Just five ingredients and a crock pot is all you need to make this wintertime favorite.
CROCK POT BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH BROWN SUGAR & CINNAMON
1 large butternut squash, about 3-4 pounds
1 cup apple juice
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Quarter the butternut squash lengthwise. Cut stem off and scoop out seeds.
- Pour the apple juice into the crock pot.
- Combine the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a cup or small bowl.
- Put two of the squash quarters, cut side up, in the crock pot.
- Drizzle with half the butter/brown sugar mixture.
- Place the remaining two squash quarters on top of the first ones, and drizzle with remaining brown sugar/butter mixture.
- Cover and cook on LOW 6-8 hours, or until squash is tender.
Recipe courtesy of southernfood.about.com
photo: cookinglight.com
Healthy, low in calories and high in fiber, this spicy crock pot chili is simple to prepare but filled with flavor.
CROCK POT THREE-BEAN TURKEY CHILI
1 pound ground turkey
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (4 ounces) chopped mild green chilies
1 to 2 tablespoons chili powder
- Cook turkey and onion in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Stir and heat until turkey is no longer pink.
- Drain and discard fat. Transfer to Crock Pot.
- Add tomatoes with juice, beans, tomato sauce, chilies and chili powder; mix well.
- Cover. Cook on HIGH 6-8 hours or until done.
Recipe courtesy of Rival Crock Pot, Publications International Ltd. 2007.
photo: crockpotofgold.com
Crock pots are ideal for holiday parties since you can cook and serve from the same pot This holiday season, try something a little bit different than hot cider, wine or punch. A spicy wassail is sure to delight your guests while making your house wonderfully aromatic.
CROCK POT WASSAIL
10 (six-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 star anise
2 teaspoons whole allspice
1 orange, studded with whole cloves
7 cups apple cider
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
1/4 cup sugar
- In a cheesecloth bag or tea strainer, place cinnamon, star anise, and allspice. If using cheesecloth, tie shut with kitchen string.
- Mix cider, cranberry juice and sugar in 4-5 quart crock pot..
- Put cheesecloth bag or tea strainer in slow cooker. (Do not let bag hang outside the crock pot.)
- Add orange. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours until hot and fragrant.
- Remove cheesecloth bag or tea strainer before serving.
Recipe courtesy of busycooks.about.com
photo: BettyCrocker.com
A bubbling hot dish of beef stroganoff is the perfect way to combat the bone chilling days of winter. And if you make the stroganoff in a slow cooker, you don't even have to bother with browning the meat first. Throw everything except the cream cheese and sour cream into the crock pot first thing in the morning. When you return home from work later that evening, a hearty and warming meal will be waiting.
CROCK POT BEEF STROGANOFF
2 pounds beef stew meat
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed golden mushroom soup
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of onion soup
1 jar (6 ounces) Green Giant sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
6 cups hot cooked noodles or rice
- In 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 quart crock pot, mix beef, onion, soups, mushrooms and pepper.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, or until beef is very tender.
- Stir cream cheese into beef mixture until melted.
- Stir sour cream into beef mixture. Serve over noodles.
Recipe courtesy of BettyCrocker.com
photo: sheknows.com
Once you've made a crock pot pie, you may never feel the need to bake another fruit pie in the oven again. This also can be described as an apple crisp, but no matter what you call it, it will please the dessert lovers in your house. And don't forget to top off servings with a nice dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.
CROCK POT APPLE PIE
8 tart apples, peeled and sliced (e.g. Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples)
1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
3/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup Bisquick, divided
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, cold
- Toss apples in a large bowl with nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon.
- Place apple mixture in lightly greased crock pot.
- Combine milk, softened butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and 1/2 cup of the Bisquick. Spoon over apples.
- Combine the remaining Bisquick with the brown sugar.
- Cut cold butter into Bisquick mixture until crumbly.
- Sprinkle this mixture over top of apple mixture.
- Cover and cook on LOW 6 to 7 hours, or until apples are soft.
- Makes 8 servings.