Good Morning, slowGUScookers ! Just a few more days and our effervescent will be free from the shackles of higher education. In my last diary, effey requested some crock pot recipes.
There are plenty of recipes from the '70s that basically instruct you to throw everything into a crockpot and turn on the heat. Generally, the meat comes out looking gray and there's not much taste since everything is simmered down. If you are willing to do a bit of prep -- not tedious -- prior to dumping things in a crockpot, it will make a huge difference. Generally it involves just browning the meat and sauteeing the veggies.
If you really study recipes for one pot dishes which are cooked in various vessels like a Dutch oven or cazuela or casserole dish, you can adapt to the crock pot. Plan about an extra half hour prior to placing the ingredients in the crockpot for prep work. Any slicing of veggies or meat can be done the night before.
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Slow Cooker Jambalaya
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
2 medium celery stalks, chopped (1 cup)
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups chopped fully cooked smoked sausage
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper sauce
3/4 pound uncooked peeled deveined medium shrimp, thawed if frozen
In 3 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except shrimp and rice.
2 Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours (or High heat setting 3 to 4 hours).
3 Stir in shrimp. If needed, reduce heat setting to Low; cover and cook on Low heat setting about 1 hour longer or until shrimp are pink and firm. Serve jambalaya with rice.
Note: This recipe was tested in slow cookers with heating elements in the side and bottom of the cooker, not in cookers that stand only on a heated base. For slow cookers with just a heated base, follow the manufacturer’s directions for layering ingredients and choosing a temperature.
4 cups hot cooked rice
Mediterranean Beef and Pasta
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless top round, trimmed and sliced into 1/4 x 2 inch strips
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
14 1/2 ounces artichoke hearts, canned, drained and halved
14 1/2 ounces tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, canned
6 ounces tomato paste
8 ounces tomato sauce, canned or homemade
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup black olives, sliced
12 ounces fettuccine, cooked
Directions:
Heat oil in the Crock Pot on high. Saute beef until browned.
Add onion, green pepper, garlic, and artichoke hearts.
Combine tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, vinegar, oregano and pepper pour over ingredients in the stoneware and stir well.
Add olives and stir while preparing the fettucini and/or setting the table.
Cover; cook on Low 8 to 10 hours or on High for 4 to 5 hours.
Serve sauce over fettuccine.
Beef and Tomato Stew
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced small
3 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
3 celery stalks, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 pounds beef chuck, fat trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 cups cooked brown rice
6 tablespoons nonfat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
Directions
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion, carrots, and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker and add beef, tomatoes, broth, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Cover and cook on high, 6 hours, stirring occasionally. To serve, divide brown rice and stew among six bowls and top with yogurt and parsley.
Cajun Stew
Ingredients
3/4 pound andouille or kielbasa, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 red onion, sliced into wedges
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
1 red or green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Coarse salt
1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cups frozen cut okra (from an 8-ounce package), thawed (if you don't like okra, omit)
Directions
In a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker, place sausage, onion, garlic, celery, and bell pepper. Sprinkle with flour and toss to coat. Add tomatoes and their liquid, 1/2 cup water, and cayenne; season with salt. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender, 3 1/2 hours on high (or 7 hours on low). Add shrimp and okra, cover, and cook until shrimp are opaque throughout, 30 minutes (or 1 hour on low)
.
Garlic Chicken with Couscous
Ingredients
1 whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), cut into 6 to 8 pieces and patted dry
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
6 garlic cloves, halved
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup couscous
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Directions
Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. In batches, cook chicken, skin side down, until skin is golden brown, about 4 minutes.
Combine onion, garlic, and thyme in a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker and season with salt and pepper. Top with chicken, skin side up, in a tight layer. In a small bowl, whisk together wine and flour until smooth and add to slow cooker. Cover and cook on high until chicken is tender, about 3 1/2 hours (or 7 hours on low). Cook couscous according to package instructions. Serve chicken and sauce over couscous, sprinkled with parsley.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Ingredients
3/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon light-brown sugar
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3-pound boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat
Tangy Red Cabbage, for serving (optional)
6 crusty white rolls, split in half horizontally
Directions
In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, stir together 1/2 cup ketchup, sugar, garlic, sage, oregano, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cut pork in half lengthwise; add to slow cooker, turning to coat. Cover, and cook on low until meat is very tender and falling apart, about 8 hours (or on high for 6 hours). Meanwhile, prepare Tangy Red Cabbage, if desired (see below)
Transfer pork to a large bowl. Using a large spoon, skim off and discard any fat from surface of cooking liquid. With two forks, pull meat apart until shredded. Pour any juices from slow cooker over pork, add remaining 1/4 cup ketchup, and stir to combine; season with salt and pepper. Spoon meat onto bottom half of rolls; add red cabbage, if desired, and top of roll.
Tangy Red Cabbage
In a medium bowl, toss 1 1/2 cups shredded red cabbage with 2 tablespoons cider vinegar and a little coarse salt. Let stand until soft and bright in color, at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
Lamb Shanks and Potatoes
Ingredients
1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes in puree
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons apricot jam
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3 strips orange zest
3/4 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 1/2 pounds lamb shanks, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1 1/2-inch-thick slices
1 1/4 pounds small new potatoes, scrubbed well, halved (or quartered, if large)
Directions
In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, stir together tomatoes and puree, tomato paste, jam, garlic, orange zest, rosemary, ginger, and cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper. Add lamb and potatoes, stirring to combine.
Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours (or on high for 5 hours), until lamb and potatoes are tender. Season again with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve.
Meatballs (If you already have sauce you can use with Pasta, or for a meatball grinder (hoagie, sub, hero) or as a side.
Ingredients
1 cup milk
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Imperial Sugar® / Dixie Crystals® Granulated Sugar
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-in. balls. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker.
In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, water, vinegar and sugar. Pour over meatballs. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is no longer pink. Yield: 6 servings.
Provencal Chicken Stew
Ingredients
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 chicken, cut into serving pieces and skinned
1/4 cup olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into chiffonade, for garnish
1 cup black Nyons or kalamata olives, for garnish
Directions
Combine the 3/4 cup flour and the salt in a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken to the bag, several pieces at a time, and shake to coat completely.
Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, for 8 to 10 minutes, until browned on both sides. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain, then arrange in the slow cooker.
Set the sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the onion and the 2 tablespoons flour. Sauté, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the garlic and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the wine and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Increase the heat to high and add the tomatoes and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes, until some of the tomato liquid evaporates.
Pour the onion mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 8 hours, until the chicken is tender. At 3 to 4 hours, the chicken will still be firm and hold its shape. At 6 to 8 hours, the meat will be falling off the bone.
Divide the chicken among dinner plates and garnish with the parsley, basil, and olives. Serve immediately.
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Update Section for new recipes:
Chicken with Black Beans and Cream Cheese
-5 boneless chicken breasts frozen
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans (or soak your own from dried)
1 (15 ounce) can corn (I'd use frozen instead)
1 (15 ounce) jar salsa, any kind (or you can make your own)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
Take 4-5 frozen, yes, frozen, boneless chicken breasts put into crock pot.
Add 1 can of black beans, drained, 1 jar of salsa, 1 can of corn drained.
Keep in crock pot on high for about 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked.
Add 1 package of cream cheese (just throw it on top!) and let sit for about 1/2 hour.
All done and enjoy!
Pork Roast with Mushrooms and Brown Sugar, Apricot and Pomegranate Sauce
2 pounds boneless pork loin
Extra virgin olive oil, as needed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large sweet onion, sliced
2 cups sliced Baby Bella mushrooms
A sprig of fresh rosemary
For the sauce:
1 8-oz. jar apricot jam- no sugar style
1 1/2 cups unsweetened pomegranate juice
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup brandy or wine, optional
4-6 tablespoons organic light brown sugar, or honey, to taste
2 teaspoons dried Italian Herbs (A blend of oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon mild curry
Turn on your slow cooker to low.
Place the pork loin into the slow cooker. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Throw in the garlic, onions and mushrooms. Toss in a sprig of rosemary.
Make your sauce:
Combine the apricot jam, pomegranate juice and balsamic vinegar. Stir in the brown sugar, herbs and spices, till smooth. Pour over the pork loin and mushrooms.
Cover and cook for about five hours. Test the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. It should read 145 degrees F. To be honest, I let the temperature get up to 160 degrees F. I wanted my first pork roast to be well done.
Take the roast out of the cooker, tent with a piece of foil, and allow it to rest for ten minutes.
Remove the sprig of rosemary and pour the sauce and mushrooms into a medium sauce pan; keep warm until serving. If the sauce is thin, thicken it with a slurry of tapioca or arrowroot (dissolve 1 tablespoon of either starch in two tablespoons cool water or liquid; then add it to the heated sauce; whisk until thickened).
Serves 4.