Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

1 1/2 lbs beef round steak

1 green pepper, sliced thin

1 medium onion, sliced thin

1 (14 oz) can beef broth

1 envelope Italian dressing mix

1 large loaf French bread, siced into sandwich lengths (or 4-6 hoagie buns)

Provolone cheese slices

Cut steak into strips (or buy steak already cut for stir-frying).  Grease a slow-cooker and place meat inside.  Place pepper, onion, broth and dressing mix on top.  Cook on low for 8 hours. 

Place provolone on top of hoagie buns.  Broil until melted.  Top with meat and enjoy!

YUM!  These were amaaaaazing. 

Recipe from sixsistersstuff.com

Lentil Soup with Greens

Olive Oil
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 small onion, diced
2 cloved garlic, minced
1 1/4 cup brown lentils, rinsed
6 cups vegetable stock
4-5 leaves of chard and/or kale, rinsed and sliced thinly
Salt and Pepper

Combine oil in a saucepan with carrots, celery, onion and garlic.  Cover and cook for 6-7 minutes.  Place veggies into crockpot.  Add lentils and stock.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Just before serving, steam greens and add to soup.  Add salt and pepper as needed.

***
Delicious and so healthy!  My kids ate it up, even my 8-month old!

Chicken Curry Soup

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup water
2 tsp curry powder
1-2 lb chicken breasts (I used frozen)
2 cups sliced carrots
1 can unsweetened coconut milk
1 red pepper, diced
1/2 cup sliced green onions

Comtine first five ingredients in crockpot.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours.  Add remaining ingredients, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes. 

***
So quick and yummy!  We ate ours with rice and roasted yams.  I thought it needed some s&p added, and you could also throw a lot more veggies in.

Slow-cooker Lentil Barley Soup

8 cups beef broth
4-5 large carrots, sliced
1 onion, diced
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup uncooked lentils
1/2 cup uncooked barley

Combine into a crockpot.  Cook on low for 8-9 hours.

***
Yum!  This was delicious.  My kids really loved it too.  I like how simple and quick and inexpensive it is to make.  Very healthy too! 

Sloppy Joes

1 lb hamburger
1 small onion, minced
1/2 green pepper, minced
2-3 tsp garlic, minced

Saute together until hamburger is browned.  Add seasoned salt to taste.

Pour into a small crockpot and add:
3/4 c ketchup
1 tsp mustard
3 TB brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
3/4 tsp worchestershire sauce
3 TB tomato paste
1/2 cup water, more or less to desired consistency
Black pepper to taste

Combine well and cook on low for 3-4 hours.  Serve on whole wheat buns with cheddar.

You can also make this on the stove, just simmer for about 30 minutes.
(Recipe from ourbestbites.com)

***
Wow, I'm never making sloppy joes from a packet again!  This was SO easy, and I thought it tasted much better!

Crockpot Italian Chicken

1 stick butter (I usually use a tad less)
1 pkg Good Seasons Italian seasoning (find in the salad dressing aisle)
4-5 chicken breasts
8 oz cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup

Melt butter in a crockpot, mix in Italian seasoning and chicken.  Cook on low 4-6 hours.  Shred or cube chicken and return to crockpot.  Melt in the cream cheese and soup until smooth.  Serve over rice or egg noodles.

***
This is one of those tasty dinners that I make sure I serve with several sides of vegetables to make up for how heavy/fattening it is!  It is SO good though!  I usually serve it with egg noodles since we eat a lot of rice already. 

White Bean Chicken Soup

1 Tb oil
1 onion, diced
2 tsp minced garlic
2 lb chicken, cut into bite-size pieces

Saute in a skillet over med heat until onion is tender.

Transfer to slow cooker and add:
1 can great northern beans, drained & rinsed
1 can garbanzo beans, drained & rinsed
1 can sweet white corn, drained
1 small can diced green chilies
2 cups water
2 tsp chicken boullion granules
1 tsp cumin

Cook on low 7-8 hours.  Serve with shredded cheese on top.

***
My kids loved this!  Easy, nutritious, inexpensive.  My kind of dinner!  We'll definitely be having this a lot this winter.

Potato Ham Chowder

Into the crockpot goes:

1 box Au Gratin potatoes with cheese
1 small red pepper, diced
1-2 carrots, grated
2 cups diced ham
2 cups cold water
2 cups whole milk
Black pepper to taste

Stir to combine and cook on Low for 4 hours. 

Add 1 cup frozen peas and cook 15 minutes to heat. 

***
This was really quick and easy to make.  We ate it after our Sunday hike, and it tasted so good after a chilly day outside! 

Simple Hearty Beef Stew

2 lb stew meat
2 TB flour
1 TB oil

Coat meat in flour and some black pepper, and brown in a skillet with the oil.  Set meat aside.

In crockpot, combine:
3 cups chopped potatoes
4 carrots, sliced
2 onions, cut into wedges
4 tsp minced garlic

Place stew meat on top and add:
3 cups beef broth
1 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf

Cook on low for 8 hours.  Before serving, combine 1/4 cup flour with some water and add to crockpot and cook on high for a few minutes to thicken stew.

***
So easy and really yummy!!  The stew meat fell apart, and the flavor was fantastic!

Vegetable Chickpea Curry Stew

4 cups cauliflower, cut into small pieces
2 cups sliced carrots
2 cups frozen green beans
1 onion, diced
1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed
1 can vegetable broth
3 tsp curry powder

Combine in a slow cooker.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Add:
1 can lite coconut milk
2 tsp dried basil

Heat through.  Serve alone or over rice.

***
YUM!  This was delicious!!  I made this with brown rice, but in my opinion, have more stew than rice on your plate!  Cam loved it, and I loved watching him eat spoonfuls of veggies!  They end up being really soft, so if your kids don't like veggies, you can mash them up with the rice.  Next time I'm going to double the green beans because they were my favorite part!!

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

SWEET PORK:

2 pounds pork (I used boneless pork ribs)
3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
1/4 c. brown sugar
dash garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 can sliced green chilies
3/4 can RED enchilada sauce (Next time, I'll use a TAD less....so maybe more like 2/3 or even 1/2 can)
1 c. brown sugar

Put the pork in a heavy duty Ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight. (I marinated mine for a full 24 hours).

Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry). Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.

In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.

Put shredded pork and sauce in crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. That's it!

***
I know there are probably LOTS of different versions of Cafe Rio's sweet pork, and this is the only one I've tried, so I have nothing to compare it to.  We thought it was WONDERFUL!!!  I have to credit favfamilyrecipes.com for this version.  It turned out SO yummy! 

Tonight I served this over white rice with a side of sweet corn.  I was gone most of the day, but next time, I'd really like to take the time to make black beans, lime-cilantro rice, and try to replicate an actual Cafe Rio salad or burrito!

Slow Cooker Cream Corn

1 1/2 (12 ounce) packages frozen corn kernels
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon white sugar
salt and pepper to taste


Directions

In a slow cooker, combine corn, salt & pepper.  On stovetop, melt remaining ingredients together.  Pour over corn.

Cook on High for 1 hours, switch to Low for 3-4 hours.

***

Ok Hello....how can this NOT be good?  Pretty much anything cooked in cream cheese and butter is bound to be awesome!!  And this definitely was!  I mixed a big spoonful of it in with some spaghetti sauce and noodles....I have NEVER seen my children eat so much in one sitting....EVER!  I'm making this every week!

Slow-Cooker Pork Chops

4 Pork chops (frozen is fine.  I used bone-in, but it doesn't matter, boneless is fine too)
1-2 onions, sliced into rings
1 chicken boullion cube (or 1 tsp granules)
2 tsp brown or dijon mustard
Course black pepper

Sear chops over med-high heat in a skillet until lightly browned.  Dissolve boullion or granules in 1/2 c hot water.  Add mustard and mix.  Arrange onions in bottom of crockpot.  Place pork chops on top.  Cover generously with pepper.  Cover with liquid mixture and cook on low all day.

These were delicious!  Served them with long-grain rice and steamed broccoli.

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches (or Pot Roast)

1 2.5-3 lb. beef roast (you can use a frozen roast if you want)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper
2 1-ounce packages dry onion soup mix
2 c. water
2 cans beef broth
6-8 large buns
Swiss, provolone, or mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced.

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and rub roast with salt and pepper. When very hot, carefully place roast in pan and sear on all sides. You're not cooking the meat, you're just browning it quickly on all sides to add flavor and seal in the juices.

Place in crockpot and sprinkle with onions soup mix. Pour water and beef broth over roast. Cook 8-10 hours on low or cook 4-5 hours on high and another 3-4 hours on low. It's hard to screw this part up; basically, the longer it cooks, the more tender it will be. But you know it's done when you pop a fork in it and the meat just falls apart. When meat is ready, shred with a fork.

Place meat in crusty rolls. Top with cheese and broil open-faced in the oven or toaster oven for a few minutes, until bread is golden and cheese is melty. Ladle juices into small cups for dipping and enjoy!

***

Yum, yum, yum!!!

Sweet & Sour Chicken

1 onion, sliced
1 carrot, sliced
1 celery stalk, sliced
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/3 c brown sugar
1/3 c Catalina dressing
1/4 c soy sauce
1 t grated gingerroot
1 (8 oz) can pineapple chunks, drained, liquid reserved
1 T cornstarch
1 green pepper, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
4 1/2 c hot cooked rice

Place onions, carrots, and celery in slow cooker; top with chicken. Add combined brown sugar, dressing, soy sauce and ginger. Cover with lid. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. During last 30 minutes of cooking time, increase to high. Stir cornstarch into reserved pineapple juice; add to slow cooker along with the pineapple and peppers. Cook 30 minutes or until peppers are crisp-tender and sauce is thickened. Serve over the rice.

******************

I thought this was pretty good--and the kids actually ate it. The chicken was a little dry so I'd cook it a little longer next time.

Lime Chicken Soft Tacos

In a crockpot combine:

3-4 chicken breasts, frozen
1/8 c red wine vinegar
1 tsp minced garlic
1 onion, sliced
Salt & Pepper to taste
Juice from 1-2 limes

Cook all day.  Shred about 1-2 hours before serving.

Serve in a warmed wheat tortilla with shredded mozzarella, green leaf lettuce & tomatoes.  Squeeze another lime over top if desired.
***
I will admit, this doesn't smell all that great while cooking (thanks to the vinegar).  I was nervous.  But...it was delicious!  So good!!  The chicken was really moist and the flavors were really good.  Both of my kids gobbled the chicken mixture up so fast!  I made simple chicken/cheese roll-ups for them.  This is definitely a keeper at my house!

BBQ Chicken Bacon Pizza

Crust:
I used the whole wheat crust I posted last week.
Topping:
Throw 3-4 chicken breasts in the crockpot along with some bbq sauce and a large onion, sliced. 

When crust is rolled out, place on pizza:
~Thin layer of bbq sauce
~Chicken/onion mixture
~5 slices bacon, fried, cut up
~Lots of mozzarella cheese

Bake for 17 minutes.  YUM!
Update: This turned out GOOD!  I ended up making the whole wheat pizza crust I posted earlier....less work, and Nate liked it.  I also highly recommend using your crockpot for the chicken/onions.  The chicken wasn't dry at all and had so much flavor.  And the bacon definitely made the pizza....next time I'll add even more!

Mexican Haystacks

Into the crockpot goes:

4 chicken breasts (I always use frozen)
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 c corn (I used frozen sweet corn)
1 small can diced green chilis (optional)
1 packet taco seasoning
1/2 warm water

Cook on low all day.  Shred chicken.  Serve over long-grain white rice and top with shredded cheddar.
***
This is a great recipe because I almost always have the ingredients on hand.  Freezes well too.

Pork Chop Dinner

In a large crockpot, place:

6 carrots, chopped
4-5 potatoes, chopped (I used red potatoes)
4 boneless pork chops
1 onion, sliced
1 packet dry onion soup mix
2 cans cream of mushroom soup

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Yum!  Yet another first-time recipe for me, and we liked it a lot.  Both of my kids ate a ton (granted, we played outside for 4 straight hours, so they were starving!). 

Dorothy Crockpot Chicken

Sorry I never posted about the chili/cornbread.  We ended up eating leftovers.

We eat this chicken several times a month because it's inexpensive & takes no time!  I got this idea from my mother-in-law. 
First you need some chicken. I use frozen chicken tenders, but breasts would work too. Stick them in a crockpot, no need to thaw first. I use a whole bag of frozen tenders cuz we like the leftovers.
Then you pour Dorothy Lynch dressing over top. I use a generous amount cuz we like the extra sauce.....usually the whole bottle.
Cook on low all day.
Shred chicken about 30 minutes before eating to let flavor in. Serve over white rice.
That's it!
SOOO easy and yummy! You don't need any other seasonings or spices. We add a little s&p at the table and serve it with a veggie.

This is what the dressing looks like. It's on the dressing aisle with the ranch and such. It comes in regular or fat-free. We have been using the fat-free and think it tastes just as good.