Chicken Pot "Pie"

I liked my version of the Beef and Apple Cider Stew so much that I decided to make a similar recipe using chicken. Using different spices, more vegetables, and no apples...

Ingredients
4 russet potatoes, cubed
3 large carrots, chopped
6-8 ribs of celery, chopped
1 can corn
1 can peas
1 can green beans
1/2 cup dried minced onion

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 tbs. olive oil
1/4 cup minced garlic
1 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. sage
1 quart chicken broth
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup butter
4 tbs. flour

Directions
Combine vegetables in the crockpot, cover and set on HIGH heat.
In a large skillet, brown chicken, garlic and seasonings in olive oil. When thouroughly browned, add broth and vinegar. Bring to a rolling boil. Meanwhile combine butter and flour in a bowl to make a roux. When chicken mixture boils, add roux and cook till thick, smooth, and bubbly.
Pour chicken mixture over vegetables in crockpot. Cook on HIGH heat for 4 hours.
Serve with biscuits or bread.

Beef and Apple Cider Stew

I found a recipe called "Golden Beef & Apple Cider Stew", but I just HAD to tweak it. I didn't have any quick cooking tapioca, fresh onions, beef bullion, or fresh apple cider or apple juice. I used different measurements for almost everything. And instead of the thyme called for, I used Mediterranean seasoning I had on hand that I bought from http://www.mountainroseherbs.com

But since I know how most ingredients work, I figured I could substitute just about any thickener for the tapioca, use dried onion since it's in a slow cooker, apple cider is apple cider, and season it to my own tastes...

The original recipe can be found on pg. 102 of Better Homes and Gardens Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes.


2lbs. stewing beef
2 Tbs olive oil
1/4 cup minced fresh garlic
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
3 tbs Mediterranean seasoning
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 packets apple cider drink mix
1 cup water
5 or 6 small red potatoes, quartered
4 medium carrots, chopped
4 ribs of celery, chopped
2 medium apples, cored and chopped
1/4 cup dried minced onion

Combine vegetables and apple in slow cooker. Top with onion.

Brown stewing beef in oil. Add garlic, pepper Worcestershire, and seasoning. add water and cider mix. Stir well and allow to boil. Combine butter and flour in a bowl to make a roux, add to meat mixture to make a thick gravy. Turn heat down to medium. Cook till very thick, stirring constantly to prevent sticking.

Pour meat mixture over vegetables in slow cooker. Turn cooker on low setting, cover and allow to cook for 8 hours. Stir well before serving.

Broccoli, Ham, and Cheese Casserole

I had a ham that needed cooking, and I really wasn't wanting a traditional glazed ham... So I googled "ham recipe" and came up with a recipe for a casserole that sounded really tasty... But I didn't want to heat up my house by using the oven. I decided to use the crockpot instead.

But I never made rice in a crockpot before... I googled raw rice cooking in a slow cooker, it says it’s fine, but I didn't want to risk it… plus I wanted to use fresh broccoli instead of frozen... So here is my solution.

Ingredients
2 lbs. Ham, cubed
2 lbs. fresh broccoli florets, chopped
1/2 cup dried minced onion
Cheese Sauce
10 oz. bag frozen sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cups uncooked brown rice
1 bag French's Fried Onions

Directions
Combine Ham and Broccoli in slow cooker. Top with onion. Pour Cheese Sauce over it and stir in well. Cook on LOW in slow cooker till broccoli is tender.

Combine rice, mushrooms, and lemon juice in a rice cooker. Pour 4 cups water over rice and cook.

When rice and broccoli are both done, combine rice into slow cooker mixture. Serve, topped with French's Fried Onions.

Portabella Scramble

So good! I had to make something with the Portabellas... so here it is!

Ingredients
1/2 cup minced Red Onion
2 Tbs. Olive Oil
2 Portabella Mushroom Caps, cubed
1 cup chopped Tomato
3 Large Eggs
1/2 cup Shredded Parmesan

Directions
Fry onion in olive oil till translucent. Add mushroom and fry till tender. Add tomato and mix well. Scramble eggs into mushroom mixture and top with Parmesan. Cover skillet with a lid and allow cheese to melt and egg to set. Serve.

Chili

I am back! Sorry for the long absence...

Today is one of those days, you know the kind... you need food, but you don't want to cook. You don't have the money to go out to eat or order pizza... It's a bit chilly out... wait, chilly? Chili!

Ingredients
1 bag red beans, rinsed and soaked overnight
1/2 cup dried minced onion
2 46oz. cans V-8 Juice
1 recipe Emeril's Southwest Seasoning
2 lbs hamburger, cooked and rinsed
2 14oz. cans stewed tomatoes with juices, crushed
1/4 cup sliced pickled jalapenos

Directions
Combine ingredients in Crock Pot and turn on low heat. Cook for 10 hours. Serve.

Serving Ideas
Top Chili with 1 or more of the following:
sour cream
cheddar cheese
sliced green onion
goldfish crackers

-OR-

Serve with one of the following:
grilled cheese sandwiches
peanut butter sandwiches