Easy Potato Soup

I have this friend, and she is about as obsessed with cooking as I am
(Check her out over at A Day in the Life of Jennay. Yes, I do know her in real life ooohhhh)
We both have started these random recipe swaps with our friends. Well, some of them at least.

Anyhoo...this is the first of those particular recipes, so I am going to add a new label "random recipe swap".
I cannot link back to an original site, so that will have to be the next best thing!

This came from one of her friends named Kelly

Ingredients:

26 oz bag frozen hash browns

28 oz chicken broth

1 Can cream of chicken soup

¼ Cup chopped onion

¼ Tsp pepper

8 oz cream cheese

1 Cup milk

Bacon bits

Directions:

1. Add hash browns, broth, chicken soup, onion, and pepper to crock pot

2. Cook for 1 hour on high

3. Stir then turn to low for 1 hour

4. Add cream cheese and cook 30 minutes

5. Add milk and cook for 10-15 minutes longer

6. Serve and top with bacon bits

Print

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Chicken Divan (Crock Pot)

We went to a 25th anniversary party this past weekend.
In a world where marriages seem so "disposable" sometimes
(not saying there are not genuine reasons for divorce...haters back away!)
it's refreshing to see a couple who have weathered the storms.

It has not always been easy, but marriage is a series of tests..good and bad. Strength and willingness to work create a successful union.

We had a bunch of family and friends in my aunt's backyard.
Auntie started saying how BAD we have been about taking pictures at functions (and she's right!)
Out comes the cameras...and the multiple MULTIPLE cries of "ok, now A and B stand with C and D"

I'm not sure who exactly came up the idea, but we have a much loved family picture that keeps popping up on Facebook. It's of my uncle and all his siblings (3 of whom are no longer with us) standing in a line by age.
They decided it would be a good idea to replicate it with the cousins who were there (some had escaped before picture time, and some were unable to attend the party) at the time.
Of course, we had to do it by age...and then realized we were backwards from them (whoops) but that's OK, it's the thought, right?

We had a ton of food...per usual.
Auntie had planned very well and there were not tons of leftovers (for once!)
All I had to bring was :
Chips
Deviled Eggs
Baked Beans

Love when there isn't tons of prep!




Ingredients:

3-4 Heads broccoli (chopped)

1 ½ Lb Chicken breast (cubed)

1 Onion (chopped)

2 Tbsp butter (cubed)

1 Cup Milk

1 Cup Water

1 Chicken bouillon cube

¼ Cup Dry sherry

1 Tsp Garlic powder

Salt and Pepper

¼ Cup Italian bread crumbs

½ Cup Mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Directions:

1. Place broccoli on bottom of crock pot

2. Add chicken

3. Add butter, garlic, salt and pepper, and bouillon

4. Add onions

5. Sprinkle ¼ cup mozzarella

6. Sprinkle bread crumbs

7. Add water, milk, and sherry

8. Cook on low 7 hours, or high 5

9. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella

10. Cook an additional 30 minutes with the lid off

Print

Adapted from: Slow Cooker Adventures

Rosemary and Olive Oil Crock Pot Bread

A bunch of us hens sit around at lunch chit chatting about normal "girlie" stuff. One topic that seems to keep coming up is how some of those around me do not use their crock pot often.

As someone who uses their crock pot up to 3 times a week, you can imagine how vocal I am about the many, many uses for a crock pot.

I mentioned being able to make bread and one co-worker's eyes got huge.
Seriously huge, like a Disney character huge.
"You can make bread...in a crock pot???!!!"

Why yes, yes you can!
I wanted to surprise her the next day at work. A quick Google search came up with this recipe, and I already had everything on hand. Score!

I got this made, let it cool, cut it up and brought it into work.
An email went out to my lunch group telling them all about what goodies awaited them that morning.

Felt pretty popular as my cubicle was the most visited desk all day.
Everyone thought it was delicious and could not believe when I told them how easy it was!

Ingredients:

3 ½ Cups all purpose flour

1 Packet dry active yeast

1 ¼ Cups warm water

¼ Cup rosemary

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 Tsp sugar

1 Tsp sea salt

Directions:

1. In large bowl, mix together water, yeast, and sugar.

2. Let yeast mixture sit for 10 minutes (bubbly)

3. Stir in half the salt (½ Tsp), half of the rosemary, olive oil, and flour

4. Mix until fully combined

5. Lightly grease a large bowl and place dough in it

6. Cover with a kitchen towel and leave dough in a warm area.

7. Let rise for 1 hour

8. Remove dough from bowl and roll into a bowl on a lightly floured surface

9. Let sit for an additional 20 minutes

10. Set crock pot to high

11. Line crock pot with parchment paper, leaving a 2 inch handle on each end

12. Place dough in crock pot and sprinkle with remaining salt and rosemary

13. Drape paper towels over the top of the crock pot and place lid (to catch the condensation)

14. Cook bread for 2 hours and remove from crock pot

15. Optional: Broil loaf for 3-5 minutes to brown crust

Print

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Ranch Potatoes (Crock Pot)

I had a discussion with one of hubby's cousins last night (which was SO nice! Miss her!)

She is one of those types that would take care of everyone and everything on the planet if she had the means. Genuine heart.

She has 3 (wonderful!) kids as well as two dogs at home.

Then she heard of this other little doggy down at the pound who needed love. She went down to look and the poor thing had pulled out all of its own hair! It was a mix of unhappiness and food allergies.

Cousin brought her hubby and their youngest down to look at the dog and they were like "seriously? this must be a joke".
A joke it was not! She brought her home and worked her magic!

A couple of months later, and you would never have known that this pup had a sad beginning. She is thriving and loving life with her new "siblings".

Thank you cousin, the world needs more people like you!

Ingredients:

6 Bacon strips (chopped)

2 ½ Lbs small red potatoes (cubed)

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

10 ¾ oz cream of potato soup

¼ Cup milk

1 Envelope ranch dressing mix

3 Tbsp thinly sliced green onions

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp.

2. Remove and drain, reserving 1 Tbsp drippings

3. Place potatoes in slow cooker

4. In a bowl, beat cream cheese, soup, milk, dressing mix, and drippings until belnded

5. Stir cream cheese mixture into potato

6. Sprinkle potatoes with the bacon

7. Cook on low 7-8 hours or until potatoes are tender

8. Top with green onions

Print

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

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Cheesy Spinach Mashed Potato (Crock Pot)

My (not so little anymore) cousin is in college.
He eats a lot.

He is tall, skinny, and all us women folk wish we had his metabolism.
Whatever...that is beside the point of this post.

He was home for a visit, and inhaling every bite of home-cooked food he could get his skinny hands on. We were all over there hanging out the other night and I brought these potatoes over.

We all ate, and then it was time to go home.
Auntie said she had too many leftovers and for us all to bring home whatever was left of what we brought.

Cousin man had tears in his eyes. I convinced her to let him keep the potato. She was all "but you are heading back to school tomorrow". His reply? "That's why they make tupperware MOM".

I love when food makes people happy!

Ingredients:

10 oz frozen chopped spinach

6 Potatoes (peeled and chopped)

½ Cup chicken broth

½ Cup butter

1 Cup sour cream

1 Tbsp chopped onion

1 Tsp salt

¼ Tsp dried dill weed

1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. In large crock pot, place potatoes and cover them with broth, spinach (undrained), butter, onion, dill, and salt

2. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3 hours

3. Mash potatoes

4. Stir in sour cream

5. Transfer to a large casserole dish, top with cheddar cheese

6. Place under broiler until cheese is bubbly (about 5 minutes)

Print

Recipe adapted from Moms with Crock Pots

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Red and White Chili

It's no secret that I have a love affair going on with slow cooker liners.
I buy them 3,4,5 boxes at a time.

I finally got around to checking out the handy little insert that came in the package...what do I find? Well, it could be this recipe!

Talking to my aunt the other day, I happened to mention the liners and...can you believe...she had no idea what I was talking about?!
:::sigh:::
I promised her I would give her some...but haven't seen her since.

Of course, now that I am typing this, I realize her hubby and youngest child were just here. Why, of why did I not think to give some.

To quote the girl child "epic fail Mom".

Ingredients:

6 Cups cubed cooked chicken

2 Cans (15.5 oz each) navy beans (drained)

1 Cup chicken broth

1 Large onion (chopped)

1 Large red pepper (chopped)

1 Jalapeno pepper (seeded and chopped)

2 Cloves garlic (minced)

2 Tsp ground cumin

1 Tsp dried oregano

½ Tsp salt

½ Tsp cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a crock pot.

2. Cook on low 6-7 hours

Print

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Ginger Beef with Mushrooms

I cut a deal with the cat today.
Yup. We held a conversation and came to a middle ground.

My lower back has not been my friend as of late. Still not sure what I did, but things on the ground are my arch nemesis. No way can I bend down to get any of it.

I was in the hall closet looking for a new container of soap...and I stupidly hit his bag of treats. Yeah, it made the crinkle noise and he came running. It was like slow motion watching said bag-o-treats hit the ground.
Yeah, not going to happen.

In front of my fur baby, I kicked the bag back into the closet and shut the door.
He was looking at me with that wounded look "how can you neglect me so"?

So, I said,
If you can wait 45 minutes until the girl comes home, I will make sure she gives you treats.
Please?
Just a little longer.
It's a lifetime in kitty minutes, I know...but pretty, pretty, pretty please!?

He meowed that it was OK.
I about attacked the girl when she came in. Just told her he needed treats.
Now that I think about it, she didn't ask why...or why they were on the floor.

Oblivious...or maybe not wanting to embarrass her Mama!
Probably more like she is just used to crazy mom. Yeah, I can buy that.

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs stew beef

24 Baby carrots

1 Red bell pepper, chopped

1 Green bell pepper, chopped

1 Onion, chopped

8 oz white mushrooms (sliced)

2 Tbsp grated fresh ginger

1 Cup beef broth

½ Cup hoisin sauce

¼ Cup quick cooking tapioca

White rice

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients (except rice) in slow cooker

2. Cook on low 8-9 hours

3. Serve over white rice

Print

And of course I forgot an ingredient...shocker!

Adapted from: Moms with Crock Pots

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http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

Meatball Stew

We were heading to a family party one afternoon, and I threw this together in the crock pot for when we got home.
Well, the best laid plans...you know.

We ended up staying much later than expected, and eating way more than expected. Nobody wanted to eat when we got home.
In the fridge this went for another time.

My mother in law was coming over the next day to do some shopping. I threw this back in the crock pot thinking it would make for a super easy lunch.

What I wasn't thinking about was her major sodium issues. If she has just a smidge too much salt, she blows up like a puffer fish. It's not pretty.
When I know she is coming over, I plan accordingly.
Well, this was a last minute thing.

I am pleased to announce that since this soup calls for water and no broth, she was fine!
The rest of us sprinkled a bit of parmesan because we felt it needed some extra saltiness, but that's all good.

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

2 Lb ground beef

1 Envelope onion soup mix

1 Cup Italian bread crumbs

2 Eggs

Stew:

Browned meatballs

10 Cups water

1 Can tomato soup

4 Carrots (chopped)

3 Potatoes (chopped)

2-3 Handfuls of fresh green beans (chopped)

1 Large onion (chopped)

1-2 Tsp pepper

1-2 Tsp salt

2 Tsp onion powder

2 Tsp Garlic powder

Directions:

1. Mix all meatball ingredients.

2. Roll into “golf ball” sized balls and fry in a skillet until cooked

3. Mix all ingredients in a crock pot

4. Cook on low for 7-9 hours

Print

Adapted from: Slow Cooker  Adventures

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Pizza Steak Sandwiches (Crock Pot)

Last night hubby and I were sitting outside and heard some booms in the distance.
After a bit of looking, we realized we could see, just barely, through the trees, some fireworks being lit off.
Which, of course, are not allowed in the city here.

I found it funny (probably too funny) that then we heard sirens
Then we heard no more fireworks
He he he!

Our local papers do have "fire and police briefs" but the stuff you really want to know about is never included.
I will know how many random animals were seen walking around...but I bet there will be no firework info.

Inquiring minds want to know!

I lead a very very boring life. Sigh LOL

Ingredients:

1 ½ Lbs round steak, skirt steak, or other cut

6 oz Pepperoni

1 Onion (chopped)

1 Green pepper (chopped)

1 Red pepper (chopped)

28 oz can crushed tomatoes (drained)

2 Cloves garlic (minced)

2 Tsp oregano

1 Tsp basil

Salt/Pepper to taste

Buns

Provolone Cheese

Directions:

1. Place meat in crock pot

2. Stir other ingredients (other than bread and cheese) and pour over meat

3. Cook on low 7-8 hours

4. Shred meat with forks

5. Serve on buns topped with cheese slices

Print

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Adapted from: Eat at Home Cooks

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/