Boxes Au Gratin Potatoes

So our air conditioner went out for the most part.  It still "works", but with the heat we've been having, it is really struggling to keep up.  It froze up again yesterday.  Which, for me, meant NO cooking in the house.  So yesterday we went out to eat.  Today it is actually a bit cooler - we are only supposed to get up to 89 today.  Quite a change from triple digits we've been getting.  So I made lunch today for the kids.  My son has been begging all summer long for grilled cheese and tomato soup.  I'm sorry - that is not a summer time food - that is for the fall, winter, and rainy days.  But, I gave in and made it for him today.  I also got to thinking that I should probably get something going for dinner.  Today we are having potatoes au gratin with ham.  I don't have any real potatoes around today, so we are using a box.  Today's recipe is actually a pretty quick and easy one.    All you need is a box or two of au grain potatoes and ham cubes - I'm using the pre-packaged already cubed kind today.  I'd rather spend my time getting caught up on laundry today than cooking.  So, here's what I did...

I dumped 2 boxes of au gratin potatoes into my smallest slow cooker.  The boxes called for 1/2 cup of milk, 2 cups of water, and 2 TBSP of butter.  Since I put 2 boxes in I doubled the milk to 1 cup, but I only used 2 cups of water, and 3 TBSP of butter.  I threw in a couple of handfuls of ham (whatever amount makes you happy and looks good)  I turned it on high and will watch the consistency to see if I need to add more water.  After about an hour or so I turn it down to low.  It should only take 2-3 hours to cook.  

This works good with scalloped potatoes as well.

4th of July and Baked Beans

Tomorrow is the 4th of July.  I love the 4th.  It might be because of the history teacher in me.  I love being able to celebrate our independence from England.  Had it not been for those men in 1774, we wouldn't be the country we are today.  Think about what would have happened if they hadn't succeeded in winning the Revolutionary War.  They would have been tried as traitors.  They were going against their mother country.  I also like the 4th of July because it's a time to recognize every soldier who has fought for the United States to keep us safe and free.  As you celebrate this day, remember why it's holiday.  Remember why you get to take a day off of work.  Remember why you are able to have the freedoms that you have.  Remember why you are able to speak for or against your country without fear of being punished.  Remember why you are able to believe and worship as you do, if you do.  Remember why you have rights in court.  Remember everything that our founding fathers fought so hard for.  And remember every soldier who has given of their time and life to protect our freedoms that allow you to celebrate this awesome day.

We moved into our house 12 years ago, as did our neighbors.  Since the first year we moved in we have had a cookout with some of our neighbors and then we shoot off our fireworks.  Then we all park our cars in the street with the headlights pointed where we shot off all our fireworks so that we can clean up our mess.  Every year I usually try something different.  I'm not sure what my trial recipe will be this year, but I do know that we will be having my baked beans.  These were true baked beans in the oven.  Okay - it's July, its hot (triple digit hot), and my air conditioning crapped out last night.  There is no way I'm turning that oven on!  So, I'm going to make it in the slow cooker.  I'm starting it this afternoon because baked beans are soooo much better the longer you let them meld together - kind of like a good chili :).  I get requests for these baked beans all the time.  The original recipe I recieved was quite a long process.  I've modified it to fit my needs and cooking style (quick and easy).  Below the recipe are the changes I have made and how I modified it.  Enjoy!

1 large can Pork and beans (3 lb)

1/2 lb hamburger

1/2 lb sausage 

1 green pepper

2 onions

1/2 cup celery

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp sage

1 TBSP Parsley

1 TBSP Dry mustard

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 TBSP worchester sauce

21 oz. BBQ sauce.

1 lb kielbasa

1. Cook largley cut vegetables until tender.
2. Cook hamburger and sausage until no longer pink.
3. Add meat and vegetables to beans in a 9x13 pan. Add all ingredients except kielbasa.
4. Bake 1 hour at 350.
5. Cut Kielbasa into bite size pieces. Add to beans. Bake for another 30 minutes.

I didn't have any sausage in the house, so I didn't put any in this time.  I used frozen, chopped green pepper and dried minced onion instead of the fresh onion.  I forgot to pick up celery, so, I used some dried celery flakes.  I also add my kielbasa in at the beginning - not at the end, even when I bake it in the oven.  I put it all in my 6 qt slow cooker (barely fits). 

Happy 4th of July - and be safe.

Slow Cooker Chicken, Broccoli, Rice

Another one from Cambell's Soup Website.   http://www.campbellkitchen.com/

Vegetable cooking spray

1 1/2 cups uncooked instant white rice

1 3/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)

1 bag (about 16 ounces) frozen broccoli cuts, thawed

3 large carrots, sliced (about 2 1/4 cups)

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken and Mushroom Soup

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

1 1/2 cups water

Spray a 5-quart slow cooker with the cooking spray. Place the rice in the slow cooker. Layer the chicken, 1 cup cheese, broccoli, carrots, soups and the remaining cheese on top of the rice. Pour the water around the edges of the slow cooker and do not stir.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir the rice and vegetables before serving.

Slow Cooker Nacho Chicken & Rice Wraps

This is from the Campbell's Soup Website.  http://www.campbellkitchen.com/. 

2 cans (10 3/4 ounces each) Campbell's® Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup

1 cup water

2 cups Pace® Picante Sauce

1 1/4 uncooked regular long-grain white rice

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes

10 flour tortillas (10-inch)

Stir the soup, water, picante sauce, rice and chicken in a 4-quart slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or until chicken is cooked through.
Spoon about 1 cup chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Fold the tortilla around the filling.

Meatloaf

I like meatloaf - especially the next day.  But I hate how long it takes to bake.  One day I decided to try it in the slow cooker - and it worked great!  Just make your meatloaf as you would normally (I have about 3 or so different recipes I rotate between) and place in the slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours, drain the fat before serving.  Another way to make this easy to do is to prepare your meatloaf ahead of time and freeze it.  I currently have 4 loaves in my freezer.  I just pull one out the day before to thaw in the fridge, then place in your slow cooker.

Here's one of my favorite meatloaf recipes:
1 egg
5 Tbsp ketchup, divided
2 Tbsp prepared mustard
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons onion soup mix
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp cider vinegar

In a bowl, beat the egg.  Add 2 Tbsp ketchup, mustard, bread crumbs, dry soup mix, salt and pepper.  Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.  Form into the shape of slow cooker (oval or round)

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.  Place meatloaf in slow cooker. 

In a small bowl, combine sugars, vinegar, and remaining ketchup; drizzle over meatloaf.  Cover slow cooker.
(I double the this and pour extra on the last 30 minutes of cooking)

Cook on low 4-6 hours.  Drain fat.  Let stand 5-10 minutes before slicing - this helps to make sure it is set up and shouldn't crumble when you cut into it.

Depending on how lean the meat is that I'm using, I'll add a few tablespoons of milk to help keep it moist as it is cooking.

Crock-Pot Pizza

I like to collect cookbooks - its really an obsession.  I have at least 10 cookbooks for slow cookers.  I have several other types of cookbooks too.  One of the ones I recently rediscovered was the 2002 Taste of Homes cookbook I had on a shelf.   I found this recipe that I had made a few years ago.  It used to be on my regular rotation, but somehow I forgot about it.  So glad I found it to make again.

1 package wide egg noodles (12 oz) - cooked
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 pkg sliced pepperoni, halved (3 1/2 oz)
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (12 oz)
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (12 oz)

Brown ground beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, drain.  Stir in spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning.  Coat 5 qt slow cooker with non-stick spray, spread a third of the meat sauce.  Cover with a third of the noodles and pepperoni.  Sprinkle with a third of the cheeses.  Repeat layers twice.  Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through and cheese is melted. 


Personalize the Crock-Pot Pizza with your own toppings - mushrooms, sausage, vegetables, etc.

Mexican Chicken

2-4 chicken breasts
1 medium onion
1 can cream chicken soup
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 package velvetta, cubed

Place chicken, onion, soup, and tomatoes in slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 4 hours.

Break up chicken into pieces.  Add cheese spread, cook on high until melted.
Serve over hot cooked spaghetti.

Supreme Chicken

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup imitation bacon bits or 1/2 lb crisp-cooked and crumbled bacon
1 container reduced-fat sour cream

Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.  Combine soup and soup mix in medium bowl; mix well.  Layer chicken and soup mix in slow cooker.  Sprinkle with bacon.

Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low 8 hours.
During the last hour of cooking stir in sour cream.

Spicy Shredded Chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar salsa (16 oz)

Place chicken in slow cooker.  Pour salsa over chicken.  Cover, cook on low 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender and no longer pink in the center.  Shred chicken with 2 forks before serving.
Serve on warm flour tortillas with taco fixings.

Chicken & Biscuits

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 package peas & carrots
1 package refigerated biscuits

Cut chicken breasts into bite-size pieces.  Place in slow-cooker.  Pour soup over chicken.  Cover and cook on low 4 hours until chicken is tender and no longer pink in center.

Stir in frozen vegetables.  Cover and cook 30 minutes longer until vegetables are heated through.
Bake biscuits according to package directions.  Spoon chicken and vegetables over biscuits and serve.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dressing

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and black pepper
4 slices swiss cheese
1 can chicken broth (14 1/2 oz)
2 cans cream of chicken, celery or mushroom soup
3 cups packaged stuffing mix
1/2 c butter, melted

Place chicken in slow cooker.  Season with salt and pepper.
Top each chicken breast with a slice of cheese.  Add broth and soup.  Sprinkle stuffing mix over the top; pour melted butter over all.  Cover; cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours.

Cube Steak

4-6 beef cube steaks
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 envelope brown gravy mix
All-purpose flour
water
1 Tbsp oil


Dust cube steaks in flour.  Heat oil in large skillet over medium-low heat.  Brown steaks on both sides.  Drain fat.  Transfer to slow-cooker.
Add soup and gravy mixes and enough water to cover meat.  Cover, cook on low 6-8 hours.  Serve with mashed potatoes.

Another alternative that I do a lot is to place the cube steaks in the slow-cooker (I don't always brown them first) and then add 1-2 cans of cream of mushroom soup.  Cover, cook on low 6-8 hours.  Serve with mashed potatoes.

Royal Roundsteak

Royal Roundsteak

1-2 lbs roundsteak or stew meat cubes
1-2 Tbsp oil
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
Hot cooked rice or egg noodles

Trim roundsteak and cut into cubes (you can partially freeze the meat to make it easier to cut).
Heal oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.  Brown meat on all sides.
Combine dry soup mix and canned soup in mixing bowl.  Pour into slow-cooker.  Add browned meat.  Cover, cook on High 6-7 hours.
Serve over rice or egg noodles.

(Crock-Pot 5 or less)

Blueberry Breakfast Cake

This came out of Super Fast Slow Cooking book (is there such a thing as fast when your talking about slow cooking??!)  I made this one night for snack and loved it.  I've tried it with strawberry muffin mix and blueberry.

6 2/3 oz pkg blueberry muffin mix
1/4 c milk
1 egg
1/8 tsp. cinnamon

Remove 1/4 cup muffin mix; set aside.  Spray slow cooker with non-stick vegetable spray.  Stir together remaining muffin mix, milk, egg and cinnamon just until combined; spoon into slow cooker, spreading evenly

Cover top of slow cooker with 6-8 paper towels to absorb condensation.  Cover and cook on high setting for one hour.

Turn off slow cooker and let stand for 10 minutes.  Loosen edges of cake with a knife.  Place a plate on top of slow cooker; invert to remove.  Place another plate ontop of cake and invert again.  Slice into wedges.

BBQ Hamburger

Tonight we are having BBQ Hamburger for dinner.  This is more like sloppy joes.  My son, who has gotten quite picky, will eat these.  If you brown your ground beef ahead of time, this goes together real quick.  I add onion in when I'm browning my ground beef.  This is also one of the meals tha I will make ahead and freeze for a quick meal later or to take camping.

2 lbs browned ground beef
1/2 c ketchup
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1 can tomato soup
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4c diced onion

Mix all ingredients in a slow cooker.  Mix well.  Cook on low 4-6 hours.  Serve on hamburger buns.

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham Au Gratin

I'm always on the lookout for comfort food made easy.  I've always loved Au Grain Potatoes and scalloped potatoes.  The thing I don't like - is all the work of slicing the potatoes.  This recipe makes it easy!  My kids are picky so I just use a can of regular whole kernal corn - not the Mexicorn.  I also buy the package of cubed ham so it cuts down on another step for me.  From Pillsbury.com

 

 

3 cups milk

1  (10 3/4-oz.) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup

2  (5-oz.) pkg. cheesy scalloped potatoes with skin-on potatoes

2  cups diced cooked ham

2  (11-oz.) cans Green Giant® SteamCrisp® Mexicorn® Whole Kernel Corn, Red and Green Peppers, drained

2  cups boiling water

Spray 3 1/2 to 4-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
In large bowl, combine milk, soup and contents of seasoning packets from potatoes; blend well.
Add potatoes, ham and corn; mix well. Pour mixture into sprayed slow cooker.
Pour boiling water over potato mixture; stir to mix.
Cover; cook on low setting for 7 to 8 hours.

To shorten the cooking time, turn the slow cooker to high and cook for half of the time recommended for the low setting.

Open face chicken sandwich

I actually found this recipe for opened face turkey sandwiches.  We don't make a lot of turkey but I modified it and use chicken instead.

3-4 bonless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp rubbed sage
2 jars chicken gravy
mashed potatoes (can make your own or buy the frozen homestyle potatoes)
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
6 slices white bread, toasted


Place chicken in 3-4 quart slow cooker.  Sprinkle with sage.  Top with gravy.
Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.
About 10 minutes before serving, cook mashed potatoes.
Remove chicken from cooker, cut into slices
Stir poultry seasoning and Worcestershire sauce into gravy in cooker.
Place chicken on each toast slice, top with mashed potatoes.
Spoon gravy over potatoes.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumpling

I'm always on the lookout for quick and easy slow cooker recipes. Honestly, if there are too many ingredients, or the directions are too long, I will bypass it and look for something easier.  I got this one off of the Pillsbury website.

Chicken and Dumplings

4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast

1 stick butter or margarine

3 cans cream of chicken soup

one can of Pillsbury's Grand Bisquits

3 cups water

Salt and Pepper

Place thawed chicken breasts in bottom of the slow cooker, season with salt and pepper

Cut butter into pats and put on top of chicken

Cover with all the cream of chicken soup, undiluted. Then cover with water, do not stir.

Cook in the slow cooker 6 to 8 hours.

Once chicken is cooked, stir to blend and make the broth consistent.

Roll or pat biscuits, cut into strips and place on top of chicken mixture, recover the cooker and cook for an additional thirty minutes and then serve.

Tonight I was looking for some new recipes to try and I came across this one on the Betty Crocker website.  I can't wait to try this one - the picture looks so yummy!

Slow Cooker Fudgy S’more Cake

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® triple chocolate fudge cake mix

Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

2 cups miniature marshmallows

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)

Graham cracker squares, if desired

Spray 2- to 3 1/2-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Make cake batter as called for on box. Pour batter into slow cooker.
Cover; cook on High heat setting 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Turn off slow cooker, and sprinkle marshmallows and chocolate chips over top of cake. Cover 10 minutes. Spoon warm cake into dessert dishes, and serve with graham cracker squares

Tavern Burgers

My son will not eat sloppy joes.  I think it has something to do with the fact that he can see the "green and red stuff" in it.  I found this recipe and the first time I made it, he ate three sandwiches.  This is a keeper for my family.  You can also double or triple the batch and put it in the freezer.  Pull it out and warm it through in the slow cooker - quick and easy dinner.

2 lbs ground beef - browned
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup prepared yellow mustard
hamburger buns

Place browned ground beef in slow cooker.  Add ketchup, sugar and mustard - mix well.  Cover, cook on low 4-6 hours.  Serve on buns.

Smothered Steak

This is one I grew up with.  I had forgotten about it until I talked with my mom one day.  I add an extra can of cream of mushroom soup.  When dinner is done, you have gravy!

4-6 beef cube steaks
all-purpose flour
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted.
1 pkt dry onion soup mix
1 soup can milk
Hot cooked mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles

Dust steaks in flour.  Place in slow cooker.  Combine cream of mushroom soup, dry onion soup mix, and milk.  Pour over steak.

Cover, and cook on low 6-8 hours.  Server over mashed potatoes, rice or noodles.

Slow Cooker Liners - to use or not to use

Have you seen the new Slow Cooker Liners?  When they first came out I kind of laughed and thought they were a joke.  But then I realized that I wasn't using slow cooker as much because I hated to clean it (I first had one that was all one piece and I couldn't take the crock out).  I had a coupon for the liners so I thought I'd give them a try.  I LOVE them!  I almost won't use my slow cooker if I'm out of liners.  They make clean up a snap. 

Have you tried the slow cooker liners?  What do you think?  To use, or not to use?

Pot Roast

For me, it has to be easy and quick, or I won't even try it.  I always liked roast with carrots and potatoes.  This is how I make mine - although it does take a bit to cut the potatoes.  You can use canned carrots and potatoes if you want.

1 beef roast - 3-4 lbs (I use a larger one then make bbq beef sandwiches with the leftovers)
1 pkt dry onion soup mix
1 cup baby carrots
5-8 baby potatoes, quartered
1/2 cup water

Place roast in slow cooker. Add dry onion soup mix, baby carrots, and potatoes.  Add potatoes and carrots.  Pour water over the top.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.

For a bit of a variation, add in a can of cream of mushroom soup too.

Shredded Chicken Sandwiches

Shredded Chicken Sandwiches - One of my favorite slow cooker recipes.  I always double or triple this and freeze the extra. Then I can pull it out of the freezer, drop it in the slow cooker and get on with my day.  I got the basis for this from a Taste of Homes recipe book and modified it just a bit to fit our families needs.

Shredded Chicken Sandwiches -
4-5 chicken breasts (I use frozen)
1 pkt dry onion soup mix
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup prepared Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup water
1 pkg crushed stuffing mix
hamburger buns

Place chicken in the slow cooker.  Add dry onion soup mix, garlic powder, dressing and water.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Remove chicken and shred.  Place chicken back in slow cooker.  Add crushed stuffing mix to attain the desired consistency of shredded chicken mix.  Serve on hamburger buns.