Slow cooker recipe makes life easier

http://bakedinthesouth.com/2013/03/crockpot-freezer-cooking-part-5/  I saw this post online  from a friend and had to try it.   I work a few 12 hour shifts per week  as a nurse, and it is hard to plan meals for those nights.   I have my mom living with me who used to cook on those nights but now she is forgetting how due to Alzheimers….so it is nice to have something on hand to plop into the crock pot  when I get home from work in the morning..

most of my ingredients

all my  bags full of stuff

 

I cant wait to try and see how these turn out.   It was a bit of work tonight, but will hopefully make my life easier and  yummier in the long run!

 

 

slow cooker cube steak

We got some cube steaks on a whim. Instead of the usual chicken fried steak I tried the following.

Firstly, I seasoned the steak with my favorite Trader Joe’s Garlic salt and pepper and a dash of cayenne pepper.

I then browned the steaks and put them in a crock pot. I added one green pepper,1/2 red bell pepper,half of a large white onion (chopped), 1/8 cup finely chopped cilantro and two coarsely chopped tomatoes. The liquid was a bottle of Stubbs beef marinade.

Few hours in the crockpot and cube steak is fall apart good. Served over rice.

Stew with Tomato Base

Ok another crock pot effort.

I put together a stew for tonight.. using a new base I discovered some time back.

Ingredients:

1 lb. stew meat (browned with Kosher salt,garlic powder,and little Johnny’s seasoning salt,Worcestershire sauce and a few drops of smoke flavoring)

6oz. of Goya Sofrito tomato cooking base

1 red potato (cubed to 1/4 inch)

1/3 each red /green peppers (diced to 1/4 inch)  

3 oz. baby carrots (finely chopped)1/4 onion (finely chopped)

3 oz. baby Bok Choy (coarsely chopped)

4 0z. mushrooms (coarsely chopped)

7.5 oz. Green Giant sweet corn

4 cups Caldo de Tomate prepared

Very simple to do..

Brown meat and throw it along with all other ingredients into a crock pot and heat through.

Crockpot Chili Colorado II

Today I prepared this dish for a second time. This time, however, at my wife’s request, i turned the “heat” down. One roasted Hatch pepper instead of two, less red pepper flakes and no Habanero at all. Very easy to make.. Brown one pound stew meat, chop 1/2 an onion, mince one pepper. Season meat as you brown it. I used chipolte powder,cumin, kosher salt,chili powder and a little water. Pour it in the crock pot with onion and pepper. Add one 28 Oz. can of red enchilada sauce. I cooked it through and seasoned after it cooked for more than an hour on high. I reduced heat and cooked till desired doneness.

We will eat this over rice. But plain with tortillas is great too.

**NOTE TO SELF: Do not put HOT! enchilada sauce in a recipe you are trying  to tone down.  Added another pound of meat a 15 OZ. can of tomato sauce some honey and a potato (to be removed later). Hope that works.

browning sesoned stew meat

hatch chili pepper and onion in crock pot

enchilada sauce I used aside red pepper flakes

all combined in crock pot

Crockpot Chile Colorado

Yesterday along with roasting chiles I made some Chile Colorado. Simple to do in crock pot. Takes only a few ingredients.

1. two pounds of stew meat.
2. one 29 oz. can of tomato sauce or crushed or diced tomatoes
3. one coarsely sliced onion
4. 2 roasted hatch chiles
5. red pepper flakes
6. cumin
7. chili powder
8. oregano
9. coriander
10. chipolte powder
11. garlic (I used crushed)
12. teaspoon of sugar

Simply brown the meat and toss all the ingredients into a crock pot. Season to taste and enjoy! Serve over rice,as we did, or plain with flour tortillas.