It's Slow Cooker Season

And here you thought it was Fall! This is the time of year when my slow cooker goes into full time service. It's a busy mom's best friend!

I can get supper put together in the morning, or even the night before and then it's one less thing to worry about.  If I put it together the night before I can either put a slow cooker  liner bag into a bowl and layer the ingredients in it, or put them into the removable part of my crock pot and put it in the fridge.  If you use the crock, be sure and let it sit out on the counter for a bit so it's not super cold when you turn on your slow cooker.  You don't want to crack anything.

Tonight we had Green Chile-Chicken Enchilada Casserole. My crock pot runs a little hot, so I cooked it about 5 hours instead of the full 6, and it turned out great.

Here are some slow cooker recipes I've posted here in the past:
Crock Pot Chicken with Mushroom Gravy
Curried Split Pea Soup
Tex-Mex Dinner
Crock Pot Lasagna
Au Gratin Ham and Potatoes in the Crock Pot
Baked Potatoes in the Crock Pot

Crock Pot Apple Butter

I got a huge bag of apples for a great price at Sam's so I'm making one of my husband's favorite treats.

I have most of them in the slow cooker making the crock pot apple butter recipe I found at The Pleasures of Homemaking. My house smells incredible!  I wish there was such a thing as a scratch and sniff blog post so you could smell it.  My husband can't wait to taste it.  He's drooling already! :) 

Now I think I'll go for a swim while I wait for them to cook. It's hot out there y'all!

Much love,

Crockpot Chicken with mushroom gravy

*Update below*
I'm trying a new slow cooker recipe today that I got from a friend at church. This will be the first time for me to try it. It sounds so good and easy. I'll let you know how it tastes. I think I'll serve it over noodles or rice.



6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth (not both)
1 can cream of chicken soup
4 oz. can of sliced mushrooms, drained

Place chicken in slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper' Combine wine and soup. Pour over chicken and top with mushrooms. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours.

*I served it over egg noodles and Mike and the kids loved it! This will definitely go into the regular rotation.

Curried Split Pea Soup and Naan

I am loving my new crock pot, so here is another recipe for you. :) It's healthy and yummy (great combination).

Rinse a 16 oz. package of dry split peas.


Add split peas, 1 pound sliced mushrooms (I used baby portabellas), and a bay leaf to slow cooker.

Peel 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes, and add to slow cooker.

Slice 3 green onions (and of course add them to the slow cooker as well).

Add:
1 14 oz. can unsweetened coconut milk
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
2 - 3 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (less if you like things mild - this was fine for my kids, but they like spicy)
salt and pepper to taste

Pour 4 cups chicken broth over all (you can use vegetable broth is you want to keep it vegetarian).

Add 2 cups water and stir

Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Sprinkle with snipped fresh basil if desired.

I made naan for the first time to go with it (using this recipe). I didn't have a grill, so I used my cast iron skillet like when I make tortillas. Didn't look all that great, but tasted really good! :)

I made a pdf of this recipe thinking that would be so much more helpful for you to just download and print. Only problem is I don't know how to post it! Any ideas?

Tex-Mex Dinner

In honor of my new Crock-Pot I am sharing my first Crock-Pot recipe of 2009. :) I have a feeling there will be many more to follow.

Mix together:
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 cup milk
1 egg, beaten

Stir in:
1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
1 pkg. chili seasoning mix (my favorite is William's)
1 teaspoon salt

I can diced tomatoes (14 1/2 oz.)
1 can corn, drained (15 1/4 OZ.)
1 can sliced black olives, drained (2 1/4 oz.)

Spoon mixture into slow cooker. Isn't my new Crock-Pot cute? It's red!

Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. Sprinkle with 8 oz. package of shredded Mexican blend cheese and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Serves 6.

My husband said this reminds him of a tamale. I'm sure I'll be making it again. It tastes good AND it's economical! My kind of recipe. :)

Crock Pot Lasagna

Tonight's supper was lasagna that I made in the slow cooker. It was the first time for me to make this particular recipe. It was really easy and tasted good. I have to admit it's not quite as good as The Pioneer Woman's best lasagna ever, but much easier because it can simmer all day while you're busy. :)

This recipe came from one of my favorite cookbooks from Gooseberry Patch, Harvest Kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 t. Italian seasoning
8 lasagna noodles, uncooked and broken into thirds
28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
1/3 c. water
Optional: 4 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained
15 oz. container ricotta cheese
8 oz. pkg. shredded mozzarella cheese

Combine ground beef and Italian seasoning. Arrange half the lasagna noodles in a greased slow cooker. Spread half the ground beef mixture over noodles. top with half each of remaining ingredients. Repeat layering process. Cover and cook for 5 hours on low setting. Serves 10 (well, in my house it serves 6).

Notice the handle (or lack thereof) on the lid of my crock pot. It's been that way for years, but since the crock pot works just fine I limp along without a handle.


Make an easy meal by adding some garlic bread and a salad.

Au Gratin Ham and Potatoes in the crockpot

This is a very easy recipe and is so good on a cold day like today.





6 Cups potatoes, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 Cups cooked, chopped ham
1 Cup American cheese, shredded
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 Cup milk
1/4 tsp. thyme

In your crockpot, layer half each of potatoes, onion, ham and cheese; repeat layers. In a small bowl, combine soup, milk and thyme; pour over top. Cover, cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce to low setting and cook for 6 to 8 hours or until potatoes are tender.