Hot Crock Pot Meals for a Cold Day :

It's that time of year again. If you live in the Midwest or similar regions like I do, you have to transition to cooking hearty meals during the fall and winter. Gone for the most part are grilling and salads.

It's that time of year again. If you live in the Midwest or similar regions like I do, you have to transition to cooking hearty meals during the fall and winter. Gone for the most part are grilling and salads. Aromatic soups and thick stews are now par for the course. Pork roasts are substituted for barbecued ribs, roast beef for steaks on the grill. Whatever you tend to make during the cold days of the year, your crock pot makes it easier. Start your meal in your slow cooker before you go to work. Dinner will be ready when you come home from work and the children are back from school. Check out these quick and easy recipes you can make for you and your family in your crock pot slow cooker.

Hunter's Slow Cooker Stew

What you need:
• 1.5 lbs ground beef, browned and drained
• 1 medium head of cabbage, cut in small wedges
• 15 oz can tomato sauce
• 8 oz fresh mushrooms, washed and sliced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• black pepper to taste
• salt to taste

What you do:
• Add all ingredients to a 5-6 quart crock pot and mix. Cook,
covered, for 6-7 hours on low.
• Add 1/2 - 1 t red pepper flakes for a spicier version.

Three Meat Crock Pot Chili

What you need:
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1 lb round steak, cubed
• 2 c beef broth
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 15 oz can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 15 oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 12 oz can tomato juice
• 2 large onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 oz can chopped green chiles, drained
• 3 T chili powder
• 2 t ground cumin
• 2 t oregano
• 1 t salt
• 1/4 t black pepper

What you do:
• Brown ground beef, Italian sausage and round steak in a large
skillet; drain. Place meats and remaining ingredients into a 5
quart or larger crock pot and mix. Cover and cook on low for 7-8
hours. Serve by itself or with sour cream, jalapenos, shredded
cheddar cheese, raw chopped onion and/or crackers.

Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta

What you need:
• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts halves, cut in half
• 1/2 lb bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
• 2 (10.75 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup
• 4 oz can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2-3 T olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• fettuccine or cooked pasta of choice

What you do:
• Heat oil in a large skillet. Lightly season chicken breasts with
salt and black pepper. Place chicken in skillet and cook over
med-high heat until browned, about 1-2 minutes per side. Place
chicken in a 3.5 quart or larger crock pot and cover with onion
and mushrooms.
• In a medium bowl, combine soup, garlic and bacon and mix.
Pour soup mixture over chicken breasts. Cook, covered, for 6-8
hours on low. Serve over hot cooked pasta.


Source : EzineArticles

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