Amazing Beef Ribs

What you need:

A crock pot, - duh.
3-4 pounds of ribs (i chose beef ribs and recommend them)

Dry:
1 yellow onion sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
black pepper (2+ teaspoons - to taste)
kosher salt (2+ teaspoons - to taste)
chili pepper (1-2 teaspoons)

Not Dry:
5-6 garlic cloves chopped
extra garlic cloves (in tact) to just sprinkle around the pot
1 bottle of chili sauce
2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perrins is gluten free)
2 teaspoons Tabasco Sauce
1/4 cup of balsalmic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon of Liquid Smoke

Directions:

Cut the ribs to fit into the crockpot (I cut them individually, but you could also cut them in half).

put onion slices on the bottom of the pot.

Combine all dry ingredients: rub onto the ribs - then place ribs in pot.

Combine all not dry ingredients: pour over the ribs

Cook on low for 6 or 7 hours, high on 3.5 hours.

Enjoy!

Chicken in a Mushroom Wine Sauce in your trusty crock pot

For a delicious Chicken with Mushroom Wine Sauce in your trusty old Crock Pot, see below.

One can of Condensed Mushroom Soup (or for Gluten-Free and way more delicious, see below)*
a few shakes of dried minced onions
few shakes of parsley
1/4 cup of white wine
some shakes of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of milk
a 4 oz can of sliced mushrooms (pieces drained)
salt and pepper to taste
and 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

Directions:
Add all ingredients together (except chicken) in your CP and season appropriately. then place chicken in the pot and cover with the mixture.
Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4



[for Gluten-Free version:
substitute the one can of condensed mushroom soup by following this recipe:

ONE cup of the "Gluten Free Magic Mix"
(made my combining 2 1/3 cups of dry powdered milk + 1 cup gluten-free all purpose flour + 1 cup butter @ room temp --- combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl - mix slow then gradually increase speed. you can refrigerate extra for up to 3 months)
add 3/4 cup of Mushroom Liquid (I took it from the jars used above)
1/4 tsp of Onion Powder
1 tbsp of canned Mushrooms chopped (i skipped this part bc i was using sliced mushrooms in the rest of my recipe)

Add everything except chopped mushrooms in a sauce pan - heat over medium, stirring constantly til the mixture thickens - goes super quick so pay attention - then fold in chopped mushrooms if you're using them.]

*gluten free portion was taken from this site: http://www.foodbuzz.com/recipes/1799015-gluten-free-condensed-mushroom-soup-recipe

Paleo Pulled Pork

There is a nutrition/fitness craze around town called the Paleo Diet.
Basically, you eat (and excercise) like our caveman ancestors did 40,000 years ago.
The idea behind it? Its been said that we have not genetically changed since those days and hypothesized that our bodies cannot process the foods that have been introduced to mankind since.

there is a whole blog about paleo crockpot recipes.
paleopot.com

today, i made this one:
http://paleopot.com/2011/03/paleo-friendly-bbq-pulled-pork-for-days-with-collard-greens/

NOTE: do not accidentally buy elephant garlic when you're in the grocery store running around trying to get your things as quickly as possible bc you are on your lunch break.

Flower Pot Banana Bread

now... i've begun trying to make this three times, in three crock pots... the pot i bought is too big.
Tonite is the nite! I'm getting a smaller flower pot.

You can make banana bread IN a flower pot IN your crock pot!

here is the link:
http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotdessertrecipes/r/bl45c4.htm

i'm fascinated by this... but below i've copied the recipe, and i'll let you know how it turns out!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour*
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup ripe bananas; mashed, 2 to 3 medium bananas
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1 flower pot, terra cotta, about 6 1/2 inch size, to fit in crockpot

Preparation:

Wash a new flower pot well; grease then line with waxed paper, cutting to fit. Note: Make sure the flower pot fits in your crockpot, or use a 2-pound coffee can. Grease the waxed paper. Mix flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream butter, then add sugar, eggs and bananas, blending thoroughly. Combine milk and lemon juice to banana mixture, alternately add flour and milk mixture, then stir in nuts. Pour mixture into prepared flower pot and place in crockpot. Place liner in base. Cover with 2 to 3 paper towels. Cover crockpot and cook on low 5 to 6 hours. Do not lift lid to check on it until last hour.

*for gluten free use a good blended gluten free baking flour mix

The Lady's Creamy Mac and Cheese - in a crock pot!

Last night I made:
Paual Deen's Creamy Macaroni and Cheese, courtesy of this Food Network site:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/creamy-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe/index.html

it was pretty good, it is in no way gluten free.
Comments included, but were not limited to: "Did you get this mac & cheese from Boston Market? because its amazing, maybe better than Boston Market." and "This is the bomb-diggety."

I had read on a few other sites where it had been posted that people tried the recipe without eggs.  I ended up deciding to use 2 eggs instead of the 3... but i think had I added the third it would have been just as good or better.
NOTE:
This is NOT a Kraft Macaroni and Cheese tasting mac... its a little more sophisticated.

Ingredients:
2 Cups uncooked elbow macaroni (I actually used rotini)
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces (1/2 a stick)
2 1/2 cups (about 10 ounces) grated sharp Cheddar Cheese
3 eggs beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed Cheddar Cheese soup
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 Cup of whole milk
1/2 teaspoon of dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

Directions:
Boil the macaroni in a 2 quart saucepan in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the eggs, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper and stir well. Then add drained macaroni and stir again. Set the slow cooker on low setting and cook for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

* note: I didnt have 3 hours - so I put the CP on high for 1 1/2... it either worked swimmingly, or I contracted Salmonela - so I'll keep you posted.

You may be thinking to yourself: "That does sound delicious, but Paula Deen's recipes are rich in flavor and in calories" - that is why I made: "Oven-Baked Super Crispy Fried Chicken" to offset the Mac.
Only 290 calories a serving.

Recipe can be found here:
http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/super-crunchy-fried-chicken-315

it was really tasty - the only thing is - I had to double the buttermilk concotion because my bowl was more deep than shallow I guess... I used more hot pepper sauce than it called for, and along with being generous with the other spices added to the "breading" I also added Tony Chachere's for extra flavor.
Note: This recipe says it only takes 16-18 minutes to cook, but it took me more like 30 minutes - at 18 minutes the middle of the breast was still very raw.

and to my two followers: Have a great week!

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!

Tomorrow is St. Patricks day -

so here is a Corned Beef & Cabbage recipe i got from: "Fix-It and Forget-It"

i'll let you know tomorrow how it went!

Not a Crock Cornbread Salad

Made this for my office Thanksgiving party last year (courtesy of a recipe exchange w HRM), then for the UF v. FSU then like 3 other times. its not in a crock pot but its super easy and awesome.  I will definitely make it for Tailgates in the Fall.

Cornbread Salad

2 boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix

4 tomatoes

1 green pepper

1 onion

1 lb bacon

1 packet hidden valley ranch mix

Cook corn muffin mix with directions, then once cool, crumble it.

Dice the tomatoes, green pepper, and onion.

Cook and crumble bacon.

Prepare the ranch dressing according to the directions on the packet.

(if in a hurry you could use the bottled ranch)

Layer the ingredients in a large bowl starting with the corn muffin crumbles, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, and bacon. Drizzle ranch dressing on top. Continue layering until you are out of ingredients.