Spiced Applesauce!

Today I'm going to make spiced Applesauce - the recipe (from Fix-It and Forget it) says "Kid-Friendly", we'll see!

Spiced Applesauce:

(makes 6 cups)

12 cups thinly sliced cooking apples
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup water
1 tbspn lemon juice
freshly grated nutmeg

1. Place apples in slow cooker
2. combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. stir into apples. stir in water, lemon juice and nutmeg.
3. cover and cook on high 2 1/2 hours - 3 1/2 hours or on low 5-7 hours.
4. stir for a chunky sauce - serve hot or cold


i'm going to try to "can" the applesauce while its still hot. wish me luck!

BHL

Cranberry-Chipotle Country Style Ribs

Seems like theres lots of ribs on this blog already... but these are only 395 calories/serving!
recipe comes from the "Skinny Slow Cooker" Special Interest publication by Better Homes and Gardens

2.5 - 3 pounds of boneless pork country-style ribs
(salt)
(pepper)
1 16-ounce can whole cranberry sauce
1 chopped onion (large)
3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
1.5 teaspoons bottled minced garlic *(or 3 cloves)

1. Trim fat from the ribs, or it wont be just 395 calories/serving!
2. apply salt and pepper to taste
3. put ribs in your slow cooker.
4. combine cranberry sauce, onion, chipotle peppers and garlic - pour over ribs
5. cover and cook for 7-8 hours on low (or 1/2 the time on high)
6. take ribs out and place on plate, drizzle sauce over the ribs, serve and enjoy!

Flank Steak with Goat Cheese filling

this recipe was found on: http://www.fitmarriage.com/
specifically: http://www.fitmarriage.com/nutrition/crock-pot-flank-steak-with-goat-cheese-almonds

SUPER EASY!

Overnight place a Flank Steak (1-3 lbs) in a ziplock bag with:
1/2 cup of soy sauce (i use GF Tamari)
1/2 cup of organic raw honey

next morning pour the liquid from the overnight into the crock, and make cheese filling:
add:
1 chopped apple
1/3 cup chopped almonds
3/4 cup of goat cheese (with fig, or any goat or feta cheese you like)

place cheese filling on top of the flank steak and roll the steak up.
place into the crock so the steak maintains its filling inside the roll.

Cook for 6-8 hours on low.

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