Crockpot Pot Pie

This was incredibly simple and tasted pretty good. It wasn't anything spectacular, but it's another good comfort food. I used Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough for the top, but I think it would have been better if I'd used Bisquick or another biscuit dough. It also needed some salt and pepper, but there was no harm done by allowing each person to season their own. I let it cook on low for 5.5 hours and then turned it up to high for 1 hour. I also used beef stew meat...told you I was lazy, it was something I could pick up from the store already chopped up!

Ingredients:
Serves: 6

Filling --
- 3 Chicken thighs or breasts chopped up, or 1.5 lbs boneless pork chops, or 1.5lbs beef stew meat
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 large baking potato, chopped up
- 1 sm jar sliced mushrooms
- 2 cans of cream of mushroom and garlic soup (any cream of____ will work)
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp majoram
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 4 Tbsp heavy cream (or any type of cream or milk)

Topping --
- 2 1/4 cups Bisquick Mix
- 2/3 cup milk


Directions:
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 3-7 hours
 
My 6-qt crockpot had plenty of room for more, I probably could've gotten away with using the 4-qt, but better safe than sorry the first time :)

1. Spray crockpot with cooking spray, or grease with butter or shortening (whatever you've got on hand to keep it from sticking.
2. Dump everything for the filling into crockpot.
3. Stir until all veggies and meat are mixed well into the soup.
4. Make biscuit dough and lay on top of filling.
5. Cover and cook on high for 3-5 hours or high for 6-7 hours. You want the biscuit in the center to be firm/start to get crunchy.

If alot of condensation starts to build up on the lid then prop the lid open a little (vent)with a wooden spoon or chopstick.

Original recipe at A Year of Slow Cooking.

Slow Cook 16 Bean Soup w/ Sausage

I stumbled across this recipe and coincidentally happened to have the 16 Bean soup mix on hand. It was great and even better on day 2! I served it with toasted whole grain bread.

Ingredients:
Serves: 8
- 16 Bean Soup Mix
- 1/2 large sweet onion - chopped
- 2- 3 cloves of garlic - chopped
- 1 lb sausage or kielbasa - sliced
- seasoning from the soup mix, or use onion soup mix, or your favorite spices
- water

Directions:
Prep time: 10min
Total time: 8 - 10 hours

1. Throw it all in a 6qt crockpot
2. Fill up crockpot with water until about 2" from the top.
3. Cook on low all day.
4. Eat it. :) 


Original recipe at A Year of Slow Cooking 

Cottage Pie

This is a good 'ol stick to your ribs, comfort food that you really can't mess up. That being said I don't have really any measurements for it. The seasonings are all to taste. You can prepare this whenever and refrigerate, then brown it in the oven right before serving.

Ingredients:
Serves:6

- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables
- 2 large potatoes or 3 medium - chopped to about 1" cubes
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 12oz of beef or chicken stock
- garlic powder
- salt
- pepper
- Worcestershire sauce
- Mayonnaise 


Directions:
Prep time: 30min
Total time: 1 hr

1. Brown ground beef in large skillet. If you're not using 93/7 lean then you may need to strain the beef.
2. While beef is browning, clean and chop potatoes, place in medium pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil potatoes for 20 min or so, until fork tender.
3.  To the beef add mixed vegetables, stock, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, garlic, and salt. Go easy here, you can always add more if you need to. 
4. Cover beef mix and allow to simmer for about 20min or until the liquid cooks down
5.  Drain excess water from potatoes add a couple T of mayo and mash gradually adding cheddar cheese (save a few pinches for the topping).
6. Transfer beef mixture to a baking dish and spread mashed potatoes over the top. (STOP HERE if you're not going to eat it in the next 30 min)
7. Preheat oven to 400F 
8. Sprinkle cheddar over the top if you have any left (if not, no biggie). 
9. Bake uncovered for 20-25 min or until top begins to brown and serve. 
 

Tex-Mex Creamy Chicken w/Black Beans

This was my first crockpot attempt and it turned out pretty well. It's very Tex-Mex and a little more salsa-y tasting than I was in the mood for that night, but the leftovers tasted better than the first night. I chose it because I could use frozen chicken instead of having to remember to thaw it first. (I'll post a pic next time I make it.)

Ingredients:

Servings:4
        
- 4-5 FROZEN boneless chicken breasts
- 1 (15 1/2oz) can of black beans
- 1 (15oz) can of corn
- 1 (15oz) jar of salsa or picante sauce
- 1 (8oz) package of cream cheese
4 4

Servings Size

• 
  

Directions:

Prep Time: 3 mins
Total Time: 5 hrs

1.  Take 4-5 frozen boneless chicken breasts put into crock pot.
2. Add 1 can of black beans, drained, 1 jar of salsa, 1 can of corn drained.
3. Keep in crock pot on high for about 4 hours or until chicken is cooked. Stir occasionally.
4. Add cream cheese, just toss it on top and let in melt over the next hour or so.
5. Serve as is or over a bed of rice.
   
   
   Original recipe found at Food.com

What's for dinner?

Since I was a kid I swore I'd marry a man that could cook so I wouldn't have to and I did. He likes cooking, I like eating, it works. But I also like staying home with my kids, which means he works and he happens to work evenings. Doesn't work so well for me not cooking...

I don't HATE cooking, but it's not something that I particularly enjoy, mostly because by the time I realize that it's dinner time it's too late to actually cook and have dinner ready before my son's bedtime. Even when I plan meals ahead, time slips by in the rush of things and it's too late so we're back to oatmeal, or hotdogs, or pizza, well you get the picture.

So I'm falling in love with my crockpot and dinners I can make in 30min or less. I thought I'd share them here, for people who are like I used to be and too lazy to spend an hour or 2 in the kitchen, or people like I am now who are too busy chasing kids (or whatever) to spend an hour or 2 in the kitchen.

The crockpot is my favorite since i can put it all together in the am when my hubby is home to wrangle our little adventurers or during naptime; I love being able to see that it's dinner time and just dish it out. It works into my life rather than making my life work into how long it's going to take to make dinner.

Hope you like it and if you've got any recipes that are quick or slow cook then I'd love to hear them!