My Crock Pot Thanksgiving Dinner

To prove that I practice what I preach, I thought I would share a couple pictures of my crock pot Thanksgiving...

It turned out that it was only going to be Hubs and I, so I only had to use 4 of my crock pots...we had gone to my MIL's for dinner on Wednesday and because of my work schedule, I picked up a cheesecake for that dinner, and we had some left over, so I didn't have to use a 5th crock pot to make any dessert...

Green beans, potatoes, roast and a chicken for Koda (We don't buy dog food, we cook for Koda - yes I know he's spoiled- and have found that cooking a whole chicken in the crock pot is the easiest way to make his dinner...grin)...Hubs doesn't care for white meat, so it was no use getting a turkey breast, so we had a roast...it isn't really what you eat, but who you eat it with...grin...



To prove they aren't empty:

Potatoes and Green Beans

Whole Chicken and Roast

And I can't forget the hot rolls....



I love small kitchen appliances...I think the most time consuming thing was peeling the potatoes...and plugging the appliances in...grin...

Happy Black Friday to everyone!

Starting December 1, 2009 I will be posting Party Recipes...dips, spreads, beverages, etc. for all those holiday parties this time of the year brings...

Happy Holidays!

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen will be closed until after Thanksgiving. I hope everyone found at least one recipe that they thought was interesting enough to try for their Thanksgiving holiday meal during Hazel's Holiday Recipes month...

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving full of much love, happiness, family and friends.

I just want to say that I'm Thankful for all of you and to let each of you know that you have touched my life one way or another. Your blogs make me smile, laugh out loud, and ponder things that I hadn't thought of before...When I started my first blog, I never thought I would have any readers, much less meet so many wonderful people.

I can't wait to return with more recipes after Thanksgiving...again, Happy Thanksgiving and don't eat too much!!!

Happy Slow Cooking! Hugs...

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

I can't forget breakfast during this time. I mean, you have a house full of people or you need to go to a household that will be full of people, so why not make something simple for breakfast...

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

32 ounces bag frozen hashbrowns
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter

Pour hashbrowns into your crock pot that has been sprayed with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, mix the soups together. Slice butter stick into tablespoons and mix in soup. Pour over hashbrowns. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. Stir about every hour to mix up butter as it melts. In the last half hour of cooking at the sour cream and stir to mix. Cook for final half hour. Then serve.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...


More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen...

Orange Marmalade Carrots

I know carrots are a staple in some homes for the holidays, so here's a recipe with carrots...

Orange Marmalade Carrots

3 cups carrots, sliced thin
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups water

3 tablespoons orange marmalade
2 tablespoons pecans, chopped
3 tablespoons butter

Put first 3 items in crock pot that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours. Drain liquid from crock pot. Mix next 3 ingredients with carrots in crock pot. Stir to mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 20-30 minutes.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...


More Holiday Recipes on Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen...

Crock Pot Buttered Rum Drink

Another "come in out of the cold" drink...

Crock Pot Buttered Rum Drink

4 cups water
1 cup brown sugar, dark
1/4 cup butter
1 pinch salt
cinnamon sticks
3 whole cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
rum
eggnog

Mix water, brown sugar butter, salt, cloves and nutmeg in crock pot. Add cinnamon sticks. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1-2 hours. Make sure butter is melted and everything is hot.

Pour into mugs, add a couple shots of rum and some eggnog.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...


More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen

Gingerbread Latte

I love Gingerbread...so when I came across it I just knew I had post it...This would make a great after dinner drink for your guests...

Gingerbread Latte

Ingredients:

1/2 cup black coffee, make it strong
4 cups - 2% milk (must be 2% to prevent curdling)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
cinnamon stick
whipped cream for garnish (optional)


Directions:

Pour milk into crock pot and use a wire whisk to mix in the dried spices. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours (you want the milk to be really hot, but not boiling).

Make coffee as you normally would and then pour milk over coffee, add some whipped cream to the top and then sprinkle with a some extra nutmeg (optional). Add one cinnamon stick to each mug.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...


More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen

Green Bean Casserole

I almost forgot about the green beans...We usually have what my Hub calls Brenda Beans, but this recipe sounds pretty good, so I might have try something new this year...Maybe?

Brenda Beans are a quart of green beans, a stick of butter and 1/4 to 1/2 cup brown sugar. Mix all in the crock pot and cook on LOW for 4 hours (HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 hours). Salt and Pepper to taste...I always check about the last half hour of cooking to see if it has enough brown sugar and this is how I test that...I lift the lid on the crock pot and if I smell the brown sugar, then I know I have enough...if not, I add more...I start with the 1/4 cup and go from there...

Now for the Green Bean Casserole

• 28 oz. pkg. green beans
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 16 oz. container Alfredo cheese sauce
• 2.5 oz. can french fried onions (divided in half)
  

Preparation:

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients except one half of the french fried onions in crock pot. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, stirring after 1 hour. Just before serving, heat remaining french fried onions in a small skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir casserole and sprinkle with crisp hot onions.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...

For more Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen...

Scalloped Corn

I'm not sure if scalloped corn is on your menu or not at Thanksgiving, and we always have homemade cream corn here, but I found this recipe and thought I would post it. I will be posting Turkey recipes soon, but I wanted to make sure I didn't miss any other food that might be eaten on Thanksgiving....If you usually eat something that I haven't posted a recipe for, let me know and I will find a crock pot recipe for it...or at least try to...Hugs...

Scalloped Corn

• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 4 eggs (you can use egg substitute if you want)
  
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper
• 14 oz. can cream-style corn
• 2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained
• 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves

Direction:

Spray crockpot with cooking spray. Mix first 7 ingredients in medium bowl. Put both types of corn in crockpot, pour mixture over corn and stir to mix. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours until set.

Happy Slow Cooking!! Enjoy and Hugs...



More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen...

Turkey Breast with a Maple Cornbread Stuffing

I found this recipe and just had to post it...I love the sweet taste of maple and this is the recipe I will be making for Thanksgiving...Now Hubs doesn't really like the taste of maple so I will need to make turkey a different way for him, but that's okay...as long as I get my Maple Turkey...yummy!

Turkey Breast with a Maple Cornbread Stuffing

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 pan cornbread, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2-3 pound boneless, thawed turkey breast
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup apricot preserves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

Directions:

Melt butter in saucepan, add onion and cook til tender. In large mixing bowl place crumbled cornbread and pour onions/butter over cornbread. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.

Mix maple syrup, apricot preserves and thyme leaves in bowl. Mix half this mixture with the cornbread mixture, reserving rest of maple mixture. Spray crock pot with cooking spray and place cornbread mixture in crock pot. Sprinkle turkey breast with salt & pepper. Place turkey breast on cornbread mixture. Pour reserved maple mixture over turkey. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours. Making sure meat thermometer reads 165' when put in thickest part of breast.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...


More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen...

Cranberry Stuffing with Turkey Breast

I've not found any recipes yet that lets you cook the stuffing inside the turkey, so if that is the way you like your stuffing, sorry...if I come across a recipe with stuffing inside the turkey, I will post it, but for now all these recipes are for the stuffing to NOT be cooked inside the turkey...

Cranberry Stuffing with Turkey Breast

• 4 cups oatmeal bread, cubed
  
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries, cut in half
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 Tbsp. butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp. dried marjoram leaves
• 4-5 lb. boneless, thawed turkey
  
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Preparation:

Place cubes on a jelly roll pan and bake in oven for 1 hour at 250'. Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Once bread cubes have cooled, pour into crock and mix with next 5 ingredients.

Combine next three ingredients and mix well. Pour egg mixture over bread mixture, and mix to coat.

Salt and Pepper turkey breast. Put half the stuffing in crock pot. Set turkey breast on stuffing and then place rest of stuffing around the turkey. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-9 hours. Make sure the meat thermometer reads 180' when placed in the thickest part of the breast.

Remove turkey and put on platter. Cover with foil and let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving. Serves 6-8

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...

More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen

Sausage and Apple Crock Pot Stuffing

I don't usually like crock pot recipes where I have to do something other than just toss everything in and turn it on...and then of course EAT! But sometimes recipes call for browning meats before putting them into the crock pot, so as long as that is all I have to do, then I'm okay...this recipe is one of those browning meat recipes...

Sausage and Apple Crock Pot Stuffing

Ingredients:
1 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cup diced celery
1 1/2 cup chopped granny smith apples
12 cups dried bread cubes
1 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 pound ground pork sausage -- browned and drained
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup butter -- melted

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in crock pot. Cover; cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, stirring once at 3 hours. If you notice about 1/2 hour to 435 minutes before serving that it still seems too moist, take the lid off to finish cooking and allow the liquid to cook down.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...

More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen...

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Yummm...we love mashed potatoes and to be able to make them in a crock pot...I'm in Heaven! I have made this recipe a few times and they are quite good...

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

• 2 lbs baking potatoes, cubed (You can use red potatoes if you want. You can also leave the peeling on if you want)
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed (can use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 1 cup milk

Directions

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Put everything but the milk (do NOT put milk in crock pot to cook) into the crock pot and stir to mix flavors. Cover and Cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.

Add milk and mash potatoes with electric mixer or by hand. Salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

TIP: The best part about this recipe is, if you want to make regular mashed potatoes, just peel and chop your potatoes and add the 1/4 cup water, just like you would if you were making them on the stove only with less water, let the crock pot cook them for you and then make as you normally would when you get home. I do this when I come home for lunch, so that when I get home from work, they are ready for me to mash and add whatever ingredients I want...

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...


More Holiday Recipes on Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen

Sweet Potato and Pecan Casserole

Sweet Potato and Pecan Casserole

1 can (40 ounces) sweet potatoes, drained and chop potatoes into bite size pieces
1/2 cup apple juice
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, melted and divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix potatoes, apple juice, 1/3 cup butter, salt, cinnamon and pepper in large bowl. Beat eggs in separate bowl and stir to mix with above ingredients. Pour mixture into crock pot.

Combine Pecans, brown sugar, flour and remaining butter in small bowl. Spread mixture over sweet potatoes.

Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Serves 6 to 8 servings.

Tip: If you want to use fresh sweet potatoes, I would cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs....

More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen...

Sweet Pototoes with Marshmallows

I know some people like to have marshmallows on their sweet potatoes, so here's a recipe just for you...grin...

Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:
2 pounds Sweet potatoes -- peel, chopped to bite size pieces
1/3 cup Brown sugar -- packed
1/4 cup Butter -- melted
1/4 cup Broken pecans -- toasted
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 cup Coconut -- flaked (optional)
1/4 teaspoon Coconut extract (optional)
1 bag small marshmallows

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Combine first five ingredients (and coconut flakes if desired). Cover; cook on LOW for 6 to 8 or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Stir in vanilla extract (and coconut extract if desired). Heat oven to 350'. Remove crock from cooker and sprinkle marshmallows on top of sweet potatoes. Bake for about 15 minutes or til marshmallows are browned to your liking.

If you wish to pour your sweet potatoes into a casserole dish and then put marshmallows on them and bake them that is fine.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...

More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Okay, I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of sweet potatoes either...must be something about the color orange...don't like pumpkin, sweet potatoes and will only eat carrots if they are raw...grin...So I have not tested this recipe either...sorry...

Today is Sweet Potatoes day...

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Serves 4 to 6


Ingredients

• 5 medium (2 - 2 1/2 pounds) sweet potatoes, peeled
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Slice sweet potatoes into thick slices (1/4 to 1/2 thick) and put in crock pot. Mix next five ingredients together in a bowl. Mix well and pour over sweet potatoes. Stir to coat sweet potatoes.

Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours. You will want to stir these a few times during cooking. Start about every hour after hour 4. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...

More Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen...

Crock Pot Cranberry Sauce

This week I will be concentrating on other areas of your Holiday meals...today is Cranberries...

Crock Pot Cranberry Sauce

1 1/2 cup apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
16 ounces whole berry cranberry sauce

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients in crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours. Serves 8


Orange Cranberry Relish

2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 cup orange juice
1 (16 oz.) pkg. fresh or frozen cranberries

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Combine first 3 ingredients; stir well. Mix in cranberries. Cover; cook on LOW for 6 hrs. Using a potato masher, mash cranberries. Chill till served. Makes 4 cups...

This could also make a nice little gift...spoon into cleaned and sterilized jelly jars and seal. Keep in refrigerator.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...

For more Holiday Recipes from Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen