Sweet & Spicy Meatballs & Rice

This is something that I make when I go to parties (minus the rice) or just when I want something quick and simple to make for dinner.

These Sweet and Spicy Meatballs are always a hit...

Ingredients:

Jar of Grape Jelly (18 oz)
Jar of Chili Sauce (12 oz)
Frozen Meatballs (about 50-60)...

If you are going to a party, these are the only ingredients you need...but if you are eating this at home, you will need to put something with them...we like to eat rice with our meatballs, but we've also put the meatballs over baked potatoes, french fries, pasta or you can turn them into a meatball sub...There are lots of things you can eat meatballs with...

Tonight, we are eating them with rice...now being someone who likes to keep it simple, I like to use the Steamfresh Whole Grain Brown Rice...Pop this in the microwave per bag instructions and you have ready-to-eat rice in 4 - 4 1/2 minutes. Put on your plate and spoon meatballs on top.

Instructions:

Pour frozen meatballs into the crock pot...

Mix Jelly & Chili Sauce together...

Pour over meatballs...

Mix well...

Put lid on and Cook on LOW for 3 hours...

Enjoy!

Easy Salmon in the Crockpot

We love fish around here...Salmon and Orange Roughy are big favorites of ours...but eating out isn't always an option because of the expense...so when I can find a simple recipe that can go in the crockpot...I'm all there and I wanted to share it with you...

Here's what you need:

Frozen or Fresh Salmon or Orange Roughy
Old Bay Seasoning
1 1/2 sticks of Butter or Margarine

Slice the butter...

Put it in the bottom of your
Crock Pot just like this...

Place the fish on top of butter...

Place a few more slices of butter
on the fish...

Sprinkle with Old Bay Spice...

Cook on LOW for about 4 hours...Enjoy!

I serve this with baked potatoes and a small salad. I also season it a little more in the last 15 minutes or so of cooking, but that's just me...

Happy Slow Cooking!

Banana Oatmeal

I love oatmeal...it's filling, you can add cinnamon or berries or just eat it plain...

So today I've decided to post an oatmeal recipe...

Banana Oatmeal

4 cups water
1/2 cup fat-free, sweetened condensed skim milk
2 cups old-fashioned oats, dry
2 medium bananas, thinly sliced into 1/4 inch pieces

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Place water, milk, oats in crock pot and stir to mix. Cook on LOW for 6 hours. Add the bananas 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm.

Now I know what you're saying...6 hours? It will be lunch time before it's done...grin...Here's the thing...you can get an inexpensive timer and plug your crock pot into it (or you can buy a crock pot with a timer, but I don't like those)...set your timer to go off 6 hours before you are ready to get up and have breakfast waiting for you...

Hugs and enjoy!

Peanut Butter Crock Pot Bread

Okay, I found this recipe and I just had to post it...I can't wait to try it and if you do, please let me know what you think...I love peanut butter and I love bread...so what could be better then a PJ sandwich in the crock pot...yummmy....


Peanut Butter Crock pot Bread

• 2 cups flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 cup milk

Preparation:

Mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in bowl. Cut in peanut butter. Stir in nuts. Add egg and milk and mix with fork only until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn into well greased and floured 2-pound coffee can, loaf pan or insert. Cover with paper towels & lid. With cover slightly ajar, cook on high for 2 hours or until done. Let stand in insert or on a cake rack for 10 minutes. Turn out on rack to completely cool. Store overnight before slicing.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread

Here's a recipe that you can make in the oven or in the crock pot...

Pumpkin Bread

1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 beaten eggs
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg or 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. soda
1 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. dates, cut up

Blend oil and sugars, stir in eggs and pumpkin. Sift dry ingredients and add to above. Stir in nuts and dates. Pour butter into greased and floured 2 pound coffee can. Place can in an upright crock pot (if you do not have an upright...you can put the batter in a well greased loaf pan). Put your 8 paper towels on opening and then place lid on crock pot. cook on HIGH for 3 hours. No peeking until last hour. If you make this in the loaf pan, you may not have to cook as long....

CONVENTIONAL OVEN: In loaf pan, bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy!

Honey Wheat Bread

Bread is something you can make in the crock pot...so I will be posting bread recipes for the next couple of posts...Hope you enjoy!

Honey Wheat Bread

2 c. warm skim milk
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. molasses
3/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg. active dry yeast
3 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. bran
1/4 c. wheat germ

Preheat crock pot on high setting for 30 minutes. Combine warm (not hot) milk, oil, honey, molasses, salt, yeast and half the flour in a bowl. With electric mixer, beat well for about 2 minutes. Add remaining flour; mix well. Place dough in well-greased baking pan (loaf pan); cover, bake on HIGH for 3 hours.


**don't forget...when making bread in the crock pot, you want to take about 8 paper towels and place them over the crock pot opening and then place the lid on the crock pot...this will keep the condensation from making your bread wet...

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy...

Baking Bread in the Crock Pot tips

I've had a few people ask about making bread in the crock pot, so I thought I would share these tips to help you out...If you remember these tips, you'll have wonderful bread...from the crock pot...

Tips:

1. Save your coffee cans, canned vegetable cans, use the loaf pan you all ready have, etc. Any 1, 2 or 3 pound coffee or nut can or any metal mold that holds 4, 8 or 12 cups. (copper gelatin molds, baking pans, etc.) can be used...
2. Grease insert or can with solid vegetable shortening.
3. Only half fill the insert or can. This allows for rising.
4. Heat needs to be able to circulate around the insert. If a baking rack isn't available, crumple up enough aluminum foil to raise the can about an inch from the bottom of the crockpot.
5. If there is not lid, cover the can with a double thickness of paper towels.(about 8 paper towels)
   
6. Place lid on crockpot for baking...the lid will hold the paper towels in place.
   
7. Generally, baking is done on high heat, but you should follow the recipe instructions.
8. Only lift lid to check for doneness. (usually in the last hour) Lifting the lid too often will let necessary heat escape.
9. Use pot holders or folded paper towels to remove can or insert from crock pot.

I hope these tips will help you make wonderful breads and cakes in your crock pot...

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy!

Leftover Turkey Soup

What do you do with the leftover turkey...turn it into turkey soup...this is another recipe I haven't tried, but I came across the recipe and thought I might try it this year...

Leftover Turkey Soup

1 pound ground turkey or chopped cooked turkey
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon basil
3 teaspoons beef bouillon
3 cups boiling water
1 cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced carrots
1 large diced onion
1 cup diced green pepper
1 cup fresh mushrooms

Add all ingredients except mushrooms to crockpot. Cover; cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Add mushrooms and turn heat to high for 10 to 15 minutes.

Happy Slow Cooking and Enjoy...Hugs...

Hot Holiday Punch

The holidays are a coming...and coming fast they are...so just like last year, I thought I would post some holiday recipes...

This is one I've not tried, but it the ingredients sounded wonderful together, so I thought I would post the recipe...

Hot Holiday Punch

3 cups apple juice
3 cups orange juice
6 cups cranberry juice cocktail
3/4 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
cinnamon sticks

Combine all the ingredients in crock pot, except the cinnamon sticks. Cook on HIGH for about 3 hours...you want the mixture to be boiling...then turn your crock pot down to WARM. Serve this recipe hot in mugs and place a cinnamon stick in each mug.

If your crock pot only has High and Low...then you will want to turn your crock pot and serve your punch warm...you can always plug it back in and put it on LOW to heat it up if it starts getting cold. Crock pots will keep items hot for quite awhile if you keep the lid on...Enjoy...

Happy Slow Cooking...Enjoy! Hugs...

Taco Soup

Cold weather is a coming, so it's time to get the crock pot out...grin...okay, so keeping the crock pot out all year round is the best thing to do... I love making soups in the winter. The house smells so wonderful, the hot soup warms you up...and making soup in the crock pot is soo easy...So here's a favorite around here...

Taco Soup

• 1 to 1 1/2 lbs burger
  
• 1 med onion chopped
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 can corn-undrained
• 1 can black beans-undrained
• 1 can kidney beans-udrained
• 2 cans chopped tomatoes with chiles
• 1 can tomato sauce (regular size)
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• nachos
• shredded cheddar cheese
  

Add chopped onion to hot oil in fry pan. Cook until tender; add ground meat and cook until no longer pink. Drain well and transfer to crockpot. Add corn, black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning; stir well. Cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours. When serving, top soup with broken taco chips and shredded cheddar cheese. Enjoy!!!
Serves 6 to 8.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy....Hugs...

Cheesy Hash Brown Potato Soup

I love Potato Soups...There are actually several different recipes that I love and this is one of them. Easy, Delicious and you make it in a crock pot...grin...Enjoy...

Cheesy Hash Brown Potato Soup

1 (32 oz) bag thawed southern-style diced hash brown potatoes

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup diced celery

1 (32 oz) carton chicken broth

1 cup water

3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese blend

1/4 cup real bacon pieces

Mix first 5 ingredients in crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours. Just before serving, mix flour into milk and stir into crock pot mixture. Increase heat to HIGH, cover and cook 20 to 30 minutes. You want mixture to thicken. Stir in cheese until melted. Spoon into bowls, salt & pepper (to taste) and garnish with bacon and green onions.

Enjoy! Happy Slow Cooking!

Chicken Portobello

Chicken is one of the best things to make in a crock pot...okay, who am I kidding...EVERYTHING is the best thing to make in a crock pot...grin...but I have a chicken recipe to share, so right now chicken is the best thing...grin...

Chicken Portobello

Ingredients:

• 4 frozen bone-in chicken breast halves
• 8 portobello mushroom caps
• 1 (8 ounce) bottle Italian-style salad dressing
• 1 (8 ounce) package angel hair pasta

Directions:

Spray crock pot with cooking spray and place chicken breast in crock pot. Place mushroom caps, face up, on chicken. Pour dressing over chicken and mushroom caps. Cover and Cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours.

Cook pasta per package direction. Put cooked pasta on plates and top with chicken breast and mushrooms. Spoon sauce from crock pot over chicken/mushroom/pasta and serve...

Enjoy...and Happy Slow Cooking!

Barbecue Sweet Ribs

Today I was talking with some friends and we got onto the subject of crockpots...I know...those of you who know me are shocked by this, but...it happened...grin...

Anyway, with everything that has been going on this year, I've let Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen fall by the side of the road...so I thought I would post a recipe and see if I can get back into posting some recipes again...

So today I have Barbecue Sweet Ribs...yummy....

Ingredients:

2 pounds baby back ribs, pork
1 tsp pepper
2 1/2 cups of your favorite barbecue sauce (avoid mesquite flavored)
1 (8 oz) jar cherry jam/preserves
1 TBL Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Trim fat from ribs. Sprinkle pepper over ribs, then cut into 2-rib sections. Put in crock pot sprayed with cooking spray. Mix rest of ingredients in bowl, then pour over ribs.

Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours. You can drizzle any sauce that is left in the crock pot over the ribs once they are plated.

Enjoy...and Happy Slow cooking...

Chocolate Coconut Clusters

If you have read any of my blogs, posts, etc. etc. you know that I LOVE chocolate!!! Nothing makes a bad day better...grin..

So you know I have to throw in a chocolate recipe whenever I can...and here it is...

Chocolate Coconut Clusters

1 lb candy coating
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 square baking chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup coconut
2 cups roasted peanuts

Combine 1st 3 ingredients in crock pot. Cover and cook LOW until melted about 3-4 hours. Make sure you stir about every hour. Turn off the crock pot and mix in last 3 ingredients. Stir until throughly mixed. Drop by teaspoons on cookie sheet that is covered with wax paper. Place in refrigerator until set up.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy...Hugs..

Peach Crisp

Well...I've had enough time off...I started feeling better with the vitamins, etc. that my new doc put me on and then I got sick with a sinus infection or something and I've been trying to get over that...then it was time to do a little gardening and get outside...

But now it's time for some crock pot meals to keep the kitchen from getting too hot this summer...and what better way to start than with a Peach Crisp...yummy!!!

Peach Crisp

6 peaches, peeled and sliced (must use fresh)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon (split)
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup granola
1/2 cup crushed toffee

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Mix peaches, lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in crock pot. Drizzle with caramel topping.

In a mixing bowl, mix oatmeal, brown sugar, flour, salt and the other 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add the melted butter and stir until crumbly. Stir in granola and toffee. Sprinkle this mixture over the peaches. Cover and cook on LOW 4-5 hour.

When done, spoon into bowls and serve with ice cream or cool whip. Serves 6

Enjoy and Happy Slow Cooking! Hugs...

St Patty's Day Dip

You never can have too many dip recipes...dips are great for so many things...they are simple and tasty...

St Patty's Day Dip

First set of ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) box cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 cup Swiss cheese
1/2 lb deli corned beef, sliced thin
1 (8 ounce) refrigerated sauerkraut

Put these ingredients into the Crock pot and cook on HIGH for one hour. Don't worry about mixing the ingredients together at this time. You won't be able to do that until some of the ingredients melt.

Next set of ingredients:

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 Tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

After the first hour, add the next set of ingredients and mix. Cook for another 30 minutes on HIGH. After mixture has gotten hot, remove from heat and serve with crackers.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...

St Patricks Day Recipes

OMG! I can't believe I have gone one month without posting a recipe on Hazel's Crock Pot Kitchen! Where has time gone...I guess what they say is true...the older you get the faster time flies...sigh..

I have decided to post some St Patrick's Day Recipes this week and try to get back in the swing of things...I hope you have been enjoying your slow cooker and all the wonderful things you can create in them...

You can't have St Patrick's day without Corned Beef and Cabbage, so I thought I would start with that recipe...

Corned Beef and Cabbage

4 to 5 lbs corned beef, seasoned
1- 1/2 cups water
2 parsnips, chopped up
8 ounces, baby carrots
8 small potatoes
10 small white onions
1 head of cabbage, cored and cut into wedges
dried thyme leaves
mustard or horseradish sauce (optional)

Place all ingredients in crock pot (not cabbage) and sprinkle with the thyme leaves. Cook on LOW for 8 hours adding the cabbage in the last 2 hours of cooking.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs!

Crock Pot Caramel & Nut filled Apples

This is a great recipe...simple and tasty! And healthier choice to eating chips and dips during the big game.

Caramel & Nut Filled Apples

4 Tablespoon chopped nuts, your choice
4 large tart apples (thanks Rosemary for the tips on apples)
1/2 cup apple juice
8 Tablespoons brown sugar
12 hot cinnamon candies (Red Hots)
4 Tablespoons butter (cut the stick of butter into 4 - 1 Tablespoon slices)
8 Caramel Candies
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

You will want to core the apples and remove about a 1/2-inch strip of apple peel of the top of each apple. Fill each apple with 2 Tablespoon brown sugar that is mixed with 1 Tablespoon of nuts, 2 cinnamon candies, 1 Tablespoon butter, and 2 caramel candies. (I mix the ingredients for each apple in a small bowl, so that everything is mix together before putting them inside the apples.) Pour Apple juice into the crock pot. Place the apples inside the crock pot. Sprinkle each apple with cinnamon. Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours. You want the apples to be tender. Serve hot...

I happen to like caramel, so I will melt some caramel and pour it over each apple after they have cooked. And you can serve this with whipped cream or ice cream also.

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs...

Tailgating and slow cooking

Even as big a fan of slow cooking as I am, I have to say that I was amazed to know that they have made a crock pot that you can plug into your lighter plug in your car! How amazing is that? Now you can crock pot while you tailgate...I love it...I might just crock pot while I Christmas shop this year or on my next road trip..

The RaodPro is only 1.5 quarts, so no full meat and potatoes kind of meals, but you can make soups, chili, barbecued beans or meatballs for meatball subs....how great is this?

So just for the RoadPro, (and the Super Bowl), I thought I would post some recipes that would work for a tailgating partying...

First, frozen meatballs and your favorite barbecue sauce in the crock pot on LOW for 4 hours, then you can dip the meatballs out and put them on sub buns and put some mozzarella cheese on them...quick and easy...

Second, Baked Beans

2 1/2 cups Dried Great Northern Beans
4 cups Water
1 (15 oz) can Tomato Sauce
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Small onion, chopped small
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Salt to taste

The night before - Rinse and drain the dry beans. Put rinsed beans in crock pot and pour the 4 cups of water over beans. Cook on LOW over night (at least 8 hours).

The next morning - stir in all other ingredients, cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.

If you are doing the tailgating...cook beans the night before and then you can mix everything in the morning and start cooking 6 hours before the game by plugging that RoadPro into your truck...

Happy Slow Cooking! Enjoy and Hugs!

Cheesy Salsa Dip

Dips are one of the easiest things to make in a crock pot and one of the easiest things to have at any party. This is one of our favorite dips.

Cheesy Salsa Dip

1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 cup Velveeta cheese cut into chunks
1/2 cup salsa

Mix all ingredients in crock pot that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Mix completely. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 4 hours or HIGH for 1 to 2 hours. Stir half way through cooking time to help cheese melt evenly. Dip is done when cheese is melted completely. Serve with tortillas, nachos, or corn chips.