Feb 27, 2011

Crock Pot Desserts

This recipe has been around for years and is a staple for a lot of cooks.

Peach Cobblerpeaches

Ingredients
2 large cans of peaches with juice
1 yellow cake mix
1 stick of butter
1 pkg of peaches and cream oatmeal

Directions  
Add 2 cans of peaches with juice to crock
Top with yellow cake mix
Put dabs of butter on top of cake mix
Then top with package of peaches and cream oatmeal packet
* Put plastic over top of crock pot and place lid on top.  
Cook 2-4 hours on med heat.

Rice Pudding

Ingredients
1/2 gallon milk
1 c. rice (not instant)
1 c. sugar
3 TB butter
* 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c. dried raisins
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Put all ingredients into a crockpot, stir to blend. Cover and cook 1 1/2 to 2 hours on high. Stir once after 1 hour. The longer it cooks the thicker it will become.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Tip - How Many Appetizers

When planning your party menu allow 10 appetizers per person for Appetizercocktail parties and six per person for dinner parties at a minimum. No one wants a hungry guest.

Feb 26, 2011

Q&E Weekend Links

Enjoy the weekend and I will see you back here on Monday with a new Crockpot dessert recipe.

No knead bread in a crockpot
Flea market finds
Looking to learn to cook Italian, try some of the recipes and videos from the Cake Boss.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Feb 25, 2011

Crock Pot Sides

Making side dishes in the crock pot  makes sense. You can start them early, even make them the day before, don't have to watch or tend and they keep warm until you are ready to serve them.

Texas Potatoes
1 2lb package frozen hash browns
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 16oz carton sour cream
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Mix all ingredients and put in 3-1/2 qt crock pot on low for a couple of hours. Mainly, all it has to do is heat thru.


This is perfect for Easter, make it the night before and warm them the next day.

Classic Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients
4 to 5 sweet potatoes
2 tbsp butter
½ cup of brown sugar
½ cup water
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika

Directions
Cut sweet potatoes thick round slices. Place in boiling water for approximately 10 minutes to par-boil them. Strain and let them cool. Peel off skins.
Grease the crock pot basin with butter. Put down a layer of sweet potato slices. Dot with butter, sprinkle with some sugar and cinnamon.

Make another layer of sweet potatoes. Dot with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar again.
Make final layer of sweet potato slices. Dot with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon, paprika, salt and add the remaining sugar. Pour water into crock pot.

Cook on high for 3 to 3 ½ hours, or low for 6 to 6 ½ hours. Serves 4.

Italian Green Beans
1/3 - 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage
15 ounce can tomatoes, chopped
4 8 ounce cans sliced mushrooms, undrained
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon onion and/or garlic powders
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 1 pound cans Italian style green beans, 2 of them drained
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Brown sausage and drain. Add all ingredients to crockpot and cook on low up to 3 hours.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Feb 24, 2011

Crock Pot Q&E Entrees

Cook one of these recipes and add a green salad,green_thumb1 a  starchy vegetable, hot rolls and a dessert. You have a quick and easy entrĂ©e. All can be made the day before.

Ingredients:
1 pound cubed beef stew meat
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden or cream of
mushroom soup
1/2 cup chopped onion
Dash of garlic powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup water
4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)

Directions:
1. In a slow cooker, combine the meat, soup, onion, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and water.
2. Cook on Low setting for 8 hours, or on High setting for about 5 hours. Stir in cream cheese just before serving.  Goes great with noodles.


Make this one when you have a game night or card party!  Ranch Chicken sandwiches

ranchchix_thumb2
Ingredients:

6 chicken breasts , boneless, skinless
1 package dry ranch salad dressing mix
Bottle of your favorite buffalo wing sauce
8 buns, split lengthwise

Directions:
  • Place the chicken breasts into crock pot. Sprinkle with ranch dressing mix and pour the wing sauce over the top.
  • Cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  • Once the chicken has cooked, shred the meat finely with two forks.
  • Serve on buns.     

 

Slow Cooker Corned Beef corn_beef_sammy_thumb5Sandwiches

Ingredients:

3 pound corned beef briskets
1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle beer
1 bay leaves
1/4 cup peppercorns
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 bulb peeled garlic cloves, separated

Directions

  • Place meat in a slow cooker.
  • Combine beer, brown sugar in a medium bowl.
  • Pour over the meat.
  • Cover and cook on high for 6 to 6 1/2 hours or on low for 10 to 12 hours. The meat should be very tender.
  • Remove from crock pot.
  • Thinly slice the meat across the grain and serve on crusty bread  with a good grainy brown mustard. Make sure you have a good dill pickle to accompany the sandwich.


Company Pot Roast *

Ingredients:
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream
of mushroom soup
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1 med onion thinly sliced
11/4 cups water or 1/2 water and 3/4 white wine
5 1/2 pounds pot roast
1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)

Directions:
1. In a slow cooker, mix cream of mushroom soup, dry onion soup mix, onions, mushrooms and water. Place pot roast in slow cooker and coat with soup mixture.
2. Cook on High setting for 3 to 4 hours, or on Low setting for 8 to 9 hours.
* Can be made the night before and reheated.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Feb 23, 2011

Crock Pot Appetizers 4

Pizza Dip
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
2 cups canned pizza sauce
8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
8 ounces grated Mozzarella
1  1/2 teaspoons Italian Spice Blend
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions:
Brown ground beef well; drain off fat. Combine ground beef with all other ingredients in the crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours.
Serve with tortilla chips.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Feb 22, 2011

Happy National Margarita Day!

Read all about the Maqrgarita

margaritause
[Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]

Crock Pot Appetizer 3

Slow Cooker Hot Reuben Spread

From: Betty Crocker

This is so good I had to post it. Turn five ingredients into a savory dip that conveniently cooks in a slow cooker.

Servings: 26 servings (2 tablespoons each)

Prep: 10 mins

Total: 2 hrs 10 mins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups   shredded Swiss cheese (6 ounces)

3/4 cup   drained sauerkraut

1/2 cup   Thousand Island dressing

1 package  cream cheese, softened (8 ounces)

2 packages  thinly sliced corned beef, chopped (2 1/2 ounces each)

  Cocktail rye bread slices or pretzel crackers, if desired

Directions

1. Spray inside of 1- to 2 1/2-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients except crackers; spoon into slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 1 hour or until cheese is melted. Stir until cheese is smooth; cover and cook 1 hour longer.

3. Scrape down side of cooker with rubber spatula to help prevent edge of spread from scorching. Serve spread with rye bread. Spread will hold up to 2 hours on Low.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Feb 21, 2011

Crock Pot Appetizers 2

Oriental Chicken Drumettes or Wings

Ingredients
20 chicken drumettes or wings
1 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup hosin sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 cloves of garlic (mashed)
3 scallions cut on the bias

Directions

If using chicken wings cut into two sections at the joints. Brown wings slightly. Put the wings in the Crockpot. In a small bowl, put the hosin sauce, soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar and mix very well. Pour this mixture over the wings and stir well. Cook on low for 6 hours for a very unique taste. Afterwards, sprinkle scallions on wings and enjoy.



Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Feb 19, 2011

Weekend Links

 

Japanese etiquette
Tablescapes
Everything you wanted to know about cocktails

Enjoy the weekend and I will see you back here on Monday with a new Crockpot entrée recipe.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Feb 17, 2011

Q&E Crock Pot Entertaining

I am going to post recipes for the crock pot that are quick to put together and easy to serve when entertaining. Look at your crock pot as time saver and inexpensive way to help put together a party. crock pot



Use it for appetizers, the entree or for a hot dessert.  So drag it out and let’s cook.




Some Crock pots  do not brown meat, if recipe includes any kind of meat that needs the browning, use a skillet and some oil to brown the meat before placing in the Crock pot.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Feb 16, 2011

Crock Pot Appetizers 1

CROCK POT CHILI CHEESE TACO DIP
Ingredients:
1 lb. hamburger
3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon chili sauce
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, optional
1 Tablespoon water
1 lb. mild Mexican Velveeta cheese, cubed or shredded

Directions:
1. Brown hamburger; drain and place in slow cooker.
2. Add cream cheese,Worcestershire sauce, chili sauce
hot pepper sauce, optional  cover and cook on low until cheese is melted, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally to blend ingredients. Just before serving add sour cream/
3. Serve warm with taco or tortilla chips.

Crock Pot® is the registered trademark of Rival.

Chinese Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry

Beef & Broccoli
Ingredients

For 2 to 4 servings, you'll need:
  • 1/2 cup water, plus
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
  • 2 tablespoons water, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 lb boneless round steak  cut into thin 3-inch strips
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 4 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 small onion, cut into wedges
  • 1 T ketchup
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Directions Freeze beef for about 15 minutes to make cutting into strips easier,cut into strips. In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1Tof soy sauce 2 T water until smooth. Add beef and toss. If you want a thicker sauce, add about 2 T of cornstarch to the marinade. It'll thicken when the beef cooks. Set aside.
Wash broccoli and cut into 2-inch florets or sections. Peel and smash 3 cloves garlic.
In a sauce pan or wok on high heat, drizzle a bit of oil and add garlic. Quickly saute garlic and then add beef strips, minus the marinade. When the beef is seared, add the rest of the marinade and the broccoli florets and saute again. The dish is done when the broccoli is crisp but tender.
Serve with rice.

Feb 15, 2011

Orange Glazed Chicken

Ingredients
  • 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • flour
  • oil
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1/2 t ginger powder(optional)
  • 3 green onions cut on bias
  • 2/3 dash crushed hot red chilies
  • 3 T soy sauce 1/6 cup water
  • 4 T orange juice concentrate
  • 1/2 cup sugar or honey
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 T cornstarch
    orangie
Directions Chop the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Coat with flour by putting chicken and flour in a plastic bag. Shake until chicken is coated with flour. Heat about 1/4 oil in a frying pan or wok, add an even layer of chicken in the pan. Fry and turn until browned. Repeat until all the chicken is browned.
Add oil to your hot pan to sauté 3 - 4 cloves minced garlic, and about 4 - 6 chopped green onions. Cook until soft but not brown.

***Orange Chicken Sauce*** 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon water 3 1/3 tablespoons sugar 3 1/3 tablespoons white vinegar
Next, add soy sauce,  sugar, vinegar and  orange juice concentrate. Stir water into 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth. Add to chicken and heat until sauce is thickened. Stir in 1 tablespoon oil and sesame oil. Stir and heat until just bubbly. Add the chicken to your sauce and combine until coated.  Serve at once

Feb 14, 2011

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Hope the day is all you want it to be. Tell someone you love them.

Dan Dan Noodles

Ingredients:
Noodles
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 ounce green onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon chile paste
4 ounces ground chicken 1/4 ounce egg noodles, cooked
One 1/4-inch slice of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped dan
Directions:
Heat wok or large skillet, add 1 tsp. oil and sear the chile paste, garlic and green onion for 5 seconds. Add ground chicken, tossing and stirring until no longer pink.

Cornstarch Liquid Mixture
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon sugar
7 ounces chicken stock
1 tablespoon Sriracha chile sauce
1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil (optional)

Add all the liquid ingredients and simmer for one minute. Add a "slurry," equal parts of cornstarch and water mixed together (a tsp. or two of each) to thicken the sauce. Consistency should be thick enough to stand on top of the noodles.

In a pot of boiling salted water, cook the noodles until al dente. Drain and pat dry.

Pour chicken/sauce over a serving plate of hot cooked noodles. Garnish with your choice of cucumber matchsticks, sliced scallions, chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, bean sprouts and julienned cucumbers.

Feb 13, 2011

Sunday

Today is a day of rest for me and a chance to get outdoor. Tomorrow we will continue with the rest of the oriental recipes. I will be starting a series of Q&E crock pot recipes for entertaining following the oriental recipes.

Feb 12, 2011

Tip - Seeing Red

$
Don’t forget to pick up all things red at the after Valentine’s Day sale..  Napkins, plates, and candles for summer bbq and Christmas.

Feb 11, 2011

Links for Ideas for Oriental Parties



dragonTablescapes

Stylish Table
– classic simplicity
Home Ever After has a great idea for a shower.
Geisha Girl with traditional oriental blue colors.
Great details, many pictures.

Decorations
Asian Ideas – decorations
More decorations themes
Party decorations

Recipes

 

More links to come as the original file was damaged

Fried Rice

$ Money Saver
Ingredients
  • 1 cup  white rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup chopped baby carrots or leftover vegetables
  • 1/4 cup frozen green peas
  • 1/4 pound black forest ham, diced, or about 2 cups cooked, cubed or shredded chicken or pork
  • 3 scallions, thinly sliced on the bias
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • soy sauce to taste
  • sesame oil, to taste (optional)

In a saucepan, combine rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Best done the night before so rice gets cold and slightly dry.
Instant rice may be used cook ahead and cool it.

Heat wok* over high heat. Pour in oil, crack in egg stirring quickly to scramble eggs set aside egg. Add garlic then stir in scallions and  vegetables. Cook until just defrosted but still crisp.  Stir in cooked rice. Add scrambled egg back into wok. Shake in soy sauce, and toss rice to coat. Drizzle with sesame oil, and toss again. I occasional add chopped cooked bacon to the mixture.

Serves 4
* If you don’t have a wok, use a large heavy frying pan.

Feb 10, 2011

Oriental Menu

Appetizers Egg or Spring Rolls with dipping sauce*
chopsticksor Egg Drop Soup *

Choice of Dan Dan Noodles* or Fried Rice*

Entrée Choice of
Beef Pepper  Stir Fry*
Chicken Orange Glaze*

Dessert Orange Sherbet with Fortune Cookies

This menu can be expanded to include both entrees and appetizers. Items with * will be posting recipes and directions for cooking.

Feb 9, 2011

Egg Drop Soup

Egg Drop Soup is easy to make from scratch, or from canned chicken broth.

Ingredientsesoup
4 cups chicken broth
2 eggs, well beaten
1 green onion, thinly sliced
soy sauce to taste
pepper to taste

Directions
Bring chicken broth to a boil, gradually add egg to boiling broth, stirring gently in one direction Egg will break into shreds. Season with soy sauce and pepper and garnish with green onion.

Egg/Spring Roll Dipping Sauces

These are to  be used for dipping  your egg  or spring rolls Buy the egg rolls from your local store to save time.

Thai Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce

1 T peanut oil
1/4 cup finely chopped garlic
1 T dried hot pepper flakes to taste)
1/4 cup chicken broth or fish sauce
1 t honey
1 T lemon juice
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 T fresh cilantro if available, chopped ginger

1. Heat oil in small skillet and saute garlic till brown add hot pepper flakes
Remove from heat.
2. Combine fish sauce or stock and honey in a small saucepan. Add lemon juice and bring to boil, from heat.
3. Stir in garlic mixture and remaining ingredients. Serve at room temperature.

Sweet Chllii sauce

8 TB rice vinegar
8 TB  sugar
2 TB light soya sauce
Very finely chopped chilles.

Chicken Dipping
12 cup honey
1/24cup Dijon mustard

Combine the honey and mustard. This sauce is best when prepared a day or two ahead of time. It may be served at room temperature. Makes 3/4 cups.

Hoisin-Style Sauce

1/4 cup prepared Hoisin sauce
3 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1/4 cup chicken stock or broth
1 Tbsp. sesame seed oil (optional if not used increase    canola oil to 2 Tbsp.
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. orange juice
1-2 tsp. Chinese-style mustard

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

Before using as a sauce, let mixture stand at room temperature for 1 hour or covered and refrigerated up to 1 day to allow flavors to fully develop. Heat
sauce until hot. Transfer sauce to bowl.

Makes 1 cup.

Feb 8, 2011

Chinese New Year

In honor of the rabbit, we will be featuring  Q&E recipes 2011for entertaining using Chinese recipes. this week. There will be a complete menu  along with side dishes and links to learn about the New Year.

Feb 7, 2011

Strawberry Cream Pie

strawberries

I chocolate graham cracker crust (ready made)
1 large tub of whipped topping
1-1/2 cups sweetened sliced strawberries drained
Fresh whole  strawberries for garnish
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Directions

Toss sliced strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar

Spread half the whipped cream over pie then add strawberries.

Top with remaining whipped cream then chill at least 8 hours.

Garnish with whole berries. Drizzle with chocolate syrup if desired or chocolate shavings.

Tip–Football Decorations


Grab generic football decorations that are on sale to put away for football parties in the fall.

Feb 4, 2011

Rebooting the Kitchen

junk_drawer
Lifehacker

Got a few minutes for a good read? Looking to make your kitchen more efficient? Visit Lifehacker, bet you will get a few ideas.

Weekends and Me


During the week I will be looking for ways to make your kitchen and dinning more functional and fun. I will post the links to my finds on the weekend and resume Q&E on Monday.

Feb 2, 2011

Hot Chorizo Dip


hot-chorizo-dipCan’t pass up this recipe, perfect for Super Bowl.  Visit Life’s Ambrosia for more great ideas.