Thrifty Recipes Blog - Living On Food Banks

Slow Cooker Peppercorn Beef Roast

7/8/2022

There is nothing better than taking on some summer fun and coming home to dinner already waiting in your ever-faithful crock pot. Nothing beats spoon out dinner in seconds so that you can relax a bit after a wonderful afternoon.

3-5 lb. chuck roast
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup soy sauce
3-4 pepper corns
1 tsp. thyme

Put all ingredients in a slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until veggies are cooked through.

Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

6/5/2022

This Chicken Rice Soup is made by cooking chicken pieces in the broth which yields a beautiful savory, golden, flavor infused broth without having to man handle a whole chicken. Skip the rotisserie chicken – this is better!

4 cups chicken broth
4 cups, shredded cooked chicken
1 1/3 cup celery, chopped
1 1/3 cup carrot, chopped
1 quart of water
1 cup uncooked rice

Put all ingredients in a slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 4-8 hours, or until veggies are cooked through.

Easy Spicy Chili

6/4/2022

This spicy and satisfying chili is made in the slow cooker. Start it before you head off to work, and return to a homemade meal ready to eat! I like to put two scoops of sour cream in with my bowl.

2 pounds ground beef
2 (16 ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 onions, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in ground beef. Cook and stir until beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease.

Combine ground beef, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 10 hours, or High for 4 hours.

Garnish each serving with Cheddar cheese.

Outdoor Cooking

Succulent Beef Stew

6/4/2022

With summer activities upon us, don't forget about the crock pot stationed on one of your shelves. Just fill, and flip a switch and you're good to go when you return.

2 tbsp. flour
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp. oil
1 1/2 lbs. beef, cut into med. size cubes
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 (16 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 c. beef stock
2 lg. onions, quartered
1 whole bay leaf
4 potatoes, cut into chunks
6 carrots, sliced
1/2 tsp. basil

Season the flour with salt and pepper; dredge the meat in it. In a Dutch oven or other large pot, heat the oil and brown the beef on all sides. As the beef is cooking, sprinkle the thyme over it. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 2 1/2 hours.

Frozen Garden

Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan

11/25/2020

I love making this satisfying dish--it's easy and elegant, and the slow cooker minimizes my time in the kitchen. I make this during football season, too. For game days, I skip the pasta and serve the chicken on submarine rolls with a bit of the sauce and some chopped lettuce. You could also cut the chicken breasts in half and make sliders.

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
4 (6 ounces each ) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
4 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese
Hot cooked pasta, optional

In a shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, pepper and salt. In another bowl, combine egg and water. Dip chicken in egg mixture, then in crumb mixture to coat both sides, patting to help coating adhere.

Transfer chicken to a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. Pour sauce over chicken. Cook, covered, on low for 4-6 hours or until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 165°. Top with cheese, recover, and cook for 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted. If desired, serve with hot cooked pasta.

Crock Pot Recipes: Garlic Apple Pork Roast

9/19/2020

This is the meal I have become famous for, and it is so simple. The garlic and apple flavors really complement the pork. It's especially good with steamed fresh asparagus and roasted red potatoes.

1 boneless pork loin roast (3-1/2 to 4 pounds)
1 jar (12 ounces) apple jelly
1/2 cup water
2-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons pepper

Cut the roast in half; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the jelly, water and garlic; pour over roast. Sprinkle with parsley, salt and pepper.

Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, 8-10 hours. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with cooking juices if desired.

Crock Pot Recipes: Italian Pot Roast

9/6/2020

I am always on the lookout for a good Sunday dinner. That meal is always a special one in our house. Most recipes include a crock pot recipe so that we can visit family and rekindle our roots and come home to a delicious feast.

1 boneless beef chuck roast (3 to 4 pounds)
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup Burgundy wine or beef broth
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water

Cut roast in half. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, onion, wine, salt, basil, oregano, garlic and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until meat is tender.

Remove meat to a serving platter; keep warm. Skim fat from cooking juices; transfer to a small saucepan. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Gradually stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve with meat.

Crock Pot: Tangy Pork Chops

9/6/2020

These were quite a delicious surprise and took only a few minutes to put together. Once placed in the slow cooker all I needed to do was go about my day.

4 bone-in pork loin chops
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 medium onions, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 large green pepper, sliced
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) no-salt-added stewed tomatoes
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
Hot cooked rice or mashed potatoes, optional

Place chops in a 3-qt. slow cooker; sprinkle with pepper. Add the onions, celery, green pepper and tomatoes. Combine the ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and bouillon; pour over vegetables. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours or until meat is tender.

Mix cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into liquid in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high about 30 minutes or until thickened. If desired, serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

Crock Pot Recipes: Harvest Pecan Sweet Potatoes

8/1/2020

This is a delicious accompaniment to any dinner. It is quick and thrifty to make using canned sweet potatoes. In fact, if you have two crock pots, why not place the recent chicken recipe in one and this heart-warming side in the other? No work needed except a side salad.

(2) 29 oz. cans of sweet potatoes, drained
1/3 c butter melted and divided
2 T sugar
1/3 c brown sugar packed and divided
1 T orange juice
2 eggs beaten
½ c milk
1/3 c chopped pecans
2 T flour

Spray your crock pot with cooking spray. In a separate bowl, mash up your sweet potatoes
Mix in your 1/3 c melted butter, sugar and 2 T brown sugar with your mashed sweet potatoes
Next add in your juice, eggs and milk and beat.

Place your sweet potato mixture in your crock pot.

In a separate bowl, mix together your pecans, flour, the rest of your brown sugar and butter
Spread your pecan mixture over your potato mixture
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours.

Camp Chef

Crock Pot Recipes: Rosemary & Thyme Chicken

8/1/2020

We've got a hurricane coming in down here! One thing that may have slipped your mind while getting all your essentials done, is to have a pre-cooked meal when the power goes out.

This one is scrumptious and will be just as good cold. Place one of these in the crock pot as you prepare you house for the upcoming madness.

3 lb. roasting chicken
1 tab. garlic minced
Salt to taste
1/2 onion sliced into wedges
4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
3 sprigs of fresh thyme
Seasoned salt

Rub inside of chicken with garlic and salt. Stuff with onion wedges and herb sprigs. Sprinkle seasoned salt on the outside. Place in slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

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