Slow-Cooker Squash Stew

Inspiration:
Food Network Magazine


Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups dried chickpeas, rinsed
• 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into large pieces
• 1 bunch Swiss chard, leaves and stems separated and roughly chopped
• 1 piece Parmesan cheese rind, plus grated Parmesan for topping (optional)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• Crusty bread and/or lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and red pepper flakes and cook 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 cup water, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer the contents of the skillet to a 6-quart slow cooker.

2. Add the chickpeas, squash, chard stems (not the leaves), the parmesan rind, if using, 2 teaspoons salt and 7 cups water to the slow cooker. Stir, then cover and cook on low, 8 hours.

3. Just before serving, lift the lid and stir in the chard leaves; cover and continue cooking 10 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and stir to slightly break up the squash. Discard the Parmesan rind, if used. Ladle the stew into bowls; top with the grated Parmesan, if desired, and serve with bread and/or lemon wedges.

Nutrtional Information:
Per serving (1/4 of recipe): Calories 428; Fat 15 g (Saturated 2 g); Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 1,250 mg; Carbohydrate 63 g; Fiber 17 g; Protein 18g


Notes: Get the Parmesan cheese rind! I found one for only $1 at my food co-op. This was a fairly easy recipe, and I felt healthier after eating it, even though I piled on the Parmesan. :) I loved the texture of the dried chickpeas.


Liz's Rating: 9/10
Tim's Rating: 8.5/10

The Easiest Chicken Chili

Inspiration:
The last week of regular season NFL football
and
Pink Parsley's recipe


Ingredients:

• 4 cans white beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
• 8 ounces Pepper jack cheese, cut into 2-inch cubes
• 2 cups salsa
• Optional garnishes: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, sliced green onions, crushed tortilla chips, extra salsa, tabasco
  

Instructions:

1. Combine the beans, cheese, and salsa in a crockpot. Nestle the chicken breasts into the mixture, and cook on low 6-8 hours.
   
2. Remove chicken breasts, shred with a fork, and return to crockpot. Stir to combine, and serve with desired garnishes.

Notes:
I thought that a little more tomato would be good. I'd consider replacing one can of beans with one big can of stewed tomatoes or additional salsa, and I'd maybe add a little cumin. Tim was completely satisfied with the recipe as written. It's so easy, I think he can make it next time!


Tim's Rating: 10/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Inspiration:
Sweet Tea in Texas
as well as cabbage and onions from our CSA

Ingredients:

• 12 Large Cabbage leaves

• 1 lb Ground Pork
  

• 1 Beaten Egg

• 1/4 C Milk

• 1/4 C finely chopped onion

• 1 Tsp Salt

• 1 Tsp pepper

• 1 Tsp lemon pepper

• 1 C Cooked Brown Rice

• 1 8oz can of Tomato Sauce

• 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar

• 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire

Instructions:

1. Start by browning your ground turkey. Season your ground turkey as it browns with garlic salt & lemon pepper. When this is done, drain and set aside.

2. Start water boiling in a large pot for your cabbage. The easiest way that I’ve found to get the leaves off is to submerge the whole head of cabbage for a couple of minutes and pull it out, taking as many leaves off as you can easily. Submerge again until you can pull a few more off. You want to keep the leaves as in tact as possible. Do this until you have about 12 whole leaves.

3. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, milk, onion, spices, & rice. Mix well. Take about 1/4 C of this mix and put into the center of a leaf. Fold in the sides, then fold up the bottom until it looks like a little burrito. Place them seam side down in the Crockpot until you have gone through your leaves or ran out of stuffing.

4. In another bowl, combine the tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, & Worcestershire. Pour this over your little cabbage burritos and put the lid on the Crockpot. Cook these in the Crockpot on low for about 6 hours.

Notes:
We both liked this recipe-- I think next time I will replace the lemon pepper with something else-- probably Penzeys Bavarian Seasoning or paprika or something similar. I replaced the ground turkey in the original recipe with ground pork, and I used brown rice.

Tim's Rating: 8/10
Liz's Rating: 8/10

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Inspiration:
A need for a quick dinner after a long weekend of travel

Ingredients:

• 2-2.5 pound chuck roast
• Olive oil
  
• Montreal Steak Seasoning
• 2 carrots
• 2 russet potatoes
• 3 stalks celery

Instructions:

1. Heat a skillet on high. Coat with olive oil.
2. Liberally coat the roast with seasoning.
3. Sear the meat, browning on all sides.
4. Cut potatoes, carrots, and celery into large chunks.
5. Layer potatoes, carrots, roast, and celery into slow cooker.
6. Cook 10 hours on low.
7. Serve with a green salad.
   

Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 8/10

Split Pea Soup with Kielbasa

Inspiration: allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dried split peas
• 10 cups water
• 1 pound kielbasa, sliced
• 1 Tablespoon Penzey's chicken soup base
  
• 2 carrots, chopped
  
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 bay leaves

Instructions:

1. In a 5 quart slow cooker, combine the peas, water, kielbasa, bouillon, carrot, celery, garlic powder, oregano, bay leaves, and onion.
2. Cover, and cook on High for 4 to 5 hours.
   
3. Remove bay leaves before ladling into bowls.

Tim's rating: 8/10
Liz's rating: 5/10

Notes: Next time I think I will brown the kielbasa slices prior to adding them to the slow cooker.

Bean and Chicken Crockpot Tacos

In the crockpot

Finished product

Inspiration:
about.com

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning mix
• 4-oz. can chopped green chilies, undrained
• 8-oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 19-oz. can cannellini beans, drained
• 12-24 taco shells
• shredded cheese, lettuce, sour cream, salsa

Instructions:

1. In 3-4 quart crockpot, place chicken thighs and sprinkle with taco seasoning mix.
   
2. Top with chilies, tomato sauce, onion, chili powder, and drained beans.
   
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
4. Remove chicken from crockpot and shred with two forks.
   
5. Using potato masher, mash some of the beans in the crockpot.
   
6. Return chicken to crockpot and mix well to blend.
7. Make tacos with chicken filing, taco shells, and toppings.
   

Tim's Rating: 10/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10