Crockpot Wednesday: Chile Verde

Wow - it's been awhile since I've actually used my crockpot! Been kinda busy. Have had some bad days (my dear Aunt Laura passed away) and some good days (started working part time!). In between all that, I have been to a Naturopathic doctor to see if I can get a few things to start working right in my body and to get rid of these horrible rashes I've been having. Well, I don't get to eat all sorts of exciting things anymore. My favorite fruit - strawberries - are out and I can't have cow's milk or eggs. Also, to reduce my insulin I am off of all carbs except for brown rice, brown rice pasta (which is suprisingly pretty good!), millet, and quinoa - and I can only have one of those a day! I have had quinoa before, but not the millet - and I haven't been brave enough to make any yet! So I have had to get creative with my meals. I am slowly adjusting, but I feel alot better. My skin is getting better, too!

So, here is a crockpot meal made of ingredients that I can have! And, it's one of Joe's favorite dishes when he eats out at Mexican restaurants! It was a success!

Chile Verde

4 pound chuck roast or pork shoulder roast

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 small onion, diced

1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies

10 tomatillos, diced (or use a bottle of salsa verde)

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. kosher salt

2 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. sage

1 T. oregano

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

Place roast in crockpot, add peppers and onions. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over roast. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Shred meat. Serve with tortillas or rice and beans.

*I put my tomatillos in the blender and pulsed them instead of dicing them, less work!! This recipe also called for a can of diced tomatoes, but I decided not to put them in. Didn't miss them! Also, we like things a bit more spicy, so I added some cayenne.

Joe ate it up and said we should definitely do this one again!

Crockpot Wednesday: Swiss Steak

Here's a new recipe - I thought it turned out pretty good, Joe wasn't as impressed though. He did eat it all, though!

Swiss Steak

3/4 cup flour

1 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp salt

2-2 1/2 pounds top round steak

1-2 T. butter

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 1/3 cups water

1 cup sliced celery, optional

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp. minced garlic

Combine flour, pepper, and salt. Cut steaks into six serving size pieces and dredge in flour mix. In large skillet, brown steak on each side in the melted butter. Place steak in 3 quart crockpot. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over steak. Cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat is tender.

I might tweak it a little next time - it didn't have a really thick sauce and I probably will try to thicken it up a bit next time. But I will for sure try this one again!

Crockpot Wednesday: French Dips with Mushrooms and Onions

This was a new recipe and we will definitely be having it again! I didn't follow the recipe exact, so you are gonna get my version!!

French Dips with Mushrooms and Onions
3 pound beef roast
1 package of mushrooms, sliced (it called for portobellos, but I went the cheap route and got regular mushrooms!!)
1 red onion, sliced
2 cups water (it called for a can of beef broth, but I figured it would make it's own broth while cooking so I just used water! Joe said it was full of flavor!)
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
Hoagie buns
Cheese

Brown roast on all sides and place in crockpot. Put sliced mushrooms and onions on top and add 2 cups of water. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook on low for 8-9 hours.

When fully cooked, shred roast. Put meat on hoagie bun, top with the cooked mushrooms and onions and a slice of cheese. Pair it with a cup of the delicious Au Jus!

Mmm-Mmm-Mmm!!

Crockpot Wednesday: Sunday Chicken Dinner

Well, it's not Sunday as the recipe implies - but I figured it would taste good no matter what day I made it! I was wanting something yummy, but light and fresh. This was just the recipe! And the best part is, I had all the ingredients on hand already!

Sunday Chicken Dinner


4 carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 onion, chopped
1 cup fresh cut green beans
4 small red potatoes, quartered
4 chicken thighs (or 2 chicken breasts)
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. salt



Layer carrots, onion, green beans, potatoes, and chicken in crockpot. Mix water and seasonings and pour over chicken. Cook on high for 4-5 hours. (I'm sure you could cook it on low for around 8 hours)


This one even got a thumbs up from Joe!

Crockpot Wednesday: Spicy Chicken Burritos

We love this spicy chicken mix - though if you don't like it spicy, it is easy enough to make mild!

Here's the recipe!

Spicy Chicken Burritos

2 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts

5 cloves garlic, crushed

2 T. Chili powder

2 T. Olive oil

2 T. Lime juice

1 tsp. salt

1 jalapeno, minced (leave out if you prefer it mild)

Put chicken in crockpot. In a bowl mix the garlic, chili powder, oil, lime juice, salt and jalapeno - pour over chicken. Stir to coat the chicken. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 5 hours. When fully cooked, shred the chicken. Fill tortillas with the chicken mix and your other favorite toppings. Then, of course, enjoy your scrumptious, but oh-so-easy, meal!

Crockpot Wednesday: Chalupa

Chalupa is one of our fav meals around here! Joe's family makes this quite often and it is one of the recipes his mom gave me when we first got married. It is super simple - throw everything together and walk away. And it is super delicious as well!
Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 pound pork loin roast
1/2 pound dried pinto beans
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 Tbs. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 Tbs. chili powder
4 oz. diced green chilies
1/2 Tbs. salt


Put all ingredients in the crockpot and cover with water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Bone and shred the pork and then cook on high to desired consistency (generally it is about right anyway, so I don't normal cook any longer). Serve over chips and top with sour cream, cheese, salsa, etc.

*note: you do not have to presoak the beans.

This turned out great, as usual! Hard to mess this one up! I serve mine with a side of guacamole and Asian cole slaw! Hey, the slaw was leftover from lunch - don't worry, I don't normal combine Asian and Mexican food in the same meal!

Crockpot Wednesday: Ham and mashed potatoes

So, I decided one day that Wednesday's supper should always be something made in the crockpot. Since Wednesday is usually one of my busiest days at work and then we have church in the evening, it doesn't leave much time OR energy to cook a good supper. So, I decided I should plan to use my crockpot each Wednesday.

Yes, my crockpot is dirty - it is well used!

Then I decided that I could share my recipes on my blog each week. Yes, I know there are PLENTY of blogs out there with crockpot recipes. Some are probably more exciting than mine! But hey, if I am gonna get into the habit of using my crockpot each week, why not blog about it?!

Now, I am planning on using my crockpot each week, does that mean that I actually will? No. I am planning to post my recipe each week, does that mean that I actually will? No! I promise to REALLY try to post my recipe each week - but please, don't hold me to it!!

So, for the first week, I hadn't really planned much ahead, so I just threw a ham in the crockpot. No, I don't mean one of those ground up, smooshed together shaped things you find at the store. No, this was a nice, homegrown ham roast! One of my absolute fav things to eat! I put it in the crockpot at noon, set it on high and came home to the smell of supper being ready. Now, I did have to boil some taters and mash them, cause...umm... you can't have ham without mashed taters!! Oh, and I put some butter, sour cream, and chives in my taters - very good combo!

I don't have a picture of this delicious meal - I scarfed it down too fast!! Good ole comfort food! Well, and at that point I hadn't planned to start blogging about my crockpot adventures! Let me tell you, though, it sure was nice to come home and relax between work and church!

Oh, and the leftover ham makes AWESOME omlettes and REAL ham sandwiches!

Stick around for the next edition of Crockpot Wednesday!