Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

 We had these last night and they were really good. I think what really made them was the toasting of the hamburger buns, it made them so warm and yummy.

2 pounds ground beef, I did 1 beef 1 ground turkey
1 onion diced
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup flour
1Tbsp chili powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp yellow mustard
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
buns
American cheese slices

Directions
In a large pan, brown ground beef with chopped onion. Crumble and cook until no longer pink. Drain grease.

Put the rest of the ingredients into your slow cooker and mix thoroughly. Add ground beef mixture into your slow cooker, stir all together

Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. ( mine was starting to stick at about 3 so i just turned it to keep warm)

This is the most important step. When ready to serve toast hamburger buns. Put butter on the buns then toast them in a skillet until golden brown-not burnt :)
Place filling on warm buns and top with cheese. Enjoy

slightly altered from www.thecountycook.net

French Chicken Broccoli Supreme

I didn't take a picture of this. Sorry. But it is very yummy. It reminded me of Chicken Divan- but instead of the mayo/sour cream/cream of chicken soup sauce in Chicken Divan, this has a cheese sauce. Big hit with the kids!

Ingredients:
1 lb fresh broccoli- Break in pieces, and steam for 2 minutes.
3 cups cooked chicken breasts  – Break up in small pieces
3 cups Grated Cheddar Cheese divided
2 tubes Ritz Crackers
1 stick melted butter
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Sauce:
1/3 cup Butter- melted
1/4 cups Cornstarch, dissolved in 1/2 cup COLD Water
1/3 cup Chicken Broth
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
2 Cups Milk
1 1/2 cups of the above Cheddar Cheese

Directions:

In greased 13×9 pan, layer the broccoli and chicken, then set aside. In saucepan over medium heat, combine the melted butter, cornstarch dissolved in water, chicken broth, seasonings, and milk. Stir well, and continue stirring until sauce has thickened. Turn heat down to low, and add 1- 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese. Stir until melted. Pour over the chicken and broccoli. Top with 1- 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese.

Melt the butter. Add the poppy seeds, and stir well. Crush Ritz crackers in large zip-lock bag with a rolling pin. Don’t crush too small. Add crumbs to the melted butter. Sprinkle crumbs over the top of the grated cheese.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until hot & bubbly.

** I omitted the cornstarch because I substituted the milk with heavy cream. I (as I always do!) added extra cheese to both the sauce and the grated cheese layer.

Adapted from getoffyourbuttandbake.

Carmelitas

These are SO good. So good, in fact, that I didn't get to take a picture before they were gone! I will make them again- and I will post a picture when I do ;)

32 caramel squares, unwrapped
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Combine caramels and cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely smooth; set aside. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, and baking soda. Pat half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.
*A stint in the fridge will help them cool off if you're pinched for time. They shouldn't be served cold, but all of that molten caramel takes a long time to cool down. They should be stored and served at room temperature.
**To make a 9x13" version, simply double the amounts.

Thank you luluthebaker!!

Roasted Chicken and Corn Chowder

I love using rotisserie chicken. I use them a few times every week. They just make things quick and easy! This recipe was a perfect candidate for another rotisserie chicken. Yum. I love using rotisserie chicken. I use them a few times every week. They just make things quick and easy! This recipe was a perfect candidate for another rotisserie chicken. Yum.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 Anaheim chili pepper, seeded and chopped
1 bag frozen corn kernels
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried thyme
4 cups chicken broth
5 potatoes cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 tsp cornstarch
2-3 cups roasted chicken breast ( torn or cut into bite size pieces)


Directions:

In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions, garlic, bell pepper and Anaheim pepper. Cook while stirring for about 5 minutes until softened. Add corn, salt, pepper, cumin and thyme. Stir. Add chicken broth. Stir and add potatoes and heavy cream. Add roasted chicken to the soup. Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Bring to a simmer. Add cornstarch mixture. Cook for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are soft.

This recipe was altered quite a bit from the original.

Adapted from goboldwithbutter.

Slow Cooker Apple Cobbler

This dessert is so easy! And really very tasty! It doesn't taste like a cobbler to me- more like an apple cake.

1 can Apple Pie filling
1 Yellow Cake mix
6 tbsp Butter- melted

I added a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the pie filling. Yum. And of course we enjoyed it a la mode :)

Pour the pie filling into the bottom of your Crock Pot. Sprinkle cinnamon (about 1/2-3/4 tsp) on top. Pour the cake mix over it (unprepared) and spread it out. Pour the butter on top. Do not stir. Put the lid on. Bake on low for 4 hours. Do not overbake- your topping will get dry.

Twice Baked Cauliflower

1 head cooked cauliflower
3 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper, to taste
cheddar cheese, shredded
4 strips bacon, cooked & crumbled
Chopped green onion
sour cream

Butter, salt & pepper the cauliflower. Place in an individual-serving baking
dish, then top with the cheese. Microwave until the cheese is melted. Top
with bacon and green onions. Top with sour cream. Try not to drool as you
eat....

Banana Bread

Ingredients
. 2 cups whole wheat flour
. 1 teaspoon baking soda
. 1/4 teaspoon salt
. 1/2 cup sugar free applesauce
. 3/4 cup honey
. 2 eggs, beaten
. 3 mashed overripe bananas

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5
inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate
bowl, mix together applesauce and honey. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas
until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to
moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick
inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for
10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.