She is so calm

I got a wonderful recipe from a good friend, Donna.

As I have said in the past, I have a major slight obsession with crockpots/slowcookers and their respective recipes.

I’m sosorry Donna! I crockpotified your recipe. (And added potatoes). I know it’s a weakness. No one has to tell me that. Adding potatoes was the part that I’m not particularly proud of…but boy did it taste good!

Here’s what I did:

1 lb potatoes, cubed (I usually leave the skins on-do what you like)

1/2 cup bell pepper, diced (I used red)

3/4 cup diced onion

6 cube steaks (or whatever amount fits your family)

1 1/2 jars spaghetti sauce (two if using more cube steaks)

1/4 cup worschestire sauce (spelling?)

Mix spagetti sauce and worschestire (sp?) sauce together in large bowl. Pour enough spaghetti sauce on bottom of slowcooker to cover it. (I have a 5 qt and a 7 qt. The size of this recipe fits my 5 qt slowcooker.) Start placing a layer of cube steaks, then a thin layer of sauce, then cube steaks, then sauce. Keep going until the steaks are covered. Place onion and pepper on top of the ‘pile’ and then add the potatoes as the very top layer. Cook on low for 7 or 8 hrs. When everything is done cooking, take the cube steaks out. Mix together all ingredients left in the slowcooker, then serve. 6 Servings. 

*Crockpots/slowcookers can have variations in temperatures. Make sure the meat is cooked through before serving.*

I made something tasty tonight! I didn’t follow a recipe of any sort-just trial and error.

6-8 servings

2 lbs beef stew meat

1 bag potatoes chopped into chunks or wedges-the smaller, the less time it takes to cook

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup ketchup

1/3 cup brown mustard

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

3 tbsp soy sauce

Put meat in bottom of slow cooker. (I used a six quart crockpot). Put potatoes on top. Put onions on top of that. Cook on high for 4 hours. Combine soy sauce, worcestershire, mustard, ketchup and honey. Pour over beef mixture and stir. Cook on high another 2 hours or so-watch it…it depends on how big meat and potato pieces were. Serve.

I served it w/a veggie on the side. It was so filling!

I made a delicious meal last night. Chicken Catchatorie in the crock-pot. This was my first time making it. It was simple

I’m sorry that I have no pictures to share. I thought about it, but not until the end of the night. 

As usual, I improvised. I don’t know how people usually make the dish…so maybe it is Chicken Timbuktu. Who knows!

Regardless, here is the recipe:

*note: this recipe is doubled for us…if you have older children, you may need more chicken*

3 lbs chicken thighs (or breasts-but if using breast, cook less; there is less fat and therefore moisture in the breasts)

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped green pepper

1 large can crushed tomato

Spices-as desired. I used salt, pepper, Italian spice blends and a little bit of chili powder and cumin.

Stir all ingredients. COOK on low 7-8 hrs in slow cooker. Again, if using breasts-cook less time. You really could pair this with anything. I made mashed potatoes this time. I might use rice or pasta or homemade bread next time.

This is a site that has a ‘meal chart generator’ (exactly as it sounds-You fill it out online and then click print) and a few menu chart print outs to print and fill out yourself.I have used both when planning menus.convenient…convenient….convenient!
If your handwriting leaves a lot to be desired and you like a clean cut printout, I would suggest the meal chart generator.Take your pick.
http://www.lotsofkids.com/LOK-Kitchen/lokkitchen.htm