Recipes for a Busy Month

This month, many of us find ourselves with too much to do, and too little time.  When my schedule gets packed, one thing that adds peace to my day is knowing dinner is already planned and mostly cooked.  For me, that means using a slow-cooker.   Plus, having the smell of dinner cooking in the afternoon isn’t bad either!

Today, I thought I would share some of my slow cooker recipes.  Hopefully this will give you some extra time doing something you want to do while dinner is simmering away. 

Creamy Italian Chicken 
(from Fix-It & Forget-It)
Makes 4-6 servings

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 envelope dry Italian salad dressing mix
¼ cup water
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
10-3/4-oz. can cream of chicken soup
4-oz. can mushroom stems and pieces, drained

Lightly grease slow cooker.  Place chicken in the bottom.  Combine salad dressing with water and pour over chicken.  Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours.   Combine cream cheese and soup until blended.  Stir in mushrooms.  Pour over chicken and cook until heated through.  Serve over noodles or rice.  Add a fresh green salad to complete the meal. 
Note:  I always add more chicken to the same amount of sauce and find I can stretch it to feed 8. 

Smoked Sausage with Cabbage & Apples
(from Crock-pot manual)
Serves 4-8

1-1/2 lbs. smoked sausage, cut into 2” lengths.
3 cooking apples, thinly sliced
½ head of red cabbage, shredded
1 onion, sliced
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
½ cup apple juice

Layer the sausage, apples, cabbage and onion in the bottom of your cooker in that order.  Sprinkle sugar, salt and pepper on top.  Pour the apple juice over all the ingredients.  Do not stir.  Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or high for 3 to 4 hours.  

Pulled Pork Sandwiches – Southern Style

Country-style pork ribs  – choose an amount that’s right for your family
Favorite BBQ sauce

Lightly grease slow cooker.  Put pork ribs in bottom and cover with sauce.  Cook 6 to 8 hours on low.  When done, remove excess fat and shred meat.  Add more BBQ sauce.   

 To serve, make or buy pre-made coleslaw.   Use a hamburger bun and place meat on the bottom of the bun.  Top with coleslaw and bun top.  Grab a napkin and enjoy.  I usually serve this with French fries and fruit. 

Simple Vegetable Soup

1 pound carrots
5 stalks celery
1 onion
1 zucchini
1 yellow summer squash
2 tsp. butter
8-oz bag/box frozen mixed vegetables  (your choice)
Chicken bouillon

Sauté carrots, celery and onions in butter for about 8-10 minutes. Add zucchini and yellow squash and sauté another 5 minutes, until all vegetables are slightly caramelized.   Scoop vegetables into your slow cooker, add bag of mixed vegetables, and fill with water.  Add one bouillon cube for every cup of water.  Cover and cook 5-6 hours.   Serve with cornbread or biscuits. 

Depending on the size of your slow cooker, you might need to reduce or increase the number of vegetables.  This soup tastes great on a cold day, and will meet your family’s vegetable needs for that day in a comforting and loving way.

 In His Love,

 Glynnis Whitwer
www.GlynnisWhitwer.com