Steak Soup-Crockpot

This is really more like a stew. You can use lean ground beef instead. It is also great that way. I have added more of some veggies and less of others depending on what I have. I have even used half of the amount of potatoes and it was great.

Steak Soup (2-pound) package top round steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cups water
5 baking potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 carrots, sliced
2 small onions, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
1 cup frozen sweet green peas
1 (16-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
2 Tbs steak sauce (optional - we like A-1)
1 to 2 teaspoons pepper

Toss together steak and flour.

Brown steak in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir together steak, 4 cups water, and remaining ingredients in a 5-quart slow cooker.

Cook, covered, at HIGH 8 hours or until vegetables are tender.

Yield: Makes 16 cups

Southern Living, NOVEMBER 1999

Baked chicken

Take fresh or frozen (that you can bake from frozen) chicken breast and bake on 375. We like to add Italian Seasoning, Lemon pepper, Lemon juice and w/salt and pepper, jerk seasoning, chipotle powder or even just salt and pepper. You can drizzle with olive oil if you like that.

While baking make a couple of sides. We love broccoli and garlic. Saute' fresh or frozen broccoli florets (not chopped broccoli). On low to med. heat saute/steam the florets until they began to be bright green. To keep from sticking, you can add a tablespoon or two of water every so often and/or a drizzle of olive oil. About half way through I press a few garlic cloves into the mixture. Add salt and pepper. Sautee/steam until crisp/tender, not mushy.

Other quick sides to have

Black beans
herb brown rice-cook over the weekend and freeze or cook in the microwave while chicken is baking.
cooked carrots (canned for quick-drain the liquid in the can and add your own water and heat)
add a tablespoon of honey for honey carrots. We don't like frozen carrots, but they would work.
baked sweet potato (baked while the chicken is baking)
brussel sprouts instead of broccoli-add frozen brussel spouts to a baking sheet w/onions and/or pressed garlic. Add a drizzle of olive oil over the top and bake while the chicken is baking. Bake until the sprouts start to barley brown.
frozen lima beans-I cook in the microwave while the chicken is cooking

Honey Whole Wheat Muffins

The kids love these for breakfast

preheat oven to 400

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
3 tsp. canola oil
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 tsp. salt
1/3 cup honey
1 egg

grease muffin tins. Mix well. Bake 20 to 25 min.

crockpot burrito meat

I toss chicken breast in the crockpot, cover with salsa and let them cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shread the chicken and serve with tortillas and toppings. Our toppings usually include black beans, corn, sour cream, cheese, jalapenos, hot sauce and refried beans. We all love this meal.

Ropa Vieja

To a beef or pork roast add: 1 large onion chopped, 1 chopped green pepper,
1 large can diced tomatoes, 2 cloves garlic, 2 Tablespoons vinegar, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1 chopped and seeded pickled jalapeno, 1 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper .

cook till falling apart, serve over rice--we like this over brown rice

I have used lean stew meat for this so far.