Valentine Chocolate Lava Cake

 

Lava Cake : 

1 box of extra fudge Chocolate cake mix

1 1/4 C Milk

1/2 C vegetable oil

3 eggs 

Topping for cake : 

1 box of chocolate instant pudding 

2 C Milk

1 bag of Chocolate chips (12oz) 

Directions : 

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. And make cake by box directions. And pore into slow cooker. Mix instant pudding and Milk and power over cake mix. Do Not Mix. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Cover and Cook on Low for 3 hours . Or until cake is set. 

Winter Vegetable Soup

 

2 cans diced tomato

4 red potatoes /diced (1/2 inch) 

4 stacks of celery / diced (1/2 inch) 

3 carrots, parsnips and leeks / Diced 1/2 inch

1 can vegetable broth

1/2 tsp salt, rosemary ,thyme leaves

3 T water and corn starch 

Place everything into the slow cooker except water and corn starch. Cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours. A half an hour before serving make a mixture with water and corn starch .And add to soup  and cook on High until thicken.   

Christmas Ham leftovers:

 Ham &Beans 

It's the last Friday 

in December and the year. And I am dealing with leftover Christmas Ham. So supper tonight will be  Christmas leftover Ham and Beans.  Served as Soup or over Rice.. Yum 

. .. Lisa 

• 20 oz. pkg. Hurst’s Hambeens Great Northern Beans with Ham flavoring (save the ham flavor packet for the end of the cooking time)
• 2 cups diced ham leftover ham works great
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 3 carrots peeled and diced
• 3 celery stalks diced
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 8 cups chicken broth
• salt to taste

• Place the beans in a colander and sort out any debris, rinse beans in cold water and add to the slow cooker.
• Add the ham, onion, carrots, celery, thyme, pepper and chicken broth, stir. 
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 6-7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. At the end of cooking-adjust seasoning and serve Can be served like soup if you want or over rice. 

Pumpkin Spice Dump Cake

 

It's slow cooking time : 

2 cans pumpkin puree (15 oz) 

1 1/2 C sugar

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp salt

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 stick of butter

1/2 C chopped pecans

1 C heavy cream

1/4 C confectioner sugar 

1. Spray the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
2. Gently combine the pumpkin puree, granulated sugar, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a bowl, then dump it into the slow cooker insert. Sprinkle the cake mix over the pumpkin puree, then, as evenly as possible, pour the melted butter on top and finish with the chopped pecans. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 4 1/2 hours (the edges of the cake should be starting to brown and crisp slightly).
3. Meanwhile, using a handheld mixer, whip the cream and confectioners' sugar together in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Serve the cake warm with a dollop of the whipped cream.

Slow Cooked : Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

Ready for breakfast ! Slow Cooked Oatmeal 

Tasty Tuesday  is here with pumpkin 

• 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
• 1 cup steel-cut oats
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups water
• 1-1/2 cups 2% milk
• Optional toppings: Toasted chopped pecans, ground cinnamon, and additional brown sugar and milk
• In a large bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients; stir in water and milk. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low 5-6 hours or until oats are tender, stirring once. Serve with toppings as desired.

Test Kitchen tips
Drizzle oatmeal with maple syrup, honey or agave nectar.
Dairy-free? Substitute almond or soy milk for the 2% milk.


This week I am highlighting Pumpkin 🎃 with recipes,books ,crafts and fun. 

Peanut Butter Carmel Cake

 Slow Cooked Dessert : Its National Carmel Day 

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar divided
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 15-20 Rolos or similar caramel candy unwrapped
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup boiling water

• Stir the flour, ½ cup sugar, and baking powder in a large bowl. Add milk, oil, and vanilla and stir until smooth. Stir in the peanut butter.
• Spray a 6 or 7-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread the batter in the bottom of the crockpot. Press Rolos evenly across the top of the batter.
• Whisk ½ cup remaining sugar and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the boiling water. Carefully and slowly pour the chocolate water over the top of the cake. Do not stir.
• Cover and cook on High for about 2 hours, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly before serving. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
• Note: all slow cookers cook differently. My crockpot has a “High 6 hour” setting, which is what I used. Be sure to check on your cake after 1 ½ hours and it may take up to 3 hours, depending on how your machine cooks.

Loaded Potato Soup

 

Tuesday 4 inspired recipe  : 

Mom Potato soup loaded with cheese ,chives and bacon is my favorite and since reading Tuesday 4 I thought i would share it : 

• 4 slices bacon, diced
• 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1. Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp. Take out and Drain on paper towels 


2. Place potatoes into a 4-qt slow cooker. Stir in chicken stock, onion, garlic, thyme, butter and bacon until well combined.  Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
3. Using a potato masher, mash potatoes until desired consistency is reached. Stir in cheese, sour cream and heavy cream until smooth; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
4. Cover and cook on low heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally, about 15-20 minutes. If the mixture is too thick, add more chicken stock as needed until desired consistency is reached.
5. Serve immediately.

Slow Cooker : Chili Mac

 One of my family favorite meal at anytime : 

• 1 pound (550g) very lean ground beef
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (30 oz) can chili beans in chili sauce or 2 (15-16 oz) cans chili beans in chili sauce
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 ounces elbow macaroni, uncooked
• Desired toppings: cheddar,sour cream, green onions, corn chips….

Directions: 

1. Brown ground beef and drain grease. Add to slow cooker and stir in remaining ingredients except for the pasta.

2. Cover and cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW. In the last 15 minutes of cooking stir in the uncooked pasta and cover. Stir and test to see if pasta is to your liking. However, even with the slow cooker off the pasta will continue to cook just from the heat of the chili and crock itself so unless your pasta is really chewy or crunchy I strongly suggest only cooking it for the last 15 minutes of cook time.

3. Serve immediately with desired toppings.

Healthy Hamburger Helper

 

1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 diced onion  ,bell pepper 

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp salt

1 C fresh spinach

1 1/2 C milk

1 C beef broth

1 1/2 C tomato sauce

3 C of uncooked Macaroni

1 1/2 C shredded cheese

In a large skillet brown the ground meat-  and chopped onions. Add to slow cooker with bell pepper, seasoning spinach,milk,broth and tomato sauce. Cook on Low 7 to 8 hours. 

20 minutes before serving add Marconi -cover and let cook until tender. Add Cheese and let melt before serving. 

• 
  

Slow Cook : Apple Cider

 

Inspired by my  Apple cider card bellow: 

• 2 quarts apple cider (64 ounces or 8 cups)
• 6 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 1 medium organic naval orange
• 2 tablespoons whole cloves
• Rum of your choice (optional)
• Additional cinnamon sticks for serving 

Instructions

• Pour apple cider into a 2.5-quart or larger Crock Pot or other slow cooker. Add cinnamon sticks.
• With a toothpick, poke holes all around the orange, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch apart. Carefully poke the cloves into the toothpick holes in the orange.
• Place orange into the cider in the slow cooker.
• Cook on low until hot and spiced through, about 4 hours. Ladle into mugs along with an ounce or so of rum if using. Place a cinnamon stick in each glass if desired and serve.