10 Nifty Things to put in your Crock Pot

10 Nifty to do with a crock pot this winter

1.    Lasagna

a.    Layer no bake lasagna noodles with meat and cheese and sauce. Cook in the crock pot for 6 hours on low.

2.    Baked Potatoes

a.    Wash 6 large baking potatoes, scrub well, wrap each tightly in aluminum foil, place in the bottom of the crock pot, add ½ inch of water. Cook on high until tender. Check to make sure to check the water periodically.

3.    BBQ Pork

a.    Trim the excess fat from a 4 lb pork roast sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook in the crock pot for 2 hours. Pour off excess liquid. Then add favorite BBQ sauce and continue cooking on low for 6 more hours.

4.    Berry Cobbler

a.    Spray the inside of the crock with cooking spray. Put a one pound package of mix frozen berries into the crock. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of sugar and 3 tablespoons of flour, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix 1 cup of flour, ¼ teaspoon of salt, ¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ½ cup milk, mix until smooth. Spoon over the berries and cook for 3 hours, serve with vanilla ice cream.

 

5.    Chocolate Smores Brownie Cake

a.    Spray the inside of the crock with a little cooking spray. Mix 1 box of brownie mix with ¼ cup of softened butter and 1 egg and pour into the bottom of the crock pot. Then mix 1 package of chocolate chip mix ¼ cup of butter and 1 egg. Drop that by spoonfuls in to the crock pot. Cook for 3 hours on high, then add 1 cup of marshmallows and 1 cup crumbled graham crackers. Cook an additional 20 minutes until the marshmallows are melted.

 

6.    Play dough for the kids

                                          i.    Mix 2 C flour, 1 C cornstarch, 1 C salt, 1/4 C cream of tartar, 2 C hot water, 2 t oil,. Cook in the crock pot for 30 minutes, stirring after 15, after it forms a ball, take it out and mix in a few drops of food coloring. If it is too sticky, add a couple of tablespoons of water. Wait until it cools and have fun.

7.    Make candles

a.    You need wax, (soy works best) candle holders, wicks with a base, put an inch of water in the crock pot, add the candle holders, break up small pieces of wax and place in each holder, put crock pot on warm, let the wax melt. Add a few drops of scent, and the wick. Turn off the crock pot and let them cool completely before taking them out. After that enjoy.      

 

8.    Potpourri

a.    Add whole cloves, star anise cinnamon sticks, oranges pieces and cranberries. Add just enough water to cover; there will be a wonderful scent in the air. Don’t let it boil dry check the water from time to time.

9.     

a.    Mulled Wine.

2 (750 ml) bottles, of wine preferably merlot, 2 oranges sliced, 1/2 cup honey, 8 whole cloves, 4 cinnamon sticks, 2 star anise, 1cup cranberries, add all ingredients to the crock pot. Cook on low until it starts to simmer. Remove the anise and the cloves. Put crock pot on warm. Keep warm during the party or gathering

10.  Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage

a.    One pound of sausage cooked, a 2 pound cornbread crumbled, 1 tablespoon sage,  2 cups chicken stock 2 cups finely chopped onion 1 1/2 cups finely chopped celery 1/4 teaspoon salt and Freshly ground pepper, to taste. Place all the ingredients in the crock pot and cook for 3 hours. This will make one less item to have to put in the oven for your holiday feast.

Cranberry Cheesecake Squares

Crust

1/2

cup sugar

1/2

cup butter, softened

1 1/4

cups all-purpose flour

Filling

1

(8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2

cup sugar

1/2

teaspoon vanilla extract

1

egg

Topping

4 tablespoons jellied cranberry sauce

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray. In large bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar and butter; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour; mix until crumbly. Press mixture in bottom of sprayed pan.
2. Bake at 350°F. for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are light golden brown.
3. Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine all filling ingredients; beat well.
4. Remove pan from oven; pour filling over partially baked crust. In small bowl, stir 2 tablespoons of the cranberry saucecr until softened. Spoon over cream cheese mixture. With tip of spoon, carefully swirl jam into top of cream cheese mixture. (Do not disturb crust.)
5. Return pan to oven; bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until filling is set. Cool 30 minutes.
6. Stir remaining jam; spread evenly over bars. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Cranberry-White Chocolate Trifle

I love cranberries. OK I love chocolate too. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Tis the season for cranberries and indulgent desserts. Right? I found this recipe in Taste of Home Magazine. Can't wait to try it. Triffles are so good, mixing whipped cream, fruit and cake. With the layers, you get all the ingriends in each bite. Yum. Enjoy.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon salt

2-2/3 cups milk

3 egg yolks, beaten

5 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 can (14 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce

1/3 cup raspberry liqueur

1 loaf (10-3/4 ounces) frozen pound cake, thawed and cut into 1/2-in. cubes

TOPPING

1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Stir in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer.

Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat; stir in white chocolate and vanilla. Cool to room temperature without stirring.

In a small bowl, whisk cranberry sauce and raspberry liqueur until smooth.

Place half of the cake cubes in a 3-qt. trifle bowl or glass bowl. Spread with half of the cranberry mixture; top with half of the custard. Repeat layers. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form. Pipe over top. Yield: 14 servings (3/4 cup each).

Iced Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

Ingredients


1/4 cup light olive oil
3/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 1/2 cups pistachio nuts

Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

2.In a large bowl, mix together oil and sugar until well blended. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts, then beat in the eggs. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; gradually stir into egg mixture. Mix in cranberries and nuts by hand.

3.Divide dough in half. Form two logs (12x2 inches) on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Dough may be sticky; wet hands with cool water to handle dough more easily.

4.Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until logs are light brown. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).

5.Cut logs on diagonal into 3/4 inch thick slices. Lay on sides on parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until dry; cool.

Icing
 
Ingredients


1 cup white sugar
1 egg white1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup warm milk

Directions

1.In a medium bowl, stir together the white sugar, egg white, vanilla, cream of tartar, and boiling water. Beat using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. If you have a stand mixer, use the whisk attachment.

2. Spoon over the top of the cooled cooked. and let rest til set.

Christmas Rice

This is a fun way to dress up rice. Serve it any time you need some color, not just the holidays.  At other times of the year, I just call it Festive Rice.

By the way, this really is a pinch of this and that... so bare with me...

2 cups of cooked rice. (white or brown)
1/3 cup dried cranberries.
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup peas
2 Tbs of onion sauteed
2 Tbs, of green pepper
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
a pinch of nutmeg, (tiny tiny amount)
a pinch of poultry seasoning
salt and pepper to taste.

cook the rice to package directions. saute the onions, mushrooms,  and peppers in a little butter for 5 minutes. toast the pecans, mix all ingredients together, and serve.

The heat of the rice and vegetables should plump the cranberries a little.

Cranberry Relish

2 bags cranberries

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 tsp orange rind - grated



Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes or until berry skins pop. Chill and enjoy!

Cranberry Apple Salad

And... how about something diffrent with dinner? In stead of cranberry relish.. Serve a small salad. After Thanksgiving this would also be good with some leftover turkey on it.



Ingredients:
4 cups mixed greens

1 large honey crisp apple, sliced thin
1/2 crushed walnuts
½ cup dried cranberries
2 oz cheddar cheese crumbles


Dressing
1 large navel orange, juiced
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese by Ina Garten

Ingredients

• 3 ripe but firm Anjou pears
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
• 3 ounces coarsely crumbled sharp blue cheese such as Stilton
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup walnut halves, toasted and chopped
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 3 tablespoons port
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• 6 ounces baby arugula
• Kosher salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Peel the pears and slice them lengthwise into halves. With a small sharp paring knife and a melon baller, remove the core and seeds from each pear, leaving a round well for the filling. Trim a small slice away from the rounded sides of each pear half so that they will sit in the baking dish without wobbling. Toss the pears with some lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. Arrange them, core side up, in a baking dish large enough to hold the pears snugly.

Gently toss the crumbled blue cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts together in a small bowl. Divide the mixture among the pears, mounding it on top of the indentation.

In the same small bowl, combine the apple cider, port, and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour the mixture over and around the pears. Bake the pears, basting occasionally with the cider mixture, for 30 minutes, or until tender. Set aside until warm or at room temperature.

Just before serving, whisk together the olive oil, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of the basting liquid in a large bowl. Divide the arugula among 6 plates and top each with a pear half. Drizzle each pear with some of the basting liquid, sprinkle with salt, and serve warm.

Apple Pear Tart

Crust

1 cup white whole-wheat flour, (see Ingredient Note)
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons ice water

Filling

2 ripe but firm pears, peeled and thinly sliced
1 large apple, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup fresh cranberries

Preparation

1.To prepare crust: Place flour, oats, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor; process until the oats are finely ground. Add butter one piece at a time, pulsing once or twice after each addition, until incorporated. Add oil and water and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it a few times until it holds together. Form the dough into a 5-inch disk, wrap in plastic or wax paper and refrigerate while you prepare the filling.

2.Preheat oven to 375°F.

3.To prepare filling: Toss pears and apple with lemon juice in a large bowl.

4.Place brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and ginger in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet; cook over medium-low heat, stirring, until the butter and sugar are melted and the mixture starts to bubble. Remove from the heat. Starting at the center of the pan, arrange the pear and apple slices in concentric circles, overlapping the slices and adding another layer until all the slices are in the pan. Scatter cranberries on top.

5.Return the pan to medium-low heat and bring the liquid to a simmer. (It might be hard to see the simmering"take a peek under the fruit or listen for the bubbling.) Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Uncover and cook, gently swirling the pan occasionally, until the sauce becomes a thick, caramel-like glaze, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

6.Roll the dough out between sheets of parchment or wax paper into a 12-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough over the fruit. Peel off the remaining paper. Quickly tuck the edges of the crust down into the sides of the pan. Prick the top with a fork.

7.Transfer the pan to the oven. Bake until the crust is just beginning to brown around the edges, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan to release the crust. Place a serving plate larger than the pan on top of it and invert the tart onto the plate (it may take a light shaking to release the tart from the pan). Serve warm.

Cranberry Shortbread with White Chocolate Drizzle

Well it's kind of fallish out there, and fall reminds me of baking.

This was inspired by something called Cranberry Bark. Starbucks makes it at Christmas. So don't wait for Christmas. Try this now.

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

With an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt. Beat until just combined. .

Divide the dough until two pieces. Press them evenly into 2- 8 inch round cake pans. Then add the cranberries Bake for 11-12 minutes—until golden around the edges.

With a small sharp knife, score the shortbread into 8 wedges per pan.

Allow to cool in the pans another 10 minutes. .

In the bottom of a double boiler bring water to a simmer. In the top of a double boiler slowly melt the white chocolate chips.

When the chocolate is completely melted, stir, the chocolate should look glossy. Drizzle the chocolate over the shortbreads and let them cool.

Then flip out of the pans the gently separate in to wedges