Vegetable Paella

This is a great, healthy side dish {even without the Saffron}. I think it would also be good with brown or wild rice.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups white {or brown or wild} rice
• 1 red or yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
• 8 cherry tomatoes, sliced into fourths
• 1 {14 oz} can artichokes, rinsed, drained and quartered
  
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 medium carrots, peeled and diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced {or 3 tsp}
• 1 tbsp parsley, minced
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 cup frozen peas

1. Combine all ingredients except for the peas in your Crock Pot. Mix thoroughly. Cover and cook on Low for 4 hours or High for 2 hours, or until rice is tender and veggies are cooked through {don't overcook rice}.
   
2. 15 minutes before serving, add peas. Cover and cook on High for 15 minutes, or until peas are tender. Mix well before serving.

{Tip!} Try adding spinach to this dish as well {1/2 package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained}. As a main dish for lunch, I like to add freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top of this dish when serving. So good.

Enjoy!

Simple Dark Chocolate Fondue

So easy, my son made this one. So heavenly!

Ingredients:

• 3 {1.75 oz) dark chocolate candy bars, broken into squares
  
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 2 tbsp milk
  

Put ingredients in your mini 'Little Dipper' Crock Pot. Cover and cook for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes until melted and smooth.

{Tip!} Serve with strawberries, bananas, {or any fruit}, marshmallows, bite-sized pieces of pound cake, pretzels or Biscotti.

Enjoy!

Pork Chops and Apples

One of my all-time favorites! I've been making this for years and every time I make it, it's always a hit. You can't go wrong with this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless pork chops
• 3 to 4 apples, cored and sliced into eighths {not too thin or they will get mushy. I leave peel on.}
  
• 1 cup butter
  
• 2 tbsp garlic, minced
  
• 1 tsp kosher salt
  
• 1/2 tsp pepper

1. Grease Crock Pot and cover apples across bottom of Crock Pot. In a stovetop skillet on medium, add butter, garlic, salt and pepper. When butter melts and starts to bubble, dip both sides of each pork chop in butter mixture {use tongs}. Lay each pork chop in Crock Pot on top of apples.
   
2. Pour butter mixture on top of pork chops and apples in Crock Pot. Cover and cook on Low for 4 to 5 hours, or until pork chops are tender.
   
3. To serve, cover pork chops with apples and butter sauce.
   

{Tip!} I like to serve the pork chops and apples on top of mashed potatoes with a big spoonful of butter sauce to top.

Enjoy!

Ham and Corn Chowder

Love, love, love this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ham steak, cubed
• 3 yellow potatoes, peeled and diced (you can mash them up a bit if you like)
  
• 2 {16 oz) bags sweet corn
• 6 cups vegetable broth
  
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

• 1/4 cup flour
  
• 2 cups heavy cream
  
• 2 tbsp butter
• fresh parsley sprigs, for garnish {optional}
  

1. Place all ingredients {minus the last four ingredients} into Crock Pot. Cover and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours.
   
2. Add the flour, heavy cream and butter. Mix well and cook for 1 more hour on High {or until heated through}. Serve and garnish with parsley {optional}.
   

{Tip!} If you want to thicken the texture of the soup, use a hand blender {on low and very carefully - it's hot}. Blend until desired consistency.

Enjoy!

Simple Crock Pot Sliders

Packed with flavor, you'll love these scrumptious little fellas.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground sirloin or lean ground beef
• 1 clove garlic, minced
  
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp dried basil
  
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 2 slices sharp cheddar, cut into fourths (optional)
• 10 mini buns, toasted

Topping suggestions: Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, Ketchup and Mayonnaise.

1. In mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together. Form 10 patties and place in Crock Pot.
   
2. Cook on High for 2 to 3 hours (depending on how rare or well done you like). During last 10 minutes of cooking, uncover and place cheese (optional) on top of each patty. Cover Crock Pot for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Place patties on toasted buns and top with lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup and mayo.
   

{Tip!} Use a toothpick or mini skewer to keep your slider together.

Enjoy!

Winner Winner Chicken and Vegetable Dinner

My family and I love this recipe. So simple, so good, and the chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender.

Ingredients:

• 1 {4 to 5 lb} whole chicken
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  
• 1/2 small bag baby carrots
  
• 4 medium red potatoes, cut into fourths
• 3 medium celery stalks, cut into 1'' pieces
  
• 1 medium onion, peeled
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp salt, divided
• 1/2 tsp pepper

1. Place carrots, potatoes, celery, broth and 1/2 tsp salt in Crock Pot.
   
2. Remove any giblets from chicken cavity and rinse chicken. Place whole chicken in Crock Pot and stuff chicken with onion. Top chicken with spices and remaining salt and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or High for 3 to 4 hours. Remove and arrange on platter before serving. Remove onion from cavity and cut into eighths.

{Tip!} Drizzle extra broth over chicken and vegetables when serving for added flavor.

Enjoy!

Apple and Oatmeal Crisp

Such a great, comfort food. Good for dessert or breakfast.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs apples, peeled, cored and sliced into eighths (not too thin or apples will get mushy).
  
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
  
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt

1. Lightly grease the bottom of your Crock Pot. Add apples.
   
2. In a mixing bowl, combine all other ingredients and mix together. Spread over apples in cooker.
   
3. Cover and cook on Low for 3 to 4 hours.

{Tip!} As a dessert, top with vanilla ice cream!

Enjoy!