Slow cooker bbq ribs, slow cooker beef strogonoff, scalloped potatoes and sausage, slow cooker salsa chicken, homemade pizza and quiche.
This was definitely the week of the slow cooker. I find myself using it so often because meat consistently turns out moist and tender and there is usually lots of extra liquid which Dad requires for pureeing.
I also love that I can get the prep time over with in the morning before I start my work day, and minimal effort is required at the end of the day to get supper on the table.
I’ve always thought I was more of a morning person (mind you with a post-7 am start!!), but I often find myself trying to finish something up at day’s end, and I would rather stay at my desk and finish that then go make supper, at least some days. lol
On the menu last week November 25 - December 1, 2018:
Sunday Slow cooker ribs, mashed potatoes and green peas
This couldn’t be simpler. Take 2 racks of ribs (we like pork) and cut them in half. Put them in the slow cooker and cover with a good amount of Diana’s Sauce (I like Chicken & Rib BBQ flavour), or your favourite BBQ sauce. Cook on low for 8 hours.
Monday Slow Cooker Hamburger Stroganoff with egg noodles and broccoli
This was tasty but definitely not as creamy as my usual beef stroganoff which I make on the stove top using leftover roast beef. Apparently my son missed the creaminess because he wasn't really a fan. Mom and Dad thought it was very good. (Maybe if my son and I didn’t already have an awesome version to compare it to, we would have liked it better! lol) I will share that version soon... This might be one of those times I shouldn’t have “messed with perfection”. I also found that this needed additional salt at the table. I used a low-sodium chicken bouillon powder and it just wasn't quite salty enough. The recipe did make lots which was great.
Tuesday Scalloped Potatoes with sausages, onions and corn
This is one of my favourite dishes, another one I’ve been making for years. I always add about 1 - 1 ½ cups of grated cheddar cheese to the white sauce and stir it in until melted, just before pouring it over the potatoes. Sometimes I serve this with ham (you can bake it in another dish on the side, or cube it up and cook it in with the scalloped potatoes). Tonight I was in the mood for sausage so I baked that on the side along with some sliced onions. It was the perfect dish for a stormy winter night.
Wednesday Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken with white rice and cauliflower
Love this quick and tasty Mexican-inspired slow cooker dish. It comes together in a snap (really, it could hardly be easier!) and is so good. You can adjust the amount of chicken depending on how many people you are serving, or if you would like some leftovers. Tonight we served an extra teenage boy, and happily, it was well-received! It's hard to go wrong with chicken, cheese and salsa. This was also a great way to use up some leftover corn from last night.
Thursday leftovers / eat out / take out
Friday 30 Minute Pizza Crust topped with pepperoni and cheese and a side of veggies and dip
We have a Christmas get together with friends here tomorrow, so tonight was all about baking Christmas cookies and prepping brunch dishes. I needed a quick and easy supper that was teen-friendly (super grateful for the amazing help!) Dad had leftovers (we still have lots from earlier in the week), but for the rest of us, this pizza was just as promised - only 30 minutes and delish! I have never been great at kneading, so I was really happy to find a recipe that doesn't require that. The toppings definitely made it - piles of pepperoni and cheese. Okay, not exactly nutritious, but what a treat!
Saturday Quiche Lorraine (The Best), Ham and Wild Rice Quiche and fruit salad
Today was our annual Christmas get together with some of my best friends. Five of us have been friends for more than 20 years, and I am so, so grateful to have them in my life. We celebrated with brunch this year, and I made a few different egg dishes including an overnight French toast and the two quiches in the links above. I failed to get photos, but trust me, they turned out so, so well. The Quiche Lorraine is indeed "The Best" (and it should be with so much heavy cream and gruyere cheese!) but absolutely worth the calories. My friends were guinea pigs today, as I haven't tried that recipe before, but it got rave reviews. I always leave the wild rice out of the Ham and Wild Rice Quiche, and just use the veggies and a bit of bacon. It's delicious as well. We walked around the lake afterwards, so I felt slightly less guilty about all the bacon and cheese today!
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