Crock Pot Cooking

Pantry Bean Soup

1 onion, chopped
1 ½ lbs pork
2 cups of broth
2 cups of water
2 cans of beans
herbs
pepper

This is a pantry recipe. So how your soup turns out depends on what you have on hand to put into it.

Onion. I like to use fresh. If you have chopped onion in the freezer use ½ cup to 2/3 cup of prechopped.

Pork. I use smoked sausage, ham hocks, smoked pork neck bones, ham bones, kilbossa sausage, or any other type of left over pork that you have.

Broth. Chicken or Beef broth will do.

Water. I use tap water. If you have enough to do four cups of broth you can eliminate the water.

Beans. Again this is your call. I have used gabanzo beans, black beans, northern white beans, red kidney beans, lima beans.

Herbs. Use 1 tablespoon fresh herbs or 1 teaspoon dried herbs. I recommend basil, oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary, combination mixes use as creole mixture or old bay. In short use the herbs you like. Use one or two herbs. I use 1 teaspoon sage and rosemary most of the time. Pepper to taste.

Put the onion, pork and broth into the crockpot and cook on low for about 6 hours, or high for about 4 hours. Add the beans and herbs. Simmer on low for about 2 hours. Serve with bread and butter.


Chicken Cacciatore served over Spaghetti

1 onion, sliced
3 lbs of Chicken pieces
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic or 2 garlic cloves also minced
1 (15 oz) can of Spaghetti sauce
1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes with Italian Herbs
2 teaspoons basil pesto

Place onions in bottom of the crock pot. Lay chicken over onions. Drizzle chicken with olive oil. Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Cover. Cook on low for 6 to 6 ½ hours. Serve over cooked spaghetti.

TIPS: If you don’t have pesto, use 1 teaspoon each of basil and oregano. If you need to cook it faster, do 3 hours on high. Original recipe called for 3 lbs of chicken legs, but I use whatever I have in the freezer.


Apple Pie Bread Pudding

8 slices cinnamon bread
1/4 c. melted butter
3 eggs
1 can of evaporated milk
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 can of Apple Pie Filling

Place bread cubes in a well greased crock pot. In a bowl mix sugar, melted butter, well beaten eggs and milk. Beat until smooth. Stir in cinnamon. Pour over cubes and mix lightly. Cook on high for 1 hour. Top with Apple Pie Filling. Turn to low for 2 to 3 hours or bake in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

TIPS: You can use any type of Pie Filling. If you don’t have cinnamon bread, 8 slices of white bread will do. You can use 2 cups of regular milk instead of the evaporated milk.