DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘Crock Pot’

Black Eye Peas & Collard Greens ~ New Year’s Eve Tradition

Hello Friends and Happy (soggy) Sunday

Sitting here at the kitchen table, cutting out coupons and watching the rain fall I decided to fire up the iPad and read my emails (multi-tasking to the max).  After reading a new comment from Kirsten Womack I decided to repost the Kale and Black Eye Pea Soup recipe as a twist on my traditional New Year’s Eve dinner.  

black eye peas The cooking and eating of Black Eye Peas and Collard Greens is a New Year’s Day tradition deeply rooted in the African American culture.  I have for many years always had a big pot of Black Eye Peas and Collard Greens simmering on the stove top while chicken wings were being deep fried on the side.  It’s tradition to eat a little of each immediately after kneeling in prayer on New Years Eve for good luck and prosperity heading forward. 

This year will be no exception, however, I may use the Crock Pot to cook them both together not only for the added luck but because it will make for an easier clean up.  

We also send one of our sons outside with money in his pocket and then have him be the first to walk through the front door.  This is not an African American tradition it’s just something fun to do!

What are your New Year’s Eve Traditions?

REPOST from 12/13/13

Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is Kale & Black Eye Pea Soup

Sunday I purchased a container of CutnClean Kale from Safeway to be used in my salads for the week.  However, after hearing the weather forecast for more snow I decided to use it to make a Crock Pot soup with Black Eye Peas.

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In the winter, my grandmother used to make the best homemade vegetable soups using ingredients she already had in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry.  So in keeping with tradition I used some leftover celery stalks, an onion, garlic, carrots and Bouillon cubes to make this soup.

Ingredients:

  • Dry Black Eye Peas – 1/2 bag
  • Kale – 1/2 package
  • Celery – diced
  • Carrots – diced
  • Onion – diced
  • Garlic – diced
  • Bouillon Cubes (2)
  • Water
  • Olive Oil
  • Black Pepper
  • Smoked Turkey Necks (optional)

Mama Midget (yes that was her name), never used measuring cups or spoons so neither do I especially when using the Crock Pot.  I just throw in what I have or think is enough.

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Rinse and drain 1/2 bag of dry Black Eye peas

Add 2 Bouillon Cubes to 3 cups of hot water

Pour Olive Oil into Crock Pot just enough to cover bottom

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Chop onion, garlic, carrots and celery and add to Crock Pot

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Add Kale and sprinkle with Black Pepper

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Pour in Bouillon Stock, adding more water to cover all ingredients if necessary

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Stir and if desired add Smoked Turkey Legs or Necks

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Cover and cook on low 8 hour, high 4 hours – depending on Crock Pot model.  Don’t forget to make some Skillet Corn Bread!

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Boneless Beef Ribs & Bean Soup

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay after Christmas!!!

Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is

Slow Cooked Boneless Beef Ribs & Bean Soup

This recipe would definitely be something to fix during your time off from work.  It’s an easy-breezy-no-stress-fix-it and-forget-it hardy meal.

Ingredients

Boneless Beef Ribs or any cheap cut of beef

1 large can of Tomato Sauce

1 large can of Diced Tomatoes

1 medium onion – diced

1 bag of dry beans

seasoning of choice

Cooking Spray

Friday Foodie Feature Boneless Beef Ribs and Beans

Rinse beans in cool water and strain then dice onion into bite size pieces.  Spray Crock Pot with a cooking spray for easier cleanup.

Layer ribs and sprinkle with seasoning of choice, I crushed a Knorr’s Cilantro Bouillon Cube over mine.

Friday Foodie Feature Boneless Beef Ribs and Beans

Top with diced onions

Friday Foodie Feature Boneless Beef Ribs and Beans

Add beans and cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes

Friday Foodie Feature Boneless Beef Ribs and Beans

Stir slightly

Friday Foodie Feature Boneless Beef Ribs and Beans

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4 hours – depending on Crock Pot Model.  Needless to say, the house was smelling delicious and my men loved it!  

I think this might be my new favorite Crock Pot soup, what is yours?  

Linking up with the Northeast Bloggers Network for the

Five on Friday (there ARE 5 ingredients in this recipe) blog hop and Pin It Link Party

Friday Five Link Up

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Have a blessed day and be a blessing to others – Smooches!

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Kale and Black Eye Pea Soup

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay (the 13th)!

Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is Kale & Black Eye Pea Soup

Sunday I purchased a container of CutnClean Kale from Safeway to be used in my salads for the week.  However, after hearing the weather forecast for more snow I decided to use it to make a Crock Pot soup with Black Eye Peas.

Snowy Days 007

 

In the winter, my grandmother used to make the best homemade vegetable soups using ingredients she already had in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry.  So in keeping with tradition I used some leftover celery stalks, an onion, garlic, carrots and Bouillon cubes to make this soup.

Ingredients:

  • Dry Black Eye Peas – 1/2 bag
  • Kale – 1/2 package
  • Celery – diced
  • Carrots – diced
  • Onion – diced
  • Garlic – diced
  • Bouillon Cubes (2)
  • Water
  • Olive Oil
  • Black Pepper
  • Smoked Turkey Necks (optional)

Mama Midget (yes that was her name), never used measuring cups or spoons so neither do I especially when using the Crock Pot.  I just throw in what I have or think is enough.

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Rinse and drain 1/2 bag of dry Black Eye peas  

Add 2 Bouillon Cubes to 3 cups of hot water

Pour Olive Oil into Crock Pot just enough to cover bottom

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Chop onion, garlic, carrots and celery and add to Crock Pot

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Add Kale and sprinkle with Black Pepper

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Pour in Bouillon Stock, adding more water to cover all ingredients if necessary

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Stir and if desired add Smoked Turkey Legs or Necks

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Cover and cook on low 8 hour, high 4 hours – depending on Crock Pot model.  Don’t forget to make some Skillet Corn Bread!

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Nothing beats walking into the house on a cold and snowy day to the smell and taste of “good ole homemade soup”!

I miss you Mama – RIP!

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Do you make any of your mother’s/grandma’s favorite recipes?

Come on over and join in on the Family Friday Link Up Party!

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Slow Cooked Cranberry Turkey

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Friday’s Foodie Feature

Slow Cooked Cranberry Turkey  

 Ingredients:

Turkey Breast Tenderloin

1 small onion diced*

1 can Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

1 cup Barbeque Sauce

Salt and Pepper to season (optional)

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Spray Crock Pot with Cooking Spray

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Add Turkey Tenderloin and sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired

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Add diced onions, cranberry and barbeque sauce.

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Cover and cook on LOW 4 hours

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When I got home I could smell it, but it wasn’t a good aroma, it was the smell of burning meat, my son turned the Crock Pot on HIGH!!!!  “Waste Not Want Not” so we ate it anyway with Stovetop Stuffing and String Beans!

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Hopefully our Thanksgiving turkey won’t suffer the same fate!

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*tip

cut onions on stovetop with exhaust fan running – no more tears

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Crocktober – BBQ Beef Ribs

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

What a perfect way to kick off the month dedicated to all things food!!!

Friday’s Foodie Feature is Slow Cooked BBQ Beef Ribs – this is one recipe that had my mouth watering and my mind on the Crock Pot all day long.  Since we don’t eat a lot of red meat it was definitely a treat for the entire family!

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Ingredients:

  • Beef Ribs
  • McCormick Grill Mates
  • Bottle BBQ Sauce
  • 1 Medium or Large Onion
  • Cooking Spray
  • Water

BBQ Ribs

Place ribs inside a large plastic bag, add Grill Mates Seasoning then rub to coat each rib.

I usually get a few extra produce or meat bags from the grocery store which comes in handy for marinating or dry rubbing meat so that I don’t have to touch it.

BBQ Ribs in Crock Pot

Rub dry seasoning to coat each rib

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Lay ribs flat in the bag, then using another bag cover to seal and place in the refrigerator overnight.

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Remove ribs from the bag and dice onion

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Spray Crock Pot with Cooking Spray then layer the ribs, diced onion and a little BBQ Sauce

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Continue layering ribs, onion and sauce

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I had some leftover pineapple chunks so I tossed them in over the last layer of ribs. Added a little water to the empty BBQ Sauce bottle, shaken and poured over fruit – “waste not want not”

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours

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Oh how I wish this was “smell-o-vision” because when I walked through the door…oh la la the aroma was overwhelmingly delicious and I know you would have loved it!

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 These finger-licking-good ribs were served with mashed potatoes and string beans to complete our family meal.  

If you try this recipe, make sure to come back and let me know how delicious they were!

Have a fantabulous day – Smooches!

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Crocktober – Cajun Chicken & Shrimp

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Today’s Crocktober Foodie Feature is Cajun Chicken (of course) AND Shrimp

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 Ingredients:

  • 1 pound skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 can stewed tomatoes – undrained and chopped
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound shelled shrimp, deveined and cleaned
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Hot Sauce to taste
  • 1 cup of prepared rice
  • * diced red pepper and celery rib can also be included

Spray Crock Pot with cooking oil

Place chicken thighs in Crock Pot, top with onion, garlic, tomatoes with juice, paprika, pepper, sugar, and Cajun seasoning

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours – depending on Slow Cooker

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In the last hour of cooking add the shrimp, lemon juice and hot sauce.

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Serve over hot cooked rice

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It is always great to come home to a fully cooked meal with a wonderful aroma.

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Crocktober – Hearty Beef Stew

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is Hearty Beef Stew made with Crock Pot Seasonings

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Ingredients

  • 1 package Crock Pot Hearty Beef Stew Seasoning

  • 2 lbs beef for stewing

  • 5 cups of veggies – potatoes/onions/carrots

  • 1 1/3 cup of water

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Dice veggies and cube beef, however, I chose not to cut beef

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Place beef and veggies into crock pot – spray with cooking oil or use liner for easy clean-up

mix seasoning with 1 1/3 cup of water and pour over veggies and beef

Mix seasoning with 1 1/3 cup of water and pour over veggies and beef

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If you cubed beef, stir all ingredients well

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, 4 hours if on high

 Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, 4 hours if on high

Come home to a fully cooked meal with a wonderful aroma

Come home to a fully cooked meal with a wonderful aroma

Serve with biscuit to sop up the gravy!

 

Serve with biscuit to sop up the gravy!

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Friday Foodie Feature – Fiesta Chicken

Hello Friends and Happy Crocktober Fri-Yay!

I missed a few Friday Foodie Features last month but the timing is now right with the official start of Autumn. October begins the season of football, family and comfort foods and it also means a return to my all time favorite way to make a meal and that is with the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker.

It wasn’t too long ago that there were only a few Slow Cooker Seasonings available at the grocery stores, now there are several more options available on the supermarket shelves.  I’ve tried a few of the new ones by McCormick’s and the Fiesta Chicken was a hit in my house, my men loved it – ‘ole

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of black beans
  • 2 cans of diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1-2 lbs or chicken thighs or breasts
  • 1 packet of McCormick’s Slow Cookers Seasoning – Fiesta Chicken

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OOTD September 099 Spray Crock Pot with cooking spray or use liner, put in chicken thighs or breast – remember NOT to wash the chicken.

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OOTD September 103 I had this frozen tomato so I added it

tip when a tomato begins to soften, don’t throw it away, put it in the freezer to use later in sauces or the Slow Cooker.

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OOTD September 119 Served over rice – Cilantro optional – dinner is served!

Have a fantabulous Day – Smooches!

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Friday Foodie Feature – Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Wow, what a whirlwind week…why is it that in the winter months time drags and moves slowly but when it’s summer it speeds by like a freight train on steroids?

In 2 days we’ll be celebrating 23 years of marriage, and yes, that too seems like it flew by.  There were times when we experienced “winter months” and time lagged, but with the grace of God, we are now in our “summer” months – like a freight train on steroids – lol!

If you are like me, you are still grilling outdoors and this may be an early start for an indoor Crockpot meal, but I wanted to try the Campbell’sSlow Cooker Sauce.

Ingredients:

  • Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce – Sweet Korean BBQ w Roasted Ginger & Sesame
  • Jasmine Rice – Dellarice.com
  • Beef – 2-3 lbs
  • Slow Cooker/Crock Pot

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The beef was placed in the Crock Pot, did not use cooking spray nor add any water

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Covered beef with Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce

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7 hours on low

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Shredded beef with 2 forks

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Cooked rice as package directions and covered with shredded beef

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My sons love tacos and burritos so I made these for them.

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There are 3 other Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauces that I’ll try, and this Korean BBQ was just the right blend.  It wasn’t too salty which would have been a turn off for me.

Do you use the Slow Cooker in the summer?

Have a fantastical day – Smooches!

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Friday Foodie Feature – Campbell's Slow Cooker Sauce

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Wow, what a whirlwind week…why is it that in the winter months time drags and moves slowly but when it’s summer it speeds by like a freight train on steroids?

In 2 days we’ll be celebrating 23 years of marriage, and yes, that too seems like it flew by.  There were times when we experienced “winter months” and time lagged, but with the grace of God, we are now in our “summer” months – like a freight train on steroids – lol!

If you are like me, you are still grilling outdoors and this may be an early start for an indoor Crockpot meal, but I wanted to try the Campbell’sSlow Cooker Sauce.

Ingredients:

  • Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce – Sweet Korean BBQ w Roasted Ginger & Sesame
  • Jasmine Rice – Dellarice.com
  • Beef – 2-3 lbs
  • Slow Cooker/Crock Pot

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The beef was placed in the Crock Pot, did not use cooking spray nor add any water

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Covered beef with Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce

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7 hours on low

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Shredded beef with 2 forks

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Cooked rice as package directions and covered with shredded beef

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My sons love tacos and burritos so I made these for them.

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There are 3 other Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauces that I’ll try, and this Korean BBQ was just the right blend.  It wasn’t too salty which would have been a turn off for me.

Do you use the Slow Cooker in the summer?

Have a fantastical day – Smooches!

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