Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes. Stirs up a few memories. My Mom would make them periodically. She'd use a little mustard, ketchup and if she felt fancy a little brown sugar. She'd even squirt the ketchup and mustard in a happy face. (:

Crockpot Sloppy Joes

1 1/2 pounds Lean Ground beef browned halfway seasoned with Lawrys Garlic Salt
1 can tomato paste
1 can Rotel Original
1 packet Onion Soup
1 can diced tomatos chili ready
Hamburger buns

Optional...
Cheddar, Monterey, Muenster, Pepper Jack Slices
Dill pickle slices

Combine above ingredients (minus buns, cheese and pickles) in your crockpot. Stir, set the time and do what ya need to do. Serve on hamburger buns with a slice of cheese and some sliced dill pickles. Enjoy!

Corned Beef aka Mustard Meat 28413

Rob grew up with corned beef, I did not. Twelve years ago I was introduced to the ever so salty dark rosy pink meat. My first experience was pretty good. Each time I have had it since I have a greater appreciation for corned beef. With St. Patrick's Day in two days, I decided to post a recipe. My trusty crockpot will yet again supply sustenance for yet another meal.

Crockpot Mustard Meat 28413

One 1 1/2 to 2 pound corned beef
six-eight red potatoes cleaned
One onion sliced in six wedges
One twelve ounce Bud Light or beer of your choice
A few shakes Lawry's Garlic Salt
A few shakes dry ground mustard
One head of cabbage quartered

Sprinkle seasoning on the bottom of crock. Add meat, if the corned beef had a seasoning packet use it. Line the sides of meat with potatoes and onion wedges. Sprinkle a little more seasoning on that. Pour beer over and around the sides of the meat. Lay the quartered cabbage pieces on top of that and put the lid on the crock. Set the temperature to low and cook for six to eight hours. When ready to serve remove the meat from crock and allow it to cool on the cutting board for 10-15 minutes. Slice the meat and serve with a potato or two and some cabbage. Dip pieces of meat in mustard. Enjoy!

If there is leftover meat use it for sandwiches.

Crock Pot Meatloaf

I work long days, 4 days a week. There is something so nice about coming home from work to find dinner has been made. The crock pot insures that I can have this luxury. Yesterday morning I ran some errands and picked up some ground beef. Not sure what I was going to put in the crock pot. It was cold outside with a chance of rain and Meatloaf popped in my head.

Crock pot Meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 egg
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
a few shakes Lawry's Garlic Salt
a couple shakes ground red pepper
1 tsp Cajun spice seasoning
2 diced green onions
1 cup crushed seasoned croutons

3 Potatoes cut in thirds
1 cup carrot pieces

Mix the above ingredients together and shape meat into a loaf. Place in the bottom middle of the crock pot. Add potatoes and carrots to the side of loaf. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

You can glaze the top of meatloaf with a mix of ketchup or barbecue sauce mixed with brown sugar if you would like for 15 minutes with the crock pot set on high.

Drunken Crockpot Tri Tip Roast

At Ralphs, I found a nice little tri tip. The price was right, I bought it. Tonight we will dine on a meal cooked in the Crockpot.

Drunken Crockpot Tri Tip Roast

One 1 1/2 pound Tri Tip
3 Red Potatoes
2 Butter White Potatoes
1 Yam cut in thirds or quartered
2 Carrots, cut into 2 inch chunks
Italian Seasoning
Lawrys Seasoning Salt
Ground Red Pepper
1/2 Cup Water
1 Tbs. Beef Base
1/2 tsp. Minced Garlic
1 12 oz. can Bud Light beer

Season the bottom of crockpot with the seasonings. Place Tri Tip on top of seasoned bottom. Sprinkle the top with seasonings. Place potatoes and yam pieces over meat. Place carrots around potatoes and over meat. Sprinkle the tops with Italian Seasonings. In a small bowl mix water, beef base and garlic. Microwave for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir. Pour beer in the bowl, stir again. Pour Beef and Beer mixture over the contents of crockpot. Depending on when you are serving your meal, put the cover on the pot and set on high for 4-6 hours of low 6-8 hours.

Serve the Meat and Potatoes to your Man with Buttered Wheat toast and a Bud Light!

Ode To Fall Crockpot Roast

For some, fall has come. Yesterday it was 103 degrees F. YUCK. Too hot. Way too hot. One of my co-workers had her husband pull out her fall harvest decorations. She is ready to decorate and make her house FALL-tastic. I am still trying to cool off from yesterday. At LifeasMom.com she is having her Thursday Ultimate Recipe Swap. You must check it out. This happens each week and you won't be disappointed. Last week's swap was featuring FOOTBALL foods. This week is Favorite Fall foods.

Ode To Fall~ Crockpot Roast

4 small Russets potatoes
4 small yukon gold potatoes
1 cup chunks of carrots
1/2 purple onion cut in sixths (wedged)
3 Celery stalks chopped in bite size pieces
2 pounds pork butt or Beef Round Roast or One whole chicken
Lawrys Seasoning Salt, Lawrys Garlic Salt, Fresh cracked pepper
Sweet Baby Ray's Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce

Take the Crockpot out of your cabinet or storage facility. Rinse it off or clean it. Season the bottom of your crock pot. Season your choice of protein by rubbing it with dry seasonings. Then massage it with some barbecue sauce and place that in the bottom of the crock. Arrange potatoes, carrots, onion and celery around that. Put the top on the crockpot. Set it for the right amount of time and heat according to when you start preparing your dinner. I usually put mine on in the morning before I go to work, set on low for 10 hours. Everything is perfectly cooked when I get home. Oh and does the house smell amazing.

Serve with a crusty baguette and a little lettuce salad.

Spicy Meatball Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes seasoned like a Spicy Meatball. Hmmm? What do you think? These were FANTASTIC! Oh my gosh!

Spicy Meatball Sloppy Joes

One pound lean ground beef
Lawrys Garlic salt
fresh cracked pepper
1 Tbs. Dried chives
1/2 tsp. Italian seasonings
one small can tomato paste
one can diced tomatos with jalapenos

whole wheat hamburger buns or rolls
provolone cheese

Brown the ground beef with the seasonings until cooked. Add the tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Stir and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Put a slice of provolone on each half of the bun. Top one side with meat mixture and top with the other half of the bun. Serve and Enjoy!

What To Do With Leftover Taco Meat???

I cook for two most of the time. When it is just the two of us there is always leftover taco meat. I find I can get two meals out of one by doing this. I save a little money and have variety for meals. Below you find my recipe for Crockpot taco meat that is out of this world. One of my boyfriends friends LOVES the taco meat and is so happy when he happens to stop by and I offer him Tacos. Every time he asks for the recipe and he cannot believe it was made in the Crockpot.

Taco Meat 28413

One pound lean ground beef or turkey
1- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 4 oz can green chiles
1 packet taco seasoning (we use PACE)

Brown the ground meat halfway in a fry pan. Drain fat. Set aside. In your Crockpot, dump in tomatoes and chilies and stir. Add meat and stir. Add seasoning and stir again. Put the top on the Crockpot and cook on low for 6-10 hours.

When you are ready to assemble tacos you can serve them in fresh fried tortillas in canola oil. You can use corn tortillas or taco size flour tortillas. Top your tacos with cheese, sour cream, salsa, shredded lettuce... whatever you heart desires.

Now what to do with the leftovers...

Turn leftover meat into Taco Salad

Use the leftover meat for Crockpot Meat Sauce for Pasta by adding one 28 oz can of diced tomatoes and one 28 oz can Marinara Sauce. Doctor that up with some Italian seasonings and a bay leaf. Cook on low for 6-10 hours. It makes the best meat sauce.

Freeze the leftover meat for later use for tacos or your meat sauce

Turn your leftover meat into Sloppy Joe's. Add a can of tomato soup, heat it up and serve on hamburger buns.

Marinated Flank Steak

Rob has a few favorite meals from his childhood. One of them is flank Steak. This weekend, I will post another favorite... Mustard Meat. His family usually marinates the meat in Lawry's Teriyaki which is fabulous. But, I enjoy making homemade Teriyaki sauce and I change it up a bit each time. The recipe below is the recipe for the Flank Steak we had two weekends ago in Cal City. It was mighty fine and we served it with the Grilled Asparagus from a previous post.

Jamie's Teriyaki Marinated Flank Steak

Flank Steak cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch strips seasoned with Lawry's Garlic salt and fresh cracked pepper

Depending on how much meat you are about to marinade, you might want to double this

1 cup Kikkoman Soy Sauce
1 tbs. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/8 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup honey or agave syrup or maple syrup (I used Maple)

Mix marinade together. Set aside. Put seasoned meat strips into a large Ziploc bag and pour marinade over. Make sure marinade hits each piece. Place bag in refrigerator. Overnight is best if possible. The flavors really get into the meat.

Beef Stew for 2

I love my crock pot. I do. It is my friend. It makes my dinner. It's not that messy. It makes my house smell good. It's contents comfort me and fill my tummy. One of my favorite things to make in the crock pot is Beef Stew. A few simple ingredients and wha-la, a meat and potato meal.

Beef Stew for Two

a pound of lean beef cubed
Lawry's Garlic Salt
Salt and pepper
6-8 small to medium sized Red Potato's
1 cup mini carrots
1 cup celery chunks
1 small onion chopped
1/4 cup water

Season the bottom of the Crock pot. Place potatoes on the bottom. Put meat on top of that. Season a little more. Arrange carrots, celery and onion on top of that. Season a little bit more and sprinkle water on top. Put the lid on the crock pot and let the crock pot do the cooking! 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 on low. Serve it up and enjoy. We make our potatoes like baked potatoes.

Robby likes a baked potato. I do too. I like mine with butter, chives, salt, and pepper. He likes his...

Baked Potato Rob's Way

1 large baked potato
a pat or two of butter
1/4 cup small curd cottage cheese
salt and pepper
chives if you have them but you don't have to get that fancy

Take your baked potato and cut an x in the middle of it. Squeeze from both ends and kind of mush the potato a bit. Stuff your pats of butter in the slits. Top with your cottage cheese and then salt and pepper. Sit back and enjoy your baked potato! The use of cottage cheese is a healthier choice than the old favorite, sour cream.

Check out LifeasMom.com for her recipe swap. You won't be dissapointed as this weeks swap is Meat and Taters!

Football Foods

Football Season is here! Football Foods are a necessity. There are plenty of things you can toss in the crock pot, that will be ready in a few hours that are out of this world delish! Below you will find a few recipes for Good Eats! These will get you to Superbowl!

Buffalo Chicken Legs

One dozen Chicken Legs (or more depending on the size of your Crock Pot.)
Lawry's Garlic Salt
Pepper

Sprinkle the bottom of the Crock pot with the seasonings. Put the Chicken Legs, meaty end down in the Crock pot. Sprinkle with more seasonings. Depending on how much time you have cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours. The legs will cook and skin will turn golden in the crock pot. When legs are cooked, drain broth from pot. (Reserve broth to make soup with or toss it) Mix the 2 ingredients below.

Red Rooster Hot Louisiana Sauce
1/4 - 1/2 cup melted Butter

Pour sauce over legs in the crock pot. Make sure legs get covered in the spicy stuff. Leave them in the crock pot until ready to serve. Turn crock pot to warm or low.

Serve with Ranch dressing and a few celery or carrot sticks.

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

3 bags Papa Luigi's Meatballs (12 per bag) or 36 homemade pre-cooked Meatballs
1 cup Sweet Baby Ray's Sweet Vidalia Onion barbecue sauce
1/4 cup Wilcox honey (our friends keep bees and their bees make the best honey)
3 Tablespoons Knott's Boysenberry Jam

Put Meatballs in the crock pot. In a bowl combine the BBQ sauce, honey and jam. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave another 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat until sauce is well combined and the pour over meatballs. Stir until all meatballs are sauced. Keep on low heat for about 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. These are delish! Serve with fun toothpicks.

Beef Ribs

I was walking through the market. Stumbled over to the Meat Department, spotted some ribs and asked for 3 small slabs. I remembered how my Aunt Peg boils them and then slathers barbecue sauce all over them and then grills them. Rob loved her ribs, so I was going to try and recreate them. Below is what I did.

Beef Ribs

A few slabs of beef ribs
meat tenderizer
garlic salt
Mrs. Dash Chipotle seasoning
water

A spicy Rub of various seasonings
Any kind of Barbecue Sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's Sweet Vidalia Onion, Brown Sugar and Maple and Honey Chipotle)

I filled my stock pot with water, I sprinkled meat tenderizer, garlic salt and Mrs. Dash into the water and stirred it. Add ribs and bring water to a boil. Boil for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove ribs from the beef stock and place on a jelly roll pan. Sprinkle rub seasoning over ribs. Squirt your favorite barbecue sauce over ribs and brush with a brush or use a fork to spread the sauce.

Heat up your grill and grill ribs on low, bone side down for 10 minutes. Turn the ribs over and grill them for another 10 minutes. DON'T forget them on the grill. I made rib briquets. Only a few of my ribs were salvageable. But man were they good. Extra barbecue sauce helped with the extra crunchy carcinogen nuggets.

I served my ribs with PW's Crash Potatoes. Load them with cheese and butter and sour cream and your meal of Meat and Potatoes is done.

Marinades for Meat or Chicken

I bought two Tri-tips at the market. One was $5.33 and the other $5.01! Only $1.99 a pound!!! Thank you Ralph's Markets! If only gasoline and diesel were that price again! );

I have been making my own Teriyaki sauce for the last decade or so. I love it! It is good on Meat or Chicken.

Teriyaki Marinade

3/4 cup Soy sauce
1/8 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 1/2 tablespoons Clover Honey

Mix together and use as marinade. I put my Tri-tip in a Ziploc bag and pour marinade over. I press all air out of bag, zip it, and refrigerate overnight or put it in the freezer.

One of the gals I used to work with made marinades with Orange juice. She rattled off how she did it. I never did get the exact recipe written down, but have tried many an OJ creation. This is one I like to use.

Orange Maple Marinade

3/4 cup orange juice
1/8 cup Maple syrup
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb Seasoning
1/4 teaspoon Cajun Seasonings
one small onion sliced thin

Mix above together and use as marinade. Place Meat or chicken in a Ziploc, pour marinade over. Place the onion slices over meat or chicken Press the air out the bag and refrigerate overnight or freeze for a later use.