Gifts In a Jar - Slow Cooker Country Bean Soup Mix

Two of our Soup Mixes ready for their recipe cards and ribbons.

This soup is great!  It can start out its life in a jar after sitting in your pantry where it has rested since you got together with a group of friends to make up some freezer/pantry meals or it can all come together for the first time in your slow cooker.

This past Christmas, we needed gifts for teachers, bus drivers and mail delivery persons.  After preparing a few jars of this recipe, I still had enough of everything left over to make our own meal!

I was glad I did.  Everyone really liked it.  And you know me, I love the simple recipes best!

If making this in a jar for storage, just add all dry ingredients to a Quart Jar.  When ready to cook, add contents of a jar, 6-8 cups water, browned turkey sausage and a 26 oz can of crushed tomatoes to a 6 quart Slow Cooker.

Slow Cooker Country Bean Soup
3 cups dried beans, any combination (for a prettier gift, use 1/2 cups of 6 different beans or even layer two different types of beans 1/2 cup at a time)
2 T dried minced onion
1 T dried parsley flakes
2 tsp beef bouillon
1 tsp dried minced garlic
1 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

Layer beans in 1 quart jar.

In small baggie, mix onion, parsley, bouillon, garlic, basil, oregano, salt pepper and red pepper flakes.  Tie with twistie tie.  Place on top of beans in quart jar.  Seal jar with appropriate tight-fitting lid.

Include tag when gifting:

Slow Cooker Country Bean Soup
1 Jar Country Bean Soup Mix
6-8 cups water
1 26 oz can diced tomatoes
8 oz smoked sausage links, browned and sliced

Remove seasonings from jar and set aside.  Dump beans in large bowl and cover with water.  Soak overnight.  Drain beans in strainer and discard water.  Rinse beans until rinse water runs clear.

Brown sausage links in skillet, and slice.

Combine soaked beans, water, tomatoes, sausage and contents of seasoning packet in slow cooker. Cook on low 6-8 hours, until beans are tender.

Soup can be made thicker by using a potato masher to mash some of the beans and replacing mashed beans in slow cooker during last half hour of cooking.

Slow Cooker Picadillo

A few years ago, I tried a stove top Picadillo recipe.  It was the green olives that tempted me. 

I LOVED it!  Even if the green olives would not have been in the recipe, I would have still enjoyed the meal.  Sadly, like usual for me, I misplaced the recipe.

Today, I merged two different recipes to try to recreate the Picadillo taste.  Sadly, although it was an okay taste, it wasn't the "I CRAVE THIS!" recipe I'd been hoping to locate.  I felt this needed more seasoning, to include salt as it seemed to be missing something . . . . I might also decide, should I make this again, to increase the amount of chopped olives to closer to a full cup,

I am posting what I did now so that I can compare it as I continue my search for that crave-worthy winner of a recipe.

Slow Cooker Picadillo

1 lb ground beef
26 oz crushed tomatoes
10 oz tomato sauce
1 onion, finely chopped
16 green olives, finely chopped
1 tsp olive brine
1 green pepper, finely chopped
15 oz black beans (I used some I had soaked overnight)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano

In skillet, brown burger.  Place burger and all other ingredients in slow cooker.  Stir well.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.  Serve by itself or over brown rice.

Slow Cooker Chicken (and Alphabets) Soup

This is an old entry that I never put in "publish" status, so, don't mind the references to a much younger Miss Mia!

With the incredible cold spell we had going on during the early part of the week, I was ready for some warm soup.  Miss Mia and I decided a chicken noodle type soup would be perfect - especially if we used Alphabets instead of noodles.  This was also a good way to get some "school" in when I let her measure the various items for the soup . . . . It was nice having her home from school on those below 0F days, but at the same time, she was going a little stir crazy since she'd only just returned to classes after Christmas Break!

I actually made this recipe and split it in two so we could have a freezer meal for later this winter.  I'll give the measurements and you can dump 'em all in a 6 quart Slow Cooker - or be like me and split it between the slow cooker and a freezer bag.

Slow Cooker Chicken (and Alphabets) Soup

2 packages baby carrots, chopped bite size or smaller
1 head celery, chopped bite size or smaller
1 tsp minced garlic
2 onions, chopped
1 tsp rosemary
2-4 skinless boneless chicken breast (depending how chicken-y you want your soup)
2 32oz boxes chicken broth
2 cups water
2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 of a small box Alphabets noodles (you could use more if you like lotsa noodles in your soup)

Dump everything but the Alphabets noodles in slow cooker.  Cook on low 6-8 hours (depending on which of my slow cookers I use, 6 hours might be long enough, but 8 hours might be better in the other, check your chicken to see . . . . Chicken should simply fall apart when poked with a fork).  Shred chicken using two forks (again, I am lazy and shred the chicken in the slow cooker.  My Hubster removes the chicken to a plate where he shreds it and then dumps it back in the slow cooker).  Dump in Alphabets noodles and cover.  Cook an additional 10 - 15 minutes, until noodles are cooked.

-frozen chicken can be use - the cooking time will be closer to the 8 hour time frame (again, depending on how hot your slow cooker cooks on Low).
- freeze soup in one gallon freezer bag.  lay flat in freezer.  when ready to cook, remove from freezer in am and place straight in slow cooker (take out of freezer bag), no need to thaw. 

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Here's an easy one for you.

So easy, even the Hubster can make it!

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

1 jar salsa (I used one of my pint sized Zesty Zucchini Salsas I had canned)
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth (optional, depends how runny you want your chicken filling)

Place the 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts in slow cooker.  Dump salsa and brother over chicken  Cook on low 6-8 hours (depending on how hot your slow cooker cooks).  Use two forks and shred chicken.

Use over rice, in tortillas, over lettuce . . . or by itself!

Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

A few years ago, I had a serving of Swedish Meatballs and fell in love.

Sadly, I have never been able to find a recipe that replicates the flavors from that first experience with the wonderful comfort food.  Believe me, I have tried.  I will also admit to many failures.  If you haven't ever searched for a Swedish Meatball recipe, go ahead and do so now .  .  .

. . . .

didja do a search?

didja?

. . . .

Aren't there some weird combos in some of them?

Yes, I tried those combos.

But - let's get away from the failures.  Let's talk about this slow cooker success!

It may not be the Swedish Meatball recipe I'm still attempting to locate but it was a nice, easy and comforting meal.

Find the Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs recipe here.

The substitutions . . . .

As you know, there are homemade "cream of" soups.  Canned is good in a pinch . . .

I had some gravy left over from the turkey we made a few days before  So, instead of the canned beef broth and a packet of gravy mix, I just dumped in approximately 2 1/2 cups gravy.

Miss Mia insisted she was going to hate this meal . . . . so adamant was she in this belief, that I was only permitted to serve her 1 (ONE!) meatball.  A few minutes later, I was sidetracked and looked up to see her at the counter . . . my little mule-headed mija was over at the slow cooker spooning out MORE meatballs AND MORE gravy!  By the end of the evening, she had consumed close to 8 (GASP!) meatballs. 

Thoughts for the future - make this again MUCH sooner (rather than later) as the family all enjoyed it!  I think I will also slice up around 4 mushrooms (or maybe 8 . . . . I LOVE my 'shrooms) and toss them in.  For the first attempt with the 'shrooms, they'll go in with everything else . . . . and if they're overcooked, I'll see about tossing them in around hour 4 . . . )

We served this over brown rice as I had a bit of that leftover as well.  With that, we had baked broccoli and a salad. 

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

Please excuse the picture . . . the soup is so much better than the photo.  I swear!

I've had a bad week with my MS . . . not the symptoms, but trying to figure out just how I can afford to stay on the meds when I'm being billed $4035 a month.  Needless to say . . . that stress along with the cold and snowy weather had me seeking comfort food.

So, we decided on Potato Soup.

Again, this was one where the Hubster "took charge" by tossing all of the ingredients in the slow cooker.  He even chose the right bowl size and heat settings!  Color me amazed ;)

We had my parents up for our usual Friday Dinner and everyone enjoyed this.  Even Miss Mia finished her bowl.

We will certainly be keeping this one in the Winter Month Meals Rotation!

Slow Cooker Potato Soup
8 cups red potatoes, cut into cubes
2 onions, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 package turkey bacon . . . cooked and crumbled
1 8oz package low fat cream cheese (cut into cubes)
6 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup (or homemade "cream" soup)

In 4 qt slow cooker, combine all ingredients.  Cook on low 7 - 8 hours.  Remove 1/4 - 1/3 of soup to a blender and puree - the amount you remove depends entirely on your preference as to how "thick" you want your soup.  Add back to slow cooker and stir until well blended.  Spoon into bowls and enjoy!

Notes:
~ the 4 qt bowl for the slow cooker was the perfect size . . .
~ this makes approx 10 servings as the four adults all had seconds, the kids had some and there was enough for leftovers at lunch today for the four of us!

Slow Cooker Chicken and Biscuits

The Hubster decided to "cook" for us.  This usually means he dumps stuff in a Slow Cooker.  But - it works!

Surfing Pinterest, there are a ton of recipes out there for Chicken and Biscuits.  We merged a few, including this one and this one here and came up with this.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Biscuits
~ adapted from bubblecrumb.com

3 or 4 chicken breasts (we used frozen)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (or use this homemade version)
2 onions, diced
1 bag frozen veggies
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 T Italian Seasoning
4 refrigerator biscuits (OR your own homemade version)

Spray Slow Cooker with Cooking Spray.  We used the 4 qt size and it was perfect size.  Place the chicken, soups, onions, veggies, chicken broth and Italian Seasoning in bowl.  Place lid on and select bowl size.  Cook on low 8 hours.

Remove chicken from mix and shred.  Return to bowl.

Make your biscuits.  Cut up each biscuit to whatever size you like.  Place on top of Chicken mix.  Turn slow cooker to high and cook another 30 - 60 minutes, until biscuits are done.

Slow Cooker Meatball Soup

Nothing like a bowl of warm soup on a cold and snowy evening!

With close to 15 inches of snow in the last week, I was looking for a nice, warm soup to warm us up while we sat in front of the fire and watched one of the new Disney Movies Santa delivered.  My favorite soup is Italian Wedding . . . but I wasn't *feeling* it, so we ended up with this mixture instead.

I will warn you - I don't know the exact ingredients for the meatballs - that's the Hubster's department.  I do know Ground Turkey was used.

Slow Cooker Meatball Soup

Meatballs

~ 1 pound ground turkey

~ breadcrumbs

~ 1 egg

~ Italian Seasoning

~ Parmesan Cheese

The ingredients above are just suggestions.  Make meatballs according to your favorite recipe.  Make them tiny - no more than 3/4".  Bake in the oven at 350 for 10 - 20 minutes.  Time will depend on the size - the Hubster made the meatballs on the larger size.  

Soup

7 cups chicken broth

1 cup water

2 - 3 cups potatoes, cut into small cubes

3/4 cup spinach, thawed and drained

1 cup carrots, diced

1 cup celery, diced

1 cup onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp basil

2 tsp Italian Seasoning

sprinkle salt

1/2 - 1 tsp red pepper (we like it a little spicy, so we add the 1 tsp)

1/2 - 1 cup Alphabet Pasta (the girls love their "noodles")

Dump all of the soup ingredients *except pasta* into slow cooker.  Add the meatballs.  Cover and cook between 3 and 5 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low.  Again, cooking times will vary depending on slow cooker.  We used the 6 qt bowl, but could get away with the 4 or 5 qt ones as well.  Add the uncooked pasta 30 minutes prior to serving.  Serve with Parmesan Cheese to sprinkle over individual bowls of soup.

Freezer to Slow Cooker Honey Rosemary Chicken

Freezer to Slow Cooker Honey Rosemary Chicken

Since I had such a rough summer with my MS sapping my energy levels, I wanted to start focusing on easy recipes that the Hubster could do.  After doing a lot of searching, I discovered that freezer meals would be the perfect way to go.  It would be almost like having pre-made foods for him.  AND - bonus to me - I could toss them together on days when I actually had some time and energy.

I got out some of my gallon sized Ziploc bags and a Sharpie and went to work . . . I focused on slow cooker meals because, really, how much easier could it be . . . just dump a bad in the slow cooker, maybe toss in an ingredient or two and . . . DONE!

I'm not certain where this recipe originated, it might have been in one of the Fix It Cookbooks, but couldn't tell ya for certain . . .

We like this recipe and decided that it's really good over rice.  Yes, GASP! he had to cook rice.

Freezer to Slow Cooker Honey Rosemary Chicken
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 c balsamic vinegar
1/3 c honey
1/3 c olive oil
3 T fresh rosemary
1 t salt (optional)
1/2 c water

Toss all ingredients in gallon sized Ziploc bag.  Freeze flat in freezer.

When ready to cook, pull from freezer the night before and let thaw in fridge.  (We usually sit it in a Tupperware bowl to avoid any thawing-related messes).  The next morning, place in slow cooker - we used a 2 qt slow cooker bowl from the set and it was the perfect size.  Cook for 6-8 hours on low.  Our slow cooker had it done in 6 hours.  Remove chicken from sauce and shred.  Some people use the paddle in their Kitchen Aide Mixer - the Hubster simply uses two forks.  Place chicken back in slow cooker.  Spoon chicken and sauce mix over rice, pasta, couscous or quinoa.

   

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

We've been trying to make Friday nights our Family nights - where my parents come up to hang out with the girls and I cook for everyone.

We decided on this recipe for one of our Family nights because it was simple, appeared to make a large amount, and seemed like something everyone would eat.  We were right in our assumptions.

I will say that I didn't think the soup was spicy enough - but after adding some salt and pepper (okay, a LOT of pepper - I like spice), we all agreed this is a nice, simple main dish that we could definitely have again for Family Night.

Slow Cooker Taco Soup
~ adapted from Our Best Bites

1/2 lb extra lean (93% or leaner) ground beef
1 onion, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 1.25 oz packet taco seasoning
3 cups water
2 28 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
2 15 oz cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained*
2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained**

Brown the ground beef with onion and garlic.  Place all ingredients in slow cooker.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.  Do not lift lid.

* dried beans can be used.  soak overnight, rinse and separate per instructions on bag.
** canned corn can be used

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - Diabetic Version

This recipe is so simple and so yummy. I made it Saturday and it's about gone today! Be prepared to have a heavenly smell throughout your house while making this.

7 cups unsweetened applesauce

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup sugar substitute

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on high 8-10 hours. Remove lid during last hour. Stir occasionally.

I usually use the 6qt slow cooker and make 1 1/2 of this recipe. If your slow cooker doesn't have a vent, use a chopstick under the lid. Each time I remove the lid to stir, I drain the condensation into the sink.

Old margarine containers work well for freezing this yummy treat!

Slow Cooker Angel Chicken

I really love the Slow Cooker. It is so nice to prepare the food the night before with just a few instructions for The Husband to get the meal ready for that evening. It was especially nice this Friday as it was a Family Fun Night here.

We used Walmart's Whole Wheat Pasta - I recommend this pasta as MIZ Picky put down the guitar and paused the Wii Game while she ate 3 servings of the pasta! Seriously! The chicken was not "too spicy" per my Mom and The Husband ate all of the leftovers! The Husband took the chicken straight from the freezer for in the slow cooker for this meal.

Ingredients:

4 boneless chicken breasts

2 T Italian Seasoning

1 T minced garlic

1 T minced onion

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 c. chicken broth

4 oz. reduced fat cream cheese

2 green onions, chopped

1 pkg whole wheat angel hair pasta, cooked according to box directions

Directions:

Place chicken in slow cooker. Microwave cream cheese until soft. Mix Italian seasoning, minced garlic, minced onion, soup, cream cheese, green onions, and broth in with cream cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

Just before meal time, cook pasta according to directions on box. Pour chicken mixture over cooked pasta.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

When I discovered this recipe over on another website, I was all excited. The poster raved about it and said that this recipe would be going into her family's meal rotation. I've tried other of her meals and enjoyed them, so I jumped on the chance to try it. I LOVE Buffalo Chicken, and I love lasagna, so what more could I want???

The Hubby and I prepped the food and got it cooking in the slow cooker so we'd have it just in time for dinner this evening. As it cooked throughout the day, I was a little disappointed as I never got the Buffalo Chicken whiff I thought I would . . .

When it was ready, I was so excited. Unfortunately, I wasn't overly impressed. I wanted the Buffalo Chicken taste to knock me over, but it didn't do that. The Hubby liked it and it was easy to toss together, so I will probably make it again, but it won't go in MY favorites file.

Ingredients:

Uncooked lasagna noodles

3 cooked skinless boneless chicken breasts, chopped

1 jar pasta sauce

1 cup buffalo wing sauce

3 red, yellow and/or orange bell peppers, chopped

1 15 0z tub ricotta cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend

1/2 cup bleu cheese crumbles

1/4 cup water

Directions:

Use a 5 qt oval slow cooker for best results. Spray inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. In large glass bowl, combine cooked and chopped chicken breast, pasta sauce and buffalo wing sauce. Ladle spoonful of sauce mixture on bottom of slow cooker. Cover the sauce mixture with a layer of lasagna noodles (breaking some to cover sauce). Add a layer of ricotta cheese on top of noodles. Add a layer of chopped bell peppers. Sprinkle a layer of cheese blend. Repeat layers until you run out of ingredients.

Add the bleu cheese crumbles. Put 1/4 cup of water into empty pasta sauce jar and shake. Pour liquid over top of lasagna.

Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. When cooking time is complete, unplug and take the lid off of the slow cooker. Let stand for 20 minutes before serving.