Tag Archives: Crock pot

Crock pot, Dinner, Instructional, Italian, Videos

Lasagna (Crock Pot)

January 28, 2010 admin 2 Comments

Even traditional lasagna lovers like this one – and it is nice and easy to do. Start it at lunch time and have dinner ready 4 hours later. Take a look at my video below for instructions on how to layer it in your crock.

8 servings
275 calories per serving

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 c diced eggplant
1 jar Paul Newman’s marinara sauce
1/4 t red pepper flakes
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t onion powder
¼ t basil flakes
1 c water
15 oz part skim ricotta cheese
1 T chopped parsley
1/4 c Egg Beaters
1 c shredded parmesan cheese (not grated, shredded)
8 no boil lasagna noodles

Brown the ground beef in a heated skillet and drain off any fat and water. Stir in the pepper, sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, basil flakes, water, and eggplant. In a bowl combine the egg, cheeses and parsley. Place a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a crock pot. I find my oval shaped on works the best here. Top with 2-3 noodles, nipping off the corners in order to get a nice fit. Add another layer of meat sauce and then one thick layer of the cheese mixture. Top with a final layer of noodles and then a final layer of meat sauce. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours.

Here is a video of how to layer it up in the crock pot:

Appetizers, Crock pot, Dinner, Kid Friendly, Turkey

Crock Pot Appetizer Meatballs

January 26, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Though I usually serve this as a quick and easy appetizer, I sometimes double up the serving and make it a main dish meal. Adding just a few things to bottled sauce can round out the flavors and make it taste much more homemade.

8 servings
180 calories per serving (3 meatballs)

24 Shady Brook Farms turkey meatballs (Italian spiced)
1 jar Paul Newman’s marinara sauce
Garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
6 T parsley, chopped
½ c grated parmesan cheese

Place the sauce in a small pan on medium low heat. Add the garlic powder, salt and pepper, parsley and cheese. Simmer for 10 minutes.

If you are going to eat soon, pre-heat the meatballs in the microwave for 5 minutes. Then place in crock with sauce and heat on low for 1 hour. Otherwise, place meatballs in crock pot and pour the hot sauce over them. Cover and keep on low or warm setting for up to 4 hours.

Crock pot, Dessert, Kid Friendly

Crock Pot Baked Apples with Maple Foam

January 19, 2010 admin Leave a comment

Baked apples slow cooked not only taste great, but they make the whole house smell wonderful while they cook 🙂 This recipe is simple to do, yet has an elegant presentation. Though the recipe does not call for it, try adding some cinnamon or nutmeg for a different flavor combo.

4 servings
145 calories per serving

2 large sized apples, cut in half and cored
4 t margarine cut in small pieces
1/2 c orange juice
1 T cider vinegar
1/4 c evaporated milk or half and half
2 T maple syrup

Please apples skin side down in a slow cooker. Place a dot of margarine on each. Pour juice and vinegar mix over the top and cook on high 2-3 hours or until soft. Remove apples to a plate and pour the juice in a pan. Bring juice to a boil and cook on high 5 minutes to reduce to a syrup.

Whip milk and maple syrup in an ice cold bowl for 3 minutes. Top each apple piece with 1/4 of the cream and drizzle with the fruit syrup.

Alternately, skip the milk and just add some maple syrup over the top of the apples for another version of a great dessert for a cold night.

Beef, Dinner

Beef Stew

January 4, 2010 admin Leave a comment

There’s nothing like a hot bowl of stew on a cold night. This one is packed with goodness and tastes so very yummy !

4 servings
275 calories per serving

1 lb. lean steak (sirloin, London broil, filet, etc.) cut into 1 inch cubes
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
2 c green beans
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1 lb. potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes (about 1 very large)
1 can (14 oz.) fat free beef broth
1 can (14 oz.) fat free beef gravy
¼ t garlic powder
1/8 t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 t olive oil

Heat pan to medium high heat and then add oil. When oil is hot, add beef. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Cook beef until browned on all sides, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 5 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add broth, gravy, and carrots. Bring to a boil. Then cover and cook 45 minutes on low heat. Add potatoes and cook another 30 minutes. Add green beans and cook a final 15 minutes.

Alternately, you can add all at once and crock pot this meal on low 5-6 hours – but the veggies will not be as crisp.

Beef, Dinner

Beef and Black Bean Stew

December 30, 2009 admin Leave a comment

This crock pot meal is easier than easy ! Leftover meat, a couple cans and a little bit of chopping means only a 10 minute prep.

4 servings
232 calories per serving

8 oz. leftover grilled lean sirloin beef (grill an extra steak one night and freeze the left over portion to save it for this meal)
15.5 oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
14.5 oz. can of fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste

4 T sour cream

Place all except the sour cream in a crock pot. Mix well and cook on low for 4 hours.
Place a dollop of sour cream on each bowl before serving.

Chicken, Dinner

Crock Pot 20 Clove Chicken

December 29, 2009 admin 2 Comments

A great recipe that is as tasty as my original ‘non diet’ version of this dish. It takes 5 minutes to throw it together and then it cooks for 6 hours in a crock pot leaving you time to blog while your dinner cooks 🙂 Serve with Rice and Pasta with Parmesan Cheese and Sauteed Spinach with Garlic for a great complete meal under 400 calories.

6 servings
170 calories per serving

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (120 calories each – 4 ounces each)
¼ c white cooking wine or dry white wine
20 cloves whole garlic
4 stalks of celery, sliced
2 T basil flakes
2 t parsley flakes
1/8 t red pepper flakes
¼ c white wine
Salt and pepper to taste
Juice of one lemon
Zest of one lemon (just the yellow, not the bitter white)
Pam

Zesting Lemons, Limes and Oranges is a snap with this tool. I have a whole set of Microplane graters from fine to coarse and they never fail to get the job done easily and quickly.

In a small bowl, mix the wine with the basil, parsley and red pepper flakes. Spray a skillet with a small amount of Pam and heat on high for a few moments. Quickly brown the chicken on both sides and remove from pan so they do not cook too much. Add the garlic and celery to the wine mix and stir around to coat well. Place the garlic mix in the bottom of the crock pot.

Place browned chicken breasts atop the garlic mix. Squirt the juice of one lemon over the chicken. Put the zest of one lemon over the chicken. Add salt and pepper. Cover the crock and cook on low 6 hours.