Hot Beef Sandwiches

Makes 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

1 beef chuck roast (3-4 lbs), cut into chunks

1 jar (6 oz) sliced dill pickles, undrained

1 can (about 14 oz) crushed tomatoes with Italian seasoning

1 medium onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp mustard seeds

Hamburger buns

Directions:

1. Place beef in low cooker. Pour pickles with juice over beef. Add tomatoes, onion, garlic and mustard seeds.

2. Cover; cook on LOW 8-10 hours.

3. Remove beef from slow cooker. Shred beef with two forks. Return beef to tomato mixture; mix well. Serve beef mixture on buns.

Serving suggestion: garnish with lettuce, sliced tomatoes, red onion slices, shredded slaw or other fixings to taste.

Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Makes 12 sandwiches

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 8 to 10 hours

Ingredients:

1 tbs vegetable oil

1 (3.5- to 4-pound) boneless pork shoulder roat, netted or tied

1 can (10.5 oz) condensed French onion soup

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup cider vinegar

3 tbs packed brown sugar

12 round sandwich rolls, split

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the roast and cook until it's well browned on all sides.

2. Stir the soup, ketchup, vinegar and brown sugar in a 5-quart slow cooker. Add the roast and turn to coat with the soup mixture.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours* or until the meat is fork-tender.

4. Remove the roast from the cooker to a cutting board and let it stand for 10 minutes. Using 2 forks, shred the pork. Return the shredded pork to the cooker.

5. Divide the pork and sauce mixture among the rolls.

*Or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.