Pecan-Cinnamon Pudding Cake

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes 8 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 1.5 hours

Stake time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2/3 cup milk

5 tbs butter, melted, divided

1 cup chopped pecans

1 1/2 cups water

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

Whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

1. Stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in medium bowl. Add milk and 3 tbs butter; mix just until blended. Stir in pecans. Spread on bottom of greased slow cooker.

2. Combine water, brown sugar and remaining 2 tbs butter in small saucepan; bring to a boil. Pour over batter in slow cooker.

3. Cover; cook on HIGH 1.25 to 1.5 hours or until tooth pick inserted into center comes out clean. Let stand, uncovered, 30 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.

Polenta-Syle Corn Casserole

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 can (about 14 oz) vegetable or chicken broth

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 can (7 oz) corn, drained

1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles, drained

1/4 cup diced red bell pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 cup (4 oz) shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Pour broth into slow cooker. Whisk in cornmeal. Add corn, chiles, bell pepper, salt and pepper. Cover; cook on LOW 4-5 hours or on HIGH 2-3 hours.

2. Stir in cheese. Cook, uncovered, 15 to 30 minutes or until cheese melts.

Serving suggestion: Divide cooked corn mixture into lightly greased individual ramekins or spread in pie plate; cover and refrigerate. Serve at room temperature or warm in over or microwave.

Lemon-Mint Red Potatoes

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes 4 servings

Prep time: 25 minutes

Cook time: 7.25 hours (LOW) or 4.5 hours (HIGH)

Ingredients:

2 lbs new red potatoes

3 tbs extra-virgin olive oil

3/4 tsp dried Greek seasoning or dried oregano

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tsp grated lemon peel

2 tbs lemon juice

2 tbs butter

4 tbs chopped fresh mint, divided

Directions:

1. Coat inside of 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Add potatoes and oil, stirring gently to coat. Sprinkle with Greek seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cover; cook on LOW 7 hours or on HIGH 4 hours.

2. Stir in lemon peel, lemon juice, butter and 2 tbs mint until butter is completely melted. Cover; cook 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Sprinkle with remaining mint.

Tip: It's easy to prepare this recipe ahead of time; simply follow instructions as listed and then turn off heat and let stand at room temperature for up to 2 hours. Reheat or serve at room temperature.

Cheesy Corn and Peppers

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes 8 servings

Prep time: 8 minutes

Cook time: 2 1/4 hours

Ingredients:

2 lbs frozen corn kernels

2 poblano peppers, chopped or

1 large green bell pepper and 1 jalapeño pepper*

2 tbs butter, cubed

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 cup (4 oz) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

3 oz cream cheese, cubed

*Jalapeño peppers can sting and irritate the skin, so wear rubber gloves when handling peppers and do not touch your eyes. Wash hands after handling.

Directions:

1. Coat slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Add corn, poblanos, butter, salt, cumin and black pepper. Cover; cook on HIGH 2 hours.

2. Add cheeses; stir to blend. Cover; cook 15 minutes more or until cheeses melt.

Sweet 'n' Spicy Ribs

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes 10 servings

Prep time: 10-15 minutes

Cook time: 8 hours

Ingredients:

5 cups barbecue sauce

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

2 tbs Cajun seasoning

1 tbs garlic powder

1 tbs onion powder

6 lbs pork or beef back ribs, cut into 3-rib or individual rib portions

Directions:

1. Stir together barbecue sauce, brown sugar, honey, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder and onion powder in medium bowl. Reserve 1 cup mixture for dipping sauce; refrigerate until ready to serve.

2. Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour remaining barbecue sauce mixture over ribs. Cover; cook on LOW 8 hours or until meat is very tender.

3. Serve ribs with reserved sauce.

Tip: To make the slow cooker cleanup easier, spray the inside with nonstick cooking spray before adding an of the ingredients.

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.

Italian Beef and Barley Soup

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes 6 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 8-10 hours

Ingredients:

1 boneless beef top sirloin steak (about 1.5 lbs)

1 tbs vegetable oil

4 medium carrots or parsnips, cut into 1/4-inch slices

1 cup chopped onion

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried rosemary

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/3 cup uncooked pearl barley

2 cans (about 14 oz each) beef broth

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

Directions:

1. Cut beef into 1-inch pieces. Heat oil over medium-high heat in large skillet. Brown beef on all sides; set aside.

2. Place carrots and onion in slow cooker; sprinkle with thyme, rosemary and pepper. Top with barley and beef. Pour broth and tomatoes over beef.

3. Cover; cook on LOW 8-10 hours or until beef is tender.

Tip: Choose pearl barley rather than quick-cooking barley, because it will stand up to longer cooking.

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.

Tomato Topping for Bruschetta

Makes 4 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Ingredients:

3 medium tomatoes, peeled, cored, seeded and diced

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 shallot, chopped

2 pepperoncini peppers, chopped*

1 tsp tomato paste

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tbs olive oil

4 large slices Italian of French bread

1 clove garlic

*Pepperoncini are pickled peppers sold in jars with brine. They are available in the condiment aisle of the supermarket.

Directions:

1. Drain any tomato juices. Combine tomatoes, celery, shallot, pepperoncini peppers, tomato paste, salt, black pepper and oil in slow cooker. Cover; cook on LOW 45 minutes to 1 hour.

2. Toast bread. Immediately rub with garlic. Spread tomato topping on bread. Serve immediately.

Honey-Mustard Chicken Wings

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes about 24 wings

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 4-5 hours

Ingredients:

3 lbs chicken wings

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

2 tbs spicy brown mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

3 to 4 thin lemon slices

Directions:

1. Cut off chicken wing tips; discard. Cut each wing at joint to make two pieces. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; place wing pieces on broiler rack. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat about 10 minutes, turning halfway through cooking time. Place in slow cooker.

2. Combine honey, barbecue sauce, mustard and garlic in small bowl; mix well. Pour sauce over chicken wings. Top with lemon slices. Cover; cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.

3. Remove and discard lemon slices serve wings with sauce from slow cooker.

Tip: Browning the chicken wings in the broiler before cooking them in the slow cooker is not necessary, but will enhance their flavor and appearance.

Swiss Cheese Fondue

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes 6 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic, cut in half

1 can (10 1/2 oz) condensed chicken broth

2 cans (10 1/2 oz each) condensed cheddar cheese soup

1 cup water

1/2 cup Chablis or other dry white wine (optional)

1 tbs Dijon-style mustard

1 tbs cornstarch

1 lb shredded Emmentaler or Grueyère cheese, at room temperature

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Dash ground black pepper

Garlic bread, baked and cut into cubes

Fresh vegetable for dipping

Directions:

1. Rub the inside of a 5 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker with the cut sides of the garlic. Discard the garlic. Stir the broth, soup, water, wine, mustard, cornstarch, cheese, nutmeg, and black pepper in the cooker.

2. Cover and cook on LOW for 1 hour or until the cheese is melted, stirring occasionally.

3. Serve with the bread and vegetables on skewers for dipping.

Caponata

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes about 5 1/4 cups.

Ingredients:

1 medium eggplant (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 can (about 14 oz) diced Italian plum tomatoes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tbs capers, drained

2 tbs balsamic vinegar

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup packed fresh basil, cut into thin strips

Toasted Italian or French bread slices

Directions:

1. Combine eggplant, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, salsa, oil, capers, vinegar, garlic, oregano, and salt in slow cooker. Cover; cook on LOW 7 to 8 hours or until vegetables are crisp-tender.

2. Stir in basil. Serve at room temperature on toasted bread.

Tip: Be sure to cut all of the ingredients for the Caponata into uniform pieces. This allows them to cook evenly in the slow cooker.

Steamed Pork Buns

by "Recipes to Share - Slow Cooker"

Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients:

1/2 container (18 oz) refrigerated shredded cooked pork in barbecue sauce*

1 tbs Asian garlic chili sauce

1 package (about 16 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough (8 large biscuits)

Dipping sauce

Sliced green onions (optional)

*Look for pork in plain, not smoky, barbecue sauce. Substitute chicken in barbecue sauce, if desired.

Directions:

1. Combine pork and chili sauce in medium bowl. Split biscuits in half. Roll or stretch each biscuit into 4-inch circle. Spoon 1 tbs pork onto center of each biscuit. Gather edges around filling and press to seal.

2. Generously butter 2-quart baking dish that fits inside 5- or 6- quart slow cooker. Arrange filled biscuits in single layer, overlapping slightly if necessary. Cover dish with buttered foil, buttered side down.

3. Place small rack in slow cooker. Add 1 inch hot water (water should not come to top of rack). Place baking dish on rack. Cover; cook on HIGH 2 hours.

4. Meanwhile, prepare Dipping Sauce. Garnish pork buns with green onions. Serve with Dipping Sauce.

Dipping Sauce: Stir together 2 tbs rice vinegar, 2 tbs soy sauce, 4 tsp sugar, and 1 tsp toasted sesame oil in small bowl until sugar dissolves. Sprinkle with 1 tbs minced green onion (green part only) just before serving.

Crock-Pot Roast Beef Dinner

*8 to 12 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1 (4-pound) beef sirloin roast
Garlic salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (1-ounce) packet onion soup mix
1 cup beef broth
5 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (optional)
6 red potatoes or medium russets, scrubbed and quartered (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
- Place the roast in a slow cooker. Sprinkle with the garlic salt.
- In a medium bowl, mix the brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mushroom soup, onion soup mix, and broth; pour over the roast.
- Add the carrots and/or potatoes to the slow cooker if it is large enough to hold them.
- Cook on high heat 5 to 6 hours or on low heat for 10 to 12 hours. If you choose not to add the carrots or potatoes to the slow cooker, then two good side dishes are mashed potatoes and Reds & Greens Salad (p. 191).

VARIATION:
- Use a pork roast.

Slow-Cooked Spiced Pork Chops

1 (16-oz) jar fruit salsa (peach, mango, or pineapple)

2 tbs brown sugar

2 tsp seafood/meat seasoning

6 (6-8 oz) boneless pork loin chops, cut 1-inch thick

2 tbs olive oil

1 c thinly sliced onion

1/2 c orange juice

- In 4-quart cooker, combine salsa, brown sugar, and seafood/meat seasoning. Trim fat from pork. Brown pork in oil in large skillet; transfer to slow cooker. Add onion to skillet; cook until softened. Add orange juice, stirring up browned bits; pour over pork.

- Cover and cook on LOW 6-8 hours or until pork is tender. Spoon cooking sauce over pork chops, and serve.

Serves 6 portions.