Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce

I made this a couple of weeks ago using Golden Delicious apples a neighbor picked from his tree for us. I doubled the recipe because I have the ginormous Crock-Pot. I really hate peeling and coring apples, but it can be done a lot more easily using the Pampered Chef apple peeler-corer-slicer (which I don't have!)

Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce

Makes: 8-10 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 3-10 hours (I did it on low for 10 hours, overnight, and we had it for breakfast.)
Ideal slow cooker size: 4-quart

Ingredients:
8 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks or slices (about 6 cups)
1/2-1 cup sugar (I used 1/2 cup)
2 Tbsp red hot candies (I used one Decor cake decoration bottle full)

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cook on Low 8-10 hours, or on High 3-4 hours.

Recipe from: Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook by Phyllis Pellman Good, though the recipe in the book calls for additional water, and I found that made the applesauce way too watery. Apples have enough water of their own!

Vegetable Pork Dish

I'm making this tomorrow in the Crock-Pot. It sounds delicious. It's being made almost entirely with ingredients we got from Angel Food Ministries. Yay for thriftiness. :)

Vegetable Pork Dish

Makes: 6 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 7 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 4 quart

Ingredients:
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small pieces
10-ounce package frozen corn
10-ounce package frozen Italian beans
1 medium onion, chopped
1-1/2 pounds lean pork, cut in small pieces
14-1/2-ounce can low-sodium diced tomatoes, undrained
3/4 cup water
1 tsp garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

Directions:
1. Combine sweet potatoes, corn, beans, and onion in slow cooker.
2. Place pork on top.
3. Stir together tomatoes, water, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour over pork.
4. Cover. Cook on low for 7 hours.

Recipe from: Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook by Phyllis Pellman Good

Mexican Casserole

Mexican casserole about to go into the oven
Originally uploaded by Beckerbuns

This is a great recipe to make with the kids. My 3 year old enjoyed helping me by dumping in the ingredients and stirring the food. :)

Mexican Casserole

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 pound cubed skinless, boneless chicken breast meat (I used two of those half-breast things)
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 can black beans, undrained
1 can recipe-ready diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can diced chiles, drained - can use spicy or mild (I used the latter because of the kids)
1 can Mexicorn, drained
1 C shredded cheese of your choice (Mexican blend, Monterey jack, cheddar, etc.)
1 small can sliced black olives, drained
1-1/2 C crushed plain tortilla chips (I used the low-guilt chips from Trader Joe's)
rice to serve it over (your choice)

Directions:
In a large skillet over medium high heat, saute chicken in preheated oil, adding in the onion and garlic. Drain any extra oil that remains. Add beans, tomatoes, chiles, and Mexicorn. Bring to boil; cover skillet and simmer over medium low heat for 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Transfer chicken mixture to a 9"x13" baking dish. Top with half of the cheese, the olives, and crushed tortilla chips.

Bake for 15 minutes. Add remaining cheese and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly (10-15 minutes).

Best served over rice; I used brown rice.