Corned Beef in a Crock Pot

Easy and delicious!

Ingredients:

6 carrots, cut into chunks

2 onions, chopped

3 lb. corned beef brisket with seasoning packet – RINSED

12 oz. beer

2 T. yellow mustard (or 1 T. Dijon)

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 c water

1 cabbage, cut into wedges

Directions:

Combine carrots and onions in a crock pot. Place the corned beef in and sprinkle the seasoning packet over it. Pour beer over the brisket and spread mustard on top. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and water. Pour it over the brisket. Cover and cook on low for about 9 hours (or until fork tender).

Remove the brisket and keep warm. Add the cabbage to the crock pot and cook for about 30 minutes.

Return the brisket to the crock pot and warm it up altogether.

Slice the brisket thinly and serve with the vegetables and mustard on the side.

Slow Cooker Wild Rice & Chicken Soup

This is a delicious meal for a cold winter’s night. It makes a lot, though, so, unless you’re feeding a huge crowd, you may want to half it or freeze the leftovers. I’m freezing them, so we’ll see how they hold up.

Ingredients:

1 to 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

6 c chicken stock

1 c wild rice

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

3 carrots, peeled and diced

3 stalks celery, peeled and diced

1 lb. sliced mushrooms

Fresh snipped thyme (about 5 sprigs)

Fresh snipped rosemary (about 2 sprigs)

1/2 c. half and half (if desired)

Seasonings: salt, pepper, bouillon, Italian seasonings

Directions:

Salt and pepper the chicken breasts. Place them in the crock pot.

Add all the other ingredients except the mushrooms and half and half.

Cook on low for about 6 hours.

Add the mushrooms and cook for about 30 minutes.

Shred the chicken breasts and return to the pot. If desired, add the half and half.

Adjust the seasonings as needed.

If it’s too thick, add more broth or water or half and half.

Thai Chicken in the Crock Pot

This was super easy to make and very tasty. I was a bit worried about using coconut milk, since I’m not a big fan of coconut flavors, but it was great. It gave the sauce a smooth consistency and a nicer consistency than using yogurt. I think this recipe can also be made successfully on the stove top, but it’s always nice to use the crock pot for an instant dinner when you come home from work!

Ingredients:

1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs

1 can coconut milk

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 jalapeno, chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped

3 T. cilantro, chopped

1 T. dried basil

3/4 T. curry powder

1/2 t. chili powder

1 t. fresh ginger, grated

Cornstarch if needed for thickening sauce

Rice or Naan

 

Brown the thighs in some olive oil in a hot pan until golden on both sides.

Combine coconut milk, basil, curry, chili powder, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix altogether and pour into the crock pot.

Add the seared chicken, onions, jalapenos and garlic. Stir to combine.

Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours until chicken is cooked through.

Add the ginger and, if the sauce needs more thickening add a slurry of cornstarch and water, and cook for another 15 minutes. Add the cilantro and mix.

Serve over cooked rice or with some Naan bread.

 

Tex Mex Chicken Soup

Slow cookers are an excellent way to make soup! By the time you get home, the aroma of a good soup cooking away makes my mouth water. And when that soup is as tasty as this one, even more so! Depending on how much chile you use, there will be a little kick to this one. It will definitely warm you up – inside and out!

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless chicken breasts

1/2 cup chopped onions

3 cloves of minced garlic

4 cups chicken broth (I make my own…)

1 cup tomato sauce 

1/2 T. Chipotle chile in adobo, chopped

1 t. dried oregano

1/4 t. cumin

2 bay leaves

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 avocado, chopped (optional)

Crumbled queso fresco (optional)

Directions:

Lightly season the chicken with salt and pepper before placing it in the crock pot.

Saute the onion and garlic in a pan with some olive oil until it is translucent and starting to brown. Add it to the crock pot.

Add all the other ingredients except the avocado and cheese.

Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Shred the chicken and return it to the crock pot. Discard the bay leaves.

Serve it up with the chopped avocado and cheese!