Smoked Sausage Cheese Soup

This is my Grandma J.'s recipe - such a yummy treat.

2 c. water
1 c. corn
1 c. chopped potato
1 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped carrot
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 beef bouillion cubes
1/4 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubes
1/2 lb. smoked sausage, cut into bite-size pieces

Place all ingredients except cheese in lg. pan or crock pot. Stir gently; bring mixture to a boil. Cover and simmer on low heat until vegetables are tender, about 2 hours. Just before serving, bring soup back to a boil and add cheese. Stir until blended and cheese is melted. Do not boil after adding cheese. Serves 4-6

Beef and Black Bean Soup

1 lb. ground beef, browned
4 c. chicken stock
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 c. onion, diced
3 med. carrots, diced
2 celery ribs, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
2 cans (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 c. rice

Place beef in slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients except beans and rice. Cover and cook on high 1 hour. Reduce to low and cook 4-5 hours or until vegetables are tender. Add beans and rice. Cook 1 hour longer on low or until heated through.

Lentil Tomato Stew

4 c. chicken or vegetable stock
2 cans (15 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
1/2 c. dry red wine
3/4 tsp. dried basil
3/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
3/4 tsp. italian seasoning
1 lb. dried lentils, rinsed and drained (remove any rocks)
1 lg. onion, diced
4 med. carrots, diced
4 med. celery ribs, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. salt
fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Combine water, tomatoes (w/juice), paste, wine, basil, thyme, pepper, and italian seasoning in slow cooker. Add lentils, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and salt. Cover. Cook on low 10-12 hours or high 4-5 hours. Serve with parsly or basil sprinkled on top (if desired).

Sweet ‘n’ Tangy Pot Roast

I'm not sure where this recipe came from - maybe Taste of Home? This is AMAZING!

1 boneless beef chuck roast (3 lbs. or so)
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 c. water
1 c. ketchup
¼ c . red wine or beef broth
1 envelope au jous
2 tsp. dijon mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
3 Tb. cornstarch
¼ c. cold water

Cut meat in ½ and place in crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a bowl, combine the water, ketchup, wine or broth, gravy mix, mustard, worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder; pour over meat. Cover and cook on low for 9-10 hours or until meat is tender.

Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Stir into slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until gravy is thickened. Remove meat from slow cooker. Slice and serve with gravy.

Yield: 8 servings

Corn & Potato Chowder

This is a combination of recipes which I guess kind of makes it mine. :)

½ lb. bacon
1 lb. corn
2 c. diced potato
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. butter
1 ½ c. chicken or veggie stock
¼ tsp. thyme
¼ tsp. pepper
½ tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. flour
3 c. milk

Combine all ingredients except flour and milk. Cook on low 8-9 hours or until potatoes are tender. Mix flour and milk until smooth add to chowder slowly until thickened.

Apple Cider Roast

This is my original recipe. I served it with mashed potatoes, green beans, fresh rolls, and salad. I made gravy with the drippings. Everyone loved it!

2-4 lb. roast
1 c. apple cider
6-10 sprigs fresh thyme
6-10 sprigs fresh rosemary
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 med. onion, sliced
salt & pepper to your taste

Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Use the drippings to make pan gravy.

Crock Pot Sesame Pork Chops

This recipe is my own creation. :)

4 sm. or 2 lg. bone-in pork chops (boneless would be fine also)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1/4 c. soy sauce
3 Tb. brown sugar
3/4 c. tomato sauce
1 tsp. sesame seeds
1 Tb. fresh ginger, minced
pepper to taste

Put chops in crockpot and season with pepper. Mix remainder of ingredients and pour over the pork chops. Cook on low for 6 hrs. Serve over rice.

Award Winning Southfork Chili

This was a recipe originally made by my Grandma C. and it's been a favorite of our family ever since. I've made a few changes to the original recipe and recently won our church's chili cook-off with this recipe. :)

2 1/2# ground beef (I use less)
1 1/2 c. onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
garlic
cayenne pepper
2-3 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp salt
2 cans beans (any kind - I usually use 1 black and 1 chili)
2 cans diced tomatoes, drained
1 12 oz. can corn
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
2/3 of a bunch of cilantro, chopped

Brown meat and onion together. Drain fat. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 1/2 hour. Freezes well and works great in crock pot.

You can serve over cornbread or wrapped in tortilla w/grated cheese, sourcream, and guacomole. We often just eat it as soup. :)

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef, browned w/the onion)
1 sm. onion finely chopped
1 1/2 qt. tomato juice
1/3 c. sugar (I use less)
2 c. corn (I use frozen)
15 oz. chili beans (I use whatever I have on hand)
1 pkg. taco seasoning (I made my own: 1 Tb. chili powder, 1/4 tsp. garlic powder, onion powder,crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, 1 1/2 tsp. cumin, 1 tsp. salt & pepper)

Combine all ingredients and heat through.

To Serve Top With:
Sour Cream
Corn Chips
Cheddar Cheese, grated

Carrot Lentil Casserole

1 lg. onion, chopped
1 c. carrots, finely chopped
3/4 c. dry lentils
3/4 c. brown rice, uncooked
1/2 c. green pepper (I just add a whole small one)
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. sage
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 can (14 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 c. chicken broth or vegetable broth
1/2 - 3/4 c. shredded cheese (I used an Italian 4 cheese blend but you could use whatever you like)
Combine all ingredients except cheese in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours. (It took 5 hrs. in my crockpot.) Just before serving, stir in cheese until melted.