Friday, January 18, 2013

Slow Cooking All Year 'Round Giveaway

I don't have a Family Night to share this week as I was sick with a sore throat last week and even though I had a idea, I just could not pull it off. So, let's have a little giveaway - shall we?!

I know a bunch of you already love Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, and who isn't up for more Slow Cooker recipes?! This book is divided into seasons with foods that fit each season all done in the Crock Pot!

I have tried two so far ~ 

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

1 head cauliflower, chopped
2 c. chicken broth
2 T. chicken bouillon granules
2 c. half and half {I used evaporated milk}
2 c. milk
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
2 bay leaves {I did not have any}
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/2 c. instant mashed potato flakes
1 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

In a large saucepan, combine cauliflower, broth and bouillon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 20 minutes or until cauliflower is tender. Mash cauliflower in saucepan. {Note: I did all of this one evening and put it in the fridge for the night I planned to make it so that this step was done.} Transfer entire contents of saucepan to a 3-quart slow cooker. Stir in half-and-half, milk, carrot, bay leaves and garlic powder. Cover and cook on low setting for 3 hours. Stir in potato flakes; cook 30 minutes longer, or until thickened. Discard bay leaves. Cool slightly. Using an immersion blender, process soup until smooth. Stir in cheeses. Cover and cook until soup is heated through and cheese is melted. Garnish servings with paprika or parsley. Serves 8.

* I thought this was delicious and a great consistency. My family was not so keen on it - so not sure if I'll make it again. But, above all it pushed me to try out my new-to-me immersion blender and it was a great success.

Next, I tried Tummy-Pleasing Pizza Pasta ~ we all ate it, but it was just so-so.

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
16-oz. pkg. rigatoni pasta, cooked
4 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 14-oz. cans pizza sauce
Optional: 1 c. sliced mushrooms {no thanks!} and 8-oz. pkg. sliced pepperoni {yes please!}

In a skillet over medium heat, brown beef with onion; drain. In a slow cooker, alternate layers of beef mixture, pasta, cheese, sauce, mushrooms, if using, and pepperoni. Cover and cook on low setting for 4-5 hours. Serves 6.

Most intriguing about the book is some of the little tips mentioned at the bottom of the page. Like baking bread in the Crock Pot, hard boiling eggs, cooking ground beef and roasting veggies. 

Gooseberry Patch sent me two copies of this book so - now it's your turn! To enter to win a copy, tell me the best thing you make in your Crock Pot! Comments will be open until Sunday night at 9pm EST. {I'll be watching Downton Abbey and will choose a winner after it's over!}

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to review and share about here. All opinions are my own. Gooseberry Patch generously provided a second copy for me to give away to one of you!

40 comments:

LynnMarie said...

I make a lot of soups and stews -hot dog soup is a favorite here in NH In winter. I would love to win this book as I don't think to use our crock pot in the summer.

Christy Stanton said...

With little ones, my crockpot is a necessity in our home. One of our favorite crockpot meals is chicken tortilla soup.

Anonymous said...

We love to have pot roast with carrots and potatoes. Very yummy and comfort food for us ( and easy too....put it in the crock pot all day and enjoy!). Love your blog. --Karena D.

angie said...

I use my crock pot all year, but the recipes do tend to differ by the season. In the summer I often do pulled pork, but winter calls for soups. Last night was beef stroganoff, the night before was autumn soup, and tonight I will put in oatmeal to be ready in the morning. I would love to read Gooseberry's version of slow cooking.

Julie said...

Wow - I don't know if I could name my favorite slow-cooker recipe since I use it quite often. But here's a recipe that I made just the other day for Ham & Scalloped Potato Bake. (Note: At Christmas and Easter, I buy several hams when they're on sale, cut them into slices and freeze them individually on cookie sheets and bag. When I make this recipe, I pull out several slices and thaw or defrost in microwave. Cut 6-8 slices of ham into quarters; peel and slice thinly 8-10 potatoes and 2 small onions. Layer half of the ham, potatoes and onion in the cooker. Then sprinkle 2 cups of cheddar cheese over top and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Layer the rest of the ham, potatoes and onion. I put this on setting #3 for my cooker (medium heat) for 4 hours. Check the potatoes periodically. If not getting, turn up the heat for the last hour.

Becky said...

My kids are getting older and more involved in activities, so I'd be in BIG trouble without my slow cooker! My family's favorite is an Asian chicken - frozen chicken thighs with a sauce of olive oil, soy sauce, garlic and other yummy things...

becka said...

One of the best things I make in the crockpot is a chicken and rice dish that I found over at Christy Jordan's Southern Plate website. She also has a good recipe for a roast in the crock pot.

Michele said...

I love to throw in a beef roast or Boston butt and let the crock pot work its magic all day. With the roast, I'll spread plain mustard on one side and sometimes a little water or broth. For the Boston butt, I just shred the meat when it's ready and add BBQ sauce.

Anonymous said...

Chicken Tortilla Soup V from allrecipes.com is delish in the crockpot.
Kelly McD.

RMFrancis said...

Love using my crockpot especially on the days I work away from the home. My families favorite is old fashion pot roast with cream of mushroom soup, dry onion soup mix, about a half a can of water, potatos and carrots. Cook on low all day.
My favorite is green chilie chicken; 3 pounds of boneless chicken breast, one small can of diced green chilies and one can of cream of chicken soup. Serve over rice or in tortillas. Cook on low all day. I use the 3 pound bags of chicken and put them in the crock pot while still frozen.

Crystal said...

Actually I am about to start my slow cooker in a few minutes. I will be making pulled pork. I cook a pork roast all day with a little liquid smoke and a few other seasonings. I will then shred it and add our favorite barbecue and we will eat sandwiches with it.

Lisa @ Simply Things Family said...

I don't use mine too often, because mine is really too small for my growing family. I do make a wonderful ham casserole. If I were to win this book, it just might be an excuse to purchase a larger crock pot!

Mom said...

Oh how I love my crockpot, especially when I come home from work and walk in the door smelling the aroma of supper all ready to eat! :) We have several favorite crockpot recipes, but I'm always on the lookout for more. :)
Fun giveaway! Love you, Mom

Little Penpen said...

I'll be right there watching downton abbey with you! Wasn't last week's episode sad? :( I love to throw together veggie soup into my huge crockpot and let it cook all day. I really need to buy a smaller crockpot for regular family size recipes!

Danielle said...

LOVE my crockpot!! :) One of my families favorites is a super simple italian beef recipe! Thanks for this opportunity to win...I'm a BIG fan of Gooseberry Patch!!

MH in OH said...

We love cheesy potato soup and white chicken chili and beef stroganoff and meals like that - but our very favorite is hot fudge sundae cake from a Betty Crocker crockpot cookbook.

Kristen said...

I just recently started making more things in my crockpot. But, the thing I love to make the most is a Red Sauce (for pasta or pizza), recipe found here:
http://lifeasmom.com/2010/04/homemade-croutons-shredded-chicken-and-red-sauce.html

Jill said...

I have a bit of a sweet tooth so I like to make fruit cobbler in mine from time to time.

Anonymous said...

Love making chili in crock pot! Although we frequently use it for roasts, and whole chickens! Thanks for the great give away! Lyd !

Meagan (Eco on the Go) said...

I love making Southwestern Bean Chili!! I will eat it for a week straight if given the chance!
Thanks for another giveaway!

Michele Chronister said...

Mmmm...pulled pork! Thanks for a chance to win!

Heather said...

Chicken dumpling soup. My girls love to throw in the dumplings!

Anonymous said...

Mmmmmm...chicken and veggies. Count me in for the giveaway...

Coleen

Anonymous said...

My pulled pork in the crockpot is so yummy....summer, winter, spring, or fall it is a hit!

Crystal F.
Pahrump, NV

harknessangels said...

Love my crock pot! We have been having Soup Sundays lately. I also love making Sloppy Joes. YUM!

Erin said...

I made your crock pot chicken tortilla soup on Monday and LOVED it! Probably the best soup I have ever made in the crock pot and I have enjoyed eating it for lunch all week. I shared the recipe on facebook and send it to my Mom to try to. A real winner - thank you for coming up with it!

Sharon Taylor said...

In the fall, I use my crockpot to make apple butter. During holidays I make chocolate and walnut candy. Winter months call for soups and stews. During busy summer months I cook casseroles and macaroni and cheese. Thanks for the giveaway.

Denise said...

We enjoy Taco Soup, Macaroni and Cheese, and several other dishes in the crockpot!

stonemedic76@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I cook a whole chicken in my crockpot throughout the day-it is so yummy and moist, never dry and it's so easy-peasy!~mamabeanof4

Shelby said...

I love my crock pot and cook everything in it possible. I love a potroast with potatoes and carrots:)

Shelby

heicoc said...

I love making chili for Texas straw hats in my crock pot. My family loves when I make pot roast then the next day I make pulled pork or beef in the crock pot that we use it for BBQ beef nachos!

A Holy Privilege said...

We love slow cooked BBQ pork sandwiches!

Lauren (in Savannah) said...

Hmmmm I LOVE my crockpot!!! Let's see....my favorite thing to make is chicken and dumplings. The dumplings are made from canned biscuits(which are not my fav) but after you drop them in they "morph" into these soft squishy dumplings. So comforting and yummy!

Unknown said...

Hands down, my favorite TWO Crockpot recipes are macaroni & cheese and grits & sausage casserole! I just couldn't choose one. ;-)

gypsyelves said...

Crockpots are awesome! I have two, one for the house and one for the RV. Even though I am now retired and can be home to cook meals in the afternoon, I find myself using the crockpot quite often. Any new recipes I can get, I highly appreciate. Would love to win this book! Thanks for your blog, I just love reading it.

Heather said...

Thanks for sharing the recipes!! I'd love to be entered in your giveaway.
Heather

Trish said...

I don't know what I'd do without my crock pot. I use it at least twice a week...or more! I make chicken tacos, barbeque pork, barbeque beef, beef tips, chicken fetticini (sp?), chocolate cake, fondue, and that's just what I can think of off the top of my head. It is such a blessing to have a plan for dinner and have it ready at the end of the day!

hisartistaj said...

I have learned to love our crock-pot as a new mother of two boys. My favorite recipe I got from a friend is a can of onion soup and a can of tomato soup over a pork or beef roast. The house always smells amazing, the meat is so tasty, and its so easy! Or my Grandpa's spaghetti secret recipe, the smell alone reminds me of many wonderful family times.

Susan said...

This sounds so simples, but I just learned you could make baked potatoes in the Crock-pot! I have two little ones at home so we have it going several times a week. Making dinner is my hardest task of the day at a time when everyone is the fussiest, so I try to have the Crock-pot ready the night before--and just turn it on in the morning. Every 6 weeks or so I try to fill the freezer with simple chicken, porkchops, or beef entrees and veggies so I can just pop them in my Crock-pot. My little guy loves to help make rice in our rice cooker to round out the meal.:)

happymomonline said...

I love my crock pot...it even comes along on vacation with us! One of my favorite tricks is making baked potatoes in the crock - especially in the summer when I don't want to heat up the kitchen.

Thanks for hosting the give-away!