CROCK POT CORN CHOWDER

http://www.thehungryhoarder.com/2012/12/04/crockpot-corn-chowder/

Crockpot Corn Chowder

Didn't sure how we would like this, but very yummy!  Used some of our leftover Christmas ham.  Leftovers were very good too.  Really liked it because it isn't as heavy as some of other soups.  Had some little teeny tiny potatoes (Trader Joes) that I used whole.  Just threw them in - didn't peel.  Also used three russet potatoes.

8 Servings

I love corn and this chowder was delicious. It had just the right amount of creaminess, and the ham tied it all together.

Ingredients:

• 6 potatoes peeled, cubed
• 1 can (14 ounce) creamed corn
• 1 cup corn frozen
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 8 ounces ham diced
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 teaspoon sweet basil
• 1 cup onions diced
• 1/2 stick butter softened
• 2 cups half & half
• 1 cup colby jack cheese shredded
• 3 green onions sliced, green part only (didn't have any)

Directions:

1. Place potatoes, corn, chicken broth, ham, pepper, basil and onions into the crockpot.
2. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.
3. Using a handheld potato masher, mash the mixture to your desired consistency.
4. Add the butter and half and half.
5. Cook for an additional 30 minutes on high.
6. Top with cheese and green onions.
7. Serve with your favorite bread.

NO MEAT (BUT I ADDED HAM) BAKED BEANS

NO MEAT (BUT I ADDED HAM) BAKED BEANS
We liked this but it was watery.  Next time only add 1/4 cup and watch to see if it needs more.  I added a ham hock and some Thanksgiving ham.

1# dried navy beans
6 cups water
1 small onion, chopped
3/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup water (or less - see note) 
1 tsp dry mustard
2 T dark molasses
1 tsp salt
ham hock or diced cooked ham, optional 

Soak beans overnight in water in a large soup kettle.  Cook beans in water until soft about 1 1/2 hours. Drain, discarding bean water.

Mix together all ingredients in slow cooker. Mix well.  Cover and cook on low 10-12 hours.

BREAKFAST CROCK POT

EGG AND CHEESE BAKE
We had Ground Hog Day 2003.  Found in crock pot cookbook pg 22.
UPDATE: We had this again with homemade french bread as the bread crumbs.  Added a little bit of leftover ham and 1/2 a bag of broccoli that was frozen (defrosted it and drained).  Yum!  So easy!

3 cups bread, cut into cubes and toasted
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
1 # (or less) bacon, fried & crumbled or ham chunks
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups milk
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine bread cubes, cheese ad meat in greased slow cooker.

Mix together eggs, milk, salt and pepper  Pour over bread.

Cook on low 4-6 hours.


EGG AND BROCCOLI CASSEROLE
This can easily be used for dinner.  Easy to make.  Found in crock pot cookbook pg. 23.  Good with salsa.

24 oz carton small-curd cottage cheese
10 oz pkg frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (pepper jack or monterey jack would be good too)
6 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 T finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp salt
shredded cheese, optional

Combine first 8 ingredients.  Pour into greased slow cooker.

Cover and cook on high 1 hour.  Stir.  Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 2 1/2-3 hours or until temperature reaches 160 and eggs are set.

Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

BAKED HAM

BAKED HAM
I had never made it this way.  It was so yummy & sweet.  I did miss the pineapple taste (Jill's recipe in 2nd McCleve). Might try next time adding some crushed pineapple.  We had it with Pioneer Woman scalloped potatoes.  Yum!

http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/sweet-baked-ham/

Ingredients

• 5-7 pound precooked bone-in, not sliced ham
• White distilled vinegar (around 1-3 cups)
• Water
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons ground dry mustard

Instructions

1. Place the ham in a large pot and cover with 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar until the ham is covered by an inch or two of liquid. Bring to a boil and cook, boiling vigorously, for 2-3 hours, until the meat easily falls off the bone. Liquid may splash out during cooking. Try reducing the heat, but maintain the boil in order to help limit the splashing. Be prepared that it will smell like vinegar while boiling.
2. After the allotted time, carefully remove the ham from the pot, discarding the liquid, and let it cool until it is easier to remove the meat from the bones. Shred the ham, discarding the fat and bones, and place half in a 9X9-inch baking dish.
3. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and mustard. Sprinkle half of this mixture over the ham. Layer the rest of the ham on top and sprinkle with the remaining sugar/mustard mixture.
4. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Notes

Use a bone-in butt, shoulder, or shank cut of ham that is NOT pre-sliced.

LENTIL SOUP

GERMAN LENTIL SOUP

We all liked this. It was posted on the Allred Biggest Loser Blog by Melody. This is what she said about it:

I made this soup for my family, my parents, and my sister's family. Everybody gobbled it up and wanted more, even the kids. We realized that it is actually quite healthy! It's got lots of fiber and nutrients, as well as being relatively low-calorie. Yes, it has bacon in it, but is also makes about 8 servings, so you are only getting a half a slice of bacon, which isn't bad at all. Enjoy!

4 bacon slices, diced
1 onion, diced
3 carrots, sliced
3 or 4 celery stalks, sliced
1 ham steak, cut up
1 16 oz package brown lentils
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp thyme
2 bay leaves
8 cups hot water
2 tsp salt

---2 T lemon juice (the lemon juice makes it!)

In 5 quart pon over medium-high heat, fry bacon until lightly browned (next time I would cook it until almost crisp). Add onions, celery, and carrots and cook until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Add ham, lentils, pepper, thyme, bay leaves, hot water, and salt. Cover and simmer over low heat 1 hour or until lentils are tender. Discard bay leaves.

Stir in lemon juice.

INSTANT POT LENTILS
https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/instant-pot-lentils
I really liked this recipe.  Tasted like minestroni soup.  Really good with croutons or crackers.
I soaked and rinsed my lentils.  I also cooked them for about 2 minutes in the instant pot and then rinsed again.  I felt this helped a lot with the gassiness.

2 cups lentils
4 cups vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
2 carrots, roughly diced
2 ribs celery, roughly diced
2 T unsalted butter or olive oil (I didn't use this - just used vegetable stock)
1 # smoked kielbasa sausage (didn't add)
1 onion, roughly diced
1 shallot, roughly diced
6 cloves garlic, roughly diced
14 oz crushed tomatoes
1 tsp cumin seed, ground
1 T regular soy sauce
1 T fish sauce (can substitute with regular soy sauce)

Garnish: (didn't do this)
dash of balsamic vinegar
freshly grated parmesan cheese

Brown sausage in saute more function to heat up Instant Pot.  Wait until HOT appears on the screen (8 min)

Add to 2 T butter or oil or broth - add in sausage and saute 5 min

Add in diced onion, shallots and saute for 3 minutes.  Add in minced garlic, 1 tsp ground cumin and 2 bay leaves then saute another minute.

Pour in 1/2 cup unsalted stock, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot.  Give it a quick mix.

Add in 2 cups green lentils, diced carrots,, diced celery, 1 T soy sauce 1 T fish sauce.  Pour in 3 1/2 cups stock then give it a quick mix.  Layer 14 oz crushed tomatoes on top of the other ingredients in Instant Pot - do not mix!

Make sure venting position is on sealing.  Pressure cook 10 minutes - natural release 10 minutes.

If you want it thicker, change to saute more function.  Take a little out and put in a bowl to see if you like the balsamic vinegar before adding to the whole pot.

Curried Sweet Potato, Lentil and Chicken Soup

1	large or 2 medium dark-orange sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (2 cups)
1/4	cup chopped onion
1/2	cup apple juice
1/2	cup water
2	cans (19 oz each) Progresso® Vegetable Classics lentil soup
1 1/2	cups Green Giant® frozen cut green beans
1	cup finely chopped cooked chicken
2	to 3 teaspoons curry powder

1.

In 3-quart saucepan heat sweet potatoes, onion, apple juice and water to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook 5 minutes.

2.

Stir in soup, beans, chicken and curry powder. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. 1 Serving: Calories 220 (Calories from Fat 30); Total Fat 3 1/2g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol20mg; Sodium 670mg; Total Carbohydrate 34g (Dietary Fiber 6g, Sugars 6g); Protein 14g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 150%; Vitamin C 6%; Calcium 6%; Iron 15% Exchanges: 2 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 1Vegetable; 1 Very Lean Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 2 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.