French Dip Sandwiches (Crock pot)

My cousin, Laura, shared this recipe with me and my family loves it.  I love it because it's tasty and so easy!

1 Big Boneless Roast (I usually use a beef rump roast)
1 cup soy sauce
4 c. water
2 bay leaves
2 t. rosemary
2 t. thyme
2 t. garlic powder
1 package of sliced french rolls or hoagie rolls (Any firm roll will work.  You don't want the roll too soft or it will be too soggy.)

Put all ingredients except rolls in crock pot.  Cook on low 8 - 10 hours.

Remove roast and cut into very thin slices or shred.   Place beef on rolls and dip sandwiches in the au-jus from crockpot.

Pineapple Salsa Chicken (Slow Cooker)

A lady in our ward gave this recipe and it's ingredients to us in a gift bag when Olivia was born.  It was delicious and made a lot!  It's definitely one of my new favorites.

Pineapple Salsa Chicken (Slow Cooker)

*Serves 6 - 8

6 fresh or frozen chicken breasts
1 (20-oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-oz.) can white beans, like Great Northern, rinsed and drained
2 cups mild salsa
Tortillas or tortilla chips and garnishes (such as sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, etc.)

Place the chicken in the crock pot and add the rest of the ingredients.  Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.  Using tongs, remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred into bite-size pieces.  Mix the chicken back in with the rest of the ingredients.  The mixture will be fairly soupy - I like to drain off some of the excess liquid before serving, especially if we are eating it in tortillas, so it doesn't make everything soggy.  Serve with tortilla chips or rolled in tortillas with garnishes, like tomatoes, cheese, avocado, sour cream, etc.

*Freezable option:  She says "I freeze the leftovers in the freezer-safe zip loc bags and either place the frozen portion in my crock pot for a few hours the day I want to serve it or thaw the night before in the refrigerator and reheat on low in a saucepan."

Amy's Teriyaki Meatballs

This is a recipe I got from my sister Amy.  It's cooked in a crockpot and only has 3 ingredients.  Can't get much easier than that!  It also serves a lot.  We like to serve it over brown rice.  Makes about 80 meatballs.  (Depending on what size of package your frozen meatballs come in.)  I think this would be even better with homemade meatballs!

Amy's Teriyaki Meatballs
1 package Frozen Homestyle Meatballs
1 can crushed pineapple + juice
1 bottle Teriyaki Sauce (Pineapple, honeyglazed if available)

Throw in a crockpot and cook on high for 3-4 hours.  Serve over brown rice.

Cranberry Chili Sausage Bites

Just when you thought you couldn't do anything else with a can of whole berry cranberry sauce...I introduce to you Cranberry Chili Sausage Links.  It has the best flavor.  Nice for something different besides the normal bar-b-que sauce that is usually served with this type of dish.  This is great as an appetizer or hors d'œuvre or it can be made into more of a main dish.  The last time I made it I served it over brown rice.  Plenty of sauce to soak into the rice.  And the sauce is delicious.  You'd never guess what was in it.  With only three ingredients and being cooked in a crockpot, it makes a very fast and easy dish for a party or meal.

Cranberry Chili Sausage Bites

1 (12-oz.) bottle Chili Sauce
1 (14-oz.) can Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
2 (16-oz.) ring cooked Polish sausage or kielbasa (You could probably use those Lil' Smokies as well)

In a medium sized crockpot, combine chili sauce and cranberry sauce.  Slice sausage into 1/2-1 inch wide circles (depending on how big you want your bites.)  Mix with sauce.  Turn crockpot on high and heat until bubbling and sausage is warm.  Serve with toothpicks as an hors d'œuvre or over brown rice.

Split Pea Sweet Potato Soup

Yes, it's summer and I'm still making soup. I think soup is a great meal to prepare in the summer especially if you use your crock pot! Anything that doesn't heat up the house is a plus for me! Serve it with a nice cool, fresh salad whether it be green or fruit and call it good! It calls for yellow split peas but if you can't find any then regular green split peas are just fine.

Split Pea Sweet Potato Soup

7 cups water
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
2 small sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (3/4 lb.)
1 medium potato, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 cup)
1 medium onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
2 carrots, finely chopped or shredded (1 cup)
1 (16 oz.) package dried yellow split peas
1 (6 oz.) package sliced Canadian bacon, coarsely chopped

In slow cooker, mix all ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours. Stir before serving.