Friday, December 14, 2012

Day 14 of "The 31 Days of Lor-cipies"
My Christmas Gift to You

I'll finish up my Christmas shopping today (God willing), and I know I won't feel like cooking after THAT! So I'm putting my trusty slow cooker to use. Again. And sharing the recipe with you, because I know your December day will be just as hectic. If you decide to test it, take a picture before your family digs in, and share it at my Facebook author page as your entry in the "Win a $100 Basket of Maryland Stuff" contest (drawing on January 1st)!

And now, without further adieu, LOREE'S PIGS IN BLANKETS

 
 
(Yes, the photo is a joke. But I just couldn't help myself!) Enjoy:
 


Ingredients:

6 cups water
12 large cabbage leaves
1 pound lean ground beef
½ cup cooked rice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
3 cups tomato sauce (divided in half)

Directions:

Spray slow cooker with Pam
Bring water to boil and turn off. Soak cabbage leaves in water 5 minutes. Remove, drain, and cool
Combine ground beef, rice, and spices in a large bowl. Mix well.
Place 3 tablespoons of meat mixture onto each cabbage leaf. Roll tightly
Place cabbage rolls into slow cooker, seam side down
Pour half the tomato sauce over rolls
Cover and cook on LOW 10 hours
Before serving, warm remaining sauce and pour over rolls
Serve with green vegetables and a side salad!
 
THIS is what the dish will really look like:
 
 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Day 13 of 31 Days of Lor-cipes, My Christmas Gift to You



Like you, I want to serve nutritious, tasty meals every evening. But during this crazy-busy month, that isn't always easy. That's why I rely heavily on my trusty crock pot, and oh, what a delicious relief, at the end of a deadline day, to put that tasty supper on the table!

I'd like to share that mood and that food with you, so I'm sharing family-tested favorite recipes in the hope you'll experience those same blessed sensations. Try this one, and if you like it, post a photo on my Facebook author's page, and I'll add your name to my Santa hat so you can win a prize basket (a $100 value) filled with New Year's fun.

It's early. There's plenty of time to hunt down these ingredients and put this on the supper table, tonight:

December 13: Loree's Pork Chop Dinner

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 bone-in pork loin chops
1-10 ounce can condensed cream of broccoli soup
1-4 ounce can diced mushrooms, drained
¼ cup spicy brown mustard
¼ cup chicken broth
1 clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried basil
6 red potatoes, unpeeled and sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Directions:

Heat butter and oil in large skillet.
Brown pork chops on both sides and set aside
Spray slow cooker with Pam
Combine soup, mushrooms, mustard, broth, and spices in slow cooker
Add potatoes and onion, stirring to coat
Arrange pork chops on top of potato mixture
Cover and cook on LOW 10-12 hours
Sprinkle with parsley and serve with green vegetables and rolls!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012


 
 

Thirty-one Days of Lor-cipies

A Christmas Gift to You

from Loree Lough 


Yes, it's true: I'm always on a deadline. So to ensure that my family gets well-balanced, nutritious meals, I rely heavily on my trusty slow cooker. And throughout the month of December—one of the busiest months of the year—I'm sharing my family's favorite recipes with you. 

December 12: Loree's Meaty Chili 

Ingredients: 

1 pound ground beef
¼ pound ground sausage
1 large onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, sliced
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped (REMEMBER TO WEAR GLOVES, AND DON'T TOUCH YOUR EYES!!!!)
1 clove garlic, minced
1-28 ounce can whole peel tomatoes, undrained and cut
1-15 ounce can chili beans, undrained
8 ounces tomato juice
¾ cup water
¼ cup ketchup
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon dried thyme 

Directions: 

Over medium-high heat, cook beef, sausage, onion, celery, jalapenos, and garlic
 in a 6-quart Dutch oven until meat is browned and onion is tender.
 Stir frequently
Add tomatoes (with liquid), beans, tomato juice, water, ketchup, sugar, chili powder, salt, cumin, thyme, salt and pepper
Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently
Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for one hour, stirring occasionally. 
Serve with cornbread or biscuits and a side salad, and enjoy!
 

(And don't forget: If you try this one and post a photo of it on my Facebook author page,

you could win a gift basket worth $100!)

 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012


 
 

Day 11 of 31 Lor-cipes


 

Loree's Stew Provencal


 

Ingredients:
 
2-14 ounce cans beef broth, divided
1/3 cup flour
1-1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed and cubed
4 red potatoes, unpeeled and cubed
2 cups frozen cut green beans
 
(frozen carrots, peas, corn [optional])
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
 
Directions:
 
Spray slow cooker with Pam.
Combine ¾ cup beef broth and flour in small bowl, and set aside
Add remaining broth, pork, potatoes, beans, onions, garlic, and spices to slow cooker
Stir and cover, cook on LOW 10 hours.
One hour before serving, stir in broth and flour mixture
Cook 30 minutes to thicken.
Serve
 

 

 
 

Thirty Days of Lor-cipies

A Christmas Gift to You

from Loree Lough

Yes, it's true: I'm always on a deadline. So to ensure that my family gets well-balanced, nutritious meals, I rely heavily on my trusty slow cooker. (And, on occasion, my favorite Dutch oven.) And throughout the month of December—one of the busiest months of the year—I'm sharing my family's favorite recipes with you.

 

If you try one this one, send me a picture of it and I'll add your name to the hat, and you might win a basket of New Year's fun!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

December 10

 

Loree's Best-Ever Beef Stew

 

Ingredients:

 

½ cup (plus 2 tablespoons) flour, divided

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

3 pounds beef stew cubes

1-16 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained

½ pound sausage, sliced

3 potatoes, peeled and diced

1 cup leek, chopped

1 cup onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, sliced
 
1 package frozen peas
 
1 package frozen carrots

½ cup chicken broth

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

3 tablespoons water

 

Directions:

 

Spray slow cooker with Pam.

Combine ½ cup flour, salt and pepper in a resealable food storage bag.

Add beef, and shake to coat beef.

Place beef in slow cooker

Add remaining ingredients (except 2 tablespoons flour and water)

Stir, cover, and cook on LOW 10-12 hours.

One hour before serving, mix remaining flour and water in small bowl and mix into stew.

Cook 30-60 minutes more until stew has thickened.

 

Thirty Days of Lor-cipies

A Christmas Gift to You

from Loree Lough

 
Yes, it's true: I'm always on a deadline. So to ensure that my family gets well-balanced, nutritious meals, I rely heavily on my trusty slow cooker. And throughout the month of December—one of the busiest months of the year—I'm sharing my family's favorite recipes with you.

If you try one this one, send me a picture of it and I'll add your name to the hat, and you might win a basket of New Year's fun! Merry Christmas!

 

December 9: Loree's Tomato-Chicken Gumbo


 

Ingredients:
 
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed
½ pound Italian or Polish sausage links, sliced
3 cups water
1-14 ounce can chicken broth
½ cup long grain white rice, uncooked
1-26 ounce can or jar of "traditional" spaghetti sauce
1 can corn, drained
1 green pepper, diced
 
Directions:
 
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spray a large, shallow baking pan with Pam.
Place chicken and sausage in pan and bake 15-20 minutes (until chicken is no longer pink).
In a 12-quart pot, bring water and broth to a full boil.
Add chicken, sausage, and rice.
Cover and cook over medium heat 15-20 minutes.
Stir in spaghetti sauce, corn and pepper and bring to a boil.
Cook 10 minutes (or until rice is tender).
 
And remember...try it and post a photo of it on my Facebook author's wall, you could win this basket (a $100 value)!
 

 

 

 

#8 of 31 Lor-Cipes: Loree's Vegetable Soup


 

Ingredients:

 

3 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

3 zucchini, sliced

2 cups broccoli, chopped

1 onion, chopped

¼ cup melted butter

4 cups chicken broth

2 white potatoes, peeled and diced

1 stalk celery, sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon black pepper

2-1/2 cups milk

 

Directions:

 

In a large bowl, combine potatoes, zucchini, broccoli, onion and butter.

Add chicken broth.

Add celery and spices.

Pour into slow cooker.

Cover and cook on LOW 8-10 hours.

Add milk and cook an additional 30 minutes.

#7 of 31 Lor-Cipes: Loree's Bean and Cornbread Casserole




Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, seeded and chopped

¼ teaspoon garlic powder (NOT garlic salt)

1-16 ounce can CHILI beans, undrained

1-16 ounce can pinto beans, undrained

1-16 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained

1-8 ounce can tomato sauce

1 teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon prepared mustard

1/8 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1 cup flour

2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1-1/4 cups milk

1/2 cup egg substitute

3 tablespoons oil

1-8 ounce can cream corn

 

Directions for casserole:

 

Spray slow cooker with Pam.

In a skillet, over medium heat, cook onion, pepper, and garlic.

Transfer to slow cooker.

Stir in beans.
Add tomatoes, sauce, seasonings, mustard, and hot sauce.

Cover and cook on HIGH 1 hour.

 

Directions for cornbread:

 

In a large bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Stir in milk and egg substitute, oil and corn.

Spread evenly over bean mixture.

Cover and cook on HIGH 2 hours more.

 

And remember how you could win a prize like this....


DAY 6 OF 31 LOR-CIPIES!


Day 6 of 31 Lor-Cipies...

 

...to save you time during the hustle-bustle of December: 

December 6

Loree's Broccoli Casserole


 

Ingredients:

 

2-10 ounce packages chopped broccoli

1-10 ounce can condensed cream of broccoli soup

1-1/4 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese (set aside enough for garnish, if desired)

¼ cup green onions, minced

1 cup crushed potato chips (or saltine crackers, crushed, if desired)

 

Directions:

 

Spray slow cooker with Pam.

In a large bowl, combine broccoli, soup, 1 cup cheese, and onions.

Put into slow cooker.

Sprinkle with crushed crackers and remaining cheese.

Cover and cook on LOW 6 hours.
 
 

Try it, you'll like it! And if you post a picture of your dish my Facebook author's wall, you could win a basket of goodies )$100 value) like  this: