Vegetable Beef Stew

A good basic stew with great texture and tomato base. Add more spices to your desire.

Put large ziplock bag and shake:

1-2 Pounds stew meat cubed

1/4 flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tbls minced garlic

Add to pan over med/high heat with 3 tbls olive oil.

Brown evenly on both sides of meat.

Remove from pan and place in crock pot.

In same pan add:

3 cups diced onion

1/2 cup apple juice or cider

Until onion is tender.

Pour into crock pot and scrap pan (making sure to get the brown chunks into the crockpot too!)

Add to crockpot:

1 bay leaf

3 cups chopped celery

5 large chopped potatoes

3 large diced tomatoes (or 2 cans diced tomatoes with juices)

1- 12 oz can of tomato or spaghetti sauce

1 cup fresh or frozen peas

2 cups fresh largely chunked carrots

1 cup fresh or frozen corn

Mix in separate bowl:

1 cups hot hot water

1/4 cup mushroom soup mix (you can also use 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup)

1/4 cup onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp black pepper

1 tbls italian seasoning

Pour into crockpot.

Turn on high for 30 minutes and then reduce to low for 6 hours.

Enjoy!

Spicy Crockpot Chicken Soup

This is a like a chicken taco soup. Based off of the recipe Catherine's Spicy Chicken Soup on allrecipes.com The nice thing about this easy chicken soup is one ingredient doesn't make or break it. If you are out of tomato soup- replace with more diced tomatoes. If you're out of bell pepper, just add a little more onion. You get the idea. It's easy- it's good.

4 cups water
2 chicken breasts halved
1 tsp pepper
2 tbls chicken broth powder or chicken seasoning
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbls chili powder
1/4 cup onion
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1 cup salsa
2 cups diced tomato
1 can tomato soup
1 can chili or can of black beans drained
2 cups corn

Suggested toppings: Crush tortilla chips, shredded cheese or shredded cabbage!

Heat for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.

Easy-Tasty Crockpot Chili

Based off the recipe Boilermaker Tailgate Chili from allrecipes.com

1 Ib cooked ground beef (if you want vegetarian replace with 1 can black beans)
2 12 oz cans chili
1 tsp diced jalepeno
3 cups diced tomatoes
1 8oz can tomato paste
2 cups water
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 chopped bell pepper
2 celery stalks diced
2 cups corn (optional... I think this is perfect for this chili, but my husband thinks that corn does not belong in chili)
1/4 cup salsa
1 tbls hot sauce
1 tbls chili powder
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp sugar

Heat in crock pot at least on low for 4 hours. The longer the better!

Top with diced cabbage and some cheddar cheese.

Creole Chicken Soup

Spicy and delicious. A spin off of jumbalaya.

Add to crock pot in this order...
2 chicken breasts chopped in pieces
1 tbls minced garlic
1 cup salsa
1/2 tsp allspice
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp red pepper flakes OR 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can chopped tomatoes
2 cans black beans

1 cup instant rice
2 cups chopped potatoes
2 cups chicken broth

2 cups raw shrimp (optional: add in the last 10 minutes)

Place in slow cooker on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.