Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce

What to do with all of your tomatoes from your garden or from the farmer's market?   Here's a great recipe that I adapted from All Recipes...

Ingredients

• 25 roma (plum) tomatoes - diced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons of fresh basil
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• pinch cinnamon

Directions

1. Place tomatoes, onion, garlic, and olive oil in a slow cooker. Season with oregano, basil, salt, black pepper, and cinnamon.
2. Cover, and cook 10 to 15 hours on Low. The longer you simmer it the more flavorful it becomes. At 10 hours it's really good, but at 15 its even better. I did mine overnight, which worked out perfectly!

Crock Pot: Root Beer Pulled Pork

This is a favorite at my house.  Root beer pulled pork! I made it for my AXO buddies last weekend and then served the leftovers at Mata's birthday party at school (well I sent them...)!   It's super easy, and uses the crock pot... my favorite tool. 

What you need... 

• 3-5 lb. lean pork sholder
• 2 cans of root beer
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 1-2 sweet onions (we love the onions after simmering all day!)
• Salt and Pepper to Taste

For the Sauce:

• 1 jar of chili sauce 
• 1 can of root beer

Combine all of the ingredients in the crock pot.  I put the meat in first, then add the garlic, then the salt and pepper.  After dicing the onions, place them on top.   Lastly, add in 2 cans of REGULAR root beer.  Simmer on low for 8-10 hours.

 

After 8-10 hours, shred your pork and let it sit in the yummy juices.  

While it is soaking in all of the yummy juices make your sauce.   In a saucepan, combine 1 bottle of chili sauce and 1 can of root beer.   Bring to a boil, stirring often.  Once it boils, reduce heat to medium and keep stirring frequently.   The sauce will start to thicken.  Then after about a 1/2 hour or the sauce is as thick as you'd like it, it's ready.

Remove your pulled pork and onions from the crock pot with tongs.  Then pour your sauce over the pork and serve.  We usually like to eat it as sandwiches with tasty Hawaiian Bread Buns.

I hope you enjoy it!   Happy Spring BREAK!!! 

Anne's Bacon Mac & Cheese

This is one of my favorite recipes from my friend Anne.   She uses all sorts of fun yummy veggies like leeks, peas, green onions, etc., however when you live with someone who doesn't eat anything green, we use the variation below.

What you need...

• 2 T. butter
• 2 T. flour
• 2 cups of fat free milk (warmed)
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (we use Swiss, Parmesan, & Sharp Cheddar)
• 4-5 slices of center cut bacon (chop it up and fry it)
• salt
• pepper
• 12 oz. box of pasta (cooked)
• breadcrumbs

After cooking the bacon and the pasta, it's time to make your roux.   Melt butter in a medium sauce pan. Let it bubble. As soon as it stops bubbling, it's hot enough.  Add two tablespoons of flour. Stir with a wire whisk until mixed and it begins to bubble.  Let bubble for a minute, whisking constantly. Slowly add the two cups of warm milk while you whisk it.

Continue to whisk frequently until mixture comes to a boil.  Continue to whisk until mixture thickens.  You can decide how thick you want it.  Now you have the roux.

 

 

Remove from heat. Add cheese.  Mix in pasta and bacon to the sauce.

 
Adjust seasonings.  Pour mixture into a baking dish.

Top with more cheese and bread crumbs.   Broil in the oven until browned on top.

Now it's time to enjoy!    Believe me... you will never go back to the blue box again....  Enjoy!

Spinach Salad

I almost forgot to take a picture!  It was so tasty!

I made this salad today for Ethan's Baptism.   I first had this salad at a party with my mom.  Her friend Patti held the secret ingredient to one of the best salads ever.   I've made some changes to the salad itself to include some of my favorite things, however, the dressing recipe has remained untouched.    It seriously is the best!

What you need for the salad:

• 1 bag of fresh spinach 
• 1 pound of strawberries
• 1 pint of raspberries
• 2 avocados
• 2 cups almonds
• 1/2 sugar

What you need for the dressing:

• 1 cup of oil
• 1/2 cup of red wine vinaigrette
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of almond extract
• salt & pepper to taste

For the salad:
Wash your spinach and dry off all excess water (or just pat them dry).   Wash your strawberries and slice them into fourths.   Wash your raspberries.  Dice your avocados into cubes.  Mix all of these ingredients in a large bowl.  

For the candied almonds:
Prepare a piece of wax paper close by to put your almonds on once they are finished.  Put 1/2 cup of sugar in a frying pan and turn the gas on high.   Continuously stir the sugar until it starts to liquefy.  As soon as it turns to a light brown liquid add the almonds and coat them as much as you can.  Then, carefully, spread out the almonds on the wax paper and let them cool.   The sugar will be extremely hot so be careful!   After they have cooled off, break them apart and add them to the salad!

For the dressing:
Mix the oil, red wine vinaigrette, sugar, almond extract in a container.  Tightly close the container and shake it up!   Add to the whole salad or serve on the side!


Feel free to add to chicken too.   Another fabulous addition if you want to add some protein.   Let me know if you try it or try it and come up with a different combination!

ENJOY!

Double Boiler Oatmeal... only the best for oatmeal snobs!

This is one of my morning favorites that I used to think it was impossible to make... partially because no one makes oatmeal like my mom.  However, after observing the process, I think I've got it nailed!   I'm now an oatmeal snob... and refuse to eat the packaged stuff.  Today, I made the recipe for a group of coworkers to celebrate Lindsey's Birthday!

To make the best oatmeal ever, you need:

• 1 cup of Quaker Oats (not instant)
• 2 cups of Milk ( I use Horizon Organic 2%)
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon sugar
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla
• Double Boiler

 First, fill up the bottom of your double boiler with water.   Next, mix all of the ingredients into the top pot.

 Next, cover your pot and put the gas on high until the water starts to boil.

 Once the water starts to boil, bring your heat down to low/medium.   Let it simmer, stirring every 5-10 minutes. 

 After about 30 minutes, check the consistency...  If you like it, it's done, if not, let it cook some more.  If it's too thick, add a little more milk.   It's really up to you and how you like it!

Lastly, top with your favorite toppings!   The Field School bunch loves bananas, chocolate chips, and walnuts.  Today, we used chocolate chips, bananas, and granola.    Of course, plain is wonderful too!   Let me know what you think and if you come up with any other good combos with toppings!

Caroline's Chicken Salad

My favorite chicken salad by far is at Hammock Bay in Naples, FL.  It has grapes and pecans, and is always one of my favorite lunch spots when we go to Marco.  A couple of years ago, I realized that I could totally make this chicken salad on my own... the result of my experiments, one of my favorite lunches.  Also, I personally think mine tastes better than Hammock Bay's salad too!  I'm super picky about chicken salad, but in my opinion, this is one of the best ones.  Here's how I make Caroline's Chicken Salad.

You need:

• Chicken (2-3 cups - depending on how much you want to make)
• 1 celery heart, diced
• 1 cup of red grapes - sliced in half
• 1 cup of pecans
• 1 apple, diced into small pieces
• 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise - I use the olive oil kind

Depending on what kind of chicken you use, you can dice it, shred it, or just open up a package of Tyson grilled chicken strips!    My favorite way is to put 2-3 chicken breasts in a slow cooker with a container (32 oz) of chicken broth.  I add a little salt and cook it on low all day.  Before I take it out, I shred the chicken and let it sit in the broth for another 1/2 hour.   Then I remove the yummy shredded chicken and it's ready for my chicken salad!  Lila also is trying it as a snack because it is so soft and juicy.

Combine chicken, celery, red grapes, and apples and mix together in a large bowl or container.   I usually make mine in a container with a lid so I can shake it up as I'm making it.

Next, after you mix it up, add the pecans.

After you add the pecans, mix or shake it up!  Then add the mayo.  I'm not a huge fan of mayonnaise, so I use the least amount possible.   You could obviously add more or less depending on your chicken salad.

Mix in your mayonnaise.  Then mix it or shake it up!

Finally, it's time to enjoy!  I usually like to eat mine with some crackers or some bread of some sort.  This is an easy recipe to make for lunch, or to take for lunch too!

With anything, feel free to try to add new things to your chicken salad or omit things you may not like.  If Honey Crisp apples are in season, I will add double the amount of apples.  I've also been wondering if adding mandarin oranges would change how much I love this chicken salad... I'll just have to test it out!   I hope you like it!

Spinach Pie

 This morning we had Jess & Ethan over for breakfast.  Other than some yummy morning buns from Trader Joe's, I decided to make some Spinach Pie!   A Weight Watchers recipe my mom had found a couple years ago.  I've tried adding various ingredients however the way I made it today is by far my favorite. 

You need:

• Three egg whites
• 1 bag of frozen spinach (I usually move it from the freezer to the fridge the night before)
• 16 oz. Fat Free Cottage Cheese (which I normally would never eat... however in here, it's fabulous)
• 1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese
• Canadian Bacon (optional)

First, preheat the oven to 450ºF.

Then mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl.

 

Next, put the mixture in a pie pan.   Sometimes I sprinkle a little extra Parmesan cheese on the top... I LOVE Parmesan cheese. 

Bake your Spinach Pie for 45 minutes to an hour - I watch to see when the top is golden brown.

Then enjoy!   I've tried it with bacon, tomatoes, and other veggies as well included with the above mixture.   Be creative!   If you come across a yummy addition, please share in the comments.  I'd love to try it!

Homemade Butterfingers

I came across this recipe in my google reader over the holidays... and it was an instant hit!   It is really very easy and takes very few ingredients!

You need:

• Peanut Butter
• Wheat Thins
• Almond Bark or Melting Chocolate
• Some fun sprinkles

First thing you do is make peanut butter sandwiches out of the Wheat Thins and Peanut Butter.

After all of your sandwiches are made, then it's time to melt the Almond Bark (or dipping chocolate).  Follow the directions on the package... if you've never used Almond Bark before, you can throw it in the microwave and melt it.  Just make sure you stir it and follow the directions on the package!

Now's it time to dip in your sandwiches.  Fully submerge your sandwiches into the chocolate, then lay them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.   If you are decorating them with sprinkles, I would put them on after about a row on your cookies sheet.  Otherwise the chocolate will get too hard and they won't stick. 

 

After your tray is full, put it in the refrigerator and let it "cool" for 15 minutes. 

Once they are "cool", package them up and share (or keep them for a yummy treat for yourself). 

 

If you try this out, leave me a comment and let me know... or if you know a different way, I'd love to hear it!

Crockpot Ribs - "Little Pieces of Heaven"

For those of you who know me well, you know I love to use my crock pot!    Here is a crock pot recipe that is sure to please.   This is one of Mike's favorite things that I make and he's nicknamed them, "Little Pieces of Heaven".

You need:

• 1-2 slabs of ribs (I get mine at Trader Joes - they are the best)
• 1 can of Coke or Dr. Pepper
• Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce
• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Directions:

First, take out your crock pot.  I love to use Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners for easy clean up!   Next place your slabs of ribs in the crock pot.

Next, add in your can of pop.  I usually use Coke, however, on Friday we only had Dr. Pepper.   So I tried Dr. Pepper and the results were fabulous.

Next add salt and pepper to your ribs.  I just sprinkle it on top... not too much!

Next, cover your crock pot and set it on low for 8 hours.

 

After 8 hours, or whenever you get home from work, drain our the pop.   

 

Keep the Ribs in the crock pot and smother them with Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce.   I just try to make sure that all of the ribs are covered in Sauce.   Be careful however, because the ribs are so tender they tend to fall off the bone. 

Once your ribs are coated in BBQ sauce, cover back up your crock pot and cook your ribs on high for 1 hour. 

After an hour, take them out carefully to serve!    The ribs tend to fall off the bone so be gentle taking them out.  

Enjoy!   Don't forget to have some napkins handy!

If you try this recipe, leave me a comment and let me know how it goes.   Good luck! :)