Recipes and ideas so you never have to ask what the forks for dinner!
Winter still has a grip on us, so how about a warm gooey easy crock pot dessert? Caramel Pecan Crockpot Brownies!
I have never “baked” anything in the crockpot before……who knew??? It really, really worked…….who-da thunk it??? Continue reading “Caramel Pecan Crockpot Brownies”
When fall is here and the temperature starts to drop, I think back to Sunday dinners with my family. First off, let me just say that my family is one in a million. As kids my cousins and I spent many a happy Sunday at someones house and there was alway a big Sunday meal. It was usually at noon…….just after church and so us kids could get home and get ready for bed…..school on Monday you know!
Now, when I was growing up, crockpots we not the norm. I remember my Grandmother and Aunts cooking up a storm in their kitchens, and the smells that came from those kitchens…..well nothing else can quite compare.
So, in honor of fall and my family… Cranberry Orange Pork Roast. The prep for this is very simple and using the crockpot makes a “start it and forget it” main dish.
A nice boneless pork loin roast, seasoned with salt and pepper and browned in just a bit of coconut oil. Browning the meat seals in the flavor and gives the meat a beautiful brown caramel color. Then into the crockpot.
Next in a small bowl, some dried cranberries… deep red, tart and slightly sweet, orange marmalade… bright, sweet, and bursting with citrus flavor. A bit of balsamic vinegar (fermented wine grapes barrel-aged for many years) for its rich, dark brown, sweet-sour flavor and brown sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.
All of this poured over the browned roast and cooked for 3-4 hours on low in the crockpot.
I knew the flavors of this dish would work and taste great, but I was not prepared for how really pretty it was……the cranberries reconstituted and looked like they were fresh. The sauce was sweet tart and a dark umber color with little flecks of orange peel…..beautiful!
I did add a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, but only because Tim and I like a thicker sauce.
Cranberry Orange Pork Roast with some new potatoes or rice, and some nice fresh green beans…….a beautiful Sunday family dinner!
For a thicker sauce use 2 teaspoons of cornstarch and 2 teaspoons of water mixed and add until desired thickness.
Keywords: pork loin roast, orange marmalade, dried cranberries, balsamic vinegar, crock pot, dinner, main dish
Crockpot Tarragon Leek Chicken
Sometimes, when you are either lazy, time is of the essence, or it’s just to hot to cook, a girl needs to bring out the crockpot. This recipe is quick to throw together, and you can have dinner ready when you need it.
Tender chicken breast with baby red potatoes, sweet peas, and leeks for that mellow onion taste. Low fat sour cream, a few smashed potatoes, and a touch of fresh tarragon make a creamy sauce for this “all in one” dish……meat, potatoes, and a veggie.
I really am not usually a fan of chicken in the crockpot, its kinda sickly white, so I sautéed the chicken just to give it color. I cut the potatoes in half….mine were small, so if you have larger potatoes cut them in quarters.
A word about leeks……wash them very well, or you will have a mouth full of grit. I cut mine in the way they need to be for a recipe, them plunk them in a bowl of cold water, swish them around and let them set a minute. Use a slotted spoon to get them out of their…….bath. Then use as indicated in the recipe. The first time I used leeks in a recipe I made the mistake of just rinsing the whole leek and the result was…….grit…..yuck!
If you do not have fresh tarragon like me……my tarragon was so out of control I had to move it from the garden to its own area. It’s a huge bush……I swear it was four feet tall and about that big around. You can use dried, but I would cut the amount in half……it’s a strong flavor, and add it when you put the chicken in the crockpot.
So, how did it taste………well let me put it this way……..Tim does not like peas and he thought is was really good. I love peas and I thought the same.
So, if you are looking for quick, ready when you are meat and potatoes dinner, try the Crockpot Tarragon Leek Chicken.
Keywords: chicken, potatoes, tarragon, peas, main dish, crock pot, slow cooker