Zuppa Toscana

It's not exactly curry, but in the spirit of exotic foreign recipes done in the crock pot, here's my version of the Italian soup Zuppa Toscana adapted from a fancy cook book. I wasn't able to capture pictures before it was all eaten up, but I was extremely pleased with how it turned out and thought it tasted even better than the soup they serve at the Olive Garden Restaurant!

1 lb. Italian sausage (Olive Garden uses spicy sausage, but you can use mild)

4-6 russet potatoes , chopped

1 onion, chopped

1/4 c. REAL bacon pieces (sold near the bacon bits)

2 Tbsp minced garlic (about 3-4 cloves)

1 c. kale or Swiss chard, chopped

32 oz. chicken broth

1 c. heavy whipping cream

2 Tbsp flour

salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste

1. Brown sausage links in a sauté pan.

2. Cut links in half lengthwise, then cut into slices.

3. Place sausage, chicken broth, garlic, potatoes and onion in slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the vegetables and meat.

4. Cook on high 3-4 hours until potatoes are soft.

30 minutes before serving:

5. Thoroughly mix flour into the heavy cream removing all lumps.

6. Add cream/flour and kale to the crock pot, stir.

7. Cook on high 30 minutes or until broth has thickened slightly.

8. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste.

Sweeet 'n Sour Meatballs!

Potluck anyone? Meatballs in Chinese sweet 'n sour sauce is perfect for the occasion! It's so easy, versatile, and incredibly tasty.

Here's my shopping list:

Frozen (pre-cooked) meatballs, sweet & sour sauce (Kikkoman brand works), soy sauce, a red pepper, a can of pineapple, minced garlic, and brown sugar.

The only real work is chopping the red pepper.
Well worth it!

Throw everything in. Yup, that's how I roll.

Put in sweet & sour sauce last for effect...

Okay I forgot spices. Black pepper and cayenne!

Now stop.

Take in the gorgeous color and smell! Did you know a study found people who ate in the dark enjoyed their food much less?

Cook the whole thing 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high so as not to wilt these gorgeous peppers! Oh and try not to devour it before your family gets home!
It's soooooo luscious!! (Can I say that?)

Garnish with green onions or fresh cilantro. Serve as hors d'oeuvres with toothpicks. For a main dish serve over rice or noodles or lettuce.

Sweeet 'n Sour Meatballs

Into the crockpot:
2 lb meatballs (pre-cooked)
1 20 oz. can of pineapple chunks
1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 Tb chopped garlic
4 Tb soy sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 hefty dash of cayenne pepper
12 oz bottle sweet and sour sauce

Cook 4-6 hours on low heat or 2-3 hours on high heat.

Slow Cooker LASAGNA!!

Lasagna is an old favorite, but it still counts as ethnic, right? It certainly is easy in the crock pot, especially since you don't boil the noodles!!

Start by making a spaghetti sauce, just like normal. Mine goes something like this...

Cook minced mushrooms, onions, pepper, and garlic in a saucepan uncovered.

Add in ground beef or sausage (or both) and brown it. Drain fat if necessary.

Throw in a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce, plus salt and pepper to taste. Easy.

Here's what's different: add 1 cup extra water to the sauce. I shake it in the jar to catch the last of the sauce (then the jar goes into the recycling!)

Put a little sauce in the crock pot to get started.

Now, the first layer of DRY noodles! Just break them in half -doesn't have to be perfect.

Since this is all about easy, open a 16 oz. package of cottage cheese and put an egg right in. (Ricotta cheese can be used as well).

Let your 3-year old stir in the egg and some parsley. She makes fewer splats if she stirs with a butter knife :)

You can add shredded Parmesan to the cottage cheese too - oh yummy!

Layer the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. I use about 1 cup or 1/3 of the mixture.

After the cottage cheese layer, sprinkle shredded mozzarella. Definitely the most important ingredient in lasagna!

Add a layer of meat sauce, about 1/3 of the mixture.

Mozzarella after the meat sauce.

Noodles again, and it starts all over!

Keep layering up until sauce and cottage cheese is used.
Top with a final generous layer of mozzarella!

Cover and cook on low heat for 2-4 hours tops! You don't want to the noodles to over cook and become squishy, eeew! It's a great dish to cook while you're at church!

Now serve it up to your man! Ain't he cute?

Slow Cooker LASAGNA!!

1 onion, minced
1 pepper, minced (optional)
1 pkg mushrooms, minced (optional)
1 Tb garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef or sausage
1 jar spaghetti sauce
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup water

Add these ingredients to a saucepan in order, cooking on medium-high. Layer in slow cooker with:

1/2 pkg dry lasagna noodles
1 lb shredded mozzarella
and Cottage cheese mixture:
1 16 oz. pkg cottage cheese
1 egg
1-2 Tb dry parsley (optional)
1 6 oz. pkg shredded Parmesan cheese

Top layers with shredded mozzarella. Cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Yellow Curry Chicken

This recipe calls for every unused thing in my refrigerator: cauliflower, carrots, onions, plain yogurt, and I don't know about you, but these days I pretty much can't live without fresh cilantro in the house at all times! Oh and when was the last time I actually used those raisins in the pantry? Today is the day...

This curry tastes so authentic and it's made of only regular ingredients from a mega chain superstore! Find a "curry" spice blend that is yellow in color -easy! This one from McCormick is nice ...and not at all hot like the name implies. My husband describes it as "subtle and delayed". Tumeric adds tons of bright yellow color, and a bit of flavor. But if you don't have it in your collection yet, I guess you can omit it. With tumeric I could go either way.

Uh...this is not the greatest photo, but you get the idea. Yellowy!!

My 9 year old gives it two thumbs up and 4/5 stars! Husband says it's my best creation yet!! They love the chicken's texture, which comes from marinating in acidic yogurt all day.

Give it a try!

Oh and yes, we do eat on paper plates. Most nights of the week. (I have 7 kids... what can I say?)

Yellow Curry Chicken

Into the crockpot for 8 hours, low heat (4 hours on high):

• chicken 1 1/2 lb (boneless, skinless breast or thigh meat)
• cauliflower 1 small head chopped (potatoes work too!)
  
• onion 1 small sliced
• carrots 4-6 sliced
  
• plain yogurt 1 1/4 cup
• garlic 2-4 tsp crushed or minced
• buttery spread 1/2 c (Smart Balance, Canola Harvest)
• cornstarch 2 Tb
• kosher salt 2 tsp
• black pepper 1 tsp
• sugar 2 Tb
• curry powder (yellow) 3 tsp
• cayenne pepper, to taste
• tumeric 1/2 tsp
• raisins 1/2 c
• water 1 c

Before serving add:

• cilantro (produce aisle) 1/2 c finely chopped
  

Serve over noodles, lettuce, or basmati rice (also found at the mega chain superstore!)

To make life easier, add chicken straight from the package (no cutting) and break it up before serving. I also chop frozen chicken into large chunks for a rustic feel.

Peanut Thai Chicken

Any dish that combines salsa and peanut butter has got to be good, right?

8/8 family members give this dish their highest flavor endorsement! That's pretty good considering we have some finicky eaters. Mom loves it because it is crockpot easy! BOOYAH!!

Peanut Thai Chicken

In the crockpot for 8 hours on low (4 on high):

• 1 lb chicken (8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs)
• 3/4 c. salsa
• 1/4 c. peanut butter
  
• 2 Tb lime juice
  
• 1 Tb soy sauce
• 1 tsp ginger
• crushed garlic to taste
  

Before serving mix in:

• 1/4 c. chopped peanuts
• 1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro

Serve over rice. Enjoy!

Rotel Chicken

This creamy Indian-esque dish is as tasty as it is easy!
My 2-year old asked for thirds. No joke.

Start with a can of Ro-tel with lime and cilantro (find it in the Mexican aisle of Walmart)...and throw it's contents into the slow cooker. Yup, throw it right in!

Next add 1/2 c mild salsa,
1 can cream of chicken,
and 1 lb of boneless chicken.

Last the best of all. Add a teaspoon of red curry powder. Careful, it's hot! Yellow curry powder works well too.

Your curry doesn't have to be fancy...the standard McCormick brand you find at Walmart will be fine. That's what makes the dish so easy! And you'll need some for later, trust me. Add it to your collection today...

...and make this for dinner tonight!

Cook everything on low heat for 6-8 hours (3-4 on high).

Stir and break up chicken with utensils. Serve over rice.

Oh, yummy!!!

Serves 4-5

Low calorie option: use Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Chicken, and serve over lettuce.

Creamy Curry Chicken

1 can Ro-tel lime and cilantro
1 can cream of chicken
1/2 c mild salsa
1 lb boneless chicken
1 tsp McCormick's Red Curry Powder
Fresh cilantro for garnish

Add ingredients to slow cooker. Set on low heat for 4-6 hours. Stir and break up chicken with utensils. Garnish with fresh, chopped cilantro. Serve over rice. 4-5 servings.