Dinners 9-11

Slower cooker Steak and Potatoes-easy

 We couldn't decide if this dish needed to be eaten in a bowl or on a plate so we did both.  It still tasted good and was super easy.  Throw everything in the crock pot and 5-7 hours later (depends on your pot) viola!  Dinner is done.  We served it with cornbread because it sounded good. We didn't have any leftovers. 

1 1/2 lb beef tip steak, trimmed

brown gravy packet

1teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 cups sliced onions

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 teaspoon sugar

1 bag (19 oz)  frozen veggies (pick your favorite)

4-5 Yukon Gold potatoes-quartered

 Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.  Place onions on bottom. Place meat on top of onions (my steaks were thinner cuts and it wasn't one piece of meat.  That might change cooking times for you).  Put everything else in the crock pot.  Turn it on low and cook about 5-7 hours depending on how your crock pot cooks.

Garlic Chicken

 We were rushed this night because of a last minute activity (we went to go look at a house, which we are moving to in 2 weeks.  aaagh).  This was an easy dish and can be prepared earlier or you can have the kids help chop things which will also speed up the process (I had Damon help me.  He said it was to involved for him).  Such a yummy and light Italian meal.  It can easily be turned into a vegetarian meal.  Just leave the chicken out. I got this recipe from the website The Sister's Cafe.  It has some really yummy recipes.

1 Tb olive oil

1 lb boneless/skinless chicken breast, sliced crosswise

1 tsp salt

1 Tb olive oil

6-8 cloves garlic, crushed (1 rounded Tb)

1/2 lb mushrooms, quartered (we left these out because we don't like them)

1/2 c green onions, sliced

3/4 c red or orange sweet peppers

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (undrained)

1/2 c chicken broth

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1/2 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups dry bow tie pasta – cook as directed

1/4 c fresh cilantro, chopped (may use fresh parsley)

parmesan cheese, grated

 

1. Fry chicken in oil over medium heat until done. Sprinkle with salt and remove from skillet. Keep warm. Cook pasta while chicken is cooking in separate pot.

2.Cook garlic in oil until golden. Add mushrooms, green onions and peppers – cook 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth, red pepper, cornstarch and salt. Heat to boiling then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Combine chicken, hot mixture, pasta and cilantro in a big bowl. Stir.  Add as much  fresh parmesan to as you like!

Cafe Rio pulled pork- soooooooooooooooooo gooooooooooood!!

           If you have never been to Cafe Rio you won't appreciate the dish as  much, but it is still good.  For the SoCal residents there is one in Orange County and also one in Redlands.  That's about it right now.  They are super good.  Their pulled pork is amazing.  I tried a version of it that I found online and Damon said we didn't need to go to the restaurant anymore because we could just make it at home!  It was that yummy.

• 2 pounds pork ( boneless pork rib meat)
• 3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• dash garlic salt
• 1/4 c. water
• 1 can diced green chilies
• 3/4 (10oz) can red enchilada sauce (I used the whole can)
• 1 c. brown sugar

• Put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag or a plastic bowl (I don't like creating more trash than necessary) to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.
• Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry) or on low for 8 hours. Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.
• In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.
• Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours. 

 We used our meat and put them in tortillas and had burritos.  We added all the fixins we like, black beans, guacamole, sour cream cheese and of course tortilla chips

Dinner conversation while eating this yummy food.  I had to make myself stop eating it.