Forget About it Pot Roast . . .

Monday always seems to have a slow start after the weekend. Sometimes, our creativity is definitely lagging yet the spouse and offspring still expect dinner come the evening. Here is an easy way to get through the day yet look like the efficient mother/wife! I've probably posted this in some form or the other before but, hey, there might be one of you who needs a helping hand today!

FORGET ABOUT IT POT ROAST
(all you need to worry about it is the salad!)

1 beef roast, weight depending on size of crock pot)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 packet dried onion soup mix
1 cup red wine or 1/2 cup wine and 1/2 cup bullion

Mix the liquids together and pour over the meat. Set crock pot on low and you should have a tender beef meal by evening. Serve with garlic bread, buttered noodles, or rice.

Somehow, it is comforting to have the main dish cooking away on it's own while you pursue more important things like quilting, reading . . . okay, cleaning house and laundry!

Your Pot Luck Offering . . .

In case you are venturing over to a pot luck this weekend, something in a crock pot would be easy to bring and just plug in and share. I like basic and easy because a large group of people don't always like the same thing and will wander over to something recognizable and savory.

1 pound ground beef, fried and crumbled
(You can do half and half with ground pork, if you like.)

1 onion, diced
1 bell peppers (your choice of red, green, or yellow), diced
2 14.5 ounces cans diced tomatoes
2 14.5/15 ounce cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
16 ounces of corn, canned or frozen
1 14.5/15 ounce can of kidney beans
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Dash of chili flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

2-3 fresh tomatoes, chopped
2 cup shredded cheese, your choice

After you brown and crumble the meat, in the same pan, lightly saute the onions and peppers until they almost lose their crisp.

Add the meat, vegetables, canned items, and seasonings to the crock pot at your favorite setting and depending on when you need it.

When you are ready to serve, top each bowl of chili with diced tomatoes and cheese.

This recipe can also be cooked on the stove top. Crock pots keep one, less chore off your list but, sometimes, it is nice to have a pot on the stove to fuss over and scent the house with good flavors to be!

One-Pot Meal

Although this recipe can be simmered on the stove, it is nice to have cooking away in a crock pot while you go about your errands on an especially busy day. It is always nice to come home with dinner ready and only a salad or bread to add to the table.

One-Pot Meal

½ to 1 lb. ground beef
½lb. bacon, cut into small pieces
1 cup chopped onion
2 cans (1lb., 15oz.) pork and beans
1 can (1lb.) Kidney beans, drained
1 can (l lb.) butter lima beans, drained
1 cup catsup
¼ cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons white vinegar

Brown ground meat, cook bacon, saute onions - Do individually in same pan to minimize fat. Place in crockpot with remaining ingredients. Stir together well. Cover and cook on low 4-9 hours.

If you don't have catsup on hand, bottled barbecue sauce works just fine, too. Leave out the sugar and vinegar if you opt for bottled sauce.

Thanks to my friend, Ann Marie, who shared this recipe with me years ago!