Crock Pot "Refried" Pinto Beans

Great refried beans are the glue that holds a great burrito or taco together!

You would be surprised to learn how affordable this simple fat-free recipe is to make and the results are much better the store-bought canner version.  There are also very versatile as a substitution ingredient for meat.

Crock Pot "Refried" Beans

2 pounds dried pinto beans
8 cups water
2 cups beef or vegetable broth
3 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup taco seasoning
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons salt

Combine ingredients in crock pot. Turn crock pot on High setting, cook for 4 hours. Then turn crock pot down to Low setting for 2 hours.

I discarded one cup of water prior to mashing beans. I used a submersion blender to combine. The consistency resulted in a slight more watery consistency than the canned version.

To freeze:
Mark a quart freezer bag with title of food and date.
Turn back the upper lip of the bag to make it stay open easier. Place opened bag into a liquid measuring cup. I used a 2 cup measuring cup. Then fill the bag with the refried beans until about the 2 cup mark.
Press as much air out of the bag as possible and seal. Freeze bags laying down, then can be stored upright.

Chicken Dumpling Soup

Need a easy comfort soup for that really cold winter day? Try chicken dumpling soup that you can make in your crock pot! Don't let the dumplings intimate you, they are very simple to make.

Chicken Dumpling Soup

1 1/2 pounds chicken, diced, boneless and skinless (any cut will do)
6 cups chicken broth
1 cup carrot, diced
1 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 Tablespoons garlic powder
1 Tablespoon parsley, dried
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

dumplings:
2 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Combine chicken, broth, carrots, onion and celery in your crock pot. Stir in garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper. Turn crock pot on to the high setting for 6 hours.

About 30 minutes before the crock pot is done, start mixing up the dumplings. Combine eggs and water in a mixer on the low setting. Start adding flour in small amounts until combined. Add in salt and baking powder. Mix well. Using a teaspoon, drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot soup. Allow soup to cook for another 10-15 minutes before serving.

Serve with crackers. Enjoy!

Balsamic Pot Roast

This pot roast is a savory alternative to traditional pot roast and of course your can make it in your crock pot.

Balsamic Pot Roast

3 pounds beef or venison roast (thawed or frozen)
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
4 potatoes, chopped (keep the skins on)
1 small onion, chopped
2-3 cups beef broth
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon onion powder
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Place roast into the center of the crock pot. Pour broth, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce over roast.
Place chopped carrots, potatoes and onion around pot roast.
Sprinkle roast with onion powder, garlic powder and pepper.
Cook roast in crock pot on low for 8 hours if thawed. If the roast is frozen, cook in crock pot for 6 hours on high.

Serve the roast by pulling the meat apart and with a side of the vegetables.

Crock Pot Whole Chicken

This the easiest crock pot chicken ever! Not only does this chicken taste just like a rotisserie chicken but it is the entire chicken cooked in the crock pot. Yes, the whole chicken!

Crock Pot Chicken:

1 whole chicken, thawed (any size that will fit in your crock pot)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
olive oil

Mix together in a small bowl the above spices. Set aside.

Roll several pieces of aluminum foil in small balls and place in the bottom of the slow cooker. (I used 4 balls.)

Rinse chicken and rub with olive oil. Rub the spice mixture all over chicken. (I put some inside the cavity and also under the skin covering the breasts.)

Lay chicken on aluminum foil balls in slow cooker, breast-side down.  Aluminum foil should prevent chicken from actually touching the bottom of the slow cooker.

Cook on high in crock pot for 5 hours.

Adapted from Crockin' Girls.