Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (105 page)

Leona M. Slabaugh, Apple Creek, OH

Quick Broccoli Fix

Willard E. Roth
, Elkhart, IN

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes • Cooking Time: 5-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

1 lb. fresh,
or
frozen, broccoli, cut up

10¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup plain yogurt

½ lb. sliced fresh mushrooms

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese,
divided

1 cup crushed saltine crackers

sliced almonds,
optional

1. Microwave broccoli for 3 minutes. Place in greased slow cooker.

2. Combine soup, mayonnaise, yogurt, mushrooms, and ½ cup cheese in mixing bowl. Pour over broccoli. Stir together gently but well

3. Cover. Cook on Low 5-6 hours.

4. Top with remaining cheese and crackers for last half hour of cooking time.

5. If you wish, top with sliced almonds, for a special touch, before serving.

Christmas Carrots

Lindsey Spencer

Marrow, OH

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 10-15 minutes

Cooking Time: 3 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.

2 lbs. carrots

half a stick (4 Tbsp.) butter, melted

½ cup brown sugar

8-oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained

½ cup shredded coconut

1. Peel carrots and cut into strips ½” wide and 2” long.

2. For extra flavor, brown carrots in skillet in butter before placing in slow cooker. Or skip doing that and place carrots and butter straight into slow cooker.

3. Add all other ingredients to slow cooker. Mix together gently but well

4. Cover. Cook on Low 3 hours.

5. Add coconut as garnish to carrots when serving.

Orange-Glazed Carrots

Barbara Smith

Bedford, PA

Makes 3-4 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 2½ -3½ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 2½-qt.

3 cups thinly sliced carrots

2 cups water

¼ tsp. salt

2-3 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. orange marmalade

2 Tbsp. chopped pecans,
optional

1. Combine carrots, water, and salt in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on High 2-3 hours, or until carrots are as tender as you like them.

3. Drain. Stir in butter and marmalade.

4. Cover. Cook on High 30 minutes.

Glazed Carrots

Sharon Timpe

Jackson, WI

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 15-25 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-3½ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

18 small carrots, cleaned and peeled,
or
2 lbs. baby carrots, cleaned

5⅔ Tbsp. (⅓ cup) butter

½ tsp. salt

⅓ cup sugar

½ tsp. cinnamon

⅓ cup water

1. Place carrots in slow cooker.

2. Heat butter, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and water together in a small pan.

3. Pour mixture over carrots in slow cooker. Mix together gently but well.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 3-3½ hours, or until carrots are tender.

Note:

I’ve often prepared these Glazed Carrots by baking them in the oven. One year my oven was full and whenever that happens, I bring out my slow cooker and quickly adapt the recipe to it. Slow cooker to the rescue!

One of our favorite holiday meals for guests includes these carrots, along with beef rouladen, riced boiled potatoes with gravy, and green beans with browned butter and basil.

Sweet-Sour Red Cabbage

Kaye Taylor

Florissant, MO

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 30-45 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

4 slices bacon, diced

¼ cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp. flour

1 tsp. salt

⅛ tsp. pepper

½ cup water

¼ cup vinegar

1 medium head red cabbage shredded (6-8 cups)

1 small onion, finely chopped

1. Sauté bacon in skillet until crisp. Set bacon aside. Reserve 1 Tbsp. drippings.

2. Combine 1 Tbsp. bacon drippings in slow cooker with sugar, flour, salt, and pepper. Stir in water and vinegar.

3. Add cabbage and onion. Mix together well.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 3-4 hours, or until cabbage and onion are as tender as you like them.

5. Sprinkle cooked bacon on top just before serving.

Take your grandkids shopping for their parents and siblings, and then take them to lunch.

Carol Ambrose, McMinnville, OR

Black-Eyed Peas and Ham

Susan Tjon