Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (16 page)

Split Pea Soup

Janette Anderson

Sedalia, MO

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-11 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5- to 6-qt.

1
or
2 ham hocks

1 lb. (2 cups) dry split peas

2 carrots, sliced

1 onion, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

¼ tsp. pepper

1 tsp. salt

3 potatoes, diced

1 qt. water

1 qt. chicken broth

1. Place ham hock(s) in slow cooker.

2. Add remaining ingredients and stir well.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours, or until ham and split peas are tender.

4. Remove ham bone. Allow to cool until it’s possible to handle it.

5. Debone and cut up meat. Stir meat back into soup.

6. For creamier soup, cook an hour or so longer. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Variations:

1. Add 14½-oz. can diced tomatoes with juice in Step 2.

Holly Schwartz

Lac Du Flambeau, WI

2. Instead of ham hocks, use 1 lb. smoked kielbasa, sliced. Stir into Soup in Step 2.

Nathan LeBeau

Rapid City, SD

White Marrow Bean Soup

Becky Frey

Lebanon, PA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

2 qts. cooked marrow beans,
or
your choice of cooked white beans, undrained

1 cup onions, chopped

1 cup cooked ham, chopped

1 cup celery, chopped

3 cups potatoes, peeled and diced

2 qts. ham broth

parsley to taste

salt to taste

pepper to taste

1. Put beans, onions, ham, celery, potatoes, broth, and seasonings in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on High 4-5 hours, or until potatoes are soft.

Tip:

You can use dried beans in the recipe if you have time to soak and cook them before following the instructions above.

Note from Tester:

I would add a finely chopped jalapeño pepper to the Soup 1 hour before the end of cooking time. And I would add ¼ cup chopped red bell pepper and ¼ cup chopped green bell pepper to the Soup, just before serving it.

Before your main meal, serve a bowl of your favorite homemade soup. Don’t forget your soup tureen. Your guests will feel special. Why have a soup tureen and not use it?

Leona M. Slabaugh, Apple Creek, OH

Rice & Bean Soup

Sharon Easter

Yuba City, CA

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 3½-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

½ lb. loose Italian sausage, hot
or
sweet

2 32-oz. boxes chicken,
or
vegetable, broth

28-oz. can diced tomatoes

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

½ tsp. dried oregano

1 cup long-grain rice, uncooked

15-oz. can white beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup diced celery

4 carrots, sliced

1. Brown sausage in skillet. Drain off drippings.

2. Put all ingredients in slow cooker. Stir until well blended.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 2 hours. Stir Soup.

4. Cover and cook an additional 1½-2 hours on Low, or until vegetables and rice are tender, but not mushy.

Mexican Rice and Bean Soup

Esther J. Mast

East Petersburg, PA

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15-20 minutes

Cooking Time: 6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.

½ cup chopped onions

⅓ cup chopped green bell peppers

1 garlic clove, minced

1 Tbsp. oil

4-oz. pkg. thinly sliced,
or
chipped, dried beef

18-oz. can tomato juice

15½-oz. can red kidney beans, undrained

1½ cups water

½ cup long-grain rice, uncooked

1 tsp. paprika

½-1 tsp. chili powder

½ tsp. salt

dash of pepper

1. Cook onions, green peppers, and garlic in oil in skillet until vegetables are tender but not brown. Transfer to slow cooker.

2. Tear beef into small pieces and add to slow cooker.

3. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 6 hours. Stir before serving.

Serving suggestion: Serve with
relish tray
and
cornbread
,
home-canned fruit
, and
cookies
.

Note:

This is a recipe I fixed often when our sons were growing up. We have all enjoyed it in any season of the year.

Green Beans and Ham Soup

Loretta Krahn

Mountain Lake, MN

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 4¼-6¼ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5- to 6-qt.

1 meaty ham bone,
or
2 cups cubed ham

1½ qts. water

1 large onion, chopped

2-3 cups cut-up green beans

3 large carrots, sliced

2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 Tbsp. parsley

1 Tbsp. summer savory

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1 cup cream,
or
milk

1. Combine all ingredients except cream in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on High 4-6 hours.

3. Remove ham bone. Cut off meat and return to slow cooker.

4. Turn to Low. Stir in cream or milk. Heat through and serve.