Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (24 page)

Hamburger Vegetable Soup

Joyce Shackelford

Green Bay, WI

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-9 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

1 lb. ground chuck

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

oil

4 cups V-8 juice

14½-oz. can stewed tomatoes

2 cups cole slaw mix

2 cups frozen green beans

2 cups frozen corn

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. dried basil

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1. Brown beef, onion, and garlic in skillet in oil. Stir frequently to break up clumps of meat. When meat is no longer pink, drain off drippings.

2. Transfer beef and vegetables to slow cooker.

3. Add all remaining ingredients and combine.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 8-9 hours, or until vegetables are as tender as you like them.

Snowmobile Soup

Jane Geigley

Honey Brook, PA

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4- to 6-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

5 large potatoes, julienned like French fries (you can leave the skins on)

10¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup

1 soup can milk

2 lbs. shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1. Brown beef in skillet. Stir frequently to break up clumps. When meat is no longer pink, drain off all but 2 Tbsp. drippings.

2. Place browned beef in slow cooker.

3. Sauté onion in drippings in skillet until softened.

4. Stir onions, potatoes, soup, milk, cheese, salt, and pepper into meat in slow cooker.

5. Cover. Cook on High 3-4 hours, or until potatoes are as soft as you like them.

Taco Soup with Corn

Suzanne Slagel

Midway, OH

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

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

1 lb. ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

oil

16-oz. can Mexican-style tomatoes

16-oz. can ranch-style beans

16-oz. can whole-kernel corn, undrained

16-oz. can kidney beans, undrained

16-oz. can black beans, undrained

16-oz. jar picante sauce

corn,
or
tortilla, chips

sour cream

shredded cheddar cheese

1. Brown meat and onions in skillet in oil if needed. Stir frequently to break up clumps of meat. When meat is no longer pink, drain off drippings.

2. Place meat and onions in slow cooker. Add other vegetables and picante sauce. Stir well.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 4-6 hours.

Serving suggestion: Serve with
corn
or
tortilla chips
,
sour cream
, and
shredded cheese
as toppings.

Taco Soup with Hominy

Sue Tjon

Austin, TX

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

oil

1 envelope dry ranch dressing mix

1 envelope dry taco seasoning mix

3 12-oz. cans Rotel tomatoes, undrained

2 24-oz. cans pinto beans, undrained

24-oz. can hominy, undrained

14½-oz. can stewed tomatoes, undrained

1 onion, chopped

2 cups water

1. Brown meat in skillet in oil if needed. Stir frequently to break up clumps of meat. When meat is no longer pink, drain off drippings.

2. Spoon meat into slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients. Mix well.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 4 hours.

Serving suggestion: Line each individual soup bowl with
tortilla chips
. Then ladle Taco Soup on top and sprinkle with
grated cheese
.

Tip:

Increase or decrease the amount of water you add to make the dish either stew-like or soup-like.

Slow-Cooker Chili

Kay Magruder

Seminole, OK

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 6-12 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.

3 lbs. stewing meat

2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ tsp. pepper

½ tsp. cumin

¼ tsp. dry mustard

7½-oz. can jalapeño relish

1 cup beef broth

1-1½ onions, chopped, according to your taste preference

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. dried oregano

1 Tbsp. chili powder

7-oz. can green chilies, chopped

14½-oz. can stewed tomatoes, chopped

15-oz. can tomato sauce

2 15-oz. cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

2 15-oz. cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1. Combine all ingredients except kidney and pinto beans in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 10-12 hours or on High 6-7 hours. Add beans halfway through cooking time.

Serving suggestion: Serve with
Mexican cornbread
.

Chili Con Carne Supreme

Jane Geigley

Honey Brook, PA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 30-35 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

2 lbs. ground beef

2 Tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced,
optional

2 medium onions, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

3 beef bouillon cubes

1 cup boiling water