Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (62 page)

Tiajuana Tacos

Helen Kenagy

Carlsbad, NM

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

3 cups thinly sliced uncooked beef steak

oil

1-lb. can refried beans

½ cup chopped onions

½ cup chopped green bell peppers

½ cup chopped ripe olives

8-oz. can tomato sauce

3 tsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

½ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. pepper

¼ tsp. paprika

⅛ tsp. celery salt

⅛ tsp. ground nutmeg

¾ cup water

1 tsp. salt

1 cup crushed corn chips

6 taco shells

shredded lettuce

chopped tomatoes

grated cheddar cheese

1. Sauté beef lightly in skillet, in oil if needed. Drain off drippings.

2. Place in slow cooker, along with all ingredients except corn chips, taco shells, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and grated cheese.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 2 hours.

4. Just before serving, fold in corn chips.

5. Spoon mixture into taco shells.

Serving suggestion: Top with
lettuce
,
tomatoes
, and
cheese
.

Pork and Ham Main Dishes

Barbecued Ribs

Virginia Bender

Dover, DE

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-10 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.

4 lbs. pork ribs

½ cup brown sugar

12-oz. jar chili sauce

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. hot sauce

1. Place ribs in slow cooker.

2. Combine remaining ingredients in a good-sized bowl.

3. Pour half of sauce over ribs.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.

5. Serve with remaining sauce.

Sweet and Sour Ribs

Cassandra Ly

Carlisle, PA

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-10 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.

3-4 lbs. boneless country-style pork ribs

20-oz. can pineapple tidbits, drained

2 8-oz. cans tomato sauce

½ cup thinly sliced onions

½ cup thinly sliced green bell peppers

½ cup packed brown sugar

¼ cup cider vinegar

¼ cup tomato paste

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

1. Place ribs in slow cooker.

2. Combine remaining ingredients in a good-sized bowl. Pour over ribs.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.

Serving suggestion: Serve over
rice
.

Give a basket filled with a recipe, the ingredients to make it, decorative potholders or towels, and a special utensil for preparing the recipe.

Maryann Markano, Wilmington, DE

1-2-3 Barbecued Country Ribs

Barbara Walker

Sturgis, SD

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-10 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

18-oz. bottle prepared barbecue sauce

4 lbs. spareribs,
or
3 lbs. country-style ribs, cut in serving-size pieces

1. Pour a little sauce into slow cooker. Put in a layer of ribs, meaty side up. Cover with barbecue sauce.

2. Continue layering until all ribs are in the pot. Submerge them as much as possible in sauce.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.

Note:

No need to precook the ribs if they’re lean. If they’re fattier than you like, parboil in water in stockpot before placing in cooker, to cook off some of the grease. Drain and place in slow cooker. Follow Steps 1-3.

Tender ’n’ Tangy Ribs

Sherri Grindle
, Goshen, IN

Makes 2-3 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes • Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

¾-1 cup vinegar

½ cup ketchup

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp. ground mustard

1 tsp. paprika

½-1 tsp. salt