Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (75 page)

Broccoli Casserole

Rebecca Meyerkorth

Wamego, KS

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

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

16-oz. pkg. frozen broccoli cuts, thawed and drained

2-3 cups cubed, cooked ham

10¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup

4 oz. of your favorite mild cheese, cubed

1 cup milk

1 cup instant rice, uncooked

1 rib celery, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1. Combine broccoli and ham in slow cooker.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine soup, cheese, milk, rice, celery, and onion. Stir into broccoli and ham.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 4-5 hours.

Ham and Broccoli

Dede Peterson

Rapid City, SD

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 3¼-4¼ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

¾ lb. fresh broccoli, chopped,
or
10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped broccoli

10¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup

8-oz. jar cheese sauce

2½ cups milk

1¼ cups long-grain rice, uncooked

1 rib celery, sliced

⅛ tsp. pepper

3 cups cooked and cubed ham

8-oz. can water chestnuts, drained and sliced

½ tsp. paprika

1. Combine all ingredients except ham, water chestnuts, and paprika in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on High 3-4 hours.

3. Stir in ham and water chestnuts. Cook 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

4. Sprinkle with paprika just before serving.

Underground Ham and Cheese

Carol Sommers

Millersburg, OH

Makes 12-16 servings

Prep. Time: 30-40 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 2 4- to 5-qt. cookers

half a stick (4 Tbsp.) butter

½ cup chopped onions

4 cups cooked ham, cut into chunks

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 10¾-oz. cans cream of mushroom soup

1 cup milk

2 cups Velveeta cheese, cubed

4 qts. mashed potatoes

1 pt. sour cream

browned and crumbled bacon

1. Combine butter and onions in saucepan. Cook until onions are tender.

2. Place sautéed onions, ham, and Worcestershire sauce in large slow cooker, or divide between 2 4- or 5-qt. cookers.

3. In saucepan, heat together soup, milk, and cheese until cheese melts. Pour into cooker(s).

4. In a large bowl, fold mashed potatoes and sour cream together. Spread over mixture in slow cooker(s).

5. Sprinkle with bacon.

6. Cover. Cook on Low 3-4 hours, or until cheese mixture comes to top when done (hence, the name “Underground”).

Verenike (or Creamy Lasagna)

Jennifer Yoder Sommers

Harrisonburg, VA

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 10-15 minutes

Cooking Time: 5-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

24 ozs. cottage cheese

3 eggs

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

1 cup sour cream

2 cups evaporated milk

2 cups cubed cooked ham

7-9 uncooked lasagna noodles

1. Combine all ingredients except noodles in a good-sized mixing bowl.

2. Place half of creamy ham mixture in bottom of cooker.

3. Stack in uncooked noodles. Break them to fit if you need to.

4. Cover with remaining half of creamy ham sauce. Push noodles down so that they are fully submerged in the sauce.

5. Cover. Cook on Low 5-6 hours, or until noodles are tender but not mushy.

Serving suggestion: Serve it with
green salad
,
peas
, and
zwiebach
(a favorite Mennonite food), or small
dinner rolls
.

Note:

This is an easy way to make the traditional Russian Mennonite dish—verenike.

Shepherd’s Pie

Melanie Thrower

McPherson, KS

Makes 3-4 servings

Prep. Time: 30-40 minutes

Cooking Time: 3 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. ground pork

1 Tbsp. vinegar

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. hot pepper

1 tsp. paprika

¼ tsp. dried oregano

¼ tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. chili powder

1 small onion, chopped

15-oz. can whole-kernel corn, drained

3 large potatoes

¼ cup milk

1 tsp. butter

¼ tsp. salt

dash of pepper

shredded cheese

1. Combine pork, vinegar, and seasonings in skillet. Cook until meat browns.

2. Add onions and cook until they begin to glaze.

3. Spread mixture into slow cooker.

4. Spread corn over meat.

5. Cook potatoes in water on stovetop until soft. Mash with milk, butter, ¼ tsp. salt, and dash of pepper.

6. Spread mashed potatoes over meat and corn.

7. Cover. Cook on Low 3 hours.

8. Sprinkle top with cheese a few minutes before serving.

Variation:

You can substitute ground beef for the pork.

Note:

This is my 9-year-old son’s favorite dish!

Ham Balls