Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (76 page)

Jo Haberkamp

Fairbank, IA

Makes 12-16 servings

Prep. Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.

Ham Balls:

3 eggs

3 cups crushed graham crackers

2 cups milk

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. onion salt

¼ tsp. pepper

2 lbs. ground ham

1½ lbs. ground beef

1½ lbs. ground pork

Topping:

½ cup ketchup

¼ cup water

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup, plus 2 Tbsp., apple cider vinegar

½ tsp. dry mustard

1. Beat eggs slightly in large bowl. Add graham crackers, milk, salt, onion salt, pepper, and ground meats. Mix well.

2. Form into 24 balls, using ½-cup measuring cup for each ball.

3. In a separate bowl, combine Topping ingredients.

4. Layer Ham Balls and Topping in greased slow cooker. Make sure each layer of Ham Balls is well covered with Topping.

5. Cover. Cook on High 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low and cook 3-4 hours more, or until meat is cooked through but not dried out.

Beside each dish of food on the buffet, place a stack of cards with its recipe written on them. Then guests can take the recipe if they wish.

Anita Troyer, Fairview, MI

Ham Loaf or Balls

Michelle Strite

Goshen, IN

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

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

Ham Loaf or Balls:

1 lb. ground ham

1 lb. ground pork,
or
ground beef

1 cup soft bread crumbs

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup milk

2 Tbsp. minced onions

1¼ tsp. salt

⅛ tsp. pepper

Glaze:

¾ cup brown sugar

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

¼ cup vinegar

½ cup water

1. Combine ingredients for Ham Loaf or Ham Balls. Form into Loaf or Balls and place in slow cooker.

2. Combine dry ingredients for Glaze in bowl. Mix in vinegar and water until smooth.

3. Pour Glaze into saucepan. Cook uncovered until slightly thickened.

4. Pour over meat.

5. Cover. Cook on High 4-6 hours, or until meat is cooked through.

Variations:

1. For a firmer Loaf, or Balls, use dry bread crumbs instead of soft. Use only ¾ cup milk instead of 1 cup.

2. Form meat mixture into 1” balls. Brown lightly by baking on cookie sheet in 400° oven for 5-10 minutes. Place browned Balls in slow cooker. Pour cooked Glaze over Balls. Cover. Cook on High 2-4 hours.

Julia A. Fisher

New Carlisle, OH

Pork Barbecue

Barbara L. McGinnis

Jupiter, FL

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

3-4-lb. pork loin

2 cups cider vinegar

salt to taste

pepper to taste

2 tsp. sugar

½ cup ketchup

crushed red pepper to taste

Tabasco sauce to taste

sandwich rolls

1. Place pork in slow cooker.

2. Pour vinegar over meat. Sprinkle salt, pepper and sugar over top.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours.

4. Remove pork from cooker and shred meat. Reserve drippings.

5. In large mixing bowl, stir together ketchup, red pepper, Tabasco sauce, and ½ cup vinegar-sugar drippings from slow cooker. Stir in shredded meat.

6. Serve on sandwich rolls.

Serving suggestion:
Cole slaw
is a good accompaniment to these sandwiches. Serve it either alongside them, or pile it into the rolls with the meat.

Variation:

To increase the tang, add 1 tsp. dry mustard in Step 5. Use ¼ cup ketchup and ¼ cup orange juice, instead of ½ cup ketchup.

Barbecued Pork and Beef Sandwiches

Sherry L. Lapp

Lancaster, PA

Makes 6-8 sandwiches

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1½ lbs. cubed pork

1 lb. stewing beef, cubed

6-oz. can tomato paste

¼ cup vinegar

½ cup brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. chili powder

1 large onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1. Combine ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours.

3. Shred meat with fork before serving on rolls.

Serving suggestion: Bring to the table with
sandwich rolls
and creamy
cole slaw
.

Ham Barbecue

Amber Swarey

Honea Path, SC

Makes 10-12 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.

2 lbs. thinly sliced deli ham

1 cup water

1 cup ketchup

¼ cup packed brown sugar

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

2 Tbsp. white vinegar

2 tsp. prepared mustard

1. Place ham in greased slow cooker.

2. In bowl, combine water, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and mustard. Pour over ham and stir well.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 4-5 hours, or until heated through.

Serving suggestion: This Ham Barbecue will fill 12
hamburger buns
. They’re especially good if you’ve split and toasted them.