Slow Cooker Maple Baked Beans

This was very tasty with homemade bread from the bread machine and Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Milk. --Andria

The recipe is in: Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Maple Baked Beans

1 T olive oil
1 medium sized yellow onion, chopped
3 cups slow-cooked or two 15.5 oz cans navy beans or Great Northern Beans,
drained and rinsed
1/2 c pure maple syrup
1t dry mustard
1/2 t salt
1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
1/4 c tomato paste mixed with 1 1/4 cups hot water

1. Heat the oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, cover, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

2. Transfer the onion to a 3.5 to 4-quart slow cooker. Add the beans, maple syrup, dry mustard, salt and pepper. Pour in the tomato paste mixture, cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours or for 3 hours on high.

Tomorrow...

Tropical Black Beans and Rice

These beans and rice are a flavorful, refreshing dish. If you're not a mango lover, substitute papaya in its place.

non-stick spray
1/2 cup(s) red onion(s), chopped
1/2 cup(s) orange juice
1/3 cup(s) fresh lime juice
2 tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 medium sweet red pepper(s), chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 medium green pepper, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 medium mango(es), diced
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
15 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained
3 cup(s) cooked brown rice, kept hot

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add all ingredients except beans and rice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Stir in beans. Cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve over rice.

Yields about 3/4 cup rice and 1 cup bean mixture per serving.

fatfreevegan.com

Crockpot Chicken and Noodles

Crockpot Chicken and Noodles
( I use a lot of cans because I am always looking for food storage meals. And this is one that works!)

Makes 8 servings

Prep time: Less than 10 minutes if you're in a huge hurry like I was!
Cooking Time: 2 hours

2 cans low sodium chicken broth
4 cups hot water
2 large cans of chicken breast, drained
10 oz package of favorite dry pasta
pepper to taste
10 3/4oz can favorite low sodium/fat "cream of" soup

Combine all except "cream of" soup in crockpot. Cook on high for 2 hours. 10 minutes before serving, stir in "cream of" soup.

Serve. Pray. Eat. Assign kitchen clean up. Done!

We actually used 1 can of nacho cheese sauce instead of the soup. (Hey! I was in a hurry, it was on the shelf, then it got eaten up!!!!!!) It was amazing! All the kids LOVED it. That never happens!

Optional: Add peas. Add canned tomatoes. Tuna instead of chicken.

Andria Peterson (Otherwise known as Mommadai. "because everyday is Mommadai.")

Hot Dinner Time Ideas

This is my "Everybody's Happy" meal idea:

I like to serve buffet style meals. In other words, a couple times a week I will serve meals that everyone can customize to their liking. Some examples are tacos, burritos, salads w/ chopped chicken/ham/cheese etc., Hawaiian haystacks.

Another kind of buffet I do sometimes is serve a few menu items that don't necessarily go together but at least I know everyone will find something to eat. It's what I call being proactive to head off the "I don't like this... I'm hungry" commentary. So we might have baked chicken, chili, rice, salad and steamed veggies. This isn't as much work as it sounds. I use very simple recipes, always make enough for leftovers for the next night or for lunch... and more cans than most people. BUT! I have my reasons! And I'll explain those on another post when I finish ironing the bugs out!

The tricky part about this idea is that it necessitates dirtying more dishes. But my policy is that if I cook it, I don't clean it. I'm not a maid/servant/slave/dummy!