man pleasin' food

I live in a house full of testosterone, so I suppose some of my food should fit the stereotype. This is the meal that makes husbands, boyfriends, fathers, brothers, and little boys... happy. It's simple, sweet, meaty, and if you want, spicy. There are no visible vegetables. It's man food. So, in honor of the all the boys in my life, and because it's almost time for the big game, here is a recipe that should go over well. It can be football food, or it can be a very, very easy weeknight meal.

It takes about five minutes to throw all this stuff in the crock pot. Doesn't get much better than that!

Barbecue Beef and Beans

1.5 pounds boneless beef round, cut into 1-inch cubes.

2 15 ounce cans butter beans, drained

2 15 ounce cans cannelini beans, drained

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 large carrots, finely grated

1.5 cups hickory smoke barbecue sauce**

1/3 cup water

several dashes hot sauce (optional)

Put everything in the crock pot, except about 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. About half an hour before serving, stir in the rest of the barbecue sauce and some freshly ground pepper.

Fill up a baked potato with it or serve it with some hot cornbread and a big side salad (just to satisfy your girly side, of course).  My husband loved it, and my two year old gobbled it right up. You don't have to tell them how easy it was.

** Almost every bottle of barbecue sauce on the shelves contains high fructose corn syrup. Despite the ads on tv, it's really, really not good for you. Read the labels and look for one without.

chicken with a whole lotta garlic

When I bought a new crock pot this year, I flipped through the little cookbook that came with it.  Included was "Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic". I was intrigued and filed it away for a later date.

Last week, I did it.  Well, kind of.  I figured two heads of garlic was enough, so that's what I used. Let me tell you, it was good.  Really, really good. And not overwhelmingly garlicky, either. The garlic made it almost sweet, and because you leave them unpeeled, they are perfect for spreading on warm, crusty bread when dinner rolls around.

So, here it is:

Chicken with 26 Cloves of Garlic

1 4.5-5 lb whole chicken, giblets removed

26 cloves of garlic (or two large heads), unpeeled

1 large lemon, cut into thirds

rosemary

tarragon

basil

(or whatever combo of spices you prefer)

4 stalks of celery, washed and trimmed

1/2 large onion, roughly chopped

salt and pepper

Wash chicken and pat dry.

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Line with celery and some of the onion, like this:

Sprinkle inside of chicken with salt and pepper. Stuff with lemon and remaining onion.

Place the chicken on top of the celery and sprinkle generously with spices and some salt and pepper. Place garlic all around chicken. It should look something like this:

Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours.  Mine was done after 5 and basically fell apart upon removal from the pot.  It was so tender and so juicy and was absolutely delicious.  Even if it didn't look perfect.

* to reduce fat intake, we don't eat the skin.  And really, it's not that appealing when it's been in a crock pot.  Just slice your chicken up, and it'll come right off.

may i direct your attention to...

Hello friends!  As most of you, I have been happily busy enjoying time with family and friends over the holidays.  Blogging has taken the back burner, but I have been thinking up some healthy and tasty treats that I will bring in the new year.  Another day of indulgence, right?  (In moderation, of course).

I wanted to point you in the direction of some really great recipes I've run across lately.

First, I'd urge you to try this locro soup.  I spent several months in Ecuador when I was in college, and I practically lived off of this stuff.  I was a vegetarian at the time, and that didn't seem to translate there, but this soup was a staple.  It's a creamy, delicious potato soup - and it is healthy, too.  I like to use yellow potatoes and top it off with a little reduced fat feta and sliced avocado. The recipe calls for achiote powder, but feel free to substitute paprika.  It really is worth a try!

Secondly, the CrockPot Lady saves the day again!  I made a batch of her chicken and rice the other night - and it was absolutely delicious.  I wanted an easy, healthy, tasty meal, and that's what we got. If you still haven't taken to brown rice, don't worry - it cooks up perfectly tender. And say goodbye to cream-of-whatever soups in this version - you make your own, and it comes together in a snap! *Just a note from me: it needs some salt, and I threw the chicken breasts in frozen, under the rice, and they cooked in under 4 hours on high.

I wish you all an enjoyable, safe, and happy new year!  Bring on 2009!

one of my most favorite foods

My experimenting was postponed.  Busy schedules, changed plans and snow storms intervened.  I promise a new and interesting recipe this week.  In the meantime, how about an old classic?  At least it is in my family.  This recipe is simple and quick to come together, and sure to please a crowd.  And I have loved it since I was a little kid, requesting it on every birthday.  Now that I am all grown up, I make it at least once a month.  

This meat sauce cooks all day in the crock pot.  We usually top off a big pile of spaghetti with it, but it's great in lasagna, atop ravioli, over grilled eggplant - whatever your heart desires.  And please don't be scared off by ground beef.  I use the leanest kind you can find (you can, of course, use ground turkey, but it's actually not that much better for you - they grind the skin and fat right in).   This rich, thick sauce is low in fat and extremely high in antioxidants (hello, tomatoes!).  It'll do your body good, and it'll make a cold day comfy.

Here's what you need:

1 lb. ground beef

1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 32oz. can stewed tomatoes

2 6oz. cans tomato paste

1/4 cup fresh parsley 

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon salt

In a large skillet, brown the meat with the onion and garlic.  

Drain fat.  

Add meat mixture to the crock pot, along with the rest of your ingredients.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

How easy is that?

Try it, love it, pass it on.

baked oatmeal

I don't know if you all have heard about the CrockPot Lady, but her blog is pretty amazing.  She has been making something new in her crock pot every day this year and from what I have seen, it all looks super healthy, and tasty to boot. 

I was browsing through it tonight and came upon this recipe for baked oatmeal,  which I am going to try this week.  As if oatmeal could be any easier, she comes up with a very convenient way to prep it for the week.  And she says it tastes like cookies, so really, how could you go wrong?

Shall we try it together?  Let me know what you think if you do try it.  I know one kid who is going to love it.

12/14/08 update:  LOVE IT!