Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (49 page)

Magic Meat Loaf

Carolyn Baer

Conrath, WI

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 9-11 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1 egg, beaten

¼ cup milk

1½ tsp. salt

2 slices bread, crumbled

1½ lbs. ground beef

half a small onion, chopped

2 Tbsp. chopped green bell peppers

2 Tbsp. chopped celery

ketchup

green pepper rings

4-6 potatoes, cubed

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

1. Combine egg, milk, salt, and bread crumbs in large bowl. Allow bread crumbs to soften.

2. Add meat, onions, green peppers, and celery. Shape into loaf and place off to the side in slow cooker.

3. Top with ketchup and green pepper rings.

4. Toss potatoes with melted butter in a good sized bowl. Spoon into cooker alongside meat loaf.

5. Cover. Cook on High 1 hour, and then on Low 8-10 hours, or until meat and vegetables are as tender as you want them.

Gourmet Meat Loaf

Anne Townsend

Albuquerque, NM

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 8-12 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

2 medium potatoes, cut in strips

Meat loaf:

2 lbs. ground beef

½ lb. bulk sausage

1 onion, finely chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced, according to your taste preference

½ cup ketchup

¾ cup crushed saltines

2 eggs

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp. seasoning salt

¼ tsp. pepper

Sauce:

½ cup ketchup

¼ cup brown sugar

1½ tsp. dry mustard

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

1. Place potatoes in bottom of slow cooker.

2. Combine Meat Loaf ingredients in a large bowl. Form into loaf and place on top of potatoes.

3. Combine Sauce ingredients in a separate bowl. Spoon over Meat Loaf.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 8-12 hours.

Tip:

The potatoes take longer to cook than the meat so make sure you allow enough time.

Note:

My husband has this at the top of his list of favorite Meat Loaf recipes.

Our out-of-state relatives always bring gifts specifically made in their states to share with others.

Annie C. Boshart, Lebanon, PA

Cheese Meat Loaf

Mary Sommerfeld

Lancaster, PA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 6-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

2 lbs. ground chuck,
or
ground beef

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar,
or
American, cheese

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. dry mustard

¼ tsp. pepper

½ cup chili sauce

2 cups crushed cornflakes

2 eggs

½ cup milk

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Shape into loaf. Place in greased slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 6-8 hours.

Serving suggestion: Slice and serve with your favorite
tomato sauce
or
ketchup
.

Variation:

Before baking, surround meat loaf with quartered potatoes, tossed lightly in oil.

Festive Meatballs

Jean Butzer

Batavia, NY

Makes 5-7 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 2¾-3¾ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1½ lbs. ground beef

4½-oz. can deviled ham

⅔ cup evaporated milk

2 eggs, beaten slightly

1 Tbsp. grated onion

2 cups soft bread crumbs

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. allspice

¼ tsp. pepper

¼ cup flour

¼ cup water

1 Tbsp. ketchup

2 tsp. dill weed

1 cup sour cream

1. Combine beef, ham, milk, eggs, onion, bread crumbs, salt, allspice, and pepper in large bowl. Shape into 2” meatballs. As you finish making a ball, place it in the slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 2½-3½ hours. Turn to High.

3. In a bowl, dissolve flour in water until smooth. Stir in ketchup and dill weed. Add to meatballs, stirring gently.

4. Cook on High 15-20 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

5. Turn off heat. Stir in sour cream.

Serving suggestion: Serve over
rice
or
pasta
.

Easy Meatballs

Carlene Horne

Bedford, NH

Makes 10-12 servings

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-5 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

2 10¾-oz. cans cream of mushroom soup

2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened

4-oz. can sliced mushrooms, undrained

1 cup milk

2-3 lbs. frozen meatballs

1. Combine soup, cream cheese, mushrooms, and milk in slow cooker.

2. Stir in meatballs.

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

Serving suggestion: Serve over
noodles
.

Swedish Meat Balls

Zona Mae Bontrager

Kokomo, IN

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 35 minutes

Cooking Time: 4¼-5¼ hours

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

1 lb. ground beef

½ lb. ground pork

½ cup minced onions

¾ cup fine dry bread crumbs

1 Tbsp. minced parsley

1 tsp. salt

⅛ tsp. pepper

½ tsp. garlic powder