Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (54 page)

3. Cover. Cook on High 1-2 hours or on Low 4 hours.

Serving suggestion: Serve in 12
sandwich rolls
.

Chili Spaghetti

Clara Newswanger

Gordonville, PA

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 2-3 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1½ lbs. ground beef

12-oz. dry spaghetti

½ cup diced onions

2 cups tomato juice

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. salt

¾ cup grated mild cheese

1. Brown beef in skillet, stirring frequently to break up clumps. When no longer pink, place in slow cooker.

2. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti until just softened in large stockpot. Drain and add to slow cooker.

3. Add all remaining ingredients to slow cooker. Mix together gently and well.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 2-3 hours. Check mixture about halfway through the cooking time. If it’s becoming dry, stir in an additional cup of tomato juice.

Variations:

1. Add 8-oz. can sliced mushrooms to Step 3.

2. Use 2 Tbsp. chili powder instead of 2 tsp. chili powder for added flavor.

Dawn’s Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Dawn Day

Westminster, CA

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

1 Tbsp. oil, if needed

½ lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 medium onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

½ tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. salt

¼ cup grated Parmesan,
or
Romano, cheese

6-oz. can tomato paste

2 15-oz. cans tomato sauce

15-oz. can chopped,
or
crushed, tomatoes

1. Brown ground beef in skillet, in oil if needed. Stir frequently, breaking up clumps. Continue cooking until meat is no longer pink. Reserve drippings and transfer meat to slow cooker.

2. Sauté mushrooms, onion, and garlic in drippings until onions are transparent. Add to slow cooker.

3. Mix remaining ingredients into cooker.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 4 hours.

Serving suggestion: Serve with
pasta
and
garlic bread
.

Tip:

This recipe freezes well.

Quick and Easy Spaghetti

Beverly Getz

Warriors Mark, PA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1½ lbs. ground beef

2 onions, chopped

26-oz. jar spaghetti sauce with mushrooms

10¾-oz. can tomato soup

1,
or
2, 14½-oz. cans stewed tomatoes, depending on the consistency you prefer

8-oz. can mushrooms, undrained

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. garlic salt

½ tsp. minced dried garlic

½ tsp. onion salt

½ tsp. Italian seasoning

1. Brown beef and onions in skillet, stirring frequently to break up clumps. When meat is no longer pink, drain off drippings. Place meat and onions into slow cooker.

2. Stir in all remaining ingredients.

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

Serving suggestion: Serve over 1 lb.
cooked spaghetti
.

Spaghetti Sauce for a Crowd

Sue Pennington

Bridgewater, VA

Makes 18 cups

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. ground turkey

1 Tbsp. oil

5 15-oz. cans tomato sauce

3 6-oz. cans tomato paste

1 cup water

½ cup minced fresh,
or
3 Tbsp. dried, parsley

½ cup minced fresh,
or
3 Tbsp. dried, oregano

4 tsp. salt

1. Brown meat in oil in skillet. Stir frequently to break up clumps. When meat is no longer pink, drain off dripping. Place meat in 6-qt. slow cooker. (A 5-qt. cooker will work, but it will be brimful.)

2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Mix together thoroughly.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 4-6 hours.

Notes:

1. Add 1 medium onion, chopped, and/or 3 cloves garlic, minced, to Step 1, browning along with the meat.

2. Add 1 can crushed tomatoes, or 2 cups cut-up fresh tomatoes, to Step 2 to add a fresh-tomato taste. (This will make your cooker even fuller, so you may want to switch to two 4- or 5-qt. cookers.)

3. Make the sauce without meat if you prefer.

4. Use as a pizza sauce, especially if you make it meatless.

5. Sauce can be refrigerated for a week, or frozen up to 3 months.

Have a balance of meat and no-meat appetizers/dishes so you’re not worried about vegetarian preferences. Veggie and fruit options allow dieters to enjoy the party as well.

Susan Tjon, Austin, TX

Beef and Sausage Spaghetti Sauce

Sherri Grindle

Goshen, IN

Makes 10-12 servings

Prep. Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 6-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. Italian sausage, bulk,
or
cut in thin slices

1 large onion, chopped

3 Tbsp. oil, if needed

5 lbs.,
or
3 28-oz. cans, tomato purée