Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (55 page)

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp. parsley

1 Tbsp. salt

¼ rounded tsp. pepper

3 bay leaves

1 Tbsp. dried oregano

crushed red pepper,
optional

1. Brown meat and onion in skillet in oil, unless they produce enough of their own drippings. Stir frequently to break up clumps. When meat is no longer pink, drain off drippings and place meat in slow cooker.

2. Combine all remaining ingredients in slow cooker with meat and onions.

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

Serving suggestion: Serve over your favorite
pasta
.

Variation:

Add 1 box uncooked spaghetti 1 hour before serving. Cook on High for last hour.

Spaghetti Sauce with a Kick

Andrea O’Neil

Fairfield, CT

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

2 28-oz. cans crushed tomatoes

16-oz. can tomato sauce

1-lb. Italian sausage, cut in chunks

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

2 tsp. dried basil

red pepper flakes to taste

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

2. Stir remaining ingredients into slow cooker.

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

Serving suggestion: Serve over your favorite
pasta
.

Variation:

Add 1-2 tsp. salt and 1-2 Tbsp. brown sugar or honey to Step 2, if you wish.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

Crystal Brunk

Singers Glen, VA

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. ground beef

oil

4-5 cups spaghetti sauce, depending upon how firm
or
how juicy you want the finished lasagna

1 egg

24-oz. container cottage cheese

8-10 uncooked lasagna noodles,
divided

2-3 cups mozzarella cheese,
divided

1. Brown ground beef in skillet, in oil if needed. Stir frequently to break up clumps. When meat is no longer pink, drain off drippings.

2. Stir spaghetti sauce into beef in skillet.

3. Combine egg and cottage cheese in a bowl.

4. Layer half of ground beef mixture into slow cooker.

5. Layer in half the dry noodles (break to fit if you need to), half the cottage cheese mixture, and half the mozzarella cheese in slow cooker. Repeat layers.

6. Cover. Cook on High 4-5 hours or on Low 6-8 hours.

Variations:

1. Use ricotta instead of cottage cheese.

2. Add 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley to Step 3.

3. Add 2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese to Step 3, and sprinkle 2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese over top before cooking in Step 5.

Elaine Rineer

Lancaster, PA

Now That’s Lasagna

Shirley Unternahrer

Wayland, IA

Makes 10 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 6-qt.

1 lb. sausage,
or
ground beef (if ground beef, add 1 tsp. dried basil, ½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper)

1 small onion, chopped

1 small bell pepper, chopped

1 qt. tomato juice,
divided

15 lasagna noodles, uncooked,
divided

12 oz. cottage cheese,
divided

3 cups grated mozzarella cheese

28-oz. jar spaghetti sauce of your choice,
divided

6 oz. sliced pepperoni

3 cups grated mozzarella cheese

1. Brown sausage or hamburger in skillet. Drain off half the drippings.

2. Add chopped onions and peppers to skillet. Sauté 3 minutes in drippings with meat.

3. Pour 1 cup tomato juice into slow cooker as first layer.

4. Add a layer of 5 uncooked lasagna noodles. Break to fit inside curved edges of slow cooker.

5. Spread with half of cottage cheese as next layer.

6. Spoon half of meat/veggie mix over cottage cheese.

7. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese

8. Spoon half of spaghetti sauce over grated cheese.

9. Add another layer of 5 lasagna noodles.

10. Add remaining cottage cheese, followed by a layer of remaining meat/veggie mix.

11. Add remaining 5 noodles.

12. Top with pepperoni slices, remaining spaghetti sauce, and half of remaining mozzarella cheese.

13. Pour rest of tomato juice slowly around edge of cooker and its ingredients.

14. Cover. Cook on High 3½ hours.

15. Remove lid and top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cook another 15 minutes.

16. Allow Lasagna to rest 15-20 minutes before serving.

Easy Ravioli

Karen Sauder

Adamstown, PA

Makes 4 servings

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3- to 4-qt.

25-oz. bag frozen beef ravioli

45-oz. jar spaghetti sauce of your choice

1 cup Monterey Jack,
or
mozzarella, cheese, grated

1. Place all of ravioli into slow cooker.

2. Pour in spaghetti sauce. Stir to distribute sauce evenly.

3. Sprinkle with cheese.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 4 hours.

Note:

This is my favorite recipe for a potluck or fellowship meal, or supper on a busy day.

Slow Cooker Almost Lasagna

Jeanette Oberholtzer

Manheim, PA

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 40 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours