Last night, I made my 2nd ever meatloaf in the crock pot and it was a hit! There were absolutely no leftovers and the kids were begging for more. Looks like I will be doubling the recipe next time!
Ingredients
1.5 lbs of lean ground beef
1/3 cup crushed crackers
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 large egg
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl until well mixed. Place in crock pot and form it into a round shape the size of the bottom of the crock pot. Cook on low 5 hours or until temperature in the middle is 160*F.
Our latest creation, sweet pork sandwiches made in the slow cooker!
Ingredients
1 – 2.5 to 3 lb pork loin or boneless pork shoulder roast (we used pork loin)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 medium onions quartered
3 – 12oz cans of root beer (not diet)
1 cup bottled chili sauce
Directions
Place pork in slow cooker, add in onions, salt, pepper and 1 can of root beer. Cover and cook on low heat 8-10 hours or high heat for 4 to 5 hours. In the last 30-35 minutes of cook time, in a medium saucepan, combine the remaining 2 cans of root beer and 1 cup of chili sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce and boil gently, uncovered until preferred consistency stirring occasionally.
While the sauce is setting up, transfer pork and onions from slow cooker to a large bowl or disposable tin pan (we opted for tin pan) and shred the meat using two forks.
Once the meat is shredded and sauce is done, combine the two in the bowl or tin and mix. When finished serve on buns with your favorite toppings!
Today and tomorrow, Alex is participating in a SPAM Cook-Off Challenge at work. The rules of the challenge are that every dish MUST include SPAM. Now, we are HUGE fans of SPAM so we were definitely up for the challenge. For weeks we debated on what he should make and the other night it was decided and the Man Cake was born.
Yes, a Man Cake….a cupcake for men!
So here they are….Man Cakes!
Chocolate beer man cakes with candied SPAM inside topped with a Vanilla Stout Beer Frosting and garnished with candied SPAM.
They are delicious!!!!!
You can make your own delicious Man Cakes using this recipe!
The Man Cake
Cupcake Ingredients:
12 tablespoonsunsalted butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup Vanilla Porter, poured and settled before you measure
2 large eggs
1/2 cup full-fat sour cream
1 & 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 & 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup candied SPAM (recipe & directions below)
Directions
First you will need to make the candied SPAM. You will need 1 can of SPAM and 6 tablespoons of brown sugar. Start by cutting SPAM into 1/8 x 1/8 inch cubes. Measure out 1 cup of cubed SPAM. Next mix the SPAM and brown sugar in a bowl and evenly coat the SPAM pieces. Once the SPAM is coated spread out on a Silpat on top of a cookie sheet and bake in oven at 300* for 30-45 minutes.
While the SPAM is in the oven, it is time to make the cupcake batter!
Step 1:
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Remove from heat and add cocoa until smooth. Stir in the beer and set aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
With an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream until smooth then add in the cooled chocolate mixture and beat until combined.
Step 2:
Add flour, sugar, baking soda and salt and beat on medium speed until combined.
Step 3:
Add ¾ cups candied SPAM to the mixture and combine with ingredients.
Step 4:
Divide the batter into the cups, filling about 2/3rd full. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cupcakes bounce back when lightly pressed with a finger or until a toothpick comes out clean. Frosting Ingredients:
8 TBSP softened butter
1/2 cup Crisco
7-8 cups powdered sugar
6 TBSP Vanilla Porter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch kosher salt
¼ of remaining candied SPAM
Frosting Directions
Beat the butter and Crisco on medium until combined and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar, beer, vanilla and salt, mix on low until incorporated, then beat on medium-high until nice and fluffy.
Once your cupcakes are cool and your frosting is ready, frost your beautiful man cakes and top them with some of the remaining candied SPAM, then sit back, relax, eat a Man Cake and enjoy a beer!
We tend to eat A LOT of chicken around here and I am always trying to find new things to do with it. Sunday, we tried out a new recipe I stumbled on quite some time ago and it is something we will now be doing on a regular basis because everyone in the family LOVED it!
Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Ingredients:
7 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 packet taco seasoning
16 oz. salsa
Directions:
Throw all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken and serve on tortillas with all of your favorite taco toppings!
THESE WERE TO DIE FOR YUMMY!
We had so much left over after feeding 5 of us that we put some in the fridge for leftovers and still managed to put enough away in a freezer bag and freeze for another time!
