the simple five: slow cooker cheese potato soup

Nothing is better than spending a full day outdoors enjoying winter activities, and then being welcomed to a home filled with comforting aromas indicating that dinner is ready and waiting for you. I love using my slow cooker, and this particular recipe is a nice hearty soup, especially if you're feeding a crowd.  Fun to serve in bread bowls, and perfect to feed a large group or family (maybe for Family Day this weekend?)

This recipe makes a large batch but can be halved if you're not consuming this all in one night. Half can be served right away, and the other half placed in a container (once the soup is cooled) and frozen for up to 3 months. This recipe is quite adaptable, and you can replace the green onions with caramelized onions, roasted garlic, dill or shallots.  I've even used left over Garlic Roasted Cauliflower with good results.

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Cheese Potato Soup (for a crowd)

(makes approximately12 servings).

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of stock (chicken, vegetable or beef.... I generally use chicken or vegetable, but have used beef stock when I'm not adding crumbled bacon as a topping).
• 8-10 russet potatoes, cubed
• 1 stalk green onion, (thinly sliced green and white parts)
• 1-2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (depending on taste).
• 2+ cups of milk or heavy cream.

Preparation:

• Place potatoes in an 8 quart crock pot.  Add stock until it just covers the potatoes, approximately 4 cups or so.
• Add green onion.
• Cook on low for about 8 hours or high for 4.
• Turn slow cooker off.
• Using an immersion blender, puree the contents in the crock pot until it has the consistency of very thick soup (or place contents in batches, in a blender).
• Add the cheddar cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.  (I used about 1 ½ cups of cheese).
• Add milk or cream until the soup thickness is to your liking (I use about 2 ½ cups of milk...use more if you want a thinner consistency).

Garnish with sour cream, crumbled bacon, chopped green onions, or dill, if desired.

the simple five: slow cooker steel cut oats

To start my new "Simple Five" series, I thought I'd begin with a recipe that helps simplify the start of the day.

The chilly, late September morning temperatures are just a hint of what is to come.  Like a practice run, it prepares us for what will likely be around the corner...longer, more difficult mornings with a lot of reluctance to get out of a cozy warm bed. So, to combat this, I've started serving a warm, belly-filling (and healthy) breakfast to start the day.  This is a five ingredient and five minute breakfast (if you do the prep work before hand), so it's a"Simple Five"...times two!  In a slow cooker, I make these steel cut oats (using five ingredients, but it's flexible and you can add more!) and store them covered in a loaf pan, in the fridge, for up to a week.  Slice desired amount every morning and heat in the microwave for a nutritious quick breakfast.  Place this into a thermos or container, and you're ready to take this to go.

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats

(makes 4-8 servings)

Ingredients

• 2 cup steel cut oats (I used Whole Food's 365 Steel Cut Oats).
• 5 cups water
• 3 cups 3% milk (2% works fine too)
• 3 tbsp. of desired spices/seasonings (I used 1 tbsp. organic cinnamon and 2 tbsp. brown sugar)
• 3 mashed bananas

Directions

• Put all the ingredients into the slow cooker.  
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 
• Place in a loaf pan or covered glass dish and store in the fridge (for up to a week).
• Slice the amount you require in a bowl and microwave for about 1-2 minutes, depending on quantity. 
• Stir.

Serve with berries, add a little more milk (if you desire a thinner consistency), and/or maple syrup.  And for all you Nutella fans, drizzle a teaspoon (or more) of warmed Nutella on top of this. It tastes like a chocolate banana cake (well, at least a more healthy version of it!)

winter is stewing

A few days ago, there were snow squall warnings in our area, and weather reports warned us of snow heading our way with messy driving conditions.

When I hear the word "snow", I begin my preparations for the long winter ahead.

It's a sign to get the winter boots out.  It's a sign to make sure all the winter coats, hats and gloves are ready to go....and to make sure the snow gear for the car is primed and ready for good use.

I began working on our Christmas cards and stumbled upon some photos of the snow from last winter.  The snow looked so beautiful, and for a brief moment (very brief!), I looked forward to seeing white covered rooftops, admiring the twinkling of the light reflected on the snow as we drink hot cocoa and eat comfort food.  I love how the cold temperatures gives us many opportunities to cuddle and spend time with each other.

Although the snow still hasn't arrived yet, you can feel it's just around the corner.  While we can feel the winter season stewing in the air, we will be ready for it...with our own kind of stew.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. beef stew meat
• 1 lb. potatoes, cut in 1" chunks
• 4 organic carrots, cut in 1" chunks
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 1 can of chopped tomatoes, undrained (I use the "unsalted" versions)
• 2 stalks of celery, cut into 1" chunks (I didn't have it on hand this time...it is fine without it, but much more flavourful with it)
• Spices:  thyme, oregano, black pepper, salt (to taste)

Stir all the ingredients together in the crockpot and cook for 12 hours on low (or 6 hours on high).

Enjoy.

new mom

I forgot what it's like to have a newborn in the house.  It's amazing how our recollection of life with babies seem so different when viewed in retrospect.  Sometimes those early years of exhaustion seem to pale in comparison with the new challenges each life stage brings as your children grow up with their own mind, voice, determination, and opinion.

After a few weeks of settling in with our new puppy, I was re-introduced again with that "new Mom" feeling of adjusting to a schedule that is dictated mostly by a creature no bigger than ten pounds. Trying to prepare for hosting our annual Mother's Day gathering this weekend, along with chauffeuring kids to school, swimming, birthday parties and hockey games all while trying to keep with a training-in-progress puppy's schedule has definitely been trying, and as we manoeuvre through this new phase in our lives, there are some things that I've kept reminding myself.

I looked back to when I first became a mother and tried to apply some lessons learned.  Surprisingly this has (somewhat) helped us get through this "new mother" phase with the puppy.

1)  They will sleep through the night eventually.  Just hang in there.  Be strong.
2)  What goes in, comes out.  So only feed the best you can afford.  If it's not organic, then get food as pure to it's original source that you can. (i.e. no dyes, preservatives, chemicals, artificial anything).  Remember they are what they eat.
3)  Setting a precedent with good habits as early as possible helps make things a little easier, so they don't have to be re-taught again later (usually with defiance).
4)  You don't need to buy EVERY toy/gizmo/hot-designer-item...usually just a few key basics to start will work.  As they grow, your needs and their tastes will change.  Buy accordingly.
5)  It does get a little easier (at least, less labour intensive!).  You will settle into a routine and find those moments where you can get a "break" again.

So for Mother's Day this weekend,  I hope all Mothers, both new and experienced, enjoy a little break.  Because even when the little ones don't listen, wreck the furniture, have accidents in the house, and constantly demand your attention, just stop and look into their "puppy dog" eyes...their love usually puts things back into perspective.  And that's what's being a Mom is all about.

Happy Mother's Day

Crockpot Cocktail Meatballs 

(adapted from Allrecipes).

This recipe can be made even easier by using pre-made frozen meatballs.  I go back and forth between both (although I like the taste of homemade meatballs a little better).  When you're time crunched, this recipe is quick and easy, serves a large crowd, and can give you a little break from the kitchen so you can enjoy the company of guests.

Ingredients

Meatballs:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup ketchup or bbq sauce
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs (or cornflake crumbs)
• 1/3 cup parsley
• 1/4 cup parmesan (or 1 tsp. soy sauce for asian flair)
• 3 tablespoons minced onion

Sauce:

• 1 (8 ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce
• 3/4 cup chili sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, egg, water, bread crumbs, and minced onion. 
• Roll into small meatballs.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once until cooked.
• In a slow cooker blend the cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice.
• Add meatballs, and simmer for 2-4 hours on low before serving.

Enjoy.

family day

I have a fascination with the Tim Horton’s brand.  I’m not sure if the coffee is that great (I swear there most be something in it that makes people go crazy…), or if people go to Tim Horton’s because it has become synonymous with being Canadian.

Tim Hortons Coffee

I think the branding has worked.  After dropping off TheG at a classmate’s birthday party, I spent my time waiting  (and writing) at a local Tim Hortons.  For three hours, I saw the inflow of people coming in and out for a coffee.  Long line-ups at the drive through were continuous, and lineups inside were equally long.  People on a weekend grabbing something warm before they go outside (or inside a cold hockey rink) with the kids.

I know the line ups will be equally long this weekend.  This Monday is a government created holiday…Family Day.  (it coincides with President’s Day in the US).  It was created because the government felt that the public didn’t have enough “breaks” in between Christmas and March Break, so a statutory holiday was created to honour time with the family.  I’m not sure if it is something that is celebrated worldwide (or if any other country calls that particular day “Family Day”), but it speaks volumes for what kind of society I think (or hope) we Canadians represent.

It’s about coming back to our roots (a national clothing brand, ROOTS, has also been synonymous with Canada and caters to the cottage-bound set, with flannel, leather and sportswear).  It’s about family.  Maybe that’s what Tim Horton’s coffee evokes in people ….the warm comforting feeling of a hot coffee in our hands, after spending time together ice skating or skiing in the cold Canadian weather.


I love what it represents.  And although I think it’s sad that the government had to sanction a holiday to “force” people to spend time together as a family, it’s a message that I fully support.  So...taking a break from cooking, here’s a very easy recipe that cooks itself, so you can spend time together, as a Canadian family.

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Ingredients

• 3 pieces of chicken breast
• 1 jar of organic tomato sauce
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella 
• 1/2 cup parmesan
• 500g box of spaghetti noodles.

Directions

• Put all (but the cheese and noodles) in the slow cooker.
• Set on low for 8 hours.  
• When done, stir in parmesan.  
• Cook noodles, toss with chicken and sauce, then top with mozzarella.

Enjoy time with your family.