Slow Cooker Roast Beef

I have probably said this before but I will say it again..... I love using my slow cooker!  Especially with recipes like this one.  This morning I put my roast and carrots into the slow cooker and 8 hours later my meat and veggies were done.  I only had to make mashed potatoes and thicken up the broth out of the slow cooker to make my gravy.

Mom's Sloppy Joe's

Yum

This is my Mom's Sloppy Joe recipe.  It is a favorite at family Birthday parties.  I love that it is a little sweeter than canned sloppy Joe Sauce.  This homemade version is way better than any canned sloppy joe's.

Tailgate Chili

Are you ready for the big game on Sunday?  I think this is the first time that Bill and I could care less which team wins.  Of course we will watch it because you need to have the game on to enjoy all the football food and the good thing is we can get up and get seconds without worrying about pausing the game!

Beef and Noodles

This Beef and Noodle recipe is super easy.  

Beef and Noodles

Beef Roast

Bag of Noodles

Beef soup base

Steak Burrito Bowl

This is my version of Chipotle's Steak Burrito Bowl.  We have gone from snow to unseasonably warm.  Last night we grilled out steaks.  I bought a cut of steak that we had not had before, Chuck Eye Center Eye Steak boneless.  Bill said he thought they were going to be tough.  So to tenderize them some I sprinkled McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak seasoning.  I put the steaks on the grill and rubbed the tops with the seasoning, let them cook for a bit and then flipped and put more seasoning on the flipped side.  They smelled heavenly cooking on the grill.  The steaks were really good.  I had grilled them until they were just a little red in the center.

While eating Cally and I decided that the steak reminded us of the steak that is in the Chipotle's Burrito Bowl.  I had a couple steaks left over after eating and decided I was going to experiment with making my own version of the Steak Burrito Bowl.

I put these bowls together for Bill and I for supper tonight and they were lip smacking good!!!  I just used minute rice and flavored it with half a juice of lime and sea salt.  The rice was nice and tangy.  The pinto beans I bought in a can and just had to warm.  I then cut up the left over steak and warmed it.  Cally had read on the Internet that Chipotle's sour cream is whipped sour cream.  I took my mixer and whipped up the sour cream until it was smooth and thin.  Bill also had salsa on his bowl.  I did not think of it but you could also add shredded lettuce and jalapenos if you prefer.  Then top it all off with cheese of your choice.

Steak Burrito Bowl
serves 4

1st Layer:
rice
for the rice:
2 C minute rice
2 C water
1/2 lime juiced
1/2 t sea salt

Boil 2 C water.  When boiling take water off the burner and put in 2 C minute rice.  Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes or until the water is absorbed.  Juice the 1/2 lime in a separate bowl and add the 1/2 t sea salt.  Stir the lime juice around until the sea salt is dissolved.  Add the lime juice/salt mixture into the rice and fluff with a fork.

2nd Layer:
Pinto Beans
I used 2 (19.75 oz) cans La Costena Whole Pinto Beans, warm the beans, drain and add them on top of the rice.

3rd Layer
Steak
I used my left over steak.  About 4 to 5 oz per bowl.

4th Layer and 5th Layers
Whipped Sour Cream and Salsa

5th Layer
Cheese

Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

We had a terrific weekend last week.  Black Friday shopping, Ohio State beat Michigan, Bengals beat Carson Palmer and Cleveland Browns beat the Steelers.

Here is Billy and his friends at the OSU/Michigan game.  He said it was one of the best Ohio State games he has ever been to.  Billy and his friends were able to buy tickets to all the home games since they are attending Ohio State.  On Tuesday night last week he participated in another Ohio State tradition which was to jump in Mirror Lake before the Michigan game.  I have read in some news articles that there were between 10,000 and 12,000 students who jumped in the lake on campus.  I was worried about him doing this but he had a great time and only got a small cut on his head.  He says he will do it again next year.  I think they are all crazy.

Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
adapted from Paula Deen

1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
4 T Parmesan cheese
1 to 1 1/2 C bread crumbs
3 large eggs
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 t basil
2 T parsley
1/2 t dried oregano
6 strips of string cheese cut into 30 pieces
Spaghetti Sauce
cooked Spaghetti

In a large mixing bowl combine ground beef, ground pork, Parmesan  eggs, salt, pepper, garlic, basil, parsley and dried oregano.  Add bread crumbs 1/2 C at a time until mixture is not to wet and can be formed into balls easily.  Form mixture into 30 balls, using your thumb to press a hole in the center.  Insert a piece of the cheese into the hole and close the hole by pushing the meatball mixture around it to secure the cheese inside each ball.  Place on a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until meatballs are brown and cooked through.  Serve over spaghetti with sauce or alone dipped in pizza sauce

Dry Rubbed Rib Eye

What a busy weekend.  I have been working on scrapbooks and picture albums and Bill was going out on calls this weekend.  But we did get to grill out and it was amazing.  I rubbed these steaks on Saturday and we grilled them tonight.  I usually use A1 steak sauce on my steak but with this seasoning rub no steak sauce was needed.  I thought they were a little salty so next time I think I would cut down on the salt but the flavor was wonderful.  Hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend!

Dry Rubbed Rib-Eye
slightly adapted from Anne Burrell

2 T salt
1 T hickory smoke salt
2 T brown sugar
1 t crushed red pepper
2 t smoked paprika
1 t garlic powder


Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl.  Use your fingers to make sure that all the ingredients are evenly distributed.  Rub the outside of each steak generously with the rub.  Wrap each steak in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, 2 to 3 days is better.  This will make the steak taste like it has been aged.

Preheat grill.  Remove steaks from the refrigerator about 20 to 30 minutes before cooking. Grill as desired.

Grandpa's Homemade Spaghetti Sauce on Ravioli

When we got married I used spaghetti sauce from a jar, Ragu actually.  Oh boy have I learned that there is nothing like homemade spaghetti sauce.  Now I use this sauce for anything that needs a pasta sauce.  I use it for spaghetti, lasagna, 3 cheese stuffed shells and in this dish, Beef Ravioli.

Cally entered this sauce in the fair in the beef dish.  She made the sauce and added ground beef and fresh mushrooms.  It took 1st place.

We were given this recipe from my farther-in-law.  That is how it got it's name...Cally is the one who named it Grandpa's Homemade Spaghetti.  You can either simmer this sauce on the stove or as Cally did it, put it in the crock pot and let it simmer until she was ready to put the sauce over her spaghetti. The smell is amazing as it simmers.

This is Grandpa with Cally

Grandpa's Homemade Spaghetti Sauce on Ravioli

source: My Father-in-Law

29 oz can crushed tomatoes

29 oz can tomato sauce

15 oz can tomato paste

1 t Italian Seasoning

3 bay leaves

1 t garlic powder

1 t oregano

1/4 C sugar

1 t onion powder

2 25 oz bags frozen ravioli

16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

Mix all together and either simmer on the stove for about 30 minutes or put in crock pot on low for about 4 hours.  Before using the sauce you will need to find the bay leaves and take them out.  Boil 2  25oz bags of frozen beef ravioli.  Drain ravioli and place in a baking dish, cover with the sauce.  Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top and bake in a 350 degree oven until cheese is melted.

Chili, Sweet Corn Bread and a Golf Match

Cally had a golf match tonight so I needed to put something in the crock pot.  That was easy, it has been cold here in Ohio the last couple of days so I thought Chili sounded good.  After riding around the golf course in a golf cart tonight with 2 coats on and a blanket on my lap the Chili sure did taste good!  And even better her team won their match...yay!!!

 I made my chili and put it in the crock pot on low for 3 hours and it was hot and ready to eat when we got home.  The corn bread was made this morning and then I just warmed it up when we were ready to eat.  This corn bread is so sweet it taste like cake.  It is best right out of the oven lathered up with butter..........mmmmmmmmmmm..........but reheating in the microwave and then buttering was good too.

Chili

2 lbs browned hamburger ( I use browned Turkey )
2 28 oz cans Crushed tomatoes
2 cans Dark Red Kidney beans
2 cans Chili Beans
1 t onion powder
1 t black pepper
1 t cayenne pepper
2 t chili powder
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1T oregano

Brown hamburger, drain.  In a dutch oven add all ingredients and cook on low for about 45 minutes.  Serve with crackers and shredded cheddar cheese if desired.

Sweet Corn Bread

2 eggs
1/2 C water
1/3 C milk
2 T oil
1 pk (9oz) yellow cake mix (I use Jiffy)
1 pk (9oz) corn bread mix (I use Jiffy)
1 small box instant vanilla pudding

In a bowl combine the eggs, water, milk and oil.  Stir in mixes and pudding and mix well.  Pour into 8x8 pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes