Irish Stew (crockpot style)

I came across an Irish Stew recipe in a crockpot cookbook a couple of years ago. It's one of the few recipes that I have never followed completely on the first try. In fact, I've never made it the same way twice...but no one has complained so far.  We love it with elk roast for the meat.

Here are the basics.

Ingredients:
2 lbs. stew meat

3 carrots, chopped

4 potatoes, chopped

3 tomatoes, chopped

2 large onions, chopped

1 qt. stewed tomoatoes

2 Portobello mushrooms, sliced

2 pkg dry onion soup mix

1-1/2 C water

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 C flour for thickening, if necessary

Cut up the vegetables. Put everything except the flour in the crockpot and stir. Cover the crockpot and set crockpot to high. Allow to cook for 8-9 hours (yes, hours).

About one hour before it is finished, add as much or little flour as you want for thickening.

Serve with biscuits or homemade bread.

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Irish Stew

Pork Chops with Portobello Mushrooms and Salsa

My stepson got this recipe from his food's class. He gets extra credit for cooking outside of class, so we wanted to try this one. It's extremely tasty!

Ingredients:
4-6 pork chops, boneless
1-1/2 C salsa
1C chopped portobello mushrooms
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbl maple syrup
1/2 fresh chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with salsa.

Arrange pork chops on top of salsa.

Chop mushrooms.

In a small bowl, combine mushrooms, cheese, and syrup.

Spoon over pork chops.

Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.  Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

The drippings make a great gravy for rice or potatoes.

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Pork Chop

Amazing From-Scratch Waffles

I grew up eating the most amazing waffles. I don't know what it is about this recipe that makes these things so delicious. Maybe the whipped egg whites. Maybe the bit of sugar. I don't know, but they are delicious.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 C sifted flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

2 C milk

2 eggs, separated

1/2 C melted butter (or oil or margarine)

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for greasing and heating your waffle iron.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

Individually stir in milk, beaten egg yolks, and melted butter.

Beat egg whites until stiff.

Fold into mixture.

When waffle iron is heated, pour some mixture into center of the iron and spread until 1 inch from the edge. Bake as directed.

When cooked, loosen from iron and serve immediately.

Printable version

Belgian Waffles

Some fun food sites to visit

One crazy girl's kitchen is very honored to be asked to join some fun food blog lists. Check them out for recipes and ideas from next door and around the world:

• FoodieBlogRoll
• Petit Chef
• Foodista

Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots with Mushroom Gravy

Ingredients
8 chicken thighs
1 Tbl olive oil
Ground black pepper to taste
3-4 dashes onion powder
3-4 dashes paprika
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
1 C sour cream
1 Tbl lemon juice
1 tsp dried dill weed
3-4 sliced potatoes
3 large cubed carrots
1/2 lbs. sliced fresh mushrooms

Brown chicken in oil over medium heat.

While meat is browning, cut up potatoes and carrots.

Place browned chicken in 9x13" greased baking dish. Sprinkle with pepper, onion powder, and paprika to taste. Cover with potatoes and carrots.

Combine mushroom soup, sour cream, onion soup mix, lemon juice, and dill weed. Add mushrooms.

Pour over chicken and vegetables.

Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until chicken is tender and sauce is brown.

One Crazy Girl's notes: Next time, I won't brown the meat first. It was good, but I think the meat will be more tender if it isn't browned.

Printable version

Chicken Thigh