Beef Short Ribs in the Crockpot

If you are a regular reader, you know how much I love crockpot meals on Sunday! This one was a good one. It reminded me a lot of pot roast! You could probably sub out a different meat and get a similar taste!

Ingredients:

3 pounds bone-in beef short ribs
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 T. canola oil
4 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 c. beef broth
4 fresh thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf
2 large onions, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 T. tomato paste (or a T of ketchup, if you don't have tomato paste open)
2 c. dry red wine or beef broth
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Sprinkle ribs with salt and pepper.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Brown ribs in batches on all sides; transfer to a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. 

Add carrots, broth, thyme and bay leaf to ribs.
Add onions to same skillet; cook and stir over medium heat 8-9 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute longer. 

Stir in wine. 

Bring to a boil; cook 8-10 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. 

Add to slow cooker.

Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until meat is tender.Discard thyme and bay leaf.

     

Zucchini Meatballs

Need a sneaky way to get in your veggies? Or use up some fresh ones before they go bad? These meatballs are awesome! I made them using my food processor to grate the zucchini and onion and stir up the meat!

Ingredients: 

1small zucchini
1/4 small white onion
4 garlic cloves
1lb ground beef (use turkey if you want to be super healthy!)
1 egg white
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs (the original recipe used 1/2 cup panko, which I didn't have on hand)

Directions

Grate the zucchini and onion in the food processor, using the attachment, add in garlic.

Change the blade to the S shaped plastic blade, and add in remaining ingredients.

Shape in to meatballs and place on lightly greased rack.

Bake at 400* for 20-25 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.

Serve with your favorite sauce and noodles or on a hogie bun for a meatball sub!

These are a great thing to eat half of, and freeze the rest! When you are ready to eat them, pop them in the microwave for 4-5 minutes, or bake them at 350* for 20-25 minutes.

Adapted from Iowa Girl Eats

Crock Pot Love ~ Six Great Crock Pot Meals

Reasons why I love my crock pot:
1. It's one dish.
2. It's easy.
3. It makes my house smell good.
4. Great leftovers.
5. Great for feeding crowds.
6. Wonderful comfort food.
7. I can make it in the morning, and forget about it!
8. Meat is tender and cooked just right!
9. The flavors!
10. I haven't had a complete flop with the crock pot!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: 

GET SOME! Crock Pot liners are the best invention! It makes clean up so easy! No more soaking or scrubbing, just throw it away! They are found next to the foil. 

Here are some of my favorite recipes: 

Pot Roast 

Spaghetti Sauce

Corned Beef

BBQ Pulled Pork ( you can turn this into tacos! or enchiladas!)

Chili

Jambalaya

I'm working on 2 more... stay tuned!

Meatloaf

This weekend I went to the Farmer's Market and bought some grass fed beef. I wanted to see what the hype was all about.  I had to think of a dish that would really focus on the meat.  I found a recipe for meatloaf in Cooking Light. I had all the ingredients on hand, so I went ahead and tried it.

Ingredients: 

cooking spray

1/2 cup chopped onion 

6 T ketchup, divided

1/2 cup panko

1/3 cup chopped parsley

1 t. Worcestershire sauce

3/4 t. dried oregano

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper 

3/4 lb. Grass Fed beef- (CL called for 1 lb sirloin)

1 egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*

Heat a small skillet over medium heat, spray with cooking spray.  Add onion and cook until lightly browned.  

Combine onion, 3 T ketchup, and remaining ingredients in a bowl.  Gently combine (I used my hands!)

Place meat mixture on baking sheet coated with foil and cooking spray.  Shape into an 8x4 loaf.  Brush top of loaf with remaining 3 T of ketchup.  Bake at 350* for 35 minutes, or until a thermometer registers at 160*

Let stand for 10 minutes, cut into slices. 

Pantry, Freezer, Garden Livin'

Right before I go on a trip, I challenge myself to only eat out of the pantry/freezer/garden.  It is fun to come up with meals using only the ingredients you have on hand.  This is also a fun game to play if you don't want to go to the grocery store and spend $$! 

I made this spin on Goulash.  

Ingredients: 

ground beef

noodles

1 can diced tomatos

onion

red pepper 

fresh oregano 

Italian seasoning

salt 

pepper

Directions: 

Boil the noodles and cook as directed on package. 

In a skillet, cook ground beef and sprinkle with fresh herbs, salt pepper, and Italian seasoning. 

When the meat is almost cooked, add onion and pepper and cook for a few more minutes. 

Drain noodles.

Add a can of diced tomatoes and noodles. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes before serving. 

Garden Fresh BLT

bread

bacon

lettuce

tomato

mayo

salt 

pepper 

I was super lazy on this one and used a leftover bun, toasted it in the oven. I used pre-cooked bacon and heated it up in the microwave for 30 seconds.  Then I sliced the tomato, spread the mayo, and sprinkled it with salt and pepper. I added the bacon and the lettuce!