Marvelous Recipes

Dinner couldn’t be easier or more delicious than this zesty flavored roast and vegetables.

4 medium potatoes, cut into quarters
2 cups frozen baby carrots
1 stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium plum tomato, diced
2-1/2 pounds boneless chuck pot roast
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 (10-3/4 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon chopped garlic (fresh or from jar)
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon vinegar

1. Put the potatoes, carrots, celery and tomato in a 3-1/2-quart slow cooker. Place the roast over vegetables; sprinkle with the pepper.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the soup, water, garlic, oregano, basil, parsley flakes and vinegar; pour over the roast and vegetables.

3. Cover and cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours or on High for 5 to 6 hours. Remove the roast and let stand 10 minutes; thinly slice and arrange on a meat platter.

4. Arrange the vegetables around the roast on platter; serve with the juices. Makes 5 servings.

This savory, satisfying, all-in-one dinner from Betty Crocker is sure to bring smiles to your dinner table!

1 pound beef sirloin steak, fat trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup sliced onion
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 (14 ounce) jar tomato pasta sauce (any variety)
1 pouch roasted garlic mashed potatoes (from 7.2 ounce box)
1 cup hot water
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons shredded fresh Parmesan cheese

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 2-quart casserole or baking dish with cooking spray. Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onion and carrots to skillet; sprinkle with seasoned salt and pepper. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is brown.

2. Stir in mushrooms and pasta sauce; heat to boiling. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread in casserole.

3. Make potatoes as directed on box for 4 servings, using 1 pouch potatoes and seasoning, hot water, milk and butter. Spoon into 8 mounds around edge of hot beef mixture. Sprinkle cheese over all.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and potatoes are light golden brown. Makes 4 servings.

Emily

Chicken, ham and Swiss cheese are a winning combination in this tasty all-in-one casserole.

4 cups boiling water
2 (5.7 ounces each) boxes sun-dried tomato Florentine long grain & wild rice mix*
4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 slices thick-sliced fully cooked deli ham
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
4 (1 ounce each) slices Swiss cheese, cut in half

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Stir together the boiling water, rice and rice seasoning mixes in the baking dish.

3. Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise; wrap a ham slice around each chicken piece. Add the bell pepper to the rice mixture; place the wrapped chicken pieces over the rice. Cover with foil and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed and chicken juices run clear when thickest part is cut.

4. Top each chicken breast with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes 8 servings.**

* You may substitute other varieties of rice mixtures, such as mushroom or chicken.

**This recipe is easily divided in half if you only need 4 servings.

Emily

The sweet-tart taste of cherry pie filling adds the perfect touch to these tender slow-cooked pork chops. I especially enjoy the convenience of preparing this tasty recipe using my slow cooker during the hot summer months.

6 bone-in pork loin chops (8 ounces each cut 3/4-inch thick)
1/8 teaspoon salt
Pepper (to taste)
1 cup canned cherry pie filling*
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/8 teaspoon mace

1. In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, brown the pork chops over medium heat on both sides; season with salt and pepper.

2. In a 3-quart slow cooker, combine the pie filling, lemon juice, bouillon and mace; add the browned pork chops.

3. Cover and cook on Low for 3 to 4 hours or until the meat is no longer pink. Makes 6 servings.

*Serve the remaining cherry pie filling over slices of pound cake or a bowl of vanilla ice cream for an easy and special dessert.

Emily

I love to use my slow cooker during the hot days of summer. It allows me to serve my hubby a tasty hot meal without heating up the kitchen and making the air conditioning or me have to work harder. This is one of our favorite summertime recipes.

5 Italian sausage links (4 ounces each)
1 large onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
pepper (to taste)
6 hoagie or submarine sandwich buns, split

1. Brown the sausage links in a large skillet over medium heat; cut into 1/2-inch slices. Place in a 3-quart slow cooker. Stir in the onion, green pepper, tomato sauce and pepper.

2. Cover and cook on Low for 7 to 8 hours or until the sausage is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Use a slotted spoon to serve on buns. Makes 6 servings.

Emily

Tender pork chops, potatoes and onions in a rich, creamy, mushroom sauce will make your family glad they came home for dinner!

6 pork chops*
2 tablespoons cooking oil
6 medium potatoes, peeled & thinly sliced
1 large onion, sliced
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the chops in the oil; set aside. In bottom of a buttered 13×9-inch casserole arrange the potato slices; top with the onion slices. Season with the salt and pepper.

2. In a small bowl, combine the milk, Worcestershire sauce and soup. Pour 1/2 the milk mixture over the potatoes and onions; top with the pork chops and pour remaining milk mixture over the chops. Cover casserole with aluminum foil; bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 hour or until the chops and potatoes are tender. Makes 6 servings.

* You may use either bone-in or boneless pork chops. I used bone-in chops but I cut out the bones and removed the excess fat before using.

Emily

This hearty appetite satisfying dinner will have your family asking for “more”!

1-1/2 cups small shells pasta, uncooked
2 pounds lean ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (14 ounce) jar pizza sauce
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
1 (4 ounce) can mushroom pieces & stems
2 (2.25 ounce each) cans sliced ripe olives
1 (11 ounce) can Mexicorn
1 (15.5 ounce) can chili hot beans
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions using minimum cook time; drain. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat cook the ground beef, onion and green pepper until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender; drain.

2. Add the remaining ingredients in the order listed stirring to blend; pour into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

3. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Emily

My hubby and I are rather fond of lean pork tenderloin especially when it is prepared in my slow cooker. I found this recipe in an older copy of Taste of Home magazine. The cranberry sauce, orange juice and ground cloves create a sweet, nicely seasoned sauce that enhances the natural flavor of the meat.

1 (1 pound) pork tenderloin
1 (16 ounce) can whole-berry cranberry sauce
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons corn starch
3 tablespoons cold water

1. Place the tenderloin in a 3-quart slow cooker. Combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice, sugars, mustard and cloves; pour over pork. Cover and cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F.

2. Remove the pork and keep warm. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; gradually stir into cranberry mixture. Cover and cook on High for 15 minutes longer or until thickened. Serve with the pork. Makes 4 servings.

Emily