Slow Cooker Ribs

 I feel like I am ready to get back to posting more. Now that the pandemic is subsiding, I feel like I'm getting back to my old routine, taking food to various events and trying out new recipes at home. It is so rewarding to have something in the crock pot ready for dinner and no need to try and figure something out at the last minute. I have been purchasing only meat that is on sale due to the horrendous rise in grocery prices and back ribs were featured last week. 

I paired them with shoestring Restaurant style fries from Costco and air fried carrots:  oil, salt, pepper, cumin and a sprinkle of brown sugar, high heat for 15 minutes, YUM!

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

 1 rack of back ribs (cut into portioned segments)

salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder (about 1/2 tsp of each)

For the Sauce:

1 cup of your favourite BBQ sauce

1/2 cup ketcup

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp Worchestershire sauce

1 tsp dried oregano

dash of hot sauce (depending on how hot you like it)

 

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. Place ribs in shallow baking pan and season. Bake for 15 minutes and then turn over and back for 15 minutes more. 

3. Place ribs in a slow cooker. Pour sauce on top and cook 6-8 hours. 

4. If you want to carmelize your BBQ sauce, put back in the oven for 15 minutes or so at 400F. 

Taco stuffed peppers

Ontario has amped up its restrictions to the Covid virus outbreak. As of today, all non-essential businesses will be shut down. This is such a surreal time. I'm lucky I can stay in and am grateful for all the people that still have to go to work to keep the basics of the Country going.

So I'm using up what I have, trying not to waste any food since there still seems to be significant shortages at the grocery stores.

I've made these peppers once before but I didn't write it down so I had to look everything up again. They were really good and one was plenty. I think I can freeze the rest. I'm going to give it a whirl anyway.

Taco Seasoning
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 Tbsp cumin
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
(That's what I used)


1 onion, chopped and browned
1 lb ground beef browned.
Stir in some water (about half a cup?) and seasonings
Add almost one full can of tomato sauce.
2 peppers, split in half
Meanwhile cook about 1.2 cup of Minute Rice (or your favourite rice)
Add to meat mixture when cooked.

Portion into pepper halves. Bake at 350F about 45 min. I covered mine with foil and then baked it about another 5 min at the end after I sprinkled on some cheese.

Nineteen in Nineteen and a recipe

Well I'm finally getting around to thinking about my Nineteen in Nineteen. I was considering not doing it this year as it keeps getting longer, but its fun to refer to over the year and I look back on them to see how I did.

So a couple of my goals last year were a little unrealistic eg. 100 Blog posts and Participate in 4 challenges a month. Even my book count was a little too high so I've redone what I think is a bit of a challenge but also doable.

I've already started the year off by finishing 2 books, I've got 10 on request from the library and I'm currently reading this one...

I'm only a few chapters in and I think its going to be excellent. Sam was born with a rare genetic condition that resulted in red eyes. That's all I'm going to say about that but I think its a rare jewel like Wonder. With a strong start, I think I can meet this year's goal of 40 books. I'd also like to participate in a Readathon which I think is just basically laying around all weekend and giving yourself permission to ignore the chores and read.

I also would like to instigate a bit of a cleaning routine. This one looks like it is pretty straight forward....

Some of them are so complicated, forget it. I'd be spending hours everyday with 2 shedding dogs. I also want to try and not leave dishes in the sink. My dishwasher is broken and I don't want to replace until I redo kitchen so it's a challenge to not let them drip dry.

You can read my other goals on the sidebar if you're interested but another one that I've started already is only use the freezer for main meal item and other things if possible for the month of January. Early in the year, I cleaned out and organized it with oldest items up front and its been working great now that I know what's in there and I don't grab meat etc just because its on sale. It will be interesting if it lowers my grocery bill. Which leads me to turkey... I usually have one or two on hand but I've cooked them up and had a lot of chopped meat left over which I used up in this yummy casserole..

Turkey Noodle Casserole

2 cups of cubed turkey or chicken
1 condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream (light is ok)
chopped onions/mushrooms/red pepper (optional)
1/2 cup frozen peas
salt and pepper to taste
I add at least a cup of milk or water as it tends to dry out in a large open casserole
16 ounces of egg noodles, cooked

Mix all together and place in a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or you can freeze unbaked (but then you'd be back to having another freezer item to use up, lol)

You could put some buttered breadcrumbs on top or crushed Ritz crackers but I thought it was already decadent enough.


I should also say that I'm running another major Fundraiser in April for Autism Dog Services so a lot of my time and energy will be dedicated to that. 

Chicken Tenders

It was the Holiday weekend and I was out of bread crumbs so by necessity I searched the Internet and found this Keto - friendly recipe and it was DELICIOUS! I used chicken tenderloins but you could easily cut up chicken breasts. This recipe was flavourful and delicious.

Chicken Tenders
2 pounds chicken tenders
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp Parsley minced
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup butter

Preheat oven to 350F.
Combine all dry ingredients and set aside.
Line baking sheet with foil.
Melt butter in a shallow dish
Dip each tender in butter, then roll in seasoning mixture.
Place on pan and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through

Chili Pork chops

I got this recipe from a friend waaaay back in my university days. Jean was a mature student who struggled with the culture and the study needed to be successful as she had been out of school for some time. On the other hand, she had some great recipes because she was at a stage in her life when she had already cooked for herself for a number of years.

This is one recipe that I pulled out to join the low carb craze. I think this recipe fits the bill. I used store bought chili sauce to test it out since it's been awhile but next time, I'm going to use my homemade chili sauce and I think it will be even better. Like everyone else, I eat a lot of chicken so every now and then its nice to mix things up with a pork chop.

Chili Pork Chops
(for 2 pork chops)

1/2 cup chili sauce
1/4 tsp dry mustard
2 Tbsp ketchup
garlic powder to taste
chili powder to taste ( I was out so I put in a dash of Franks hot sauce and some hot pepper flakes but not necessary)
1/4 tsp Worchestershire sauce
Mix well.

Brown pork chops in frying pan. Cover with chili mixture and bake in covered dish at 350F for 1 - 1.5 hours. Baste frequently and turn once if you wish.
You can change up the recipe to suit your tastes. The sauce should be tangy.

I hope that you did well, wherever you ended up, Jean.

Paula Deen's Meatloaf

I don't get a chance to make meatloaf very often, but over the holidays I had a hungry teen visiting who requested a home-cooked meal rather then dining out. That works for me. Way easier on the pocket book and a much healthier option. Paula's recipes never disappoint and while there was nothing out of the ordinary in this meatloaf, it was really quite delicious, especially with mashed potatoes.

Paula Deen's Meatloaf
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 egg
1 onion, chopped (you could brown them first)
1 cup milk
1 cup dried bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
Topping
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp prepared mustard
1/3 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350F.
Mix first ingredients together and press into 5x9 loaf pan.
In a separate bowl, mix topping ingredients and spread on meatloaf.(I found this made quite a bit but definitely added a delicious flavour and baked off quite a bit)
Bake for one hour.
(I find you have to drain the grease off even with light ground beef, probably extra lean or a mixture of turkey/chicken would be an alternative)

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

Who doesn't love a meal in the crock pot? When you come home, the meal is already decided and you just have to come up with a couple of sides. I recently tried this version which starts with the meat being browned in the oven first and after. I usually par-boil my ribs but I really liked how this version turned out. Meat doesn't make the best photo but you get the idea.

Slow Cooker Barbeque Ribs
4 pounds pork back ribs
salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder (about 1/2 tsp of each)

Sauce:
2 cups of your favourite bbq sauce
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
4 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
2 tsp dried oregano
dash hot sauce (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 F. Place ribs in shallow baking dish and season. Bake for 15 min, turn over and bake for 15 min more. In a medium bowl, combine the sauce ingredients.
Place sectioned ribs in a slow cooker, pour sauce on top and cook for 6 to 8 hours on low.
If you want to carmelize your bbq sauce, put them back in the oven for 15 minutes at 400F.