DIY: Homemade turkey stock in the slow cooker

Whatever you're doing right now -- reviewing tomorrow's cooking schedule, giving the pillows one more fluff, or showering off the pre-company sweat that's earned from the last-minute cleaning of the house -- I beg of you to stop.

Please.

Stop and make both a mental and literal note to do one more thing tomorrow on Thanksgiving: SAVE THE TURKEY CARCASS!

I'm sorry for yelling.  Forgive me.  It's because you're my friends, and I love you.  And friends don't let friends throw away perfectly useful turkey carcasses.

I'm saying carcass a lot.  Forgive me for that, too.

You're going to want the scraps because I'm about to tell you how to make the quickest and easiest homemade turkey stock ever.

Crock Pot salsa pulled pork tacos

Because it's Wednesday.

Because it's hump day.

Because I love my Crock Pot.

And I know you do, too.

I have a mind-blowing slow cooker recipe for ya.

5 ingredient Crock Pot ham & bean soup

Ham and navy bean soup is one of my favorite soups in the universe.  I've been eating it since I was young, when my dear mom made it.  As soon as I moved out and had to fend for myself, I started making it, too.

For those keeping track, that's over 25 years of soup enjoyment, 10 years of which were thanks to yours truly, and zero mention of it in over 4 years of blogging.  To sum it up, shame on me for not sharing.

This is the ultimate everyday soup.  Regardless of the rhyme or reason, it's one of those recipes that warrants the reaction, "That would be perfect!"

Orange balsamic slow cooker roast

My husband will eat almost anything I make, from the dainty to the exotic and hard to pronounce.  His is an appetite that's very easy to please.  But, when push comes to shove, his appetite is easily satisfied.  When I ask what he wants for dinner, his response is simple and predictable: "Beef and potatoes."

How terribly unoriginal and stereotypically male, right?

Let's be clear about one thing: I love beef.  Love love love it!  There's nothing like it.  No amount of salmon in the world can satisfy me when I'm craving beef.  That's easy to see considering the umpteen recipes featuring ground beef that I've posted over the years.  Sandwiches, lasagna, sauces, meatballs and meatloaves!

Personally, I prefer to eat my beef in the form of a burger.  It's no coincidence that burgers come with fluffy rolls, sauce, and usually cheese.  Always cheese, in my case. I'll take a burger over a steak any day of the week.

Slow cooker breakfast casserole

Two weekends ago, I ran the Great Race with my husband, sister, and a few friends.  It was, as far as I can remember, the most ideal conditions I've ever had for a race! 

We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather.  At the start, temperatures were in the low 60s and the sun was shining among a few sparse clouds.  I was comfortable when moving and just barely cool in the shade when still.  Though I've happily run in extreme heat, rain, and even snow, I realize that I'm a tad crazy and not everyone enjoys jogging in the elements.

(Mother Nature, please please remember that and try to repeat them for the Pittsburgh marathon on May 4th.  Danke sehr!)

Sizzlin' slow cooker month recap

March has certainly come in like a lion around these parts!  It's only the 4th of the month, and it's already been a roaring good time.  Oh yes, she went there. :)

In a little under 36 hours, there was an absolutely beautiful bridal shower for one of my best friends, Julie:

A very fun bachelorette party (recipe for delicious mac and cheese bites I made coming soon!).  

And an early birthday celebration dinner at Rock Bottom for Matt.  Great food, great beers (so I'm told), and great friends!

So far, so good, March!  But, with exciting beginnings also come inevitable ends.  We said farewell to February and sizzlin' slow cooker month.  I seriously can't believe how quickly it passed.  Talking with a friend about it last night, I realized that with a little bit of planning and minimal prep, I realized that my Crock Pot Louie really spoiled me for a few weeks.  I learned a few things, too...

Slow cooker chicken sausage and shrimp gumbo

I love learning what tasks other people consider "easy."  And, once I've done that same task myself, I also enjoy assessing how easy I'd consider their version of easy.

For example -- ladies out there, I'm especially talking to you -- French braiding hair.  Few skills elude me quite like that one.  I can't French braid a friend's hair, much less dream of doing it to my own locks.  I've tried.  And tried.  And tried some more with no success whatsoever.

I've tried with dry curly hair, wet hair, wavy brushed hair, and three day old unwashed hair.  I've turned three strands of hair into two and knotted my hair in multiple places, but I've never created a  decent looking French braid.

The genuine rage that I've felt attempting to do so can be compared to little else, possibly only Matt's frustration with the "recalculating" function on our Garmin.  So, whenever a girl with her hair styled in a smooth and symmetrical braid chirps, "Oh, it's so easy.  You can totally do it!" I want to shout, "IT IS NOT EASY!"

Slow cooker Santa Fe chicken

Turns out I'm not always right.  Please try to bring yourselves out of that state of shock you're currently in.  In fact, I've been wrong about quite a few things, and I'm ready to come clean.

For example, a girl can have too many cardigans.  (Matt and Bryan, don't you dare say a word.)  At the beginning of the year, I cleaned out my closet and counted how many I actually owned -- 22.  Gulp.  But I did toss two into the bag of items to donate to Goodwill.  So, 20.  That sounds much better, right?

And eating four chocolate chip banana muffins right before bed will keep me awake much past my intended bedtime.  I won't sleep soundly and will be groggy the next morning and wind up skipping the early workout I'd originally planned.  Rinse and repeat a few more times, and I'll be concerned about more than just late night hyperactivity.  Coughrealmuffintopcough.

Crock Pot baked potatoes with chili toppings

Sizzlin' slow cooker February has been a total hit in our home and for our taste buds so far, if I may say so. Soups, stews, lasagna, and even Indian food have all been ready come dinnertime with minimal human effort.  Thanks for the scrumptious meals, Louie!

But, as I reviewed the dishes I've made in the Crock Pot, I realized that all had a broth or sauce for a base. As I've learned in the past few weeks, you can cook almost anything in the slow cooker as long as there is some kind of liquid to keep the contents from drying out.

For example, I've made pulled pork by simply tossing a pork tenderloin in the crock pot, covering it with water, and cooking on low for 8 hours before draining, shredding, and mixing with our favorite Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce.  Easy peasy!

Again with the liquid, though.  So, I couldn't help but wonder if it were possible to slow cook something without a broth or sauce.

Slow cooker chana masala

It's a little funny to me that two posts in a row are about me trying new things.  And this one's story began before my resolutions -- go me!

For four glorious years, I attended Pitt and was introduced to the perks of city life.  And one of the highlights was a late night dining deal offered by many of the restaurants in town: half off the food bill after 10 or 11pm.  If there's a sure fire way to attract poor students, it's to offer them large quantities of their favorite foods for a lot less cash.  A girl can only eat chicken tenders and deli sandwiches from the dining hall (Eddie's!) for so long.

One of those restaurants that my friends visited time and time again was India Garden.  They didn't just visit the place, they were downright obsessed with it!  I was a little hesitant to try it since I had this notion that all Indian food was supremely spicy and knew I couldn't handle that.  Growing up in Greensburg, I wasn't exactly bombarded with opportunities to try Indian food, so I just shelved the idea of Indian food for an undetermined amount of time.

Sometime during the summer between sophomore and junior years, my boyfriend convinced me to try Indian food... from a truck.  To be clear, I'm not knocking all food trucks (especially since their revival has been grand in the Pittsburgh area), just this one.  All you need to know is that I tried Indian food from that truck, got sick on said food from that truck, and went 8 years without dining on food from that truck or any other Indian restaurant.

That boyfriend and I broke up two years later.

Slow cooker BBQ pulled chicken

It's Valentine's Day!  How are you going to show your love to those most important in your life?  I'm going to start by renaming our slow cooker.  Yep, the inanimate non-living slow cooker. "Crock Pot" just seems so impersonal, you know?  I think I'll call him Louie, mostly so I can say this over and over and over again:

"Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Louie and I, you see, have nurtured a wonderful and functional relationship over the past few two weeks.  For so long, we were like ships passing in the night.  I'd see him, up high on a shelf, but rarely brought him down to chat, to play, to work.  I'd grab the cookie sheets next to him and shut the closet, returning him to a world of neglect and darkness.

But, since sizzling slow cooker February has begun, our friendship has really grown.  We begin our mornings together -- I give him some attention while I make my breakfast.  I plug him in before we bid farewell, and I head off to work as he settles in for a cozy day of cooking whatever delicious ingredients I've given him.

Slow cooker black bean soup

 
I've never been the kind of person who listens and quietly obeys instructions.  I've also never been the kind of person who is quiet.  I'm okay with that, and I hope you are, too.

My parents will agree with both of those observations.  For as long as I can remember, my mom or dad would lean over during a certain part of the church service to tell us a little story.  "We were always so happy that the minister never invited kids up to the front of the sanctuary for a children's sermon when you two were little.  We were afraid of what you and your sister would say."

Are you kidding me, Mom and Dad?  What we'd say?

I guess they were referring to things that kids say when responding to a pastor's questions, like that Easter is when Jesus sees his shadow or, worse, something private about their parents.  I'm going to resist the urge to point out that, more often than not, it's parents who say things that embarrass their children.  Because I'm a mature adult.  And mature adults are gracious and don't point out the faults of their elders.  Like I said, I'm a mature adult.

Slow cooker lasagna

It's sizzlin' slow cooker February 'round these parts, in case you haven't heard!

And, though I'm only two recipes in, I've got a secret to share with you: I'm falling head over heels in love with my Crock Pot all over again.  I totally did not see this coming!

What's not a secret is how much I love to cook.  It's such an important part of my evening routine.  Cooking dinner gives me a chance to work with my hands, create something something delicious, and step away from everything else in my life for a little while.

But, as I noticed last week, everything else in my life seems to be requiring a little more of me lately.  "Pay attention to me!" scream the overflowing laundry basket, still-ailing desktop computer, and pile of W-2s and other tax materials.

In other words, the annoying adult stuff is being super immature and throwing a fit, drowning out the pleasant chirping of the fun stuff ("Pay attention to me!  I'm fun!").  Not cool, adult stuff, not cool.

Friday five: February fun edition

[via]

Happy February, loves!  After saying, "This month just flew by!" for the past few months, January seemed to take it's time, and that was just fine with me.  It's been nice to slow down, take a look around, and enjoy the snowy winter we're having so far.  I know not everyone loves snow nearly as much as I do, but I would bet that everybody enjoys cuddling up inside with thick fuzzy socks, a mug of hot chocolate, and a a great DVD.  Cozy and happy weekends are the best!

With January in the books, some folks seem to start feeling a little stir crazy in February.  I'm here to banish those feelings with things you can plan and look forward to in the next few weeks.  Fun things on the calendar always make me happy and giddy with anticipation!

Here's this week's Friday five: upcoming fun things in February!


1. Fat Tuesday & Mardi Gras celebrations - Fat Tuesday falls on February 12th this year.  NOLA is #1 on my list of cities to visit, but I think I'd rather pick another time to visit the famous city.  That being said, I'm not going to let geography keep me from celebrating this year!  I'm planning to take a crack at making a quintessential southern dinner -- red beans and rice -- using the slow cooker.  Any other, PG-rated ideas for how to celebrate?

2. The Happiness Project -- I've been making a conscious effort to read more because, as it turns out, I enjoy it!  Plus, having something besides Scripture to read in the evening before bed really helps my mind "power down" and makes sleep more satisfying.  I've heard good things about this book for a while and moved it to the top of my must-read list after I finished my most recent book club selection (bizarre, in case you're wondering).  A long distance friend and I have decided to read this "together", and I'm really looking forward to sharing the experience with her!

Slow cooker garlic & ginger pork chops

Hey, it's Wednesday!  Do you know what you're serving for dinner?

...no?

Well, thank goodness for me.  I've got a recipe that will get you over the mid-week recipe hump, and it takes a whopping 2 minutes to prepare.  The rest -- the part that turns ingredients into an edible meal -- is done by your friendly slow cooker.

Now be nice and say hello.

"Hi!"

No pictures were taken because this was such a last minute recipe in so many ways.  Thrown together at lunch on a work day, and quickly served up before running off to do who knows what that evening.  Life, she is a busy one these days.  But dinner doesn't have to suffer! 

What resulted was such a surprise, even to this girl.  This is, hands down, my favorite pork chop recipe to date!  Favorite. Ever.  Those are bold words, folks!  The garlic and ginger give such flavor to a traditionally mild meat.  The soy sauce and brown sugar tag team for a salty sweet combination that will linger on your taste buds' memory for days, nay, weeks!  A pseudo-Asian-inspired flavor saves dinner... that would've otherwise consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches :)



Asian-inspired Pork Chops for the Slow Cooker
-serves 4-6

A few notes: Though my protein of choice was pork, this recipe could be used for practically any meat or poultry you have on hand.  Turkey or chicken would be great for an equally lean dinner.  Next time, however, I think I'm going to cut up a beef roast into 1 1/2-inch cubes and throw it into the slow cooker -- there is simply no way it won't be absolutely delicious!

6 boneless pork chops
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine remaining ingredients in bowl of slow cooker.  Place pork chops in slow cooker and toss to coat.  Cover and cook on low setting for 6 hours.  Serve with rice and broccoli, perhaps, and enjoy!

Slow cooker cashew chicken

What if I told you that my crock pot worked harder than I did yesterday?  Sure, I threw a last minute dinner party -- with dessert, too (that's for tomorrow!) -- but I didn't exactly slave over a hot stove to plate up a delicious meal.  Sorry, J and B... you're absolutely worth the trouble, but there was no need for it last night :)

A slow cooker is known for creating easy, comforting meals with little effort.  Toss ingredients into the pot, cover and heat, go about your daily routine, and come home to a kitchen filled with smells of already-ready dinner!  A slow cooker, however, may not be as heralded when it comes to the topic of guests for dinner.  Why not? 

There's some unwritten rule that, when one is having guests for dinner, one must sweat and toil over an incredibly complex set of recipes and play show-and-tell with said fancy dishes.  I will admit that I've done it, and said recipes have failed miserably.  In conclusion, whoever came up with this rule should stuff it.

There, I said it!

Slow cooker beef Stroganoff

On Sunday, I went for a lazy afternoon walk and enjoyed frozen yogurt sitting on a bench in the sun.  Yesterday, I walked home from the gym wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and shorts (and carrying my coat) and was 100% comfortable.  After all, it was 70 degrees!

And then reality set in when I scoped out the five day weather forecast.  Looks like we're not out of the woods winter yet, folks.

As annoyed as I might have been to see snow predicted not once, but twice, I had to pat myself on the back.  Why?  Because I had a toasty warm meal ready in the crock pot when I got home.  Beef stroganoff was on the menu!  "Have you seen a calendar lately, Katy?  It's spring!   Enough with the cozy comfort foods already."  Well, yes, it may technically be spring, but I'm not quite ready to pack away my winter coats and turtleneck sweaters.  Especially with that kind of forecast. 

Crock pot meals on Monday mean outrageous leftovers for me a few days later, perfect for combating the cold front headed this way.  And those leftovers are even better when they are smothered in a tangy rich sauce chock full of tender beef, mushrooms and onions.  Beef stroganoff, utilizing an inexpensive cut of beef, is typically served over simple egg noodles, another budget-friendly pantry staple.  The sauce that's flavored by Dijon mustard and smooth sour cream is the kind of thing you'd swear you could eat poured over even cardboard.  (What, just me?  Try it for yourself!)  And the mushrooms and onions?  A match made in Heaven, I swear.

One Year Ago: Maple-marinated salmon


Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
(adapted, in parts, from Everyday Food and Betty Crocker)
-serves 4

1 pound beef chuck, trimmed of excess fat and cut into thin slices (about 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long)
1 small onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 pound white mushrooms, trimmed and halved (or quartered, if large)
Salt
Ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
Cooked thin egg noodles, for serving
Chopped fresh dill, for garnish (optional)

In a slow cooker, toss beef, onion, mushrooms, and 1 1/2 cups water with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cover, and cook on low until meat is tender, about 8 hours (or on high for 6 hours).

In a small saucepan, whisk cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water.   Ladle 1/2 cup cooking liquid into measuring cup; whisk to combine.   Place saucepan over heat and bring to a boil; cook until thickened, about 1 minute.  With slow cooker turned off, stir in cornstarch mixture, then sour cream and mustard.  Serve beef over noodles; sprinkle with dill, if desired.

Slow cooker short rib ragu sandwiches

Oh. Em. Gee.  (Yep, I just did it.)  May I please show you what I had for dinner last night?

Slow cooker beef ragu.  And just for me!  No big party or summer picnic, just a warm and hearty meal, enjoyed in the comfort of my apartment away from the blustery cold that has returned to the city of bridges.  And on the perfect night, too, when I wasn't feeling up to cooking and would've settled on cereal had this not been eagerly waiting for me when I walked in the door.  By the end of work yesterday, my sore throat from that morning was still hanging around and I just felt very blah.  Nothing deadly, just a bit unpleasant.  I figured I could either push through a gym session and wear out myself further or take a night off and relax at home.  Guess what I chose.  :)

Crock Pot chicken taco chili

After a bit of a warm spell this week -- temperatures reaching 40! oh my! -- we're back to the cold and snowy weather of winter that I enjoy much too much.  It might be due to the fact that I love curling up under my quillow (quilt that folds into a pillow!) and watching TV.  Or that super hot showers feel incredible just before bed.  Or, it just might be because I've had the quintessential comfort food for at least one meal every day this week since Tuesday.  Chili!

You see, when I was planning meals last week, I aimed for dishes high in protein with lots of vegetables.  Some new gym routines on my radar were bound to kick my butt and I wanted to have the proper fuel for my tired muscles.  When I think of healthy meals, I think of plates with grilled chicken breasts, steamed vegetables, and small portions of whole grain rice.  Bor-ing!  Totally boring.

But because no sane person craves foods like that on a regular basis, I started craving something cozy and delicious and satisfying.  A pile of fresh pasta topped with sauce and grated cheese.  Or something like a super thick and creamy soup.  A carbohydrate-induced coma!  Delicious, yes, but hardly balanced.  What to do, what to do...

And then I spotted it.  The most mouth-watering chili recipe this side of the Mississippi interwebs.  Everyone has a favorite chili recipe or two.  I happen to have quite a few.  To this day, I haven't met a chili recipe that I didn't love.  But this one really takes the cake.  It's unlike anything I've ever had before.  I present to you a chicken chili.

Somehow, chili has managed to fly under the radar when it comes to balanced meals.  It snuck right into the comfort food family without anyone taking notice.  Sneaky, chili, very sneaky!  I'm onto you and your spicy and flavorful sauce, packed with onions and chilies and taco seasoning that has finally found its real purpose in life.  The two kinds of beans mix with the chicken that practically shreds itself it's so tender.  Oh, and did I mention that the prep is so easy I had to work to make the directions below form a respectable paragraph?  A little work in the morning makes for gourmet-smelling kitchen at dinnertime and a no work and all play dinner that will impress even the pickiest of eaters.

Do yourself and your significant other/friend/family/future self a favor and throw this together this weekend.  I'm thankful that there is one remaining serving of this, and I'm having it for lunch later today.  Finally!  I learned my lesson about delayed posting of recipes.  Maybe I really am on the ball this week?  To be determined on Sunday.  Have a fantastic weekend!


Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili
(adapted slightly from SkinnyTaste)
-serves 10

A few notes: This chili is spicy without being hot, but feel free to add hot sauce or a diced jalapeno to knock your socks off.  Also, because it's practically a sin to eat chili without it, cornbread is a lovely addition :)

1 onion, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn kernels
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can diced chilies
1 packet taco seasoning
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon chili powder
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
Shredded cheddar cheese, for serving

Combine onion, beans, tomato sauce, corn, tomatoes, chilies, seasoning and spices in bowl of a slow cooker.  Place chicken breasts on top in one layer and cover with lid.  Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours.  About 30 minutes before serving, remove chicken, shred with forks, return to crock pot, and stir.  Serve and top with shredded cheese, if using.  Enjoy!

Slow cooker creamy pork chops

America runs on Dunkin', and today, so does this girl!  Since Matt is headed to his parents' for two weeks before classes start, we decided to have a quick little breakfast out before he leaves later this morning.  A new location opened up in Oakland below Pitt's dorms, so it was perfectly placed for some relaxing eats before heading to work.  I opted for the protein-packed turkey sausage, cheddar, and egg white flatbread sandwich -- yum!  Not that I expected it to be bad, but I didn't expect it to be that good at a place known for its sweets.  The egg actually tasted like egg (shocking, no?), the turkey was spiced just right, and the cheese was melty gooey good.  Oh, and I may or may not have pleaded for a bite of Matt's vanilla cream doughnut to round out the experience... no pun intended :)

While breakfast should keep me full well until lunchtime, check out what I have packed for today -- rarely am I this excited about leftovers from the night before.

Yum, that was last night's dinner.  Freshly steamed broccoli (without a doubt my favorite vegetable) with gorgeous, tender, and oh-so-moist chicken pork chops! That's right, pork chops.  I bet you thought those were two chicken breasts, huh?  

Pork, the other white meat.  Delicious, moist, falls apart at the slightest touch from a fork tender, and packed with flava'... all from two ingredients!  While I love bacon, ham, or any kind of marinated tenderloin, I'm not the biggest fan of just plain ol' pork chops, so this makeover was more than worth it (you know, the total cost was somewhere around $4).  Oh and ready when I walked in the door from the gym.  Bonus!  Plus, it's so fun telling people that you're making "pork chicken" or "chicken pork" just to see their reactions.

Chicken Pork Chops

-serves 4

A few notes: You could try another kind of soup, perhaps cream of mushroom.  And you could, of course, use chicken in place of pork.  I just happen to prefer giving the pork a feeling of rebirth :)  This can be easily doubled, as that's what my parents usually do, and don't worry if you need to stack the chops, the outcome/taste won't be affected.

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

4 lean pork loin chops

In a slow cooker, spread a little of the soup, just enough to cover the bottom.  Arrange pork chops and cover with remaining soup.  Cover and set on low, allowing to cook 6-8 hours.  (If doubling, stir once or twice to move chops around.)  Serve and use "sauce" to drizzle over rice, mashed potatoes, or fresh vegetables.

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Today is both National Waffle Day and National Oyster Day!