Stew in the Slow Cooker

This stew can also be made in the crockpot if you don't have a pressure cooker. 

Stew
2 cans tomatoes or 1 quart home bottled tomatoes (put them in a blender for about 20 seconds)
1 can tomato sauce
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut fairly large
1 1/2 cups cut and peeled carrots
1/2 onion, chopped
*1/2 - 1 lb. meat of your choice (hamburger, cut pieces of steak, or leftover roast)
3 Tbs. stew seasoning (see recipe below)
3 c. water
Optional: 3/4 c. pearl barley


Prepare the meat: If you are using hamburger, brown first with salt and pepper.  For steak pieces, heat about 1 1/2 tbs. oil in a frying pan and brown the meat.  Sprinkle a little of the stew seasoning to flavor it.  If using leftover roast from Sunday dinner, just cut it into small pieces since it's already cooked.

If you are using pearl barley, boil it in a pan of water on the stovetop while you prepare the meat and vegetables. 

Cook about 4 hours in a crock pot on low. 

Stew Seasoning:
2 cups Flour
4 teaspoons Oregano
2 tablespoons basil
4 1/4 tablespoons salt
4 1/4 tablespoons black pepper
4 1/4 tablespoons Garlic Powder
4 1/4 tablespoons Paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 T Celery Seed
4 1/4 tablespoons Onion Powder
2 tsp. rosemary

Whisk all the ingredients together and put in an airtight container or bag.  Use 2-3 tbs. per pound of meat in your stew.  Personally I use 3 Tbs. for stew for my family.

Homemade Oreo Cookies

These only look like Oreo's, they don't actually taste like them.  They have their own delicious flavor. Super easy cookies!

Oreo Cookies (Yields about 20-22 cookies which will make 10-11 sandwiches)

1 box Devil's Food cake mix

1/3 cup oil

2 eggs

Mix all together and then either roll into balls or scoop with a cookie scooper.  Place on a greased cookie sheet. Flatten the balls just slightly with the bottom of a glass.  Try to keep all the cookies uniform in size and shape so that they match together well.  

Bake at 350 degrees for about 7 minutes.  Cool completely on a rack, and then fill with frosting.  

Frosting:

1/2 package cream cheese, softened (4 oz)

2 Tbs. butter

1 tsp vanilla

Powdered sugar

Mix together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth.  Slowly add powdered sugar to the right consistency that you like.  Add a little warm milk if you put too much powdered sugar in.  

Roll the dough into balls and the. Flatten just slightly with the bottom of a glass.

Goulash

This recipe is adapted from Paula Deen's Goulash recipe.  It is quick and easy, and it's very kid friendly.  I've changed a lot from her original recipe mostly because her recipe takes 1 hour and 45 minutes!  The main thing I like about this recipe is how quickly it can come together.  The way I do it will take a total of about 30 minutes, which is much more reasonable to do on a school night when their is homework and scouts and everything else to do.

Goulash
1 lb hamburger
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced

-Brown the hamburger and onion together, and then add the garlic when the hamburger is almost done. Season with salt and pepper.

Add:
3 c. water
2 cans tomato sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes or 1 quart home canned tomatoes
1 1/2 Tbs. Italian Seasoning
3 bay leaves
3 Tbs. soy sauce
2 c. frozen corn
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Simmer for 10 minutes, and then add:

3 c. elbow macaroni (uncooked)

Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until noodles are tender.  Remove bay leaves and then serve.

Tips:
-Sprinkle with cheese while still hot if desired.
-Sour cream can also be added if yo want.
-This is for a thicker, dryer goulash.  If you want it a little runnier then add another can of tomato sauce or tomatoes, or you can reduce the amount of dry macaroni noodles you put in.