Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte--Yum!

One way that I like to save money is experimenting with recipes in my crock pot, and these lattes are a lot cheaper than if you were to go buy them.

Ingredients:
1 – 1 1/2 cups brewed strong coffee
4 cups milk
4 tablespoons canned pureed pumpkin
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
Whipped cream (optional)

Add coffee and milk to your slow cooker. Whisk in pumpkin, spices, sugar, and vanilla. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.

Whisk again before serving. Ladle into mugs
Add whipped cream and additional cinnamon or nutmeg to the top---YUM!
*Of course, you can double the recipe if serving a big crowd!

Join us over on the Swappin' Spoons Facebook page for more money saving posts, recipes and more!

Crockin' 101

Crockpots (aka, slow cookers) first hit the market in the 1970s, when huge numbers of women joined the workforce. Slow cooking has recently made a comeback because more people are working longer hours, yet crave the comfort of a homemade meal.

Crockpots won’t heat up your kitchen, which makes them perfect for whipping up hearty meals all year long!

What size should you cook with?
The majority of recipes work in 6 to 7-quart slow cookers. Desserts and sides seem to work well in 4, 5 to 6 quart crocks. The smaller crocks are great for dips.

Timing is everything:
Cook times do vary from one crockpot to another. What might take 4 hours to cook in one crockpot, might take 6 hours in another one. Some models cook very hot, while others are just right. Desserts are definitely recipes you should watch closely. Also, the size of your slow cooker will impact the cook time.

Some items that I keep on had just for crockpot recipes are: They help make a variety of recipes.

Diced Tomatoes
Frozen Chicken Breast---yes, you can use frozen chicken in your crockpot as long as the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees!
2-3 Bags frozen veggies
Rotel
Salsa
Spaghetti Sauce
BBQ Sauce
Stock/Broth
Noodles/Pasta
Tortillas
Shredded Cheese
Velveeta
Garlic---fresh or already minced/chopped will work!
Taco Seasonings
Canned Beans, corn
Potatoes
Onion
Ranch Dressing Mix
Cream of Chicken soup

Crockpots saves you time in the kitchen---let's face it, you can pretty much just dump the ingredients in and leave it! for a few hours and then enjoy a delicious meal with your family and friends later!

Join me over on the Swappin' Spoons Facebook page for more money saving posts, ideas and more!

Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte--Yum!

I was saving this recipe to post next week, but seeing how some of our friends out west Facebooked me and said that they had tried it last night and liked it---got me looking at the recipe, which got me wanting it. So this is now on my list of things to make for this weekend. :)

Ingredients:
1 – 1 1/2 cups brewed strong coffee
4 cups milk
4 tablespoons canned pureed pumpkin
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
Whipped cream (optional)

Add coffee and milk to your slow cooker. Whisk in pumpkin, spices, sugar, and vanilla. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.

Whisk again before serving. Ladle into mugs
Add whipped cream and additional cinnamon or nutmeg to the top---YUM!
*Of course, you can double the recipe if serving a big crowd!

Learn how to coupon, find all the best deals first, network, cook from scratch and join in on the fun with other like minded folks on the Swappin' Spoons Facebook Page

Apple Pie Dessert - Yummy!

Recently I tried a new dessert in my crockpot, I call it Apple Pie Dessert. Everybody loved it so much that I made it again today! This is so easy to make, and it takes only three ingredients.

Ready?

*Spray bottom of crock up with Pam

*Empty 2 cans of apple pie filling and put into the bottom of crockpot.

*Pour 1 box of yellow cake mix over the pie filling {do not mix together}

*Melt one stick of butter in Microwave and drizzle over cake mix.

*Crock on high for three hours.

This would also be good if you used cherry pie fill too, pictured below!

ENJOY!!!

Follow me over on the Swappin' Spoons Facebook Page.

White Beans and Ham for Dinner

I put on a crockpot of white beans and ham for dinner tonight. The house is smelling yummy right about now.

::2 pounds of white beans, rinsed and picked through ( I never soak my beans)
::Cover with water, water should be about 3 inches above the beans once in the crockpot.
::add some chopped ham ( as much as you would like--ham hock would be good too!
:: Cook on high for 6 hours

My husband and children like to eat this with loaf bread.
.

Lava Cake made in the Crockpot

photo credit

Here are the ingredients and the directions for making Lava Cake in the crockpot.

1 package devils food cake mix
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 2/3 cups water
1 package Jell-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding Mix
2 cups cold milk
1 bag (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and water. Pour into crock-pot.

Prepare Jell-O Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix using milk. Pour this over cake mix in crock-pot. Sprinkle chocolate chips all over the top of the batter.

Cook in crock-pot on high setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until cake is moist but not jiggle, and little volcanoes of spitting chocolate appear on top.

*Serve with ice cream, whipped topping, or just enjoy it straight from the crock!

I have never used crockpot liners, but someone suggested that they are great to use for this recipe!
.

Rice and Hamburger Casserole in the Crockpot

Enough {BROWNED} hamburger meat to feed your family (I used 2 1/2 pounds)
4 small cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 soup can of water
1 Soup can of chicken stock/broth
Pepper to taste
2 cups of cooked rice (doesn't matter what kind)

Mix together well, and cook on low (or if you have a keep warm setting) for 2 hours.

If it gets too dry, just add some more stock or water.

I served ours with broccoli.
.

CrockPot Baked Potatoes

UPDATE: These turned out great and my husband even said that we needed a second crockpot!

I have always baked my potatoes in a microwave oven, buy my friend DD mentioned a few weeks ago that she had "Baked" her potatoes in her crockpot. So I thought that I would give it a try, but not before calling her. :)

This is so simple!

::Enough potatoes to feed your family, wash, and pat dry

::I then, brushed with olive oil, dashed with some salt, pepper, adn Mrs. Dash, then I wrapped in foil and place in crockpot, cook for 8 hours on low.
Seeing how I am getting a late start on these potatoes, I will be 'Crocking" mine on high for the first 4 hours and then turning on low heat until we are ready to eat later tonight

*I did not poke any holes in my potatoes--but you can if you want to.

Now with fingers crossed, I hopefully will be able to report that they turned out great!
.

Bacon Wrapped Smokies in the Crock Pot

The bacon grease and brown sugar give this an incredible taste!

INGREDIENTS:
Two packs of bacon
Two packs of smokies
Bag of brown sugar


COOKING DIRECTIONS:
::Take the pack of bacon cut it in 3 strips.

::Wrap a strip of bacon around each smoky and stick a toothpick in it.

::Once you have all your smokies wrapped, dump in the whole bag of brown sugar.

::Put the crock pot on high. Make sure you stir about every 30 minutes to get all the smokies covered in the brown sugar and to make sure they cook evenly. In about 45 minutes, the juices of the smokies and bacon will start to make it easier to stir. Let cook for about 3-4 hours

Enjoy!
.

Crockpot Zesty Chicken

This recipe is so versatile, meaning you could shred it and put it on hamburger buns for sandwiches, put it on a pizza, or leave it whole and serve with vegetables. Now I am hungry!

Ingredients
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast  (just use enough to feed your family)
1 (12 oz.) bottle your favorite barbecue sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
::Place chicken in a slow cooker.

::In a bowl, mix the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.

::Cover, and cook 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low.
.

Crockpot Honey Bananas

I was looking through my recipes, something I do quiet often during this time of the year. :) I came across this somewhat healthy recipe that you make in the crockpot.

Crockpot Honey Bananas:
Ingredients
4 bananas
1 tablespoon coconut oil
3 tablespoon honey
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon crushed Sesame Seeds (Optional)
Cinnamon for sprinkling

Directions
-Put coconut oil in crock pot, turn on and melt if needed (or you can use canola oil, want the coconut flavor, add some flaked coconut)
-Peel bananas and cut diagonally in 1/2" slices.
-Place bananas in the Crock Pot.
-Sprinkle lemon juice and cardamom over bananas. Add honey.
-Stir to ensure bananas well coated without breaking.
-Cook on low for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
-Sprinkle with cinnamon.

This would be great with some vanilla icecream too---welp, there's goes the 'healthy' huh?
.

Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte--Yum!

photo credit

One way that I like to save money is experminting with recipes in my crockpot, a friend of mine suggested I try this recipe --- very good, and these lattes are a lot cheaper than if you were to go buy them.

Ingredients:
1 – 1 1/2 cups brewed strong coffee
4 cups milk
4 tablespoons canned pureed pumpkin
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
Whipped cream (optional)

Add coffee and milk to your slow cooker. Whisk in pumpkin, spices, sugar, and vanilla. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.

Whisk again before serving. Ladle into mugs
Add whipped cream and additional cinnamon or nutmeg to the top---YUM!
*Of course, you can double the recipe if serving a big crowd!

Brown Bag Burritos in the Crock Pot

We are having Brown Bag Burritos for dinner tonight. I have tripled the recipe and will go ahead and make the burritos and freeze them to have for lunches through out the rest of the year--not everyday of course; however, they are that good!

•2 lbs. ground beef
•2 cans refried beans (could make your own--but I buy mine!)
•1 1/3 c. enchilada sauce (red)
•1/2 c. water
•1/3 c. minced onion (I use dried)
•1 Tbsp. chili powder
•1 Tbsp. garlic powder
•1 tsp. salt
•1 tsp. dried oregano
•3 c. shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend, whatever kind you would like)
•20 flour tortillas (burrito-size)

Brown Hamburger meat, drain and rinse off any excess grease. Put in crock pot.

Put everything else in the crock pot, except for cheese and tortillas. Cook on
low for 4-5 hours (or on high for 2 hrs.)

Add cheese 30 minutes before eating, stir together really good.

*Next is the fun part, line the burritoes up and watch the kids run to the table.

*Enjoy!
Since I tripled the recipe, I am hoping to freeze around 40-45 of these (hoping too!)
To Freeze:
I wrap them in a paper towel, then a piece of foil, when we are ready to eat them, take foil off and heat in the paper towel for 40 seconds in the microwave :)
.

Boston Butt in the Crock Pot

Our home is smelling really good right now. We are having a Boston Butt for dinner tonight.

::I browned all sides before putting it in the crock pot--just to seal in the flavor!
::I then added 1 cup of water
::Sprinkled with Garlic Powder
::Added 1 pack of Lipton Onion Soup mix

I am cooking it on high and hoping it will be done in time for dinner (never cooked on in the crock, so I do not know how long it will take)

30 minutes before we eat, I will add 1 large can of cream of mushroom soup.
.

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

4 Boneless, skinless chicken breast
--I cooked these for 2 1/2 hours in the crock pot, (on high) took them out and shredded them.
::Put the chicken back in the crock pot

::Add 2 cans of chicken broth
::Add 2 big cans of cream of chicken soup.

Cook on high until bubbly, stir/mix good

::Add 1 can of store bought biscuits, tear them apart, continuing to cook on high until dough is done--about a hour and half--or until done.

Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Pasta

Recipe:

chicken shredded---enough to feed your family (2 big breast usually worked when my chiclren were small)

1 pack Italian dressing mix

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese

cooked pasta, for serving

*Place chicken in slow cooker. Pour all ingredients, except cream cheese, over top. Cook on low for about 6 hours or until chicken is cooked through. Shred chicken; add cream cheese and cook for another 30 minutes or until everything is combined. Serve with pasta.

.

*For a healthier version, you can tweak this recipe and use fat free Cream of Chicken soup and fat free cream cheese; also use whole grain pasta.

*There are six of us---four teenagers, so I now double this recipe.
.

3 Breakfast Crockpot Recipes

#1 Western Omelet:
1 bag (32 ounce size) frozen hash brown potatoes
1 pound bacon, diced, cooked and drained or cooked ham, cubed
1 diced onion
1 diced bell pepper
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
12 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Place a layer of frozen potatoes on the bottom of slow cooker, followed by a layer of bacon, then onions, green pepper, and cheese. Repeat the layering process 2 or 3 more times, ending with a layer of cheese. Beat eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together. Pour over crock pot mixture, cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours.


#2 Hearty Apple Breakfast Cobbler:
4 medium-sized apples, peeled and sliced
1/4 C. honey
1 t. cinnamon
2 T. butter, melted
2 C. granola cereal

Spray inside of Crock-Pot with nonstick spray. Place apples in slow cooker and mix in remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low 7-9 hours overnight (or cook on high 2-3 hours).


#3 Rotel grits:
2 cups grits- use directions on back to cook
1-2 lb Velveeta ( I say the more the merrier!)
1 can Mild Rotel
1 lb Mild sausage
1 stick butter

Cut up cheese into cubes and put in crock pot on high along with undrained Rotel. Cook and drain sausage and add to crock pot. Cook grits as directed. Once done add butter and pour into crock pot. Stir and let melt!
.

Sausage Dip for Crock Pot

1 - 1 lb of Tennessee Pride Sausage (mild), browned

2 cans of Rotel

2 Cream cheese, cut up

Throw everything in crock pot and heat on low until cheese is melted (about an hour)

*We always double the recipe.
.

Crockpot Creations: Beef Tips over Rice

::2 lb Pkg Stew Meat (I browned it a little before putting in the crock pot.)

::1 big size can of Cream of mushroom soup (or 3 small cans)

1 pkg of Lipton Onion Soup Mix

Add all together, stir and cook on low for 8 hours!

Very easy recipe!
*Serve over rice and noodles.

*The pieces of stew meat are huge, so I am heading back to the kitchen to cut them in half---at least the kids will think that they are getting more! LOL!
.

Easy Vegetable Beef Soup for the Crock Pot

I am putting my new crock pot to great use. I have vegetable beef soup in it right now. This recipe is so easy, that I am almost embarrassed to share it with you.

I have an 8 quart crock pot and this recipe fills it up quiet nicely!

::2 pounds of ground beef---brown it before you put it in the crock pot (I do this so I will not have to skim the fat off of it later)

::2 cans of corn, drained

::2 cans of carrots, drained

::2 cans of peas

::1 can of crushed tomatoes

::2 big bottles of V8 Juice (of course tomato juice will work great too!

I used 6 potatoes (not cooked) I like for the potatoes to soak up all the yumminess of everything else that is cooking in the crock pot.

*Right before we eat I will cook some elbow macaroni to put in the soup

Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream.

See I told you that this is a very easy recipe!

Happy Crocking!

Of course, you can prepare this on the stove top if you do not have a crock pot. :)
.