Super Easy Meatballs - slow cooker

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds LEAN ground beef (if you don't use lean, you will have some oil to scrape off the top of he sauce after it's fully cooked)
1 1/4 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs (less breadcrumbs is a preference for some people, but I find this helps them stay together in the crock pot. You can also mix regular bread crumbs with Italian seasoning...)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (I often use dried and less than this because my husband isn't a big fan of parsley...and it tastes just fine)
2 cloves garlic, minced (I've also used dried...works fine)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped (or a few tablespoons of onion powder, if you're onion haters like us)
1 egg, beaten
You can also mix in basil, oregano, sugar, etc...depends on taste preference.

1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (16 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (14.25 ounce) can tomato puree (Basically you just need enough sauce to cover all the meatballs. I also add some extra flavor in the sauce. Throw in some onions or garlic or whatever you like to make the sauce pop.)

Directions
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, onion, and egg. Shape the mixture into about 16 meatballs.
In a slow cooker, mix the spaghetti sauce, crushed tomatoes, and tomato puree. Place the meatballs into the sauce mixture. Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours. (I often start on low and then finish on high...just a preference)

Directions for meatballs subs:
Take a hero roll, slice in half lengthwise and put cheese slices (I stick the the "white" cheeses - swiss, provolone, monterey, etc.) on BOTH sides of the bread. Broil for 3-4 minutes, or until cheese bubbles and bread is toasty on the edges. Place about 6 meatballs on the sub and make sure to put enough sauce without it spilling over the edges. Cut in half and enjoy! :)

Cathy's crock pot Pulled Pork

Pork roast
3/4 cup brown sugar
2-3 tsp worsteshire sauce
tsp ginger powder
tsp dry mustard powder
apple juice
large bottle Sweet Baby Ray's Honey bbq sauce
sliced provolone cheese (smoke flavor added is best)
Pioneer rolls - (like hoagie rolls)

Mix the brown sugar, worsteshire sauce, ginger and mustard into a paste. Rub over roast, and place in crock pot. Pour apple juice over roast, until just covered. Cook on low over night for lunch the next day, or all morning and afternoon for dinner. Remove roast, and empty crock pot of all but about a half cup of the juice/drippings. Replace roast, and add bbq sauce. With fork, break apart roast, and coat with sauce. Simmer on warm until ready to serve. Serve on buns with the cheese.

Minestrone Soup - Crock Pot

I got this recipe from my Aunt who had a catering business for many years.
1/2 pound sausage
3 lg carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 small onion, diced
1 can tomato sauce
3 cups caned tomatoes, undrained (diced)
3 cups water
1 can red kidney beans, drained
1 can green beans, undrained
3 beef bullion cubes
1/4 teaspoon basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1 fresh clove of garlic, minced
1 cup dried macaroni noddles
grated parmesan cheese

In fry pan brown sausage then drain. place sausage and next 13 ingredients in crock pot. Simmer 8 hours on low. Add the macaroni noddles about 20 minutes before serving. sprinkle cheese on top and serve.

Shredded Beef (for tacos or pitas)

1 Rump Roast (small one usually feeds my family of four for 2-3 meals, larger one can feed 6 adults plus kids)

Beef Broth (enough to almost cover roast in crock pot)

Seasonings- cumin, oregeno, garlic powder, salt, pepper, chili powder

Put roast in crock pot, pour beef broth over and season liberally. Cook on high for 6-8 hours or low for 8-12 hours. You amy want to check flavor after meat is cooked and add more seasonings if needed.

The roast should flake apart easily and can then be used for tacos, nachos, enchiladas, pita pockets. It's delicious and easy!

Salsa Chicken

This is a recipe that my mom used a lot on Sundays. Its hard to type out because it is done more by feel then by exact amounts.

She would get out enough boneless skinless chicken to feed the family. Place the chicken frozen or thawed in crock pot. Pour Pace Salsa over the chicken until fully covered (be generous). Cook on medium heat for 4-6 hours. Once cooked, shred chicken and use in tacos.

Crockpot Meatloaf

Robert and I have tried tons of meatloafs, either he'd like it an I wouldn't, or visa versa. We both love this one.
I always double this recipe and it works out great!

1 lb ground beef
1 egg
1/2 package of stove top stuffing
1 8 oz can of tomato sauce

Mix ground beef, egg, stuffing mix and 1/3 of the tomato sauce. When it is well mixed shape it in a loaf and put it in the crock pot. Pour the remaining tomato sauce on top. Let cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Crockpot Lasagna

Use your favorite recipe but Do Not Cook the noodles before layering in the crock pot. After you have layered all of the ingredients slowly pour 1/2 cup water on top. Cook covered on low for 3-4 hours.


Lasagna
Spaghetti sauce(canned or homemade)
8 oz lasagna noodles
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups ricotta or cream-style cottage cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 lb mozzarella cheese grated

Mix eggs, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese and parsley flakes. In shallow, oblong crock pot cover bottom with spaghetti sauce, a layer of lasagna noodles, a layer of cottage cheese mix, a layer of lasagna noodles, a layer of spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese then start over. ending with a layer of mozzarella cheese. slowly and evenly pour 1/2 cup water over the top. Then cover with lid and cook on low for 4 hours.

Make sure you don't skimp on the spaghetti sauce. It cooks some of it off so use a little more than usual.

Laura's Alfredo Chicken

So I came across a super easy recipe for crock pot chicken alfredo. We had it for dinner tonight. It isn't Olive Garden alfredo (or even Cathy's) but for how simple it was I will certainly make it again.

2 lb. Chicken
1 package cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken
1/2 cup water
pepper to taste (I also added garlic)

Cut chicken and place at bottom of crockpot. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.

My crock pot cooks fast so it didn't take as long. It is a very nice and easy Sunday meal. Just thought I would share! :) Since I work during the week I'm always looking for crock pot recipes if anyone has any good ones (preferably inexpensive ones).