Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles

I don't think you will find an easier recipe anywhere.  Four ingredients and dump and go.  Really 5 minutes  prep time.  I think you will like this one.

The meat is so tender it just falls apart.

Beef tips and some seasoning packs.  All you need.

Don't forget to use that crock pot liner it sure makes clean up easier.  Dump 2 lbs of stew meat/beef tips in the bottom.

Add one packet of brown gravy mix.

One packet of au jus mix

1 cup water

Mix well.  Cover and let cook on low for 6-8 hours.  When you are ready to eat prepare your egg noodles per the package instructions. 

Serve.

Slow Cooker Beef and Noodles

2 lbs beef stew meat/ beef tips

1 packet brown gravy mix

1 packet au jus mix

1 cup water

1 package egg noodles

Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

I have had this recipe saved for a very long time with the intentions of trying it.  I finally got around to trying it the other week.  I use cream of soups a lot because I make a lot of casseroles.  They are the binding that holds casseroles together. I may never use a can of cream of soup again.  This is very easy and uses things you can easily keep in the pantry. You can change the flavors by using beef or vegetable broths. Not to mention you can control what goes inside.

Doesn't that look like a can of cream of soups?  Only less goopy. 

The broth is the one thing I might not usually keep, but I have now stocked the pantry with chicken and beef broth.

Start with 3 Tablespoons butter in a pan. Melt the butter.

Add 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour.

The butter is nice and melted

Add the flour

Stir well until there are no lumps in the butter mixture.

Add 1 cup chicken stock.  A can holds 2 cups.  I froze the other cup for another night.

Add the broth and stir until well mixed.

I have seen this advertised for a while now.  It is better than bouillon.  I got some to try in casseroles, etc.  I added some to this mixture.

I started with just a little because I wasn't sure about it but I think I can add more next time.  I also bought the beef and vegetable versions as well.

1/2 cup milk.  I use 2 %.

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.  I will probably use less or even not at all next time.

1/2 teaspoon onion powder.  I thin I might add a little ground mustard too.

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper.  I guess you could use white pepper if you don't want to see the black flakes.

Mix well.  Bring the mixture to a simmer.  Simmer for 5 minutes while stirring to keep it from burning.  See very easy.  Takes maybe 10 minutes to throw together.

Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe

3 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Daily Shower Cleaner

For those of you that use your shower every day you know that it is easy to get a soap film on the door.  This is a daily shower cleaner that you can use everyday to help keep that film from developing.

Household items you probably already have.

1/2 rubbing alcohol

1/2 cup peroxide

2 teaspoon white vinegar

2 teaspoon Dawn dishwashing liquid

Add to a spray bottle and add 24 oz of water to the bottle.  Shake well and you are ready to use.

Sugar Cookie Icing

It is almost time to start thinking about Christmas cookies.  Who am I kidding I have already been working on holiday cookies.  Normal people are starting to think about baking and decorating cookies.  This is a sugar cookie icing recipe that will be great for decorating those pretty little holiday cookies.

Yes I tried out this recipe during football season..

This is a very different type of decorator icing.  Normally you have egg whites or meringue powder, but this one uses Karo syrup!

Start with 6 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1/4 to 1/2 cup milk Don't add all at one time.  Start with about 1/4 cup.

Mix until smooth.

Add the karo syrup after the milk and powdered sugar is mixed.

Add all of it.

Add 2 teaspoon almond extract.  You can use whatever flavor you want.

Mix and check for consistency.  If it seems thick add some more of the milk.

Add color.  I needed grey icing.  Which of course made me think of Steel Magnolias when they were talking about the bleeding armadillo cake.  I don't even know how to make grey icing! Well you make grey icing by adding a little black coloring to the white icing.

The first thing you want to do when icing your cookies is out line the cookies.  You want the outline icing to be the consistency of toothpaste.  So you might need more powdered sugar.  Put the icing in the piping bag with a circle tip.  Outline the cookies and let them dry for a few minutes.

Now you will want the flood icing to be thiner. You want it to be the consistency of the corn syrup.  So add a little more of the milk to thin it out some.

The cookies are all outlines.

You can put your flood icing in a squeeze bottle.

It is hard to take pictures while flooding my cookies.  Use a toothpick to get the flood all the way to the edges.  Let dry.

I went back after the icing was dry and add the ears with the outline icing.  I added a mini chocolate chip for the eye.

Nothing fancy but you have to start somewhere.  They tasted good and they served their purpose during the football game.

Any unused icing will keep for a couple of weeks in a sealed container.

Sugar cookie icing recipe
6 cups powdered sugar
1/4 -1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons almond extract
gel food coloring

Cabbage, Sausage, and Potato Soup

It is quickly becoming soup weather.  This is a quick and easy hardy soup that you will love.  Get the ingredients soon because a cold way is coming!

Look at that hardy soup. 

This soup is full of all kinds of good things.

Cut up the smoked sausage and brown them in a pot.

After they are browned on the edges remove from the pot.

Dice about 2 medium carrots and add to the pot with some olive oil

Chop up and onion.  The recipe called for leeks but I had and use onions.

Dice one stalk celery.  If you don't like celery you do not have to add it.

Stir all this veggies until they are tender.

Now add about one small green cabbage head.  Slice it small.  I tried to grate it and it did not work out well for me. Add to the pot.

Then dice about 1 lb potatoes.  The recipe called for red potatoes but I had white potatoes.

Add 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock/

Add 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning.  I might use a little less next time.

Add the potatoes.  If they are in small pieces they will cook faster.

Now add the sausage back to the pot and cook until all the veggies are fork tender.

And enjoy.  A nice grilled cheese sandwich is good with this soup too.

Cabbage, Sausage and Potato Soup Recipe

1 lb smoked sausage
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 medium leeks or 1 medium onion
2 medium carrots
1 stalk celery
1 small green cabbage head
3 cloves garlic
6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 lb red potatoes
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper