Slow Cooker Apple Spice Cake

Another easy cake to make that requires absolutely no nasty frosting, icing, or the like. Just like the Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake, it's easy. It might come out a little denser and more like a bread pudding consistency. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Apple Spice Cake

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/8 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons canola oil

Cooking Directions

1. Spray crock of a 2 quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, brown sugar, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a small bowl, combine the applesauce, oil, and egg. Beat until smooth.
4. Add the applesauce mixture to the dry ingredients and beat until smooth and fluffy.
5. Pour the cake batter into the prepared slow cooker.
6. Cover and cook on HIGH until puffed and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 2 1/2 hours.
7. Turn the cooker off and let it stand with the lid on for 30 minutes to cool.
8. To remove the cake, run a rubber spatula around the edge and lift it out.

Corned Pork and Cabbage

Tired of the same old corned beef and cabbage? Try a different take on a classic recipe.

Pork tenderloin replaces the corned beef in this variation. Don't have a spice packet with your pork tenderloin though, now do you? No problem!

Just take some salt, whole peppercorns, and whole garlic, mix with water, and marinade the pork. Then cook as you would the corned beef. Fantastic! and less fatty. Enjoy!

Mexican Rice, Spiced Black Beans, and Turmeric Corn

I really liked how simple each of these dishes are to make. If I was just making one of them, it would almost be too easy! When all three are going though, there's a lot to be done.

They're great dishes. The beauty is that each could be a side to something bigger, say enchiladas or chilaquiles. Or each could be combined with the others and then you'd have a fantastically healthy Mexican meal on your hands. You gotta love the power of beans and rice and veggies. Enjoy!

Mexican Rice, Spiced Black Beans, and Turmeric Corn

Yield: Serves 3-4
Ingredients

• Mexican Rice
• 
  
• 1 cup white rice (long grain, if possible)
• 2 cloves garlic (or 1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 1/2 onion
• 1 can tomatoes, drained (or tomato juice)
• oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups water (none if using tomato juice, unless necessary at the end)
• 
  
• Spiced Black Beans
• 
  
• 16 oz bag dried black beans
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried celery
• 1 teaspoon dried onion
• 1 teaspoon garlic
• black pepper, to taste
• 
  
• Turmeric Corn
• 
  
• 1 can corn
• 1/5 pack assorted frozen veggies (peas, carrots, green beans)
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• splash lemon juice
• water

Cooking Directions

1. Mexican Rice
3. In a pan, toast the rice on medium heat until brown (but not burnt!) with the minimal amount of oil. Stir frequently!
4. Just before it's done, toss in the onion and garlic for one to two minutes.
5. Add everything else in the pan and stir to incorporate.
6. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes.
8. Spiced Black Beans
10. Prepare beans as directed, sifting to ensure that there are no rocks.
11. Toss in the seasonings (except the black pepper) and cook.
12. Add black pepper when finished cooking, if desired.
13. 
    
14. Turmeric Corn
16. Drain 1 can of corn and heat in a pan with the frozen veggies.
17. Add the turmeric, lemon juice, and any water as needed until thoroughly heated.

Pulled Marinaded Chicken, Cajun Baked Potato/Plantains, and Garlic Bread

Holy Cow! That's one long title!

But I wanted to capture as much as I could about what this succulent dinner was all about. And do I mean succulent! The chicken turned out so moist, so juicy, so jam-packed full of flavor (even though it looks fairly bland) that succulent hardly begins to describe it.

And the garlic bread! Mmm light, savory garlic bread. The exact same kind that came with the Complete Veggie Dinner.

Paired with plantains (above) and cajun baked potato (below).

So follow along below to find out how to create succulent chicken yourself - a healthy poultry experience everyone will enjoy!

Bouillon Pork Chops with Potatoes and Onions

I love simple recipes. The simpler the better. That's how we started out way back when, cooking simple, delicious meals in our tribes/towns/prehistoric communities. So as a semi-quasi-tribute to our ancient ancestors, this recipe could not be simpler - yet it also benefits from the flare of unusual ingredients! I bring you (courtesy of J's family recipe) Bouillon Pork Chops with Potatoes and Onions. Enjoy!

Crock Pot Turkey Chili

At last we have a crock pot recipe! My family made this, oh, a few months ago now, and sadly, there are no pristine pictures of the fine goop that came out. It was hearty, healthy, and heavenly. I mean it doesn't get much easier than a crock pot, crockery, or slow cooker, right?

The beauty of this recipe is that it's very flexible. Add a ton of beans...or not. Mix it up! I just want to make one warning though - the "jar of tomatoes" should really be a jar and not a can. Canned tomatoes contain bisphenol-A, "a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity." Here you can find a few other common foods to avoid and why. Just an fyi for all of us. Enjoy!

Crock Pot Turkey Chili

Total time: 5-8 hours
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 onion
• 2-3 kinds of beans
• 1 large jar (28-32 oz) crushed or diced tomatoes
• 2-3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt/pepper
• 1 medium jar (12-14 oz) tomato paste/sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
• green chilies
• 1-2 cups corn
• 1/2 teaspoon various other seasonings, optional

Cooking Directions

1. Chop onion and cook with ground turkey in pan with olive oil.
2. Drain fat from turkey and onion and add to crock pot.
3. Mix everything else in crock pot (optional to mash some of the beans to make thicker chili).
4. Cook on low for 5-8 hours (crock pots vary).