Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook

“The
Fix-It and Forget-It
series is the country’s bestselling crockpot cookbook series.

“The six books in the series compile edited versions of recipes contributed by everyday cooks and have sold more than nine million copies.”

— Publishers Weekly

“The author who came in second to Rachael Ray in total foodie sales was Phyllis Pellman Good, who does not have a TV show.”

— Summary of Bestsellers Publishers Weekly

“One reason why the books are so popular is that they aren’t intended for folks who dabble in cooking as a hobby or a whim.

“‘The audience that I have in mind is those who have to cook every day of the week,’ says Good.”

— Los Angeles Times

“Good’s books have sold more in the United States than the
combined
works of popular Food Network hosts Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis, and Jamie Oliver.”

— The New York Times Front-page feature

“One of the losses in our lives is that it’s so hard to sit down at the dinner table, night after night, and have parents and children eating together,” says Phyllis Pellman Good.

“With the slow cooker, you can prepare food early and bring everyone together at the table,” she says. “It helps immensely.”

— The Associated Press

Copyright © 2014 by Phyllis Pellman Good

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Good Books, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Good Books books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Good Books, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or [email protected].

Good Books in an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.®, a Delaware corporation.

Visit our website at www.goodbooks.com.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover illustration and illustrations throughout the book by Cheryl Benner

Design by Cliff Snyder

Print ISBN: 
978-1-56148-701-1 (paperback edition)

978-1-56148-703-5 (hardcover gift edition)

978-1-56148-702-8 (comb-bound paperback edition)

Ebook ISBN: 978-68099-002-7

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Good, Phyllis Pellman

Fix-it and forget-it Christmas cookbook : 600 slow cooker holiday recipes / Phyllis Pellman Good.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-56148-701-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-56148-702-8 (comb-bound : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-56148-703-5 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Electric cooking, Slow. 2. Christmas cooking. I. Title.

TX827.G634 2010

641.5'686--dc22

2010026590

Table of Contents

Welcome to
Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook

Tips for Using Your Slow Cooker

_______________

Appetizers, Snacks and Spreads

Breakfast and Brunch Dishes

Soups, Stews, and Chilis

Main Dishes

Beef Main Dishes

Pork and Ham Main Dishes

Chicken Main Dishes

Turkey Main Dishes

Meat and Bean Main Dishes

Other Main Dish Favorites

Vegetables

Beverages

Desserts and Sweets

_______________

Equivalent Measurements

Assumptions about Ingredients

Three Hints

Substitute Ingredients

Kitchens Tools and Equipment You Really Ought to Have

Index

About the Author

Welcome to Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook

It seemed like a good idea . . .

If you’ve invited your family or your special friends or neighbors to your home for a holiday meal, you might be caught somewhere between anticipation and dread right now.

Who doesn’t like to have loved ones around the table, murmuring with delight about the food they’ve been eating? But which of us hasn’t had panic nearly paralyze us on the way to that lovely moment?

Running out . . .

Or maybe your energy and your cooking ideas left you before your holiday guests did? How do you prepare without running out of time—or graciousness?

Never fear. You absolutely can make holiday meals with ease and with pleasure!

Beat the panic

Most of us prepare dozens of meals during the 60 days between early November and early January. Well, here are 600
manageable
slow-cooker recipes—all from cooks who want to feast with their loved ones without being exhausted and frazzled.

Phyllis Pellman Good

A bonus

Don't miss the “Ideas for Meaningful Holidays” and “Happy Hosting Tips,” spread among the recipes. One more reason that this cookbook can quickly become your kitchen companion.

Thank you, all you wonderful cooks and hosts who so generously shared your holiday recipes and tips for happiness at this special time of year. And thank you, too, testers, for your care and comments. Each of you has demonstrated the wonder of hospitality.

Christmas Smells

Mary Kathryn Yoder

Harrisonville, MO

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Ideal slow cooker size: 2-quart

4 cups water

rind of 1 lemon

rind of 1 orange

1-oz. box whole cloves

1-oz. box cinnamon sticks

2 bay leaves

1. Pour water into 2-qt. slow cooker so it’s half to
⅔
full.

2. Add all other ingredients. Stir well.

3. Cover. Turn cooker to High until mixture boils.

4. Remove lid. Reduce heat to Low. Let mixture simmer and fill your home with good smells. Add water as needed.

Note:

Do not leave your house with Christmas Smells cooking. This needs continual checking so it doesn’t boil dry.

Make this cookbook your own

Most of the recipes in this collection are flexible and forgiving. You’ll notice that most of them offer a range of cooking times; many of the recipes suggest optional ingredients.

Make this book your own. Write in it. Note the cooking time that worked for you. Star the recipe you liked. If you added or subtracted ingredients, write them in the neighboring column. Flip to the Index and put a big dot next to a recipe you especially liked. Then you can spot it at a glance when you’re looking for cooking inspiration.

One more thing

These recipes work at any time of the year! Don’t restrict them to your holiday table.

Tips for Using Your Slow Cooker: A Friendly
Holiday
Appliance

1. What to buy

•
A good standard size for a household of four is a 4-quart slow cooker.

But holiday-time may be the perfect opportunity to add to your slow-cooker collection. Because these babies are so absolutely useful and relieve so much hosting tension, I recommend: