Fix-It and Forget-It Christmas Cookbook (74 page)

sour cream

1. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour. Add milk and half-and-half.

2. Continue stirring until sauce thickens and becomes smooth.

3. Stir in remaining ingredients (except baked potatoes, shredded cheese, and sour cream). Pour into slow cooker.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 1-2 hours.

5. Serve over baked potatoes. Top with shredded cheese and sour cream.

Ham and Lima Beans

Charlotte Shaffer

East Earl, PA

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Soaking Time: 8 hours, or overnight

Cooking Time: 4-7 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. dry lima beans

1 onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

½ lb. ham, finely cubed

1 cup water

10¾-oz. can tomato soup

1. Cover beans with water. Soak 8 hours or overnight. Drain.

2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 7 hours or on High 4 hours, or until vegetables are as tender as you like them.

4. If mixture begins to dry out, add ½ cup water or more and stir well.

Serving suggestion: We think this is delicious served with hot
cornbread
.

Black Beans with Ham

Colleen Heatwole

Burton, MI

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Soaking Time: 8 hours or overnight

Cooking Time: 10-12 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.

4 cups dry black beans

1-2 cups diced ham

1 tsp. salt,
optional

1 tsp. cumin

½-1 cup minced onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 bay leaves

1 qt. diced tomatoes

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1. Cover black beans with water and soak 8 hours, or overnight, in slow cooker.

2. Drain and pour beans back into slow cooker.

3. Add all remaining ingredients. Stir well. Cover with water.

4. Cover cooker. Cook on Low 10-12 hours, or until beans are as tender as you like them.

Note:

This is our favorite black bean recipe. We usually serve it over rice. It’s good any time of the year, but we make it especially frequently in the winter.

Ham ’n’ Cabbage Stew

Dede Peterson

Rapid City, SD

Makes 4-5 servings

Prep. Time: 25-30 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

½ lb. cooked ham, cubed

½ cup diced onions

1 garlic clove, minced

4-oz. can sliced mushrooms, undrained

4 cups shredded cabbage

2 cups sliced carrots

¼ tsp. pepper

¼ tsp. caraway seeds

⅔ cup beef broth

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

2 Tbsp. water

1. Combine all ingredients except cornstarch and water in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 4-6 hours, or until vegetables are cooked as you like them.

3. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch into water until smooth. Stir into slow cooker during last hour to thicken Stew slightly.

Ham and Corn Slow-Cooker Casserole

Vicki Dinkel

Sharon Springs, KS

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-8 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1 stick (8 Tbsp.) butter

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

½ cup flour

½ tsp. paprika

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

¼ tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dry mustard

4 cups milk

8-oz. can cream-style corn

2 cups diced, slightly cooked potatoes

4 cups diced cooked ham

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Sauté green pepper and onion in butter in skillet.

2. Stir in flour and seasonings.

3. Gradually stir in milk and cook over medium heat. Stir continually until thickened. Pour into slow cooker.

4. Stir in remaining ingredients.

5. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours or on High 4 hours.

Cheesy Ham and Broccoli

Dolores Kratz

Souderton, PA

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 25-30 minutes

Cooking Time: 6-7 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.

1 bunch fresh broccoli

1½ cups chopped ham

¾ cup uncooked rice

4-oz. can mushrooms, drained

1 small onion, chopped

10¾-oz. can cheddar cheese soup

¾ cup water

¼ cup half-and-half,
or
milk

dash of pepper

½-1 can chow mein noodles

1. Cut broccoli into pieces and steam for 4 minutes in microwave. Place in slow cooker.

2. Add remaining ingredients to slow cooker except noodles. Mix well.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 6-7 hours.

4. Just before serving, sprinkle with noodles.

Serving suggestion: This is a good main dish, with a
tossed salad
or
applesauce
as a go-along.