Fix-It and Forget-It Holiday Main Dishes and Sides (7 page)

Minestra Di Ceci

Jeanette Oberholtzer

Manheim, PA

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 25 minutes

Soaking Time: 8 hours, or overnight

Cooking Time: 5½-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.

1 lb. dry chickpeas

1 sprig fresh rosemary

10 leaves fresh sage

2 Tbsp. salt

1-2 large garlic cloves, minced

olive oil

1 cup uncooked small pasta, your choice of shape,
or
uncooked penne

1. Wash chickpeas. Place in slow cooker. Cover with water. Stir in rosemary, sage, and salt. Soak 8 hours, or overnight.
   
2. Drain water. Remove herbs.
   
3. Refill slow cooker with peas and fresh water to 1” above peas.
   
4. Cover. Cook on Low 5 hours.
   
5. Sauté garlic in olive oil in skillet until clear.
   
6. Purée half of peas, along with several cups of broth from cooker, in blender. Return purée to slow cooker.
   
7. Add garlic and oil.
   
8. Boil pasta in saucepan until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain. Add to beans.
   
9. Cover. Cook on High 30-60 minutes, or until pasta is tender and heated through, but not mushy.
   

Variation:

Add ½ tsp. black pepper in Step 1, if you like.

Sides

Easy Flavor-Filled Green Beans

Paula Showalter

Weyers Cave, VA

Makes 10 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3- to 3½-qt.

2 qts.,
or
4 14½-oz. cans, green beans, drained

⅓ cup chopped onions

4-oz. can mushrooms, drained

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

3 Tbsp. butter

pepper to taste

1. Combine beans, onions, and mushrooms in slow cooker.
   
2. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
   
3. Dot with butter.
   
4. Sprinkle with pepper.
   
5. Cover. Cook on Low 2-4 hours, or until onions are tender.
   
6. Stir just before serving.
   

Baked Corn

Velma Stauffer
, Akron, PA

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes

Cooking Time: 3¾ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 2-qt.

1 qt. fresh,
or
2 1-lb. bags frozen, corn

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. salt

1 cup milk

⅛ tsp. pepper

2 tsp. oil

3 Tbsp. sugar

3 Tbsp. flour

1. Combine all ingredients well in greased slow cooker.
   
2. Cover. Cook on High 3 hours and then on Low 45 minutes.
   

Tip:

If you use home-grown sweet corn, you could reduce the amount of sugar.

Quick Broccoli Fix

Willard E. Roth
, Elkhart, IN

Makes 6 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 5-6 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

1 lb. fresh,
or
frozen, broccoli, cut up

10¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup plain yogurt

½ lb. sliced fresh mushrooms

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese,
divided

1 cup crushed saltine crackers

sliced almonds,
optional

1. Microwave broccoli for 3 minutes. Place in greased slow cooker.
   
2. Combine soup, mayonnaise, yogurt, mushrooms, and ½ cup cheese in mixing bowl. Pour over broccoli. Stir together gently but well
   
3. Cover. Cook on Low 5-6 hours.
   
4. Top with remaining cheese and crackers for last half hour of cooking time.
   
5. If you wish, top with sliced almonds, for a special touch, before serving.
   

Orange-Glazed Carrots

Barbara Smith

Bedford, PA

Makes 3-4 servings

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 2½ -3½ hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 2½-qt.

3 cups thinly sliced carrots

2 cups water

¼ tsp. salt

2-3 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. orange marmalade

2 Tbsp. chopped pecans,
optional

1. Combine carrots, water, and salt in slow cooker.
   
2. Cover. Cook on High 2-3 hours, or until carrots are as tender as you like them.
   
3. Drain. Stir in butter and marmalade.
   
4. Cover. Cook on High 30 minutes.
   

Sweet-Sour Red Cabbage

Kaye Taylor

Florissant, MO

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 30-45 minutes

Cooking Time: 3-4 hours

Ideal slow cooker size: 3½-qt.

4 slices bacon, diced

¼ cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp. flour

1 tsp. salt

⅛ tsp. pepper

½ cup water

¼ cup vinegar

1 medium head red cabbage shredded (6-8 cups)

1 small onion, finely chopped

1. Sauté bacon in skillet until crisp. Set bacon aside. Reserve 1 Tbsp. drippings.
   
2. Combine 1 Tbsp. bacon drippings in slow cooker with sugar, flour, salt, and pepper. Stir in water and vinegar.
   
3. Add cabbage and onion. Mix together well.
   
4. Cover. Cook on Low 3-4 hours, or until cabbage and onion are as tender as you like them.
   
5. Sprinkle cooked bacon on top just before serving.