Fix-It and Forget-It Revised and Updated: 700 Great Slow Cooker Recipes (27 page)

8 cups water

1 onion, finely chopped

2 bay leaves

½ tsp. ground thyme

½ tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. salt

½ tsp. lemon pepper

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 ham hock,
or
1 lb. ham pieces

1. Soak beans in water overnight. Strain out stones, but reserve liquid.

2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours. Debone meat and cut into bite-sized pieces. Set ham aside.

4. Purée three-fourths of soup in blender in small batches. When finished blending, stir in meat.

Variation:

Add small chunks of cooked potatoes when stirring in ham pieces after blending.

Vegetable Bean Soup

Kathi Rogge

Alexandria, IN

Makes 6-8 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 5-8 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 5-qt.

6 cups cooked beans: navy, pinto, Great Northern, etc.

1 meaty ham bone

1 cup cooked ham, diced

¼ tsp. garlic powder

1 small bay leaf

1 cup cubed potatoes

1 cup chopped onions

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped carrots

water

1. Combine all ingredients except water in slow cooker. Add water to about 2½ inches from top.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 5-8 hours.

3. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Caribbean-Style Black Bean Soup

Sheryl Shenk

Harrisonburg, VA

Makes 8-10 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Soaking Time: 8 hours or overnight

Cooking Time: 4-10 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 5-qt.

1 lb. dried black beans, washed and stones removed

3 onions, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 ham hock,
or
¾ cup cubed ham

1 Tbsp. oil

1 Tbsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 Tbsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

3 cups water

2 Tbsp. vinegar

1. Soak beans overnight in 4 quarts water. Drain.

2. Combine beans, onions, green pepper, garlic, ham, oil, cumin, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and 3 cups fresh water. Stir well.

3. Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours, or on High 4-5 hours.

4. For a thick soup, remove half of cooked bean mixture and purée until smooth in blender or mash with potato masher. Return to cooker. If you like a soupier soup, leave as is.

5. Add vinegar and stir well. Debone ham, cut into bite-sized pieces, and return to soup.

Serving suggestion: Serve in soup bowls with a dollop of
sour cream
in the middle of each individual serving, topped with fresh
cilantro
.

Slow-Cooker Black Bean Chili

Mary Seielstad

Sparks, NV

Makes 8 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 6-8 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4½-qt.

1-lb. pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch chunks

16-oz. jar thick, chunky salsa

3 15-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained

½ cup chicken broth

1 medium red bell pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 tsp. ground cumin

2-3 tsp. chili powder

1-1½ tsp. dried oregano

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 6-8 hours, or until pork is tender.

Serving suggestion: Garnish individual servings with
sour cream
.

Katelyn’s Black Bean Soup

Katelyn Bailey

Mechanicsburg, PA

Makes 4-6 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 6-8 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 4-qt.

⅓ cup chopped onions

1 garlic clove, minced

1-2 Tbsp. oil

2 15½-oz. cans black beans, undrained

1 cup water

1 chicken bouillon cube

½ cup diced, cooked, smoked ham

½ cup diced carrots

1 dash,
or
more, cayenne pepper

1-2 drops,
or
more, Tabasco sauce

1. Sauté onion and garlic in oil in saucepan.

2. Purée or mash contents of one can of black beans. Add to sautéed ingredients.

3. Combine all ingredients except sour cream in slow cooker.

4. Cover. Cook on Low 6-8 hours.

Serving suggestion: Add dollop of
sour cream
to each individual bowl before serving.

Baked Bean Soup

Maryann Markano

Wilmington, DE

Makes 5-6 servings

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 4-6 hours

Ideal slow-cooker size: 2½-qt.

28-oz. can baked beans

6 slices browned bacon, chopped

2 Tbsp. bacon drippings

2 Tbsp. finely chopped onions

14½-oz. can stewed tomatoes

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. vinegar

1 tsp. seasoning salt

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 4-6 hours.