Crockpot Cassoulet

I have been wanting to make Cassoulet for a long time.. its a hearty slow cooked bean dish originating in the southwest of France.

Being that I have been working constantly (hence the lagging on this blog) I found a quick and easy 4 1/2hour Cassoulet recipe.

Here's the how to:

*Dice up one medium onion and saute in a large skillet with one tablespoon of olive oil.

*Chop up about 4 boneless,skinless chicken thighs

*Add in 1/4 lb of turkey sausage.(However..I miss read this and I ended up buying Italian sausage and I added more like 1/2 lb and it was fabulous).

*Add the chicken and sausage to the skillet along with 3 cloves of garlic..

*Cook until browned. Remove from heat

*Add 4 tablespoons of tomato paste and 2 tablespoons of water...mix well to evenly distribute

*Put in crockpot

*Next add 3 cans of Great Northern beans..rinsed well and drained.

*Cook in crockpot on low for 4ish hoursWhen its ready chop up some parsley and sprinkle seasoned bread crumbs over it.

Enjoy... I really loved this dish..in fact I think it would be way better if you don't even use the turkey sausage and go for the Italian sausage..it has much more flavor..you can taste the fennel..its wonderful.

In other news, Lily and I visited a ranch where my sister in law has her horse. Lily was so thrilled to be going as she loves horses.

We will be going hopefully every Saturday (weather permiting) so Lily can help out and maybe feed the horses or brush them or any thing she can. Eventually Justin and I may allow her to have riding lessons..Here are some pictures I took..

She was so happy and very brave too! I was intimidated to say the least..I was terrified a horse would bite me when I fed some carrots...Lily had no care in the world. Didn't even think of that. Litia,(my sister in law) showed Lily the proper way to do it).

Our Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was very mellow and relaxing. We really got excited because it rained all day and was kinda chilly. It was pretty much close to a perfect day with the exception of missing family...

I made a few new recipes this year for an appetizer and dessert. Dinner..we were pretty simple..turkey and stuffing. No one wanted potatoes or cranberry sauce....whatever..less work for me.

I made a artichoke spinach dip and it was so good!

Here's the how to:

*Cut up 14oz jar of marinated artichoke hearts..throw in a bowl

*Chop up 10 oz. frozen chopped spinach..toss in bowl

*Add in 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese

*Toss in 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

*Add 3/4 cup mayo

*1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

*Mix up

*Put in a pie plate

and bake until heated through, maybe 20 minutes on 350.

.

(However, my turkey was in and set on 325 so I put it in there at that temperature and it was fine for 20 minutes.

I bought a loaf of french bread and a bag of white corn tortilla chips for the dip. I must say the chips were far superior ..

the bread was tasty, however way too dense and filled you up too quickly..(which I guess could be a good thing..)

I had a 19lb turkey. Put the giblets and neck in a pot with water covering it and set it on low..through out the process I added the drippings to the pan to make gravy.

I created a herb butter compound and that is what I basted the bird with.

In the cavity I put in carrots, celery and tarragon.

Here's the how to for the butter:

Gather these things..(one stick of butter, fresh, organic tarragon, rosemary and chives)

*Melt butter and dice the herbs and put in butter. Add a few cracks of black pepper and we're good to go.

Paint on the mixture all over the bird and the leave whatever is left on top of the stove..the butter will stay melted from the heat of the oven.

Next up..stuffing...

My mother in law told me how to make this years ago...I love this..I would be totally content just eating this covered in the gravy.

First you need to tear up a loaf of white bread. (The kids always do this for me, they love it

Next...add in a stick of butter, bunch of diced onion and celery, cook for a few then add in a handful of raisins and one apple diced..(skin on).

Now add in the bread and some poultry seasoning. If needed add some more butter...I think I used 2 sticks..(yeah I know not figure friendly..but c'mon its thanksgiving...!)

Cook until browned and some parts are crispy..so good!

Finally the dessert. I made a cheesecake pumpkin swirl...

And unfortunately I don't have the photos for the step by step guide because Jack and Lily were fighting the whole time over who got to add this or stir that so I was being the referee instead of the photographer.

Here is the end result and it is so good..just think cheesecake with a hint of pumpkin and spice. Yum. Justin doesn't like pumpkin pie so this worked out good.

And lastly we were feeling so festive yesterday

and with all of us bugging Justin, our holiday tree went up, how could he say no to these faces?It was fun, the kids had a blast and all the presents are wrapped and underneath. Jack woke up this morning shouting Santa came! I guess he forgot that I put those there last night. Maybe its not such a good idea to put them there a month early. Oh well, its pretty and I am done, yay!

Best ever potatoes...

I got this from one of my very favorite guys in the world. Not Justin or Jack however..my third favorite guy...

Sam Zien...a.k.a.' Sam The Cooking Guy'

This is just called 'Roasted Potatoes'...which really doesn't do it any justice whatsoever.

Really it should be called 'The best ever, make your house smell so good it seems like you were cooking all day, melt in your mouth and leave you longing for more potatoes' Yeah..that sounds good.

Here's the how to:

*First get a bunch of those small red potatoes and quarter them and toss in a large bowl.

*Next, cut up a red onion(I used half of one, but next time I will use a whole red onion and cut it in bigger pieces).

*Get 4 cloves of garlic chop it up good and small

*Grab the rosemary and starting from the top run your fingers down the stem and the leaves will fall off..then chop it up..I used alot..like maybe 5 stems of fresh rosemary.

*Drizzle in maybe 4 tablespoons of olive oil

*Mix it up in the bowl so everything is coated..add a few cracks of black pepper and a pinch of salt.

*Pop in a 400 degree oven for 30ish minutes.

*Next..put the potatoes on a dish and bring on the cheese!

Feta baby..

The more the merrier!

It is so good, especially after the feta melts a bit.

You will get rave reviews...

Pinky swear.

This And That.....

I know, I know...its been like for ever since I posted..seems like the computer mouse has spider webs! haha

My sister even yelled at me today!

I have a few things to post..nothing too fancy..but a few simpletons that were pretty tasty nonetheless...

Cheeseburger Pie...

* Brown up some ground beef.and 1 onion diced, and set aside...

*Chop up 2 or 3 pickles (Jack loves chopping stuff..)

*Add the pickles and then some ketchup and mustard..(can't tell you how much cause I don't measure...just what ever looks good.)* Put beef mixture in casserole dish

* Add some shredded sharp cheddar over the top

* Put over the mixture one pie crust and then poke some holes...

* Cook on 350 for maybe 20 minutes or so...* Enjoy....

Then I made this salad...

I bought some bagged lettuce and mixed herb stuff at Trader Joe's..(organic) washed it and tossed it in a large bowl...

*Cooked up some chicken on the grill pan which was previously marinated in oil and herbs..then chop it up..

*Add some Herb Feta

* Some nice, huge, croutons...

*tomatoes..

*Pomegranate

*And to top it off some Cranberry Walnut Gorgonzola Dressing

So good...

However, after realizing that the pomegranate had those tiny seeds, I didn't add them, we just gobbled them up prior to dining on the salad The dressing was superb..I highly recommend it..

**Everything was purchased from my favorite store..so I gotta give a shout out to them....Trader Joe's!

Ciao!