Breakfast Apple Cobbler (aka Apple Brown Betty)

4-6 medium-sized apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups granola cereal
1/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Rub down inside of Crock-Pot with butter (not margarine) or spray with non-stick spray. Place apples in slow cooker and mix in remaining ingredients. Drizzle melted butter on top. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours, or overnight (alternately, cook on high 2-3 hours). Serve with milk or coffee or pour warm milk directly over it. Also,  ice cream or yogurt topping is good.

Makes 4-6 serving

*The only way this isn't good is if you absolutely just hate granola! My husband isn't fond of granola and even as he complained about not liking granola, he was scooping up his second helping and ate the leftovers during the day. 

Alternatively, this can be cooked in a conventional oven at 350 for 30 to 45 minutes, until apples are tender.

German Potato Salad

My husband was stationed in Germany when he was in the service. He developed a taste for some German dishes. When we go to a German town up in the mountains of our home state, he always orders the same thing.

I decided to surprise him with bratwurst, sour kraut and German Potato Salad. Though far from authentic, he liked it!!! Don't you just love it when that happens!?

 

GERMAN POTATO SALAD (crockpot)

2 potatoes, sliced
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1/4 cup diced green bell peppers
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Chopped parsley (for garnish)

Slice bacon, cooked and crumbled (for garnish) Combine all ingredients except parsley and bacon. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours in crockpot. Add sugar if needed. Garnish with bacon and parsley.

German Potato Salad (Microwave)

Ingredients

    * 2 pounds red potatoes, cooked and thinly sliced
    * 3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
    * 1/2 cup chopped onion
    * 1/2 cup chopped celery
    * 6 bacon strips, diced
    * 2 tablespoons sugar
    * 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
    * 2 tablespoons vinegar
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 1/8 teaspoon pepper
    * 3/4 cup milk

Note: Potatoes can be cooked by adding 3 tbsp water, cover and cook in microwave 4 1/2 minutes.

Directions

    In a large bowl, combine potatoes, eggs, onion and celery; set aside. Place bacon in a microwave-safe bowl; cover with a paper towel and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir. Microwave 3-4 minutes longer or until the bacon is crisp, stirring after each minute. Remove bacon to paper towel to drain; reserve 2 tablespoons drippings. Stir sugar, flour, vinegar, salt and pepper into drippings until smooth; gradually add milk. Microwave on high for 5-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes until thickened. Pour over potato mixture; toss. Top with bacon. Serve immediately.

Soup!!! (From the Freezer to the Microwave)

Rainy days in the spring and early summer is still a good time for soup. Here is more from my "From the Freezer to the Microwave" cookbook. As is always the case with the pages of this series, click on the photo and then click again to make it legible.

Baked Beans in the Microwave

My husband wanted baked beans. I didn't have any, so I made some. He loved them!

2 (15.5 oz.) can white kidney beans
1 med. onion, chopped
1/2 c. brown sugar
4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
3 tbsp. ketchup
1/4 cup of honey
1 tsp. prepared mustard

Heat beans in microwave for 2 minutes. Microwave chopped onion for 2 minutes. Microwave bacon 4 minutes (1 minute per strip)and crumble. Add onion and bacon to beans. Add ketchup, brown sugar, honey and mustard. Microwave on high for 2 more minutes.

Tomato-Vegetable Soup and Clam Chowder - From the Freezer to the Microwave

Here's another page from my "From the Freezer to the Microwave" Cookbook. As usual, click on the picture and then click on it again to be able to read it comfortably.

Apple Cider Crisp

 6 small apples, pared and cut into thin slices

1 c. brown sugar

2 tbsp. apple cider

1 c. uncooked rolled oats

1 c. walnuts, chopped

Instructions

Pour brown sugar and cider over sliced apples. Sprinkle rolled oats over top and fold in well. Put microwave oven on high for 5 minutes, then fold in walnuts and serve warm or chilled.

Cheesy Squash Casserole

Cheesy Squash Casserole

Ingredients

    * 6 medium yellow summer squash, thinly sliced
    * 1 large Vidalia onion, thinly sliced
    * 1 tablespoon melted butter
    * 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
    * 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar
    * 1/2 cup sour cream
    * Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    * 1 sleeve crackers, crushed medium to fine (recommended:            Ritz)or herbed bread crumbs (or croutons, crushed)

Directions

Cook squash and onion in the microwave on high for 5 to 8 minutes (depending on the wattage of your microwave and how much squash you decide to cook)

Mix together the squash and onion mixture with parmesan, cheddar, sour cream, salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees or used the convection setting on your microwave oven. Pour the squash mixture into an oven-safe casserole dish. Sprinkle crushed crackers over the top and drizzle with melted butter. Bake 5 to 10 minutes or until topping is golden brown.

Note: I used 15 small squash because I was taking this dish to a family reunion, but I used the recipe "called for" amount of all other ingredients. I used a small bunch of green spring onions instead of vidalia. I also used some of the greens to add a little color. I used both ritz crackers and crushed herbed croutons. It was a hit!

A good family reunion / picnic side dish

Grapes Romanoff

1 lb green seedless grapes
1 lb red seedless grapes

         -or-
1 lb purple seedless grapes
1 pt sour cream
brown sugar
1-2 t vanilla

Wash and dry grapes. Remove from stems and place in large bowl. In smaller bowl, combine sour cream and add brown sugar till mixture is the color of sand. Add vanilla.

Pour sour cream mixture over grapes and stir to coat. Chill and serve.

My picture may not look that appetizing but it was very good. (I shouldn't have put it in a white dish for the pictures sake)

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini bread is one of the most flavorful breads you can make. Surprisingly, it can be made in the crock pot.

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

2/3 cups vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups finely grated zucchinis

2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup raisins.

Directions:

Mix eggs, sugar, and vegetable oil together in a small bowl. Add flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon to the mixture stir well. Add the vanilla extract, raisins, nuts and zucchini and stir until mixed. Grease and flour a Crockpot cake pan and pour in mixture. Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours. Let sit 10 minutes and enjoy.

NOTE: You don't have to have a crock pot cake pan to cook cakes or bread in your crock pot.  You can use an ordinary cake pan or other dish that fits into your crock base.  It's just nice having the vented lid which means you don't need to add paper towel over your cake when cooking to absorb the moisture.  With it having a lid you can use it also to carry your cake in.

Mexican Meatballs - From The Freezer to the Microwave

Here's another recipe from my old cook book "From the Freezer to the Microwave". Click on the picture until it's large enough to read (twice usually).

Scalloped Potatoes (in traditional cream sauce)

Scalloped potatoes with basic white sauce, chopped onion, parsley, and sliced potatoes. Add cheese and bread crumbs to top this casserole, if desired.

Ingredients:

    * 1 to 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced onion

    * 4 1/2 to 5 cups thinly sliced potatoes

    * 2 teaspoons salt, divided

    * 3 tablespoons butter

    * 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon flour

    * 1 3/4 cups milk

    * 1/8 teaspoon pepper

    * 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

    * 1/2 to 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

    * paprika

Preparation:

In a sauce pan, melt butter, blend in flour, pepper, and a teaspoon of salt. Add milk and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Be careful not to scorch. Taste cream sauce before continuing to make sure it doesn't taste scorched. Stir in parsley.

Layer potatoes and onion in the crockpot. Pour Cream mixture over all. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours. The last 20 to 30 minutes, sprinkle with paprika, add cheese on top and/or bread crumbs if desired.  Ready when cheese is melted.

-or- in regular oven

Preparation:

Bring 2 inches of water to boil in a pan; add onions, sliced potatoes and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and boil for 5 minutes; drain. Melt butter, blend in flour, pepper, and remaining teaspoon of salt. Add milk and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in parsley. Combine vegetables and cream sauce; place in a shallow casserole and bake, uncovered, at 400° for about 35 ti 45 minutes. Sprinkle cheese and paprika over potatoes and bake 3 to 6 minutes longer, until cheese is melted. Serves 4 to 5.

Baked Apples

Ingredients

    * 2 apples
    * 2 tablespoons brown sugar
    * 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    * 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    * 2 teaspoons butter

Directions

   1. Core the apples, leaving the bottom intact.
   2. In a bowl, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spoon the sugar mixture into the apples and set a teaspoon (or more to your taste) of butter on top of each apple. Place the apples in a deep casserole dish and cover.
   3. Microwave for 3 1/2 to 4 minutes or until tender. Let the apples sit for a couple minutes before serving.


You can use additional fruits such as dates, cranberries, cherries and blueberries. You can also used canned or fresh pineapple.

If you prefer a more natural apple flavor, you can simply put a pat of butter into the cored apple before microwaving. When it's done, lightly sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar (just as if you were making cinnamon toast).

OR

Try putting some oranage marmalade, sprinkle some ground cinnamon and nutmeg and sprinkle some finely chopped walnuts or pecans on the cooked apple.

Here's a different version of baked apple:

Ingredients

    * 3 medium tart apples, cored
    * 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    * 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
    * 1/3 cup ketchup
    * 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
    * 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
    * 1/4 cup water

Directions

   1. Cut apples in half; brush with 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Place in an ungreased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Combine the brown sugar, ketchup, butter, horseradish and remaining lemon juice. Top each apple half with 2 tablespoons ketchup mixture. Pour water around apples.
   2. Cook in microwave as directed above or bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sauce

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sundae Topping

1/2 stick butter
2/3 cup milk chocolate chips
3 tablespoons peanut butter

Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe mixing bowl.  Microwave on high for 3 to 7 minutes, removing from microwave and stirring every minute, so chocolate doesn’t burn.  Continue until all ingredients are fully melted, and smooth.