Mom's Pork Crockpot Roast

I've realized with my posts that I am in need of a better camera..as far as for food photography anyway:) Ignore the dim lighting and my lack of photography skills if you can..because this is a great stand by recipe for a pork roast. Can't take credit for this one though..my mom made this roast this week for supper, just like she has many times before and it was, as always, deeelicious. It's hard to beat a roast that has been cooking all day in a crock pot. It makes the meat really tender and these few ingredients my mom adds to it makes it melt-in-your-mouth good. Try this, I dare ya! You will be glad you did!

Ingredients:

4-5 lb loin end pork roast (*can use any cut of pork--shoulder, loin, or whatever is on sale:))

Salt, Pepper

1 large clove garlic

1 onion sliced into rings, not chopped

2 bay leaves

1 whole clove

1 c hot water

2 T soy sauce

Directions:

Rub pork roast with salt/pepper. Make tiny slits in meat and insert slivers of garlic. Place roast in broiler pan and broil 15-20 mins to remove excess fat.

Put 1 sliced onion in bottom of Crock Pot. Add browned pork roast and remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on LOW until done-about 10 hours.

To thicken gravy: Remove roast to serving platter. Blend 2 T cornstarch w/2 T cold water to form paste. Set on HIGH and pour in paste. Stir well and let come to boil-about 15 mins-until thickened. (depending on how much liquid is left in the crock, you may need to continue to add more cornstarch mix to reach desired thickness).

Crock Pot Beans

Wahooooo it's football season!! My family and I have always been fans of football, so Fall ties with Summer for my favorite time of year, because of that reason. Trevor is starting his last season playing for USF, so we went to his 3rd game this past weekend @ the USF stadium.

It's tradition for parents/fans to tailgate in the parking lot before the home games and bring whatever food/beverages you'd like. We brought these Crock Pot Beans and the crock pot was scraped clean before we headed into the game. Several people commented on how good they were. If looking for a recipe to bring to a pot luck type event this is a good choice...(it's especially a hit with the guys!)

Ingredients:

1 pkg. bacon, cooked
1lb ground beef, browned

1 onion, chopped

1 c ketchup

3/4 c brown sugar, packed

1/2 c vinegar

1/4 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp worchestershire

1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can chick peas, drained
1 can butter beans, drained
1 can dark kidney beans, drained
1 large can Bush's baked beans
Crock pot















Directions:
1. Brown onion, burger, bacon. Drain. Chop bacon into 1/2 inch squares















2. Add ALL ingredients to crock pot. Stir to combine.

3. Cook on low for about 8 hours (I just plugged it in overnight!)

EASY!

Olive Chili

Today was a "chili" day for August, so we had chili for supper tonight. I hope "You Love" this chili as much as "Olive" this chili...(super cheesy, I know, but really there are olives in it). You may be thinking..."Olives? And Chili? And Mushrooms??" (that's what Trevor says about it), but I promise you it's good! It's a sweet chili, because my fam is pretty wussy when it comes to spice, and it's loaded with a lot of 'chunky' stuff!

Ingredients:

1 can tomatoes

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can cannellini beans, drained (for these first 2 cans of beans you can use any kind you like!)

1 can Bush's pork n' beans

1 lb browned hamburger

1 medium onion, chopped

green/black olives or both

mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp cumin

1 1/2 tsp chili powder (more to taste)
pepper to taste

salt to taste (I usually leave this out)

shredded cheese/sour cream for topping (optional)

Directions:

1. Throw it all in the crock pot!! Put on Low for @ least 8 hrs (8-12hrs)

We had this chili with some sweet corn from my brother-in-law's parent's garden and "Old Mom's Cukes." -->(Recipe for the cukes is posted earlier)