It is chili season. No doubt about it. Just this last weekend, while in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, at my family—the Ensminger family –reunion, we enjoyed chili while the wind howled and snow accumulated on the slopes. [Read more…]
Texas Style Soup, cooked in your slow cooker, is the perfect dish to make today. With so much of the country, (us included,) in the grips of major snowstorms, we could not resist the opportunity to share this “pantry-friendly” recipe on KSHB Kansas City Live today. It was such a fun show and in case you missed it, you can watch it now!
Do you always get the best flavor from the dishes you prepare in the slow cooker? We can help you and there is still time to register for our next cooking class, Slow Cooker Secrets that Make Sensational Suppers. It will be March 25, 2013 at the Culinary Center of Kansas City. We have lots of tips and new recipes to share with you in the class. Register now, so you don’t miss out.
We are thrilled to announce that we are sending a special gift to two of our blog friends. Congratulations to Kristi O’Neal of Olathe, KS and Monique Faros of Leawood, KS. They are both winners as they use their slow cooker and they won the books at a contest we held at our slow cooker workshop. Soon they will each receive a copy of our newest slow cooker cookbook, Triple Slow Cooker Entertaining, as well as two of our other books!
This soup really is one of our favorites and, finally for those of you at the slow cooker workshop a couple weeks ago, here is the recipe you have been waiting for. Our families love it and we bet yours will, too! [Read more…]
We have a treat for our die-hard regular readers. First, a big thank you for your loyalty and support and second we are going to share recipes with you that we shared at a conference we spoke at this weekend.
We were thrilled to present the workshop The Healthy Slow Cooker at the Church of the Resurrection Women’s Conference. It was great to meet so many of you and we loved talking about family dinners and sharing tips on how to use your slow cooker to make healthy meals. (Here is the tip sheet we shared at the workshop on healthy slow cooking.)
Everyday meals can be scrumptious and healthy, and if you use your slow cooker, it can be especially easy. You can come home after a busy day to a fantastic meal—and avoid those higher calorie restaurant meals. These three recipes are a great start toward delicious family meals. [Read more…]
“Surviving the Holidays.” Do you ever feel that is your mantra this time of year? Too many years that is my thought—and each year I try so hard to change it to “Enjoying the Holidays!” I actually cherish holidays—and really do love the baking, decorating, cooking, family time with laughter, gift giving, worshiping, and partying—it is just that some years, time slips by and it is a struggle to get it all done. I count on recipes, like this one for Praline Pumpkin Cheesecake, that you can make head, freeze, and serve as a show stopping dessert or gift. It is the perfect dessert to take to that Thanksgiving gathering and the pumpkin, brown sugar and pecan flavors make it ideal to serve anytime throughout the holidays.
Grab the slow cooker—and get ready for compliments. It is so easy. Last summer I talked about making an appetizer cheesecake in the slow cooker (Pesto and Bruschetta Cheesecake). The only challenge to baking a cheesecake in the slow cooker is to find the 7-inch springform pan. Once you get the pan, you are ready to go! Make it now—and freeze it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Holiday Open House or as a gift for friends and neighbors. [Read more…]
Each summer I dream of casual gatherings—wine and appetizers aplenty, perfect weather, fireflies darting (but not bugs biting)—out on my patio. Reality check! This summer it is too hot to enjoy the outside. It is too hot to cook. Who wants to turn on the oven and heat up the house? OK–it’s time for me to stop complaining. Slow cooker to the rescue and one of my very favorite appetizers. Pesto and Bruschetta Cheesecake is so good you just might forget about the intense heat! [Read more…]
