October 13, 2011

Croc Pot Ham

Where did I get this recipe: allrecipes.com 

Last Christmas I wanted to make ham, but didn't want to use my oven because I had rolls and other foods I was needing to cook.  I looked on line, and found the above recipe for ham.  Looking at the comments, I quickly realized this was a sure hit.

When I told my wife about this recipe I had found, she was a little nervous.  She loves her ham, and didn't want me to ruin it, especially on Christmas.  I told her about all the reviews, and she was sold.

I made this recipe, and wasn't disappointed.  This seriously, was the best tasting, most moist ham I had ever tasted.

We have used this recipe many times since Christmas, and will continue to use it.

Enjoy!

Croc Pot Ham
Serves a TON

1 (8 pound) Cured, Bone-In Picnic Ham
3 Cups Packed Brown Sugar


NOTE: You can use any sized Ham for this recipe, just make sure it will fit in your Croc Pot. I've gone ahead and added an extra cup of Brown Sugar, because when I made it the first time, it looked like it needed more.

1. Pour 1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar in the Croc Pot.
2. Place Ham, flat-side down in the Croc Pot


NOTE: You may need to trim your ham to fit in the Croc Pot. Whatever you cut off, place around the sides of the Croc Pot.

3. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar over the top of your Ham.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours

Ingredients in Pictures:



If you don't own a Red Croc Pot, you are missing out!

Remember to make sure to buy a Ham that will fit in your Croc Pot

3 Cups of pure magic! :)

This recipe along with the Croc Pot Funeral Potatoes recipe I posted yesterday make a wonderful meal for the entire family to enjoy.  You will have a TON of leftovers!

Let me know how it turns out!

Regards,

Anderson Diner
andersondiner.blogspot.com

October 12, 2011

Croc Pot Funeral Potatoes

Where did I get this Recipe: Mom, Dave and Aunt Liz (with my own twist as usual)

If you haven't noticed by now, I love using my Croc Pot.  Having easy recipes to use is a must with my busy schedule.  Using my Croc Pot has made cooking easier and more enjoyable.  There are so many fantastic, delicious recipes for the Croc Pot.

Living in Arizona, you are always looking for ways to cool your house down.  Using the oven in the summer is not a smart idea.  Having and using a Croc Pot is key.

This recipe is one of my favorites.  For years I have been cooking it in the oven, until I learned you could just as easily cook it in the Croc Pot.  To be honest, it tastes better in the Croc Pot.  I don't know what it is, but the flavor is better.

A very weird name for a very delicious meal!

Croc Pot Funeral Potatoes
Serves 8-10 people

2 lbs Frozen Hash Browns
2 Cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 Cup Grated Mild Cheddar Cheese
1 Pint Sour Cream
2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Cube Melted Butter
Salt & Pepper
Season All
Garlic

Optional:

3/4 Cup Chopped Green Onion


1. Mix 2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup, 1 Pint Sour Cream and 1 Cube Melted Butter in a mixing bowl.
2. Add Salt & Pepper and Season All for flavoring. Feel free to add additional seasonings.
3. Mix well

4. Add 2 Cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese and 1 Cup Mild Cheddar Cheese to mixture.
5. Mix well

6. Start adding the 2 lbs Bag of Hash Browns slowly to make mixing easier.
7. Mix well until all Hash Browns have been added or your desired consistency has been achieved. 

Optional: You can add the 3/4 Cup Green Onion at this point if you want to.

8. Spray Croc Pot with Pam Spray generously.
9. Add mixture into Croc Pot.

10. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 3 hours.

Ingredients in Pictures:


Can't have a Croc Pot recipe without the Croc Pot!

Be sure to coat the Croc Pot generously with Pam
You will thank me later when it is time to clean up

Ore-ida is the brand I prefer - seems to cook better than  other brands

Using 2 Cups of Sharp Cheese is key to making this recipe
I use Tillamook brand, and nothing else

You can choose to add 1 Cup of Mild Cheddar Cheese
 I do because I like my potatoes to be extra cheesy!

Sour Cream just makes the world a better place

You can also add Cream of Celery or Cream of Mushroom if you're feeling creative

Season All is my seasoning of choice
you can add whatever seasoning your heart desires

Chopped Green Onions add a lot of flavor to this recipe - this is optional

This recipe will become an instant favorite in your homes.  I know it is not the most healthy, but I can promise you it is one of the most delicious.

Stay tuned for my recipe for Croc Pot Ham - an amazing food to have with your Croc Pot Funeral Potatoes.

Regards,

Anderson Diner
andersondiner.blogspot.com

October 3, 2011

Croc-Pot Pot Roast

Where did I get this recipe: My Mother (with my own little twist)

One of the best memories of my childhood was coming home from church on a Sunday afternoon, and smelling the pot roast cooking on the stove.  The entire house would smell so delicious.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how to make my Mother’s Pot Roast with my own little twist.  With each passing year I have tried to make my Pot Roast the best it can possibly be.  

My brothers have their own take on this recipe, but I think mine is the best! (Those sounds you hear are my brothers arguing with that last sentence!) Actually, my brother Dave makes a mean Pot Roast.  I can only hopes to one day have mine taste like his.

Maybe if we are lucky, my brothers will share their Pot Roast recipes on this blog…

This recipe is SUPER easy.  If you have a Croc-Pot, this is a perfect Sunday afternoon meal for you!

Croc-Pot Pot Roast
Serves 8-10 People

1 2-3 lb. Chuck Roast
1 Yellow Onion
2 Packets Lipton Onion Soup Mix
4 Beef Bouillon Cubes
1 bag Miniature Carrots
Water
Season All

1. Place 4 Beef Bouillon Cubes in the bottom of the Croc-Pot.
2. Add 1 Packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix.
3. Add 2 Cups hot water and mix.  Don’t worry if the Beef Bouillon Cubes don’t dissolve, just try and mix everything together the best you can.

4. Slice Yellow Onion in to long pieces and place in the Croc-Pot
5. Add half bag of Baby Carrots and mix.

6. Place Chuck Roast in Croc-Pot and season top.  I like to sprinkle Season All and pepper over the top.
7. Add enough water to cover the entire Chuck Roast.
8. Add remaining Packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix over the top of Chuck Roast -  Add a little bit of water over the top to make sure entire packet is dissolved over Roast.
9. Add remaining half bag of Baby Carrots over top of Roast

10. Cover Croc-Pot and cook on low for 8 hours.

Ingredients in Pictures:


What would one of my recipes be without my trusted Red Croc-Pot?

I was taught the more fat you can see, the more tender your meat will be when cooked

The Yellow Onion really adds a delicious flavor to the Roast

The Beefy Onion flavor is the only one I will buy -  makes the Roast unbelievable!
Remember to add BOTH packets for this recipe!

Remember to add 4 of these magic cubes

Baby Carrots - So sad they are separated from their parents

The magic spice!  Makes everything better - trust me!

Water.....It doesn't have to be bottled water, it  was the only picture I could find

The smell in your house will be AMAZING!  In my book, there is nothing better than having your house smell like good home-cooked food.

Your family will love this recipe, I promise!

Regards,

Anderson Diner
andersondiner.blogspot.com

September 26, 2011

Dave's German Pancakes

Actual picture of one of my German Masterpieces - Please excuse the dirty oven ! :)


Who did I get this recipe From: Dave Anderson 

Every Saturday morning in my home, breakfast HAS always been the same thing: 

German Pancakes

It has been that way for years, and will continue to be that way forever.  My kids are fanatical about German Pancakes.  I don’t know where they get it from.  When they were littler, they would sit by the oven and watch the pancake cook.  Now, they sit at the table and ask me 400 times when it will be done.

When I make this recipe, there are NO leftovers.  Between my wife and 2 girls, we can polish a whole batch with no problems.

This recipe is so simple, yet so delicious!

German Pancakes
Serves 4-5 People (2-3 if you’re really hungry!)

1 Stick Butter
6 Eggs
1 Cup Flour
1 Cup Milk
¼ tsp. Salt

1. Pre-heat oven to 430 degrees

2. Spray 9x13 glass pan with Pam.
3. Cut stick of Butter in half and put in greased pan.
4. Insert pan in oven and let sit until the 1/2 stick of butter has completely melted

5. Mix Milk, Salt, Flour and Eggs in separate bowl.  Don’t over-mix.
6. Melt other ½ stick of Butter in the microwave and mix with other ingredients.

7. Take pan out of oven and shift around so the melted butter touches the majority of the pan.

8. Put mixture into pan and insert pan into the oven.

9. Cook for 12-15 minutes, checking after 10 minutes.

Serve with Powder Sugar and Syrup (I like to drizzle Lemon Juice over mine as well...makes it so much better!)

Ingredients in Pictures:

Using a glass pan works better for some reason - I would love an explanation.

Is Pam the greatest invention ever? Besides Toilet Paper that is...

I only use Blue Bonnet

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

Pillsbury Flour is the ONLY way to go in my opinion

Milk - not much to say about it.

Does anyone else wonder why she is standing in the rain? 

Won't eat a German Pancake without Powdered Sugar - Just won't do it

I dare you to find a better brand of Syrup....IMPOSSIBLE!


A few drops of Lemon Juice makes all the difference


Let me know what you think of the recipe!

Regards,

Anderson Diner
andersondiner.blogspot.com

September 23, 2011

Croc-Pot Taco Chili

If you or your family are fans of Chili, this is the recipe for you!

THIS RECIPE IS EASY! I am all about EASY recipes, and this is one of my personal favorites!

I have changed this recipe a lot since I started making it 5 years ago. You can get creative too by changing a couple of ingredients here and there. The secret is letting the Chili cook for as long as possible. You want all the flavors to get the chance to know each other.  Let this Chili cook on a cold afternoon for several hours, and your house will smell YUMMY...I promise!

This recipe makes a ton of food, and is a great recipe to freeze for later.  Your friends and family will think you slaved all day in the kitchen. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me! :)

Croc-Pot Taco Chili
Serves 6-8 People

1 Lb Ground Beef
1 Packet Taco Seasoning
1 Yellow Onion
1 Red Onion
2 Cans Stagg Chili
2 Jars of Salsa (about 32 oz)
1 Large Can Vegetable Beef Soup
1 Bag Frozen Corn


1. Brown 1 lb Hamburger and drain grease.

2. Cut up Red and Yellow Onion

3. Add Onions to Hamburger and cook until Onions are softened. Add Salt & Pepper for additional flavoring.

4. Pour Hamburger and Onion mixture into Croc-Pot
5. Add 2 Jars Salsa
6. Add 2 Cans Stagg Chili
7. Add Large Can Vegetable Beef Soup

8. Mix everything together. Make sure to stir all the way to the bottom of the Croc-Pot so that all ingredients are mixed together.

9. Add Packet of Taco Seasoning
10. Mix well.

11. Add Bag of Frozen Corn
12. Mix well.

13. Cover and cook on Low for 4-5 hours

Serve with Sour Cream, Cheese and any other topping you desire.


Ingredients in Pictures:

Gotta  love the red Croc-Pot!

Does anyone else think uncooked Hamburger looks disgusting?

I use McCormick Original Taco Seasoning - Haven't tried Mild or Hot yet 

Love me some Yellow Onion!

Red Onions smell delicious!

I use Stagg Chili Classic flavor - there are MANY flavors to choose from

This is where this recipe gets fun, you can use ANY Salsa you like!

Nothing to see here, move along...

Frozen Corn is better than Canned Corn in my opinion.

Like I said above, you can get creative with this recipe.  Change the Salsa, Taco Seasoning and Stagg Chili with your favorites, and you will get great results each time.

I'm interested to hear what you think of this recipe and how you make it your own!

Regards,

Anderson Diner
andersondiner.blogspot.com

September 22, 2011

Croc Pot Lasagna

Croc Pot Lasagna has instantly become a favorite in our house!

I owe all the credit to our good friend and neighbor, Emily Miner. My wife was out of town, and Emily and her husband invited me over for Sunday dinner.  When they told me we would be having Lasagna, I got excited.  I have always been a fan of Lasagna, but have been too afraid to make it. It always seemed like it took too long to make.

Dinner time finally arrived, and I made my way over to the Miner home.  When I walked through the front door, I was met with the most delicious smell.  When I found out she made the Lasagna in the Croc-Pot, I was shocked: I had never heard of such a thing.  Emily explained how easy it was, and I was hooked!

Emily wasn't kidding, this recipe is EASY!  Your family and friends will think you have been slaving in the kitchen all day when they taste the finished product.  I promise it will become an instant favorite with whomever you share it with.

Emily, THANK YOU for sharing your recipe with us!

Croc-Pot Lasagna
Serves 6-8 People

1 Package Oven Ready Noodles (Barilla Brand)
1 Jar Favorite Alfredo Pasta Sauce
1 26-28oz Jar Favorite Red Pasta Sauce
1 Pound Hamburger
1 8oz Can Tomato Sauce
3-4 Cups Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese

1. Spray Crock Pot with Pam. Make sure to coat the whole thing evenly.

2. Put 3/4 Cup Red Pasta Sauce in Croc-Pot
3. Put in 3 Oven Ready Noodles. You may have to break them, just arrange them so they make a full layer over the sauce.
4. Put in 1/3 Cup Alfredo Sauce. Make sure to evenly spread over noodles, making a nice thick layer.

5. Brown 1 lb Hamburger and drain grease. Mix with 8oz can Tomato Sauce and rest of Red Pasta Sauce. Let simmer for a couple of minutes to let the flavors cook together.  I like to add Garlic Powder, oregano and Salt & Pepper for flavor.

6. Put in 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese in Croc-Pot. 
7. Add 1/3 Cup of Meat mixture. Be sure to make a nice even layer.
8. Put in 3 Oven Ready Noodles.
9. Put in 1/3 Cup Alfredo Sauce. Make sure to evenly spread over the noodles, making a nice thick layer.
10. Put in 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese.
11. Add 1/3 Cup of Meat mixture. Be sure to make a nice even layer.
12. Put in 2 Oven Ready Noodles.

13. Add remaining Alfredo Sauce
14. Put in 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese.
15. Add remaining Met mixture.
16. Put ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese over the top.

Cook 3 ½ to 4 ½ hours on Low

Ingredients in Pictures:

You will need a Croc-Pot to make this meal :) Mine is red like the one above

Make sure to buy the "No Boiling, Oven Ready" Barilla Noodles

Make sure to coat the Croc-Pot generously with  "Pam"

"Classico" Brand is by far the best in my opinion 

Once again, "Classico" brand is the way to go

I like to add Salt & Pepper, Garlic Powder & Oregano to add more flavor

"Hunts" brand is the only brand I've used

I find to add lots of cheese - you can NEVER have enough cheese!

Like I said, you can never have enough cheese!

Happy cooking everyone!

Regards,

Anderson Diner
andersondiner.blogspot.com

Welcome to Anderson Diner!

Welcome to the best Diner on the planet! OK, maybe not the best, but pretty close.  If you love good food, but can't seem to find good recipes...you have come to the right place.

I can promise you ALL recipes on this blog will be tried and tested by my family before they ever make it on a post.  I will be sharing recipes that have been in my family for years, and others I have received from good friends.  If you are responsible for the recipes, YOU WILL get credit on this blog.  I will make sure everyone knows who you are! :)

I hate looking at a recipe and wondering what some ingredients are.  I'm a visual learner, so you will be seeing plenty of pictures, including pictures of ALL ingredients

Easy, delicious recipes for the whole family to enjoy.