Food on Friday...on Saturday :)

I had my Food on Fridays post all planned for yesterday.  I had mentioned Thursday on Facebook that I was making crock pot lasagna, and several had asked for the recipe, as well as any other crock pot recipes I might want to share.  Aha!  I thought...tomorrow is Friday, that would be a perfect Food on Fridays post!

Alas, by the time I sat down to type a post last night, it was 9:00, and I was too tired to construct a decent sentence, much less a whole blog post. :)  

But I'm going to post anyway...better late than never, right? :)

Before I post the lasagna recipe, you have to understand that it is not really a recipe.  I'm  bad about that. :)   Other than when I bake, and when I sew ( most of the time, anyway), I rarely measure.  When I scrapbook, I almost always eyeball.  (When I was teaching scrapbooking classes, that used to drive a couple of my students completely crazy. :))  And when I cook, I tend to be a "pinch and blob" kind of girl.  I also tend to be a "use what I have on hand" kind of girl. :)   Which, depending on how you look at it (and what kind of cook *you* happen to be :)), makes it easier or harder on you, the recipe-reader.  For those of you who are "exact measurements" kind of cooks...my apologies. :)

Crock Pot Lasagna (15 Oct 09 Version :))

Lasagna Noodles (uncooked)

Ground Beef (I used about a pound; I precook ground beef and freeze in meal-size portions.)

Sausage (I have no idea how much, or even exactly what kind, I used.  How's that for helpful?  I think I chopped...finely...3 large links.   The sausage I used was some type of smoked sausage with cheese from Sam's, that Billy had cooked on the grill.  You could use any type of sausage here, however.)

Spaghetti Sauce (A can or jar of whatever you prefer.  I have also used frozen homemade spaghetti sauce.)

Mock Alfredo~Butter , Flour, Cream or Half & Half, Parmesan Cheese (directions follow)

Cheese~(Mozzerella, preferably.  I thought I had more mozzerella left than I did...oops...so I mixed mozzerella and cheddar, and it turned out fine. 

1.Cook meat, if it isn't already cooked.  

2. For Mock Alfredo, make a basic white sauce using cream or half & half in place of milk.  (I probably made about 1.5 times this recipe.)  Add parmesan cheese to taste.

3. Spray crock pot with non-stick spray.

4. Cover bottom of crock with spaghetti sauce.

5. Add meat to spaghetti sauce.

6. Layer noodles, spaghetti sauce/meat mixture, mock alfredo, and cheese. Repeat layers as needed, depending on size of crock pot, ending with cheese.

Cook on high one hour, and then on low for 4-5 hours.

A couple of other crock pot recipes we  really like...

(You'll be glad to know these are real recipes, not my own creations. :))

Crock Pot Chicken with Black Beans and Cream Cheese 

(from my friend Kathy C.)

4-5 boneless chicken breasts

1 can black beans

1 can corn

1 jar salsa, any kind

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese

1. Put frozen chicken breasts in crock pot.

2. Add beans (drained), salsa, and corn (drained)

3. Cook 4-5 hours on high (or until chicken is cooked).

4. Add one pkg. cream cheese and let sit for about 1/2 hour.

Enjoy.

This is good over rice or as a filling for tortillas.  Also good without the black beans. :)

Saloon Beef 

(from Kirky, a friend on an online board)

 4-5 lbs of the cheapest beef roast you can find

1 pkg dry Au Jus mix
1 pkg dry Italian dressing mix

Put roast in crock, and sprinkle dry mixes on top.  Do not add any liquid.  Cook on low until meat is tender.  Shred with fork and serve on crusty rolls.  

(This recipe sounds too easy to be true...but it really is that easy, and it is *incredibly* good. Yum!)

These are just a few of our favorites.  I'd love to hear your favorite crock pot recipes, too...leave your recipes or links in the comments, please!   For more Food on Fridays posts, visit Ann Kroeker.