Crock Pot Pork Loin with Pearl Onions and Sherry {recipe #61}

Crock Pot Pork Loin with Pearl Onions and Sherry

Borrowed, Adapted and Enjoyed from Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes. 

Makes 8 Servings

Ingredients: 

3 large red onions sliced

1 cup pearl onions, blanched and peeled (instructions on packet)

2 T. unsalted butter or margarine

2 1/2 lbs of boneless pork loin, tied with cooking twine

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 cooking sherry

2 T. Italian Parsley, chopped

1 1/2 T. cornstarch

2 T. water

1) Peel pearl onions according to instructions on package.

2) Cook and stir red onions and pearl onions in butter in a medium skillet until tender.

3) Rub pork loin with salt and pepper and place in your crock pot. Add cooked onions, sherry and parsley. cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 5-6 hours.

3) Remove pork loin from crock pot. Let sit for 15 minutes before slicing. 

4) Combine cornstarch and water. stir into cooking liquid and cook on LOW until sauce has thickened. Serve pork loin with onions and sherry sauce.  

I served it with cooked frozen peas and rosemary red potatoes. It was a really warm and satisfying meal. I really liked it!

What is your favorite way to cook pork loin?

All for now,

Alexandra

Recipes #20 Fish and Chips and #21 Crock Pot Corn Chowder

We decided to make fish and chips.

Afterall, I really like seafood and we both like fish and chips.

And, this recipe was baked so its much healthier.

However, it was kinda bland and not my favorite.

So I won't post the recipe.

The "chips" were really good though.

"chips"

Ingredients:

Potatoes

Sea Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper

Olive Oil

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2) Clean and cut potatoes into wedges.

3) Put olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground pepper into a bowl. Toss potato wedges in oil mixture until potatoes are coated.

4) Bake on a baking sheet for 45 minutes.

Crock Pot Corn Chowder

The Corn Chowder was just ok.. And it made WAY too much for us. Eating it multiple times was not a preference.

But something great came of it!

Kyle said "I definitely approve of the way you cook bacon!"

Which was super sweet and made me laugh!

But it also made me feel great because while bacon is not hard to cook, I've never made it myself. :)

So that was fun!

I calculated that with my goal of 100 for the year I need to make 8.3 recipes per month.

January: 16 recipes

February {so far}: 5 recipes

Total {so far]: 21 recipes!

I'm ahead of schedule! :)

Any specific types of recipes you would like me to try?

All for now,

 Alexandra

Recipe #18: Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan

Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan

{Borrowed and enjoyed from: Crock Pot Best Loved Slow Cooker Recipes}

 

Serves 4 

Ingredients:

8 oz. cremini mushrooms {sliced}

1 medium onion {cut into thin wedges}

1 T. olive oil

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 jar (26 oz) pasta sauce 

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/4 tsp. dried oregano

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese  

Hot cooked whole wheat spaghetti

1) Place mushrooms and onions in the bottom of the slow cooker. 

2) heat oil in large skillet, add chicken and lightly brown on both sides. Place chicken in crock pot.

3) pour pasta sauce over chicken. Add basil, oregano and bay leaf. 

4) Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3 - 4 hours. IT's ALWAYS BETTER IF YOU COOK ON LOW IF POSSIBLE! {the meat is more tender}.

5) Remove bay leaf. Sprinkle with cheeses and cook uncovered on low for 15 - 30 minutes or until cheeses have melted. Serve over spaghetti.

Enjoy!

All for now,

Alexandra

Recipe #13 BBQ Pulled Pork

Kyle is a big BBQ fan.

and since Wednesday is crockpot night...

We decided to try a BBQ pulled pork recipe.

and I have to say.. it was great! :)

BBQ Pulled Pork

{Borrowed and enjoyed from Crock Pot Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes} 

Serves 6  {= lots of leftovers for us!}

Ingredients:

1 Pork Shoulder roast {about 2.5 lbs}

1 14oz bottle of BBQ Sauce {we used sweet baby ray's or Uncle Sonny's for the locals :)}

1 T. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. brown sugar

1 medium onion, chopped

+ buns, rolls, bread or whatever you like to put it on.

1) Place roast in crock pot. Cook on low for 10-12 hours or High for 5-6 hours. {LOW is ALWAYS better! If you have time!}

2) Remove roast from crock pot, drain liquid into empty disposable container. Shred the pork and return to crock pot.

3) Add BBQ sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar and onion.

4) Cover and cook on high for 1 hour or low for 2 hours.

Enjoy!

What is your favorite BBQ Sauce?

All for now,

Alexandra

Recipe #5 Chicken Sausage Crock Pot Meal

Wednesdays are busy nights at the Consolver "homestead" as Kyle calls it. 

His schedule is 9-5 and mine is 9-4:15 with a few short breaks. 

On top of that, my chemistry class has night exams on Wednesdays. Awesome. 

Needless to say, Wednesday nights are crock pot nights.

Here is our first crock pot meal :)

Chicken Sausage Crock Pot Meal

{borrowed adapted and enjoyed from: Crock Pot Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes}

Serves 4

Ingredients: 

1 T olive oil

1 clove garlic

1/2 yellow onion, minced {about 1/2 cup}

1 lb sweet or hot Italian chicken sausage

1 {28 oz} can whole tomatoes {drained and seeded}

1/2 red bell pepper {cut into 1/2 inch slices}

1/2 yellow bell pepper {"   "}

1/2 orange bell pepper {"    "}

3/4 cup chopped fresh basil

crushed red pepper flakes {to taste}

sea salt and ground pepper {to taste}

hot cooked whole wheat pasta

1) Heat oil in a skillet until hot. Add garlic and onion. Cook until fragrant and translucent. Add sausage {removed from casing and cut into 1/2 inch chunks}. Cook 5 minutes or until starting to brown.

2) Put mixture into crock pot, add tomatoes, peppers and seasonings. Stir.

3) Cook on high for 2 1/2 or 3 hours. 

4) Add basil in the last 20 minutes for best flavor.

5) Cook pasta. For whole wheat pasta, its sometimes better to cook it for the longer amount of time, or even a tad over, because it softens the texture that some don't like.

6) Serve chicken sausage and veggies over pasta.

Enjoy!

Note: This recipe is easy, fairly cheap and pretty darn healthy! You get your veggies from the peppers and onions. The chicken sausage is very flavorful, but not nearly as high in fat as traditional pork sausage. The whole wheat pasta is full of fiber! This meal is tasty and filling. We added a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese on top because we had some. 

Bonus: you can use the leftover bell peppers to cook into your morning eggs or as an easy pizza topping in one of your next meals. :)

What are your favorite crock pot recipes?

All for now,

Alexandra