Showing posts with label Slow Cooker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slow Cooker. Show all posts

Monday, June 2, 2014

Easy Cooking with {Slow Cooker} Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup with Parmesan Bread Bowls

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

This Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup with Homemade Parmesan Bread Bowls is the perfect comfort food anytime! It's the "grown-up" version of a childhood favorite! #DinnerDone #CollectiveBias

Keep your kitchen cool this summer with this Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup made in a slow cooker! #DinnerDone #shop

I'm all about easy cooking. I have been wanting to share a recipe with tomatoes for awhile now. With Summer upon us, we all will be focusing on recipes that keep our kitchens cool. Living in Phoenix, it gets hot y'all. Like fire-breathing dragon hot. The last thing I want to do most days is heat up my house! I tend to do any baking first thing in the morning before it gets too hot! This {Slow Cooker} Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup with Parmesan Bread Bowls is the perfect summer recipe! 

Most of us have a food memory that magically transports us back to our childhood .... a food where, the memories just flood us. What food takes you back in time to mom or grandma's kitchen?! Maybe it takes you back to a special occasion or event? I find it quite interesting that as humans, we mark so many occasions with the sharing of food! Seriously, think about it!

For me, I have soooo many fond memories and most involve some sort of food ... I truly believe I am passionate about cooking because of these memories. Believe me, blogging isn't making me a millionaire so it's gotta be something else that keeps me motivated! :) I do this because I love food - I love the memories I have made with family and friends, I love cooking it, eating it - ok, and not so much the cleaning it up! ;) Thank goodness for five helpers (aka - my kiddos!)

Keep your kitchen cool this summer with this Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup made in a slow cooker! #DinnerDone #shop

One of my favorite childhood meals was tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. I loved those days. Life was so much simpler then, wasn't it? There was always something so comforting about a cheesy sandwich and being able to dunk in my tomato soup! One just isn't the same without the other .... 

Unless of course, you up the ante a bit and put it in a bread bowl!

Bread bowls take soup to soup heaven .... the only thing better is chocolate - because chocolate always wins. Soup, in case you don't know, is one of my favorite meals. I literally, could eat it in one form or another every single day.

Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup with Hunt's tomatoes - the best canned tomatoes #DinnerDone #shop

Tomato soup is one of my faves. While I've outgrown tomato soup from a can, I have moved on to greener pastures. I like to make my own these days. With the help of my slow cooker, it makes it super simple. I personally, like the bread bowls, but a grilled cheese sandwich would be great too - and sometimes, I do go that route because it's quicker or it's just too darn hot or because I want to dunk a cheesy sandwich in my soup.

Hunt's #DinnerDone #shop

I tend to do my grocery shopping on Saturday mornings. Brian is home to watch the kids so I can usually go by myself or maybe take just one of them with me. On a recent trip to Walmart, I had plans to make this Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup. I picked up some Hunt's Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic and Oregano. I thought the added spices with be a nice addition to the soup - but if you can't find that, feel free to substitute regular Hunt's Diced Tomatoes instead! :)

Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup with Hunt's tomatoes - the best canned tomatoes #DinnerDone #shop

I noticed this Flash Steam Freshness logo on my can of Hunt's tomatoes. They only use water in the process - no lye! Since Hunt's tomatoes are picked at the peak of ripeness and they're naturally delicious - it's a difference you can taste!

I like to make a double batch of this soup - in my 7 qt. slow cooker - to use for lunch throughout the week! It's perfect with grilled cheese sandwiches if you're out of bread bowls or you're in a time crunch!

Keep your kitchen cool this summer with this Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup made in a slow cooker! #DinnerDone #shop



{Slow Cooker} Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup with Parmesan Bread Bowls
Printable recipe
Yield: 6-8 servings of soup and 4 bread bowls

For the soup:
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Hunt's Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic & Oregano
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 medium carrots, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 carton (32 oz.) vegetable or chicken broth
½ cup (1 stick) butter
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups half & half
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the bread bowls:
1 cup + 3 tbsp. warm water 
2 tbsp. olive oil 
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 
2 cloves garlic, minced 
1 tsp. sugar 
1 tsp. salt 
3 cups bread flour 
2½ tsp. active dry yeast

To make the soup:
Place the tomatoes, celery, carrots, onion, Italian seasoning and broth in a 5 qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. 

If you prefer a smoother soup, use an immersion blender or regular blender to process the soup (in batches, if necessary) until smooth. (If you used a regular blender, return the mixture back to the slow cooker.) About 30-45 minutes before serving, melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Whisk in the butter, stirring constantly. Slowly add the half & half, whisking constantly. Cook mixture until smooth and thoroughly combined. Remove from the heat and add in the Parmesan cheese. Stir until melted. Add this mixture to the slow cooker and stir well. Cover the slow cooker and continue to cook an additional 30 minutes.

To make the bread bowls:
Place ingredients in a bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select the dough setting. 

When the cycle is complete, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into 4 equal portions. Shape each piece into a ball. Place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled - about 30-45 minutes.

Bake at 400°F for 18-23 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Allow to cool. 

To serve: Cut off the top portion of the bread. Carefully hollow out the bowl leaving a ¼-inch shell. Fill the bowl with soup.

Keep your kitchen cool this summer with this Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup made in a slow cooker! #DinnerDone #shop

For more great recipes using Hunt's tomatoes, visit the Hunt's website or the Ready Set Eat website. 

Stay up to date on all of Hunt's special offers, recipes and news by following them on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest!

Keep your kitchen cool this summer with this Creamy Italian Parmesan Tomato Soup made in a slow cooker! #DinnerDone #shop

Other Posts You May Enjoy:


Southwest Beef Bean & Barley Soup #soup #healthy #beef #bean #barley #souprecipe
Southwest Beef Bean & Barley Soup

Quick and Easy Chicken Fried Rice is an economical dinner idea! It's versatile too - use shrimp, pork, ham or Spam in place of the chicken! The possibilities are endless with this basic recipe - It's a great way to re-purpose leftovers! #rice #dinner
Quick and Easy Chicken Fried Rice

I hope you enjoy! Shared at thesefun parties!


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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Slow Cooker Beef & Noodles

Slow Cooker Beef & Noodles #slowcooker #dinner #beef

My folks grew up in the Midwest. That means growing up, they ate a lot of hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meals ... like Beef and Noodles! Of course that also means, that's the kind of meals I grew up eating too! I remember getting excited when I saw my mom making homemade noodles, because I knew that meant we were having Beef and Noodles! It was an occasional treat for us - one I always looked forward to!

It's so easy to make this in the slow cooker - and to tell the truth, I don't always make homemade noodles! (Shhhhh! Don't tell my mom!) I like ours a little thicker and without a lot of liquid, but you can easily adjust that to your family's preference!



Slow Cooker Beef & Noodles
Slightly adapted from Two Maids a Milking
Printable recipe
Yield: 8-10 servings

2 lb. beef roast
1 can (14 oz.) reduced-sodium beef broth
1 envelope (from a 2.2 oz. box) beefy onion soup mix
1 can (10.5-10.75 oz.) cream of celery or mushroom soup, undiluted
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
10 cups of water, more if desired
1 pkg. (24 oz.) frozen home-style egg noodles
Salt and pepper, to taste

Place the roast in a 5-qt. (or larger) slow cooker. Add the beef broth, beefy onion soup mix, cream of celery soup and garlic cloves. Cover and cook on low overnight. 

In the morning, break beef apart and add 6 cups of water. Cover and continue to cook all day. 

An hour before you eat, add egg noodles, salt & pepper, and additional water (4 cups or more, depending on how liquidy you would like it). Cover and cook for an additional hour or until noodles are tender.

**Side note - I don't really think you have to cook the meat overnight. I'm sure you would be fine with starting it first thing in the morning, shredding it and adding the noodles to finish the recipe! :)


Slow Cooker Beef & Noodles #slowcooker #dinner #beef

Other Posts You May Enjoy:


Not Yo' Mama's Tuna Noodle Casserole 3
Not Yo' Mama's Tuna Noodle Casserole

Alfredo Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Broccoli
Alfredo Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Broccoli

I hope you enjoy! Shared at thesefun parties!

Featured at Simply Gloria and The Grant Life


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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Pineapple Peach Chipotle Pork Tacos and Why Powerless is Powerful

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Wonderbag, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #WonderBag http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO


Pineapple Peach Chipotle Pork Tacos with Pineapple Peach Salsa - Saving time with WonderBag - family dinner #PMedia #ad #Wonderbag

Are you a slow cooker fan? I love to use my slow cooker year round - but for me, it's especially great in the colder months! It makes having a hot, comforting dish so easy! I was recently presented the opportunity to try a simple, but revolutionary slow cooker. It's called a Wonderbag! It continues to cook food, which has been brought to a boil by conventional methods for up to 12 hours, without the additional use of fuel. No plugs. No Fuss.


I have to admit, at first I was a little skeptical of how this would work - but was very intrigued by the idea. Having a family of seven, we try to be very conscious of how our money is spent and like most families, we hate high utility bills. It seems like we are always telling someone to turn off a light! Every flip of the switch adds up, ya know?! 

What is Wonderbag, you ask? Wonderbag has clever insulating properties that allow food that has been brought to the boil point, to finish cooking while in the bag. This greatly reduces the use of additional energy. This means families can cook appetizing, hot meals while saving energy and money. It also means less time tending to the cooking food, allowing women to spend more time with or providing for their families.

Saving time with WonderBag - family dinner #PMedia #ad #Wonderbag

While I have the luxury to just go over and turn on my stove or plug in my slow cooker to make dinner ... some people aren't as fortunate. Wonderbag was created to help women in other countries be able to step away from cooking by the fireside and spend more time engaging and supporting their families both relationally and financially. 

Saving time with WonderBag - family dinner #PMedia #ad #Wonderbag

Did you know that women living in poverty and third world countries typically spend 4-6 hours per day preparing meals? Wood fire cooking is the source of major social, economic, and environmental issues in Africa. Families in Africa that use Wonderbag can reduce their fuel usage by up to 30% representing a significant cost savings that eases the burden of poverty. Using the Wonderbag helps save water, reduces the carbon footprint, minimizes deforestation, smoke inhalation diseases and deaths. For every Wonderbag purchased in the US, one is donated to a family in need in Africa.

Saving time with WonderBag - family dinner #PMedia #ad #Wonderbag

You're probably wondering how does it work? It works with 2-9 Quart pots with short handles and lid; metal and cast iron work best. To slow cook, simply bring the food to a boil on a stove, let simmer (5 minutes for rice and grains, 15 minutes for root vegetables, meat or presoaked beans), then put the pot with lid into your Wonderbag, close tightly, and slow cook to perfection up to 12 hours. Because it is not on direct heat, it will never overcook or burn. Wonderbag is perfect for bringing delicious home cooked meals to potlucks, dinner parties, tailgating, or camping. It's also perfect for holidays when stove and counter space are at a premium. Another neat feature is that it can also be used to keep cold food cold! What other slow cooker can do that?!

Saving time with WonderBag - family dinner #PMedia #ad #Wonderbag

Since my family really loves tacos, I thought it would be fun to see just how Wonderbag compared to my regular method. To say that I was impressed, would be an understatement! It works just as well as the plug-in variety of slow cooker - and my pork fell apart and shredded just as easily as if I had cooked it in a traditional slow cooker! I can't wait to see how it handles summer picnics with a cold salad in tow!

Pineapple Peach Chipotle Pork Tacos with Pineapple Peach Salsa - Saving time with WonderBag - family dinner #PMedia #ad #Wonderbag



Pineapple Peach Chipotle Pork Tacos
Printable recipe
Yield: 8-10 servings

For the pork:
1½-2 lb. pork tenderloin, cut into 2-in. cubes
1 jar (24 oz.) Peach Pineapple Chipotle Salsa (I used the Great Value brand)
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, chopped plus 1 tbsp. sauce from the can
2 cups water

Pineapple Peach Salsa: 
1 can (20 oz.) pineapple tidbits, drained
1 large peach, pit removed and flesh chopped
¼ cup red onion, chopped
Handful cilantro, chopped
2 tbsp. lime juice

Additional Ingredients:
Flour tortillas, warmed
Shredded Cabbage
Pineapple Peach Salsa (above)

In a medium bowl, combine all of the salsa ingredients. Mix well. Refrigerate until serving time.

Place all of the "For the pork" ingredients in a 3-5 qt. Dutch oven. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and place your lidded pot in the Wonderbag for a minimum of 4 hours (up to 12 hours) to finish cooking.

Remove the meat from the pot and shred. Add some of the sauce from the pan to the pork, if desired. Top tortillas with shredded pork, the fresh Pineapple Peach Salsa and some shredded cabbage.


*This can also be made in a traditional slow cooker*

Pineapple Peach Chipotle Pork Tacos with Pineapple Peach Salsa - Saving time with WonderBag - family dinner #PMedia #ad #Wonderbag

LBGC other posts you may enjoy

Chipotle Lime Chicken Tacos
Chipotle Lime Chicken Tacos

Mexi-Melts
Homemade Mexi-Melts

I was pleased to share with my kids that cooking with WonderBag makes a difference in the lives of families on the other side of the world. It was a great opportunity to teach them about how different cooking in Africa can be from cooking in the U.S. Cooking with Wonderbag is an eco-friendly, time and money saving option for preparing appetizing meals the whole family will love. Wonderbag is also empowering for women in other countries. Just a reminder - You can Buy One, Give One: For every Wonderbag purchased in the US, one is donated to a family in need in Africa; Families in developing countries who use Wonderbags save up to 30% of their income otherwise spent on fuel for wood stoves. It comes in your choice of Red Batik or Blue Batik. 


Pineapple Peach Chipotle Pork Tacos 7

Every Wonderbag purchase benefits women and families in other countries, and YOU can also get involved by donating a Wonderbag. You can shop for Wonderbag exclusively on Amazon. 


You can find Wonderbag on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

I hope you enjoy! Shared at these fun parties!
Don't forget to share and comment ♥

Featured at White Lights on Wednesday and Dessert Now, Dinner Later

Copyright © Love Bakes Good Cakes 2012-2013 All Rights Reserved



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