Sausage peppers, onions in red sauce

When I think of sausage, I immediately go to sausage and peppers and onions .  There are some days I add  potatoes for interest to this combo and I bake everything in my oven.

Then there are days that sausage comes to a different light and I immediately go to red sauce so that’s where I went today fresh rolls and nice freshly cooked sausage and peppers is dinner. Macaroni salad and creamy coleslaw as our sides.

This meal was cooked in the crockpot, but before I put everything in the crockpot.  On high 425° oven heat I placed the sausage , peppers ( onions optional )that were cleaned and sliced on a sprayed with cooking oil cookie sheet and place the cookie sheet in the oven for about 20 minutes.  

While the sausage and peppers were baking, I added a large container (28 oz.)of tomato sauce some garlic and onion powder and a pinch of salt to my crockpot and placed it on high heat.

This recipe can be adjusted according to how much sausage and peppers and onions you are using.  Today I used 1 pound of hot sausage links, two large sliced variegated peppers to the sauce.(don’t forget the onion and garlic powder). No need for pepper since the sausage was HOT!

 I placed the crockpot on high heat and it should be done within 2 to 3 hours. Happy cooking.

Crockpot Pork and apples in crockpot

Delicious!

🍎 5 pork chops ( I used country style spare ribs)

🍎 ½ cup chicken stock

🍎 Salt, pepper + garlic powder

🍎 4 Michigan apples, peeled + chopped( I really wasn't sure what Michigan apples were so I used Delicious apples) the skin is deep red in color if that helps and it a apple that would tolerate cooking without getting mushy.

🍎 2 tbsp melted butter

🍎 2 tbsp brown sugar(I used 4)

🍎 1 tsp cinnamon + a sprinkle of salt

🍎 Stuffing + 1½ cups chicken broth

How to make it:

Add pork chops and ½ cup chicken stock to your crockpot. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add apples and cover with melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.

Note: *** I made cornbread stuffing separate and cooked it on top of stove according to directions on bag.  I did it different than recipe was written because I was not sure if my hubby would want stuffing.  

Mix stuffing with 1½ cups chicken broth and layer that over the apples.

Cover, set it on low and forget it for 3–4 hours

***I did not add I side which definitely would have complimented this meal because of lack of time.

Pot Roast crockpot 2 ways.

Today’s crockpot roast top round . 8/9/2026

Seared the roast in vegetable oil.  Added to crockpot along with 1 pkg. onion soup mix and 11/2 cups water.  Cook on high 3 hours.  Yummy!  Note: I removed the roast, shredded with fork and strained the juice to remove onions. You do not have to but I do so most times when using this method.

1- approximately 3 lb. Chuck roast( a bit of marbled fat is great)

Salt and pepper slightly both sides

4 T vegetable oil

In a large pot place oil on medium heat.  When heated add roast and sear on both sides.

In crockpot add 1 cup beef broth

Add seared roast 

To the roast add I package onion soup mix mixed into

1 cup hot water.  Mix well.  Add to top of roast and cook on high approximately 4 hours or more. Make sure the meat pulls apart with fork.  That is how you’ll know it’s cooked and juicy!

Enjoy!

Option:

Layer carrots on bottom as well as cut in half potatoes then add the above.

Crockpot pork tenderloin with onions

11/2 lb. Pork tenderloin 

I package dry onion soup mix

I cup hot water.

Mix onion soup mix with hot water. Stir well until all is dissolved but onions will remain in pieces.  Add tenderloin to crockpot. Pout liquid over tenderloin and set crockpot to low.

Cook on low about 3 hours. Remove tenderloin. Strain liquid if you desire. Hubby’s not crazy about pieces of onion soup mix that’s why I strain the liquid.

I’ll be thickening  the liquid later and I’ll

add potatoes and corn to make it our evening meal.

Shortcuts are great when you don’t have time to fuss.  I love my crockpot!!

Easy peasy.

Honey chipotle Riblets

NOTE: 

Hi, my adapted recipe has the chipotle eliminated. I don’t care for it but recipe is posted as it is called for.

I also used pork cut into pieces for my riblets.

Also to give it a kick I added 2 T spicy bbq sauce.

 

Crockpot Pineapple beef

Tonight’s early dinner. 

I didn’t feel like making a brown gravy with this roast so I improvised and we enjoyed this crockpot  meal.

Small top round roast, ( about 1 lb. 4 oz.) salt and pepper and seared in oil

and added to my crockpot with one jar pineapple salsa. Slow cooked for about 5 hours. 

Removed roast allow to rest for 5 minutes and slice.  Add sliced roast to liquid salsa drippings.

Our side tonight.

Sautéed thin slices of zucchini with onions, salt and pepper.  Served with brown rice.  Easy summer meal. Slight bite to the salsa. Enjoy!!

Pork tenderloin in crockpot

•

I made this recipe exactly as it was written.  So good that I’ll make it again.

One error my drippings did not thicken as I expected.  Still yummy!  Enjoy!!

• 2-4 lb pork roast

• 1 cup broth

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

• ¼ cup soy sauce

• 2-4 TBSP honey

• 2 tsp minced garlic

• 2 tsp cornstarch

Place tenderloin in slow cooker.( I cut mine in thick pieces) Combine remaining ingredients (except cornstarch) in a 2-cup measuring cup. Whisk together and pour over roast.

• Cook on low 10-12 hours for that fall-apart, insanely tender type of meat. (Or on high 6-8 hours.)

• Prior to serving, ladle out about 1/4 cup of the juice in the crock pot and strain into a measuring cup.

• Whisk in 2 tsp cornstarch. Add in enough juice to make 1 cup.

• Microwave on high for 30 seconds and whisk again. Drizzle sauce over meat prior to serving.

Adapted from Bread with a slice of Butter

Lasagna sauce

Let’s make some hearty lasagna sauce today.  

Today it’s a little different than I usually do because I used bulk sausage more than I usually do in a red sauce recipe.

My typical ***meat sauce is usually a  combination of ground beef and pork.

Note:  I used what I had in my pantry today.  It is delicious!

1 -28 oz. red pack crushed tomatoes 

1 -28 oz.. Hunts tomato purée  large 

1 - 28oz. Happy Harvest crushed tomatoes ( Aldi brand)

1 -15 oz. Hunts sauce 

1 - 4 oz. small Happy Harvest tomato paste

3 minced garlic cloves

4 fresh basil leaves

I lb. Bulk ground sweet Italian sausage

1/2 lb.  Bulk ground Hot Italian sausage

1 lb.  Ground Chuck 

To assemble lasagna you will need:

A 13 x9 inch casserole dish

Fresh above sauce 

1-15 oz. Whole milk Ricotta

1-egg beaten

Shredded or sliced mozzarella cheese

Pecorino Romano cheese for top.

I package Barilla no boil lasagna pasta 

Here’s my baked lasagna

Fresh garlic and basil.  3 or 4 minced garlic.  3 large basil leaves.

I fried the ground (bulk) meat in olive oil while breaking it apart.  Added the garlic and then added  the sautéed  ground mixture it my crockpot with fresh basil.  Cooked on high for 2 hours.  Then low for 2hours. Delicious! 

Enjoy!

****Note:  this recipe can be made on top of the stove in a large Dutch oven making sure to stir often so it won’t stick to pan. Cover slightly with a lid.