Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

I am obsessed with my slow cooker!

Here is another meal that I made using my new Breville Risotto Plus, which is a multi-tasker (steams, sauté's, slow cooker etc.) but any slow cooker will work just fine.

I had several bell peppers left over this week and I thought I better put them to good use.  Remembering my mom making Pepper Steak growing up I decided to re-create this for the slow cooker.  This technique allows you to use a tougher cut of meat that will be melt in your mouth tender once it's done!  I used a top round steak, which is perfect since it will hold it's shape in long strips and doesn't shred on you unless you cook it too long.

My version of Pepper Steak doesn't completely have an Asian flavor.  I don't recall my mom's being Asian in flavor, so I guess that why mine turned out a variation on the typical dish.  Mine included a little soy, but the big bang is the tomatoes and the seasoning sauce from Dales, or beef broth that you put in the dish.  Of course the end result is certainly about the peppers and the beef, and it's delicious!

Kitchen Note:  I don't really want soggy peppers in this dish so I put the peppers in the slow cooker about 2 hours prior to serving.  They were slightly tender, so if you want yours more on the crisp side put them in 1 hour before serving. 


**You can find Dale's (low sodium) Seasoning Sauce here.




Slow Cooker Pepper Steak


Serves:  4

Cooking time:  6 hours
Total time:  6.5 hours

1 lb top round steak, cut into strips
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 red onion, diced
1/4 cup water
3 Tablespoons Dale's Low Sodium Seasoning Sauce (or use beef stock)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 14oz can of stewed tomatoes, with the juice
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 orange bell pepper, cut into strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

In a skillet over high heat add steak and saute 2 minutes until browned on each side.  Add steak to the slow cooker.  Sprinkle garlic powder over the steak.  Add the diced onion.  In a small bowl add water and seasoning sauce plus the cornstarch and whisk to combine.  Add to the slow cooker.  Note:  you can use beef broth in place of the water and seasoning sauce, adding cornstarch to it.

Add the tomatoes and their juice, and the soy sauce to the slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low 6 hours.  2 hours prior to the end time add the bell pepper strips, recover and continue cooking.

Serve over rice, or even mashed potatoes.

Skillet Meal: Wild Mushroom Ravioli Lasagna

I love quick meals!

I love one skillet dinners!

I'm so excited to share this 20 minute....YES, 20 MINUTE recipe with you today.

I found it one of my many collections of recipe magazines. This one was one pot meals by BHG (love them) and I'm so glad I tried this.  I was a little skeptical because you literally just throw everything in the pot (in stages) and poof!  Dinner is ready in 20 minutes....or less!

The real test though, was the taste.  This says it's a lasagna. Well technically it isn't layered like one, but if you count that the two sides of the ravioli, with stuffed delicious wild mushrooms inside, actually act like layered lasagna, then I guess it is.   Plus you delicately layer little dollops of ricotta cheese mixture over the top.  I love that.  It's not completely filled with cheese so you save on the calories, however you still get that ooey gooey lasagna cheesiness that we all crave.

The taste?  Let's just say this will be in the rotation around here.  And just a little tip from me...make extra if you want leftovers.  Our 4 portion serving didn't last long since I caught MGG eating our lunch leftovers later that night...just sayin'!

The other part, is that this dish uses mainly convenience items, like refrigerated pasta.  I used Rana (Giovanni Rana) Mushroom Ravioli and it was delishhh!  You can use any fresh or frozen ravioli you choose although the mushroom lends a wonderful earthy meatiness to the dish.  You will also need a really good tomato basil Marinara sauce from a jar. Use your favorite that provides you will great flavor.  So don't be worried that you didn't make your own sauce.  This is a 20 minute meal!   If you made the sauce, and the pasta from scratch...phew!  That would take hours.  Who has time for that, especially on a weeknight?  Not me!   There is nothing wrong with using fresh packaged items to make your life easier.


Try this....really, and enjoy!




Wild Mushroom Ravioli Lasagna

adapted from BHG magazine Skillet Suppers

serves 4

1 egg, lightly beaten
7 oz. skim milk ricotta cheese (from a 15oz container)
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
2 1/2 cups of tomato basil marinara
3/4 cup water
1 family size package of wild mushroom-filled ravioli (I used Rana's brand 22 oz.)
1 cup chopped fresh spinach

In a medium bowl combine egg, ricotta cheese, and the Parmesan cheese; set aside.

In a large skillet or braising pan, over medium heat, combine the pasta sauce and water. Bring it to a boil.   Stir in ravioli and spinach.  Return to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer.  Spoon the ricotta mixture into large mounds on top of ravioli mixture.

Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes or until ricotta mixture is set and ravioli is tender but still firm.  

Serve immediately.

Shredded Chicken Week: Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken and Rice

Well Shredded Chicken Week has come to an end and we are going out with a bang!

I love spicy food.  Growing up in Southern California I've been exposed to spice through Mexican food with different types of chilis. Nothing better than a good salsa, or a dish made with spicy peppers. Spicy doesn't have to mean heat, although in a lot of cases it does. But having that kick of spice in your food livens up your palette and your life!

The Easy Shredded Chicken I made earlier in the week can be used into soooo many dishes that we haven't even touched upon.  How about enchiladas, quesadillas, flauta, or taquitos?  You can add them to soups, stir frys, lettuce cups, wraps, and sloppy joes.  Make BBQ chicken sandwiches or a Mediterranean quinoa salad.  The ideas are endless.

Today's recipe is about spice and ease of cooking.  Yes, another slow cooker meal is on the horizon. This one is Cajun style and I love the blend of flavors from the bell peppers and the cajun seasoning. It does have red pepper flakes for a little heat but you can certainly adjust that to your family's taste.  Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken and Rice is the perfect meal the whole family will love. 

This is another dump and go meal that only needs about 4 hours of cooking on low.  Again I used my favorite multi cooker, the Breville Risotto Plus, it saute's, steams, is a slow cooker, and a risotto maker.  It's just awesome!  But you can do this in a regular slow cooker, you don't need anything special here.  

Kitchen Note: I made the rice separate from the other ingredients as I find it doesn't cook all that well in a slow cooker.  (some rice is left crunchy!)  Plus rice has a tendency to soak up all the juices, so leaving it separate allows for better leftovers!

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken and Rice

serves 4

1 cup celery, sliced 

1 cup yellow onion, diced 

1 orange bell pepper, diced 

1 tablespoon minced garlic 

1 can (14.5 oz) stewed tomatoes, undrained 

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained 

1 cup low sodium chicken broth 

1 tablespoon cajun seasoning 

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 

1 bay leaf 

1 tsp salt 

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

3 cups shredded chicken breast (cooked) 

1 cup long grain rice 

Add cut vegetables to the slow cooker. Add the garlic, tomatoes, broth, cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Cook on low 4 hours. 

About 30 minutes before serving, add the shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Meanwhile, on the stovetop in a medium saucepan cook rice according to package directions. Remove the bay leaf, test for seasoning and serve over hot cooked rice.