I’ve been trying to use my slow-cooker more, in an effort to heat the house less. I’ve had mixed success.
I got this recipe from A Year of Slowcooking. I made a few changes, though, such as adding garlic and removing the peppers, to suit my family’s taste. And my crockpot isn’t as strong as hers, because after four hours, it still wasn’t even simmering, and the potatoes were still rock hard, so I poured it into a stockpot and cooked it on the stove. I also added some milk, because a chowder, for me, needs to be creamy.
Corn Chowder
[Continue reading Corn Chowder Recipe]
I love this stew – and I love that I can cook it in my crockpot and not heat up the house!
Ham and Lentils Stew
Ham and Lentils Stew (served over brown rice here)
1 lb dried lentils
2 cups fat-free chicken broth
5 cups water
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup cooked ham, diced
3 carrots, diced
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1/4 tsp pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaf
1 tsp salt
Put everything except the salt into a slow cooker. Cook for 3-4 hours on high. Salt before serving.
Servings: 8
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 258
[Continue reading Ham and Lentils Slow-Cooker Stew Recipe]
For the most part, when I think of hot soup, I think of the winter and fall. But when I see all the beautiful vegetables in the produce section, I can’t help but think of chicken tortilla soup. And the heat (spicy-heat, not hot-heat) really does make you feel cooler.
In the winter, I frequently use canned tomatoes in soups, but this time of year, the tomatoes start looking better and better at the store. The farmer’s market near me opens in a week, and I’m sure those will be even better. Using fresh in this soup keeps it tasting summery.
Chicken Tortilla
[Continue reading Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe]
A couple weeks ago, spiral hams were on a ridiculous sale, so I bought one and we had a lovely, decadent dinner, with ham and mashed potatoes and rolls and applesauce. We also had enough ham left over for a second dinner, plus meat for lots of sandwiches, and a ham bone to freeze for soup. I made our favorite, split pea soup.
Split Pea Soup
Split Pea Soup
1 pound of split peas
2 quarts water
Ham bone
1 onion, diced
1 clove of garlic, smashed
2 stalks of celery, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. thyme
Rinse
[Continue reading Split Pea Soup Recipe]
I’ve totally gone off menu plan, but soup sounded so lovely. I had a rotten day yesterday, with a doctor’s visit that didn’t go well (no answers) and a bit of a panic attack (Ford Expeditions were NOT made for parking garages), and comfort food just sounded like the way to go.
I decided to make Quick Beef Vegetable Soup and some cornbread. It went a long way towards cheering me up!
Beef Vegetable Soup

Beef Vegetable Soup and Cornbread
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 pound chuck roast, cut into bite-sized bits
2 cloves garlic,
[Continue reading Quick Beef-Vegetable Soup and Cornbread]