Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of stew beef, cut into 1-inch cubes
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 3 minced garlic gloves
• 1-ounce container sliced mushrooms
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 medium whole onion
• 1 large potato, peeled and diced
• 3 stalks of celery, sliced

Instructions:

In a bag or container combine flour, salt and pepper and stir in cubed beef and shake to coat beef. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat and add the meat. Brown the meat in batches (cook until you have a crispy crust, not all the way through).

Add meat to slow cooker along with whole onion, garlic, tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire sauce, celery, carrots and potato and stir to combine. Set slow cooker on low setting for 6 to 7 hours or high setting for 3 to 4 hours. Stir at about the half way point.

During the last 15 minutes stir in 1 package of frozen mixed veggies (I did corn, green beans, carrots and peas) for extra vegetables. When the meat is tender and falls apart with a fork it is done and the stew is ready. Remove whole onion when ready to serve.

Apple Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping

Ingredients:

For the Muffins:

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup oil
• 1 cup pumpkin
• 2 cups finely chopped apples

For Streusel Topping:

• ¼ cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons wheat flour
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons cold butter

Instructions:

For the muffins: Combine flour, sugar, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl combine eggs, pumpkin, oil and mix well. Combine the wet ingredients with the flour mixture until just combined. Add the apples. Spoon batter into greased muffin cups to fill about ⅔ of the way.

For the streusel topping: Combine the sugar, wheat flour, cinnamon in a bowl and cut in butter with fork or pastry cutter. Sprinkle streusel on top of batter in muffin pan. Bake on 350°F for 35-40 minutes.

Pumpkin Corn Bread

Ingredients:

• ½ cup cornmeal
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin spice
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup milk
• 1 egg
• ½ cup pumpkin puree

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Whisk together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin spice and salt. Add milk, egg and pumpkin and stir until fully combined.

Pour mixture into a greased 5-inch by 5-inch baking dish or double the recipe and use an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan.

Bake 20 minutes and enjoy.

Extra Thin and Crispy Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water (microwave room temp water for 30 seconds)
• 2 ½ teaspoons of yeast
• 3 cups of bread flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions:

Let water and yeast sit in a mixing bowl for about 30 seconds. Add sugar and salt and mix. Add ½ cup of flour at a time and continue to knead by hand or with a mixer until dough forms. Let it rise in a greased bowl for 24 to 48 hours (not exceeding 48 hours, as sugar will turn to alcohol). Spread onto a greased pizza pan and add desired sauce, plus toppings. Bake at 500°F for 15 minutes or until crispy.

The Fluffiest Waffles

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1¾ cup milk
• ¼ cup oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1½ cup wheat flour
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1½ teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:
Separate the egg whites from egg yolks and whip the egg whites until fluffy. Add in the egg yolks, milk, oil and honey and whisk together. Stir in the wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Cook on a waffle iron. Top with fruit such as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.

This spicy turkey chili is sure to warm you up during the frigid winter.

Spicy Turkey Chili

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of lean ground turkey
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can red kidney beans drained and rinsed
• 1 whole onion, diced
• ¼ cup diced chiles
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• Fresh chopped oregano

Instructions:

Cook ground turkey and garlic in a skillet over medium heat. Add in chili powder, cumin and stir with cooked meat. Then add tomatoes, beans, onion, chiles, and tomato paste to a slow cooker and stir in cooked meat. Cover and cook in the slow cooker on high for 4 to 5 hours.

Pumpkin Oat Waffles

Ingredients:

• ½ cup oats
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup almond milk
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 3 tablespoon canned pumpkin

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until fully combined. Cook the mix using a waffle iron. Serve with plain Greek yogurt, sliced apples and a dust of extra cinnamon.