* I must clarify that I don't know for a fact that this recipe is truly gluten-free.

Wheat-free energy bars Ingredients: ·         2 vegetarian fed eggs ·         1 c organic brown sugar ·         2 t vanilla extract ·         3 T soy protein powder ·         2 T nut butter ·         2 c granola ·         1/2 c unsweetened cranberries ·         1/2 c chopped pecans ·         1/2 c carob chips

Let cool for 20 minutes.

Dry Onion Soup Mix

• 1 c minced onion
• 2 t. onion powder
• 1 t garlic powder
• 1/4 c instant beef bouillon granules
• 1/4 c parmesan cheese
• 1 t celery salt
• 1/2 t white pepper
• 1 t sugar

(Makes 10 batches)

1. Combine all ing. and mix well.  Store in airtight container.  (Can be stored in freezer for up to six months.)
2. To use as an appetizer:  Combine 1/4 c mix w/2 c sour cream.  Cover and let it stand in the fridge for 2 hours.
3. To use as soup:  Combine 2 T mix in 1-1/2 c boiling water per serving.  Substitute for purchase onion soup mix in dips and recipes.

Cincinnati Chili (serves 6)

• 1-/2 # ground beef
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 T minced garlic
• 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 6 oz can tomato paste
• 10 oz beef broth
• 3 c water
• 1 T apple cider vinegar
• 2 (16 oz) cans kidney beans, drained
• 2 T chili powder
• 1/2 t cumin
• 1/2 t allspice
• 6 oz pkg spaghetti

1. Brown ground beef with onion and garlic.  Drain.
2. Add remaining ingredients except for spaghetti. 
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
4. Cool in fridge.
5. Separate into freezer-safe, meal-sized portions.
6. When ready to use:  Thaw package of chili sauce overnight.  Heat in pan to boiling.  Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. 
7. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.

Taco Seasoning Mix

• 1/3 c minced onion
• 2 T minced garlic
• 1/4 c chili powder
• 1 T cumin
• 1 T paprika
• 4 t sugar
• 1 T salt
• 1/4 t black pepper
• 1/2 t red pepper
• 1/4 t white pepper
• 2 T cornstarch

Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container.  Makes 6 batches.

To use:  Use 2 T to substitute for a 1.25 ounce pkg. of taco seasoning.  To make sauce from this mix, combine 2 T mix and an 8 oz can tomato sauce in a pan.  Simmer over low heat for 5-10 minutes.

Potatoes Deluxe

• 2 lbs. frozen hash browns, drained
• 1 c. diced onion
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 16 oz. sour cream
• 1 stick margarine
• 8 oz. sharp, grated cheddar cheese
• crushed potato chips (for top)

1. Mix all ingredients except for the potato chips.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. Put in a greased 9x13 pan.
3. Sprinkle 1 c. crushed potato chips over the top.
4. Bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees.

You can easily divide this recipe in 1/2 and freeze.

Pizza Potatoes

• 1/3 c. chopped onion
• 6 c. thinly sliced potatoes
• 3 T. margarine
• 3 T. flour
• 16 oz. can tomatoes
• 2-3 oz. sliced pepperoni (I use more)
• 1 c. Mozzerella cheese
• 1 t. salt
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 1/8 t. garlic powder
• 1 c. milk (I use soy milk due to milk allergies)
• 1/2 t. oregano
• 1/2 lb. Italian sausage  (I use 1# pork sausage)

1. Layer potatoes in greased 9x13 pan.
2. Melt margarine and saute onion.
3. Add flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
4. Stir to smooth paste.
5. Add milk.
6. Boil until it thickens.
7. Gradually add tomatoes and oregano. 
8. Continue cooking and stirring until hot.
9. Pour over potatoes.
10. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.
11. Place pepperoni and fried sausage over potatoes. 
12. Add cheese.
13. Continue to bake 10-15 minutes.

Serves 6-8.

We only have 4 days left in the month, yet the December work schedule hasn't been posted.  It's kind of hard to start my menu planning when I haven't a clue as to what hours/days I will be working.  Yet, I was in the mood to get started on it.  Here is my solution to that dilemma:

1. I took inventory on what meat was in the freezer. 
2. Next, I sat down and planned what meals I would make with that meat.
3. At the same time, I came up with my grocery list for those meals. 

Now, once I actually get my schedule, all I need to do is "plug" those meals into my calendar. 

Here's an idea of how I did it:

• Chicken thighs = fried or baked chicken
• 5 meal-sized portions of Cincinnati Chili (I'm sure we won't use all of them in December or we will be sick of that one!)
• Country fried steak
• One bag of fried ground beef = Veggie beef soup
• 3 bags of ground beef = Cheeseburgers, taco salad, spaghetti
• Smoked sausage = Crock pot meal with green beans and potatoes added to it.
• 4 bags of pepperoni = 2 pizzas, eggs and pepperoni brunch, and pizza potatoes
• Diced chicken leg quarters = Comfy chicken soup
• 3 packages of round steak = Steak stroganoff, round steak and gravy in the crock pot, and BBQ round steak (I will also make deluxe potatoes to go with the BBQ round steak.)  Recipes will be posted later.
• Cubed steak = 2 meals of fried cubed steak and gravy
• 3 packages of hot dogs = Hot dogs and sauce and the other 2 pkgs. of hot dogs will be baked with baked beans and used for my lunches since I'm the only one who will eat that.
• Ham chunks = Ham and beans in the crock pot
• Small bag of chicken chunks = chicken casserole for dh and dd one night when I work late
• 2 packages of pork sausage = Sausaage, biscuits, and gravy.  The other one will be used for the pizza potatoes I mentioned above.
• One frozen meal of Chinese chicken will be used for when I'm coming off of a long stretch of working and want something easy for supper.
• 6 chicken sandwich patties = 2 meals of chicken sandwiches.

Though I have no control over when I will get my schedule, I can at least have a sense of control in knowing that it won't take any time at all to plug these meals into a slot on my calendar when I finally do get my schedule.  This leaves me with a sense of being a keeper at home/queen of my home.   And that makes this mama .  And we all know that if mama ain't happy, ain't no one else happy either. 

Veggie Beef Soup

• 1 # ground beef, browned and drained
• 14 oz. beef broth
• 1-1/2 c. water
• 10 oz. frozen mixed veggies
• 14 oz. diced tomatoes
• 1 T. minced onion

Mix all ingredients in a crock pot.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Or cook on high for 3-4 hours.

Two-Bean Chili

• 1 # ground beef, browned and drained
• 6 oz. tomato paste
• 2 cans kidney beans
• 2 cans pinto beans
• 2 T chili powder

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot.  Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours.

Chili Taco Soup

• 2 # fried ground beef, drained
• 2 cans stewed tomatoes
• 1 envelope dry taco mix
• 2 cans pinto beans
• 1 can corn
• 3/4 c. water

1. Combine all ingredients in a crock pot.
2. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours.

Italian Beef Au Jus

• 3# boneless beef roast
• package dry au jus mix
• package dry Italian salad dressing mix
• 14 oz. beef broth
• 4 oz. water

1. Place beef in crock pot.
2. Combine other ingredients and pour over meat.
3. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours.

1. Pot pies (I will be working that day, so this will be easy for dd to make.)
2. Lasagna rolls (Another easy meal since I will be coming off a 5-day stretch at work.)
3. Italian Beef in crock pot
4. Fried cube steak
5. Amish pork
6. Chili taco soup
7. Chicken and noodles
8. BBQ chicken in crock pot
9. Leftover chicken and noodles
10. Leftover soup
11. Meat loaf
12. Cheeseburgers (I work 11-7 so went w/something easy for dh and dd.)
13. Fried chicken
14. Salisbury steak (frozen meal)
15. Chicken casserole
16. Salmon patties
17. Meat loaf (I work 11-7, so this will be made up the night before so dh just needs to put it in the oven.)
18. Chili
19. Pizza
20. Leftover chili and grilled cheese
21. Chicken and rice casserole
22. Country fried steak
23. Tuna helper (I work 11-7.)
24. Cincinnati chili
25. Veggie beef soup
26. Thanksgiving - dinner at my mom's
27. Spaghetti (Working 11-7)
28. Leftover veggie/beef soup
29. Bean soup w/ham chunks
30. Cheeseburgers

http://www.crockpot-cooking.com/ 

http://www.yummycrockpotrecipes.com/  ( has recipes by seasons )

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HealthyLiving/Crockpot%2Bcooking/

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/slowcooker/breakfast.htm

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ This gal did a year of crockpotting and then produced a book!