[ crockpot french dip sandwiches ]

IF YOU are looking for a super-easy, delicious meal, how about french dip sandwiches in the crockpot? This couldn't be easier...

lisa's ultimate french dip sandwiches

This recipe is so easy! I used 2 small roasts since that's all there was available in the grocery store at the time. Pile onto soft buns, and serve with the 'au jus' liquid it cooks in.

what you need:

3 lb beef roast (I used rump roast)

1 packet dry onion soup mix

15 oz can of beef broth or 2 OXO beef cubes dissolved in 15 oz boiling water

1/2 cup water

buns (I used Portugese rolls)

how to:

Put roast into crockpot (remove any strings holding it together). 

In a medium bowl, combine beef broth, onion soup mix and water. Stir until combined. Pour mixture over beef, put lid on crockpot and cook on low for 7-8 hours.

An hour before serving, shred meat with two forks or slice thinly. (If you want your 'au jus' for dipping to be lump-free, strain liquid from crockpot to remove onion bits from the onion soup mix. Then return all liquid to crockpot). Put shredded meat back into crockpot for another hour.

Pile onto rolls. If you like, you can top with some mozzarella cheese slices and put under broiler until cheese melts. Serve with a bit of 'au jus' from the crockpot in a small bowl on the side. Yum!

lisa

[ outrageous slow cooker whole chicken ]

IT'S BEEN a while since I shared a great recipe and believe me, this one is GREAT! If you are looking for a carefree, delicious whole chicken recipe, this couldn't be easier. Just get out your slow cooker and spices and you're off to the races! You'll never want to roast a chicken in your oven again.

Lisa's outrageous slow cooker whole chicken
This recipe couldn't be easier and you will be amazed at how juicy and delicious this chicken is. The best part? You can use the juices to make a yummy gravy for serving, or, throw all the bones back into the juices in the slow cooker, add water and cook on low overnight to make the best chicken stock ever.

what you need:

roasting chicken (mine was smallish at 3 lbs but the larger, the more cooking time)
1 cup sliced onion

2 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper


how to:

Combine all spices together in a small bowl.

Rinse your chicken, remove giblets and pat dry with paper towels.

Rub spices all over your chicken on both sides.

Arrange your sliced onion into a bed at the bottom of your slow cooker.

Then lay your chicken on the bed of onions.

Put the lid on the slow cooker and set to LOW. Don't open it during cooking - just let it do its thing.

Let it cook 5-8 hours on LOW. The larger the chicken, the longer the cooking time. If juices run clear when a skewer is inserted and the leg moves freely, it is done {or use a pop-up poultry thermometer while cooking}.

This chicken will be juicy and succulent when it's done. If you prefer a crispier skin, after it is cooked, place the chicken on a baking pan and put it under the broiler for 5-10 minutes.


to make amazing chicken stock:

After dinner, remove all leftover chicken from bones and refrigerate. Put all the bones back into the slow cooker with the juices. Add water until it's about 3/4 full (I added about 8 cups). Put the lid back on and let it simmer on LOW overnight.

In the morning, strain out all the bones, onions, etc through a colander. Chill and skim off any fat/oil from surface. You can do a second strain through cheesecloth if you like.

Use for soup, or freeze 1 cup portions in freezer bags for future cooking.


to make amazing chicken pasta soup:

Saute 1/4 cup diced celery and 1/4 cup diced carrot in 1 tsp oil in a saucepan. Add chicken stock (I added about 5 cups for 2 large servings). Add in some chopped, leftover cooked chicken and bring to a boil. Add 2 handfuls of uncooked shell pasta and simmer until pasta is tender. Season with salt/pepper to taste.

This slow cooker chicken recipe goes a long way and is also an easy, economical way to cook chicken to use for other recipes like pot pie, quesadillas, chicken salad etc. Enjoy!

lisa