Italian Meatballs

I made these for a dinner of meatball subs, but they'd also work great over pasta with additional sauce, or as an appetizer.

Italian Meatballs
2 lbs. ground beef
1 egg
1 tsp finely chopped garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 slice of day old bread, crumbled
1 jar of spaghetti sauce

In a large bowl, knead together beef, egg, garlic, onions and bread. Form mixture into meatballs, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Place all the meatballs in a crockpot, then cover with the spaghetti sauce. Cook on low 8 hours. Makes about 36 meatballs.

For Meatball Subs, spoon onto your favorite sub loaf or Italian roll, then top with grated Mozzarella.

Thai Chicken and Rice

This one was a big hit with the whole family, though it's not one I can let cook all day while I'm at work. It's great for half days or weekends though. I took the photo with a cell phone -- it doesn't do it justice!

Thai Chicken and Rice
1-1/2 lb. chicken cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into short thin strips
1-1/4 cups chicken broth, divided
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp cornstarch
3 green onions, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/3 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup peanuts, chopped
2 tsp dried cilantro
4-6 servings hot cooked rice

Place chicken, bell pepper, 1 cup of broth, soy sauce, garlic and red pepper flakes in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Mix cornstarch with remaining 1/4 cup broth in small bowl until smooth. Turn slow cooker to high and stir in green onions, peanut butter and the cornstarch mixture, shredding the chicken and you stir. Cover and cook 30 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Stir well. Sprinkle with peanuts and cilantro. Serve over hot cooked rice. Serves 4-6.

Creamy Beef Roast

Another version of the pot roast, this one is creamier, with a kick of onion flavor.

Creamy Beef Roast
2-3 lb. chuck roast
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp onion flakes
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can of water (use the soup can)
2 dozen or so baby carrots
4 medium potatoes

Prep the roast the night before by adding everything except the potatoes to the crockpot. Quarter the potatoes and put them in a bowl covered with cold water. Place everything in the fridge. In the morning, drain the potatoes and add them to the roast. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Serves 6-8.