Cooking Method: Slow Cooker / Crock Pot

Vaquero Bean Soup

I love using a leftover ham hock to make soup. I also happen to have some Rancho Gordo Vaquero beans. If you don't know about Rancho Gordo, then you need to check them out. You can substitute other beans for this soup, like black beans. I have given you the recipe for 3 cooking methods - Instant Pot (which is what I did), Slow Cooker or stovetop. Before serving, I love adding a splash of sherry vinegar, which brightens it up and add a burst of flavor.

By Leslie Blythe

Autumn Pumpkin Turkey Chili

I decided to make this Autumn Pumpkin Turkey Chili so that I could jumpstart my favortite time of year. I overheard my husband talking to my daughter on the phone saying that "Mom is making some kind of weird chili that invovles a can of pumpkin purée". I have to say when I was shopping for ingredients for dinner, I was on the fence as to whether to use chunks of pumpkin/butternut squash instead. I decided to try it. My husband said it was delicious and went back for seconds!

I have provided 3 different methods of making this dish - stovetop, slow cooker and Instant Pot. It's the perfect thing for a chilly night, which I can only dream about living in LA. It is supposed to top 100° F this weekend!

By Leslie Blythe

Steak San Marino

I received a recipe in my inbox called Steak San Marino. I then proceeded to fall down a rabbit hole as I often do while researching this dish. San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the world. It is found in southern Europe and is fully surrounded by Italy (this is called an enclave, and only the Vatican City, Lesotho and San Marino are like this). Fewer than 30,000 people live there. It measures just 0.2 square miles, almost 120 times smaller than the island of Manhattan! I have lived in San Marino, CA and actually went to high school there. This Steak San Marino is made in a slow cooker and doesn't have many ingredients, but is very comforting and delicious. It's served on a bed of white rice and is very family-friendly, especially since online school has started for many. It only takes about 15 minutes to make and cooks all day and will fill your home full of wonderful aromas.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga

My daughter Zoe made Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga. I wish I could have been there to try it! Chicken Tinga is a Mexican dish made with shredded chicken in a sauce made from tomatoes, chipotle chilis in adobo, and sliced onions. You can use it on tostadas, quesadillas, tortillas. Top it with avocado, red onion, cilantro, and maybe even some crumbled cheese, like cotija or queso fresco.

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Chicken and Butternut Squash Stew

This Chicken and Butternut Squash Stew is a taste of Autumn in a bowl! I have included to ways to make it, one in a slow cooker and the other faster way in an Instant Pot.

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Greek Pot Roast in a Slow Cooker

I love finding new ways to make a pot roast. There is nothing better than throwing a roast in the slow cooker on a Sunday morning.  This Greek Pot Roast in a Slow Cooker is tender and juicy. It calls for Greek seasoning. You can either buy it ready made or I have included the recipe to make your own.

By Leslie Blythe

Wild Rice Soup

I made this delicious Wild Rice Soup the other day. I found it on this wonderful blog called Gimme Some Oven. I actually used a wild rice blend and I also added some dry sherry at the end. There are 3 methods to make this soup - Instant Pot, Slow Cooker or Stove Top.

By Leslie Blythe

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

One night my kids and my nephew were over. It was very late at night and they were hanging out in the kitchen. I went to bed and woke up at midnight to a heated argument between my daughter and her boyfriend. It was very loud and seemed rather intense. In the morning when I woke up I asked my husband what on EARTH WERE THEY FIGHTING ABOUT!? He said it was about Buffalo Chicken Pizza. Seriously? My daughter thinks that it's a ridiculous idea, but it's one of her boyfriend's favorites. I promptly went to the market and bought a bottle of Franks Hot Red Sauce and some chicken, threw it in the instant pot and shredded it up. We were planning a Big Green Egg pizza grilling night, so I added it to the menu. It turns out, it was one of the best pizzas of the night! It was topped off with some ranch dressing and sliced celery. They vetoed the blue cheese!

By Leslie Blythe

Short Ribs in Red Wine & Orange Juice

These Short Ribs in Red Wine & Orange Juice are succulent, tender and guaranteed fall-off-the-bone good and they are easy to make! Not only that, but I am giving you 3 methods to make them - Instant Pot, Slow Cooker or in the oven. The braising liquid is made from a full-bodied red wine, orange zest and juice and fresh thyme.

By Leslie Blythe

Slow Cooked Beef Stroganoff

By Leslie Blythe