Pork Chops and Sweet Potatoes

 

• 4 pork chops

• salt and pepper to taste

• 2 onions, sliced into rings

• 2 sweet potatoes, sliced

• 2 apples - peeled, cored, and sliced into rings

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2. Season pork chops with salt and pepper to taste, and arrange in a medium oven safe skillet. Top pork chops with onions, sweet potatoes, and apples. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Season with 2 teaspoons pepper and 1 teaspoon salt.

3. Cover, and bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until sweet potatoes are tender and pork chops have reached an internal temperature of 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

For crockpot, add broth and cook on low 8 hours. 

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

 This slow cooker macaroni and cheese takes less than 10 minutes to get into the Crock Pot and then it’s ready to go!

1. Boil pasta for about 2 minutes less than the package indicates.
2. While pasta is boiling, shred the sharp cheddar cheese.
3. Put all of the ingredients into the slow cooker and cook per the recipe below.

Tips for Perfection

• Pasta – Do not overcook the pasta, it should be very firm after boiling. Rinsing the pasta stops it from cooking.
• Cheese – Shred the cheese from a block, pre-shredded cheeses do not work as well.
• Cooking time – Check the pasta early, slow cookers can vary.
• Double the recipe – A single batch of this slow-cooker mac is cooked in a 4qt slow cooker. To double this recipe, cook in a 6QT crockpot.  Cook on high for 2 1/2 hours, stirring after 1 hour and 2 hours.  (When stirring, try to do it as quickly as possible to keep the heat inside).
• Make ahead –  To prepare this ahead of time, mix all of the ingredients except the pasta. The pasta can be cooked ahead, rinsed, and cooled. Combine the pasta and sauce ingredients in the crock pot just before cooking.
• Baking in the oven –  If you prefer or if you are short on time, you can bake this in the oven (and I have many many times!) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake 30 minutes covered and 30 minutes uncovered.

Credit: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/ultra-cream-mac-n-cheese-in-the-slow-cooker/

Baked Apples

 

Recipe Ingredients

• Apples (about four Granny Smith apples fit comfortably into my slow cooker).
• Dried cranberries (or raisins, or leave these out entirely).
• Brown sugar 
• Butter (or margarine)
• Cinnamon and allspice (you can leave the allspice out if you like but I love how it enhances the cinnamon. Also, if you are a nutmeg lover you can add that as well. I’ve never been a nutmeg fan so I avoid it).
• You can also add pecans, walnuts, oats, or anything else you come up with! 

1. Place your brown sugar, dried cranberries or raisins, and cinnamon and allspice (or whatever spices you are using) in a small bowl and stir them up really well.
2. Now place the cored apples in the bottom of your slow cooker and use a spoon to fill each apple with your sugar mixture.
3. Top each one with a pat of butter. 

4. Add in 1/2 cup of water and cover with lid. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours for large apples. I used five small to medium apples, so I cooked mine on high for 2.5 hours, or until tender.

5. I recommend checking them after 3 to 4 hours on low and after 1 hour on high.

Credit: https://www.southernplate.com/crock-pot-baked-apples/