Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup

So yum and delicious especially on a cold day.  One of my favs and great as leftovers!

Ingredients:
1 pound beef stew meat
2 C beef broth
2 large potatoes, peel and cubed (I buy frozen and just pour in 2 cups worth)
3 carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 can kidney beans
1 can green beans
1 can corn
1 can peas
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp minced garlic

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on medium 6-8 hours.   Optional:  Brown meat first in desired seasonings.

Baked Corn

An easy side item when you want to spruce up your vegetables.

Ingredients:
2 cans of whole kernel corn
1 can cream style corn
2 eggs
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C butter
black pepper to taste

Directions:
Mix well and bake in dish for 1 hour at 350.

Pumpkin Breakfast Bread

This was so delicious on a cool fall day.   From a Taste of the Good Life Cookbook

Ingredients:
1 2/3 C all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 c margarine, softened
1 1/3 C light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 C canned or homemade pumpkin puree
1/3 C lowfat milk
13 C finely chopped cashews

Directions:
Generously coat a loaf pan with non-stick spray, then dust with flour.  Combine first eight ingredients and mix together well.  In another bowl, cream together the margarine and brown sugar, then bea in eggs, pumpkin and milk.  Beat the liquid into the dry ingredients, mixing well.  Stir in nuts.

Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour.  Let cool for ten minutes before removing and slicing.  (loves freeze well too)

Makes 1 loaf.

Chicken Manicotti with White Sauce

Italian... yum!! However, it photographs terribly...

Ingredients:
1/2 box manicotti noodles
2 T olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
6 oz chopped fresh spinach
1 egg
8 oz ricotta cheese
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 mozzarella cheese
1 can organic all natural canned chicken
1 Simple White Sauce

Directions:
Preheat oven 350.  Cook manicotti per box directions.  Drain and rinse in cool water, set aside.   heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  add garlic, saute 5 minutes.  Add chopped spinach and cook another 5 minutes.   Beat egg in a medium bowl.  Stir in chicken, ricotta cheese, basil, salt, and mozzarella.  Make the Simple White Sauce.   Pour small amount of sauce over the bottom of baking dish.  Fill manicotti with cheese mixture.  Place in dish as filled.  Pour additional sauce evenly over the filled shells.  Cover and bake 30-35 minutes.

Serves 3