Mock Beef Stroganoff over Red Potatoes

The other day I was struggling with what to fix for dinner based on the items I had remaining in my fridge/freezer and pantry. After some research on the internet and comparing different recipes I created my own meal in the crockpot: Mock Beef Stroganoff over Red Potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef (I only had .82 pounds of beef to use)
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 jar Alfredo sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 beef bouillon cube
• 1/3 cup sour cream

Directions:

1. Brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic powder.
2. Drain. Pour into lightly greased slow cooker.
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add jar of Alfredo sauce, water, flour, and beef bouillon cube to meat mixture.
5. Cover and cook on Low for 5 to 7 hours.
6. Add the sour cream during the last hour.
7. Just before serving, prepare the red potatoes. Wash and cube potatoes and boil in salted water until tender. Drain.
8. Serve the meat mixture over the red potatoes and enjoy!!

Buttermilk Pancakes

Usually about one night a week we do "breakfast" night at our house. I love fixing buttermilk pancakes but I don't love having to stand over the griddle flipping pancakes after a long day. So one particular night I decided to try pancakes in the crockpot! After some research on the internet it seemed doable. I used a recipe from my trusted Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil

I never have buttermilk or sour milk on hand so I make my own. To make sour milk use 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Add enough milk to the vinegar to make one cup worth. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

 

Directions:

1. Heavily grease the inside of the slow cooker.
2. In a medium bowl combine the dry ingredients. 
3. In another bowl combine the egg, milk, and oil. Add to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened.
4. Pour into slow cooker.
5. Cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until done.

Once it's finished cooking, simply cut into smaller portions and serve. The end result: a delicious pancake with no laboring over the stove top!