How To Make Hummus

Hummus is a useful condiment to have in the fridge – especially in summer. It's wonderful as a raw vegetable dip or with torn up pita pockets as dippers and on sandwiches as a spread. And best of all, if you have ever wondered how to make hummus, you will be pleased to know it's a snap to make if you have a food processor - and it will save you a lot of money making it yourself.

All year around I batch cook quantities of red kidney beans and chickpeas in the crock pot, and freeze them in 2 cup containers, so I always have them on hand.

Next time you have some pumpkin in the house, and you will be using the oven, roast 4 oz of pumpkin so it's ready next time you want to take out a container of chickpeas and make this delicious home made hummus recipe.

Roast Pumpkin Hummus

3 cloves of garlic

2 cups cooked and drained chickpeas

4 oz roasted pumpkin, chopped into chunks

¼ tspn curry powder

3 Tbsp peanut butter

3 Tbsp lemon juice

2 Tbsp olive oil

Add the garlic to the food processor and chop.

Add the chickpeas, roasted pumpkin, curry powder, peanut butter and lemon juice and process until it's a smooth and creamy consistency. Then pour oil in slowly while the processor is still going.

Check the consistency, if it needs to be thinner add a little water.

Pour into a container that has a lid (for easy use) and use the contents over the next few days.

My favorite way to serve it is with toasted strips of pita pocket. Enjoy!

Variation: The roast pumpkin can be replaced with either roasted red peppers or red peppers from a jar. The peanut butter can be replaced with the traditional tahini or sesame seed paste. Curry powder can be omitted or replaced with coriander or cumin. Once you have made it once, you will see how easy it is to substitute ingredients and add more or different flavors.

More Dip Recipes? If you love Creamy Spinach Dip this slow cooker recipe is handy to have.

From a Previous Post:  Easy Chicken Crock Pot Recipe - Mediterranean Summer Chicken

Are you in the market for a new slow cooker? Designed to help you make your decision easier by giving you all the info, check out the Slow Cooker Reviews and Useful Resources on my website here.

Easy Chicken Crock Pot Recipe - Mediterranean Summer Chicken

Mediterranean Summer Chicken is one of my favorite summer crock pot recipes.  When it's hot outside the last thing you want to do is heat up the kitchen cooking, but if you have a slow cooker you won't be heating up your kitchen to cook this delicious dish!



I cook with my slow cooker almost every day, all year around.  I love this dishes fresh flavors, they lend themselves well to being served with couscous, fresh tomatoes and a green salad.  You will find Mediterranean Summer Chicken makes a perfect main meal any day of the week.


The featured slow cooker for this post is the incredibly popular Hamilton Beach 33967 Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker because of the thermometer probe feature - which turns the slow cooker automatically to 'warm mode' as soon as the food is cooked - how cool is that!  Absolutely fabulous feature if you slow cook chicken pieces or whole roasts frequently - you just program in the temperature for the type of meat and when it's reached, your food is perfectly cooked. 

A 6 quart slow cooker such as the Hamilton Beach 33967 Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is a great size to cook this...
 
Mediterranean Summer Chicken

Serves 6 Cook on low for 7-8 hours

1 onion
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
6 skinless chicken pieces with bone in
14 ounce can chopped tomatoes with basil
2 Tbsp sundried tomato pesto
2 tspn sugar
½ Cup white wine
2 Tbsp black pitted olives
1 tspn dried rosemary

• Brown onion and garlic in a non-stick pan and then place in slow cooker.
• Brown chicken in pan, and then add to slow cooker.
• Add the remaining ingredients and mix to combine.
• Cook on low 7-8 hours.
• Adjust seasonings and serve with couscous. In the summer I just add some fresh tomatoes and a seasonal green salad.  Garnish with fresh herbs such as basil, parsley or sprigs of rosemary. 

What could be easier.  Just let your slow cooker help you in the kitchen this summer!


 From previous posts:  Summer Crock Pot Recipes - Whole Chicken Slow Cooker Roast cook it overnight, pop it in the fridge in the morning, come home to a cold chicken you can make a dozen dishes with!

Do you know what goes great with barbecued food? Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese!

More great, tasty, easy slow cooker recipes and slow cooker reviews are on my website - enjoy!

Week Day Easy Slow Cooker Beef Casserole

My favorite thing about owning a slow cooker is dinner is ready as soon as you walk in the door at the end of the day. I like leaving home in the morning knowing I have done the best for my family by taking 5-10 minutes to prepare a healthy, delicious, nutritious meal from scratch for them! It gets my day off to a great start, and it makes sure the hardest part of the meal is done, which means that when I get home dinner almost ready. Just have to fix some vegetables, salad and rice or mash and it's serving time. I usually cook double the amount of rice, pasta or mashed potatoes so I'm not having to prepare them each night - so much quicker to reheat than start from scratch!

Regardless of whether you cook for just you or for a few, you will find this size slow cooker lets you prepare up to 5 servings of chili, stew, soup, casserole - or cook up to a 4 pound pot roast or roast chicken.

One of my other favorite things about slow cooker cooking is you can use cheaper cuts of meat and serve the most flavorsome, delicious, heart-warming casseroles that your family will be lining up for more!  Like this quick and easy beef casserole...

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Casserole

Serves 5-6

1-½ lbs beef casserole meat
3 Tbsp flour
1 tsp dried thyme
1-½ Tbsp wholegrain mustard
2 Tbsp soy sauce
3 tsp dried beef stock
1-¼ Cups boiling water
2 bay leaves

Pre-heat the slow cooker while you prepare the ingredients.
Trim the meat of any fat and cut in to 1 inch cubes.
In the slow cook base, combine the flour, thyme, mustard, soy sauce, beef stock powder and then add boiling water, stir until smooth, then add the meat and combine, add bay leaves.

Cover and cook on high for 4½ – 5½ hours or low for 9-11 hours.

From a Previous Post: Can't Decide What Size Slow Cooker to Buy? 3 in 1 Slow Cooker – A Crock Pot with Multiple Inserts  |  Lemon Rosemary Chicken Breast

To read my full review of this slow cooker, follow this link:  Slow Cooker Review
More slow cooker reviews are available from www.slowcookersandcrockpots.net

To check out my easy crock pot recipe collection on my website, follow this link: free recipes!

Slow Cooker Ribs - Easy, Tender & Delicious!

Here is a nice spicy slow-cooker recipe for beef ribs. Cooking them in your slow cooker makes them juicy and tender and the spicy sauce complements the meaty beef flavor perfectly!  Start this slow cooker ribs recipe cooking in the morning, and you will have tender slow cooker ribs that night!

Southwestern Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Ingredients

3 lbs English cut beef short ribs

Rub
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp oregano
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper

Sauce
1 cup salsa (I used medium)
1 cup tomatoes with chilies
1/4 cup cider vinegar

Instructions

Mix rub ingredients and rub onto surface of short ribs. Place ribs in slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 hours. Mix salsa, tomatoes and vinegar. Pour over ribs and lower temperature to LOW. Cook 4-6 hours until ribs are tender. Serve over rice (not included in the ingredients).

This recipe was sourced from Cuisinart.com, the home of the Cuisinart® Programmable 3.5-quart Slow Cooker - the ideal slow cooker to cook this recipe with.  Features include a precise, convenient 24-hour LCD countdown timer and four cooking modes including a Warm function when the time elapses. It’s easy to make classic comfort foods or try out new gourmet creations – all in a convenient-sized ceramic cooking pot that fits comfortably on any countertop.

This slow cooker has been reviewed and is featured on my website.  For more information about this slow cooker visit:

• Cuisinart Slow Cooker Review
• Cusinart Slow Cookers

... From a Previous Post: Crock Pot Trio how to entertain in style with this clever slow cooker...

Crock Pot Trio

The Crockpot SCRBC750-BS Trio Slow-Cooker Server offers a complete meal solution – giving you the ability to cook a main dish and side items all at once – and then keep it warm for serving and seconds.

The Crock Pot Trio will be useful for preparing family meals (an entree, a side and dessert) any day of the week, but can you imagine how useful this item will also be as a crock pot buffet at Thanksgiving and Christmas!

The Crock Pot Trio Cooker and Server is great for entertaining at dinner parties, family gatherings, holiday meals and for entertaining other large groups in style.

This triple crock pot buffet server lets you cook, then keep warm 3 separate dishes all at one time. The Crock Pot Trio Cooker and Server features an attractive design with 3 removable crocks (2.5 quarts each) and 3 separate controls (each with low, high and warm settings). Cook ahead and clear the dishes away before your guests arrive – the Crock Pot Trio Cooker and Server is the ultimate kitchen helper for at home entertainers.

This is the perfect slow cooker for business or family entertaining and for every day family meals as it lets you get out of the kitchen and enjoy the party!

To find the best price and see if you qualify for free shipping today follow this link: Crock Pot Trio Cooker and Server

Here's a family meal for any day of the week for the 2.5 quart slow cooker, from the recipe section of the Crock Pot Trio Cooker and Server instruction manual:

Crock Pot Chili 

Serves 4-6

1 pound ground beef chuck, browned and drained

½ green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 small onion, chopped

14 ounce can red beans

14 ounce can tomatoes

1 clove garlic

2 tbs chili powder

½ tsp ground cumin

Kosher salt and pepper

Place all ingredients in cooker and server stoneware.

Stir to combine.

Cover and cook on LOW 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.

… From a previous post: Have You Ever Wondered About The History of the Crock Pot?

Check out the top selling, best slow cooker reviews here!

I Love My New Crock Pot!

When I was researching this crock pot for this blog post, I came across a testimonial from a delighted customer that pretty much sums up the reasons this slow cooker is an essential kitchen appliance for a modern cook and those they feed!

“A friend of mine is an expert cook and she swears by her crock pot. I decided to give it a shot. I researched models, and decided that this large size, easy to program model was a good fit. I was right.

The first dish I made was chili, the second stuffed peppers, the third was navy been, beef brisket, chicken & sausage gumbo, then I moved on to steel cut oatmeal, unstuffed crock pot cabbage, and am cooking up a sausage chicken dish as I write this.

Each dish has turned out better than the last. Here's the surprising thing: I NEVER COOK, ever. My husband does all the cooking. No one is more surprised than I am that I am cooking and the food is amazing. The unstuffed crock pot cabbage is a family specialty and the crockpot made the dish better than anyone has so far.

For non-cooks, I completely recommend this Crock pot! If someone actually knows how to cook, I only imagine that the flavor is even better.

The controls - simple to use. Cooks evenly. The size is perfect for our family (4 people) with plenty of leftovers. Easy to clean. The best part is that I am able to make a meal for my family before the unexpected craziness of the day starts. This crock pot has changed they way I think about slow cookers, and changed the way I think of myself as a cook.”  - by Jessica Marlowe, CT – customer review is courtesy of Amazon.com


Crockpot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touch Screen Slow Cooker, Stainless
Enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals even with a busy schedule thanks to this easy-to-use oval-shaped slow cooker. A nice size when cooking for 8 or 9 people, the 6-1/2 quart slow cooker can hold a 7 pound roast and works well for making roasts, soups, casseroles, stews, curries, and much more.

Simply add ingredients to the unit's stoneware crock, insert it in the cooker, set the glass lid in place, and program the cooking time from 30 minutes to 20 hours using the eLume touchscreen control panel. Its digital timer counts down the time remaining, and the appliance automatically shifts to keep-warm mode at the end of the cooking time. The digital timer also keeps track of time spent in keep-warm mode, counting up in one-minute increments for up to six hours.

Thoughtfully designed, the removable stoneware crock doubles as a serving dish and, along with its lid, cleans up easily by hand or in the dishwasher. Other highlights include a polished stainless-steel exterior, a large-loop lid handle, and stylish metal side handles with silicone stay-cool wraps for safe transport. Not sure what to cook first? CrockPot throws in a bonus cookbook with a range of delicious recipe ideas.

Here is the Crock Pot Cabbage recipe from the Crockpot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touch Screen Slow Cooker instruction manual:

Smoked Sausage with Cabbage and Apples
1-1/2 lbs. smoked sausage, cut into 2 inch lengths
3 cooking apples, thickly sliced
1/2 head of red cabbage, shredded
1 onion, sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup apple juice
Layer the sausage, apples, cabbage and onion in the Crock-Pot Slow Cooker in the order listed above.
Sprinkle the brown sugar, salt and black pepper on top.
Pour the apple juice over all the other ingredients, do not stir. Cover; cook on Low for 6-8 hours or on High for 3-4 hours.


If cabbage rolls are regularly of the menu at your house, then you will love this unstuffed crock pot cabbage recipe - it's a lot less time consuming to prepare, but still has that wonderful comfort food taste you crave.  Plus when you prepare it in your Crockpot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touch Screen Slow Cooker dinner will be ready as soon as everyone walks in the door!


Previous Post: 3 in 1 Slow Cooker – A Crock Pot with Multiple Insert  |  Lemon Rosemary Chicken Breast

To read my full review of this slow cooker, follow this link: Crock Pot SCVT650-PS Slow Cooker
More slow cooker reviews are available from www.slowcookersandcrockpots.net

To check out my easy crock pot recipe collection on my website, follow this link: free recipes!

3 in 1 Slow Cooker - A Crock Pot with Multiple Inserts

The Hamilton 3 in 1 slow cooker is the ultimate in versatility!  As you can see in the picture, you get a slow cooker base and 3 different sized inserts - a 2 quart, 4 quart and 6 quart.
Can't Decide What Size Slow Cooker to Buy?
A small crock pot (2 quart) will make 3-6 servings of Marinara Sauce or cook 2-3 chicken thighs or breasts or a small 2-3lb whole chicken or roast.
A mid sized crock pot (4 quart) will give you 4-6 servings of chili or make a casserole with 3lb of chicken pieces or cook a 3lb roast.
A large crock pot (6 quart) will produce 6-9 servings or chili or chicken casserole and cook about a 7lb roast.

Perfect if you have a varying number of people to serve dinner for.  Just choose the pot to fit the number of servings you need or the quantity of food you want to prepare.  Great if you are a smaller family or a couple that entertain - plenty for everyone.  Your recipe book that is included with the Hamilton Beach 33135 instructions, has a nice recipe for the 2 quart insert, for Artichoke dip that serves 8.

The "Back Yard Barbecue Meatballs" cooked in the 6 quart insert (serves 10-12) sounds great for when there is a crowd to feed. And the "Apple Ginger Compote wit Toasted Walnuts" served with vanilla icecream sound delicious - I would have to make sure I reserved some for breakfast the next morning!  It sounds like it would be great with muesli and yogurt!

My favorite recipe from the instruction manual is the kind of recipe that I would cook anytime.  This one's a keeper - make sure you add it to your slow cooker chicken recipes! It is from the 2 quart slow cooker recipes, so if you have a larger slow cooker, you can increase the serving size easily to match.

Chicken Breasts with Lemon and Fresh Rosemary
2-3 chicken breasts (skin on, bone-in), rinsed and patted dry
Juice of 1 lemon
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
2-3 tablespoons smoked paprika
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Place chicken breasts in stoneware dish. Pour lemon juice over chicken breasts and sprinkle liberally with smoked paprika. Season chicken breasts with salt and freshly ground pepper. Top with rosemary sprigs. Cook on LOW for approximately 4 hours or on HIGH for approximately 3 1/2 hours until internal temperature reaches 180ºF (82ºC)*. Serves 6.

Previous Post: Do you have a Crock Pot Easy Pot Roast Recipe?

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