Slow Cooking: Pork Dishes

Pork is another favorite of mine for the crock pot. It's easy and slow cooking it makes for a nice, tender meat. My family devours the pulled pork, and it a favorite of their teen friends too. I love the Mexican version with taco spices, but don't make that as often.

The other meal that I don't have a recipe for is slow cooked pork loin. I simply place the pork loin in the crock pot, season with salt, pepper and garlic. It's cooked on high for 5-6 hours. It's very easy and doesn't dry out in the crock pot.

BBQ Pulled Pork

Ingredients
5 lbs. pork roast
1 1/2 tbsp. paprika
2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 18 ounce bottle barbeque sauce
hamburger buns

Place the porch in the crock pot, and season with the dry spices. Place on the lid and cook for 6-8 hours until the roast is tender and falling apart. Remove the roast to a bowl or plate. Remove all but 1/2 cup or so of the liquid. Discard or save for another use. Using a fork, remove any fat from the roast. Place the meat back into the crock pot, shredding with the fork. Add the bottle of BBQ sauce and cook on low for another 1/2 hour. Serve on buns.

Variation: Instead of adding BBQ sauce, add 2 packets of taco seasoning and the water called for. Mix into the shredded pork, cook for the 1/2 hour longer, then serve with tortillas and additions such as salsa, cheese, sour cream and green onions.

Slow Cooked Pork Chops

Ingredients:
4-5 medium potatoes, peeled, chunked
3-4 carrots, sliced (or use baby carrots)
1 medium sweet onion
5-6 pork chops (boneless or with bone)
1 can cream of mushroom soup or French onion

In bottom of crock pot place potatoes, then carrots and onions, then top with pork chops. Pour soup over top. Do not use water. Cook on low heat 8 to 10 hours. Serve with noodles or rice.

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Pork

Ingredients:

2-3 pounds cubed pork (boneless chops work great)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup white or cider vinegar
1 large sweet onion, sliced thinly
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
1 tsp. ground ginger (mix into the juice)
1/4 cup brown sugar

1 can pineapple chunks, drained (reserve)
2 green peppers, cored and chopped

Combine soy sauce, juice, and cornstarch with the brown sugar. Place the pork into the crockpot and stir in remaining ingredients. Cook on high for about 4-5 hours. Add the tomatoes and peppers, cook about 15-20 minutes longer. Serve with white or brown rice.

On OFL we have an article on using herbs with pork:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/herbs5.html

~Brenda

When to Start Seeds Indoors

I'm sure you've been getting seed catalogs since December as I have, and it's time to make decisions on what, if any, seeds you'll start indoors. If you don't have a lot of space, one packet might be more than you need. If so, partner up with a family member, friend or neighbor and swap seed packets once you've taken out what you need. Below are suggested times for starting various flowers, herbs and vegetables. Use this to give you an idea of what you may want to sow indoors this year.

January:

-Lisianthus takes up to 17 weeks indoors...it has beautiful blooms in white, and various shades of pink, lavender, or deep purple. It's also known as Texas bluebell, Prairie Gentian or simply bluebells. Gerbera daisies also need a lot of time to grow, and should be started in January.

Early February:
-geraniums, pansies, violas or wax begonias

-onions, leeks

Mid February:
-impatiens, larkspur, fountain grass, lobelia and stocks

-celery

Early March:
-coleus, dahlia, gazania, heliotrope, petunias, rudbeckia, snapdragons, verbena

-broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, head lettuce

Mid March:
-bells of Ireland, candytuft, cleome, pinks, hollyhock, African marigold, nicotiana, phlox, salvia, statice, strawflower, sweet alyssum

-peppers, eggplant

Early April:

aster, babys breath, bachelor buttons, balsam, calendula, cornflower, four o'clocks, marigolds, morning glory, nasturtium, moss rose

Tomatoes

Mid-April:
cosmos, sweet peas, zinnias,

Obviously I didn't include all flowers, herbs and vegetables in this list. I tried to get the most popular plants included. I do have to say that there are flowers I always sow outside without fail as soon as the heavy frosts have left. They are: nasturtium, morning glory, calendula, bachelor buttons, sunflowers, and zinnias.

This should give you an idea of which seeds you can start indoors and when you need to do it. I've also blogged on previously on seed starting:

Seed Starting Tips

Starting Tomato Seeds Indoors

Damping Off Solutions

Sowing Tiny Seeds

~Brenda

Slow Cooking: Chicken Dishes

Everyone has their favorite kitchen tools, and mine is the crock pot. I received my first slow cooker almost 23 years ago as a wedding gift, and I've went through four of them in that time. Today I thought I would share my favorite chicken dishes made in the slow cooker.

Whole Slow Cooked Chicken

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken
salt
ground black pepper
Italian seasoning
garlic powder

Rinse the chicken and place in the crock pot. sprinkle with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Add one cup of water to the bottom of the crock pot. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5.

Notes: Serve this with noodles, mashed potatoes or microwaved "baked" potatoes, and a salad.

This is one of the easiest recipe for crock pots, and it's delicious. Some people are put off that it doesn't brown like when it's roasted, but it's so moist that it really isn't a concern of mine. You can change the spices to give it a different flavor if you wish. It's a very flexible recipe, and will always give you nice broth to use for gravy, noodles or soup.

Boneless Chicken Breast
I have quite a few recipes that use boneless chicken breast. I use frozen or fresh, whichever is the better price at the time. It's much better to thaw the chicken before using in the recipes so they don't water down the dish.

Lemon Garlic Chicken

Ingredients:
2 lb. chicken breast halves, bone in or boneless
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. water or chicken broth
3 tbsp. lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced

Place chicken in crock pot. Combine the other ingredients and pour over the chicken, coating all the pieces. Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours or until chicken is done. Serve with pasta.

Easy BBQ Chicken

Ingredients:
2.5-3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 bottle of BBQ Sauce

Drain the thawed chicken and add to the crock pot. Do not add water or liquid. Pour in about 2 cups sauce, and stir so the chicken is coated. Cook 3-5 hours on low. If you cook on high it only takes about 2 hours.

Notes: I serve this with French Fries, fried potatoes or potato wedges.

EASY VARIATIONS
-Spaghetti sauce instead of BBQ sauce, then top the chicken with Parmesan cheese and serve on top of pasta.

-Soups instead of BBQ sauce- cream of chicken, cheese, broccoli, etc.

-Italian dressing instead of BBQ sauce.

On OFL we have an article on choosing a slow cooker:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/Choosing-&-Using-a-Slow-Cooker.html

~Brenda

Old Fashioned Baking Tips and Recipes

I'm in a baking mood today, since the snow is covering the ground, the trees and the bushes for the first time this year with no melting in sight. It was 16 degrees F. this morning, but then we've been having warmer than usual temperatures this winter, and I knew the cold days were coming. Last night I made homemade pizza for my family, plus three extra teenagers. The house was toasty warm since the oven was on 450 F. for quite awhile as I rolled out crust and made five pizzas. I've shared my recipe for the crust on a past blog: http://oldtips.blogspot.com/2011/04/homemade-pizza-for-six-or-more.html . I tripled this recipe last night and topped the pizzas with pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, sausage, bacon, cheese and ham. I did one pizza meatless since one of our teen visitors is vegetarian. That pizza I topped with the sauce, sauteed green pepper, onions, mushrooms and then I sprinkled it with oregano, basil and Parmesan cheese on top of the mozzarella.

Today's tips are from All About Home Baking, which was published in 1933. I love this cookbook, and actually ended up with two copies, one of which belonged to Grandma Dorothy, my husband's grandma who passed away this fall. Thumbing through it always reminds me of her:) The baking tips are almost better than the recipes.

Measuring Baking Powder

Don't heap the teaspoon, for a heaping teaspoon may be 3 or 4 level teaspoons. Don't level off the spoon against the side of the can (I'm guilty of this one! -B.) ; the rounded edge gives you a rounding, and not a level teaspoon. Don't fill the spoon "about right" and shake off the excess; use your spatula to level off. Don't guess at fractions; use the small sizes of your measuring spoons to measure 1/4 or 1/2 amounts.

Penalties of Improper Baking Soda Amounts

Too much: batter running over edge of the pan; cake falling in the center; crackle, gummy, tough crust; coarse, crumbly texture.

Too little: undersized products; peaked, dull crust; heaviness; leathery streaks

Measuring Other Ingredients

Melted shortening or margarine: Melt shortening over hot water (Microwave can be used -B.). Then measure by level tablespoons.

Granulated Sugar: fill the cup and level off with a spatula or straight edge of knife. Never heap the cup or "scant" even a little bit.

Brown Sugar: pack into the cups firmly so it will keep the shape of the cup when turned out.

Thick, Sticky Liquids: pour into spoon from the container or another spoon. Don't dip the spoon into sticky liquids to measure. Too much will end up clinging to the underside of the spoon.

Cheese Roulettes

2 cups sifted cake flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

4 tbsp. butter or shortening

2/3 cup milk

melted butter

1 cup grated American cheese

salt

paprika

Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder and salt, sift again. Cut in shortening; add milk all at once and stir carefully until all flour is dampened. Then stir vigorously until mixture forms a soft dough and follows spoon around bowl. Turn out on slightly floured board and knead for 30 seconds. Roll into oblong sheet, 1/8 inch thick. Brush with melted butter. Spread cheese evenly over dough. Sprinkle with salt and paprika. Cut into strips, 6x1/2 inches, roll each strip, and place in greased muffin tins. Bake at 425 F. 15 minutes. Makes 24.

Aladdin Chocolate Cake

1 1/3 cups sifted cake flour

1 3/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

4 tbsp. softened butter or shortening

2 eggs, well beaten

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

Sift flour once, measure, add baking powder, salt and sugar, and sift together three times. Add butter. Combine eggs, milk, and vanilla and add to flour mixture, stirring until all flour is dampened. Add chocolate and blend. Then beat vigorously 1 minute. Bake in a greased pan, 8x8x2 inches, in moderate oven (325 F.) for 1 hour. Spread with frosting when cool, over the top and sides.

On OFL we have recipes for old fashioned tea breads:

http://oldfashionedliving.com/teabreads.html

~Brenda

Housekeeping Tips from 1940

Today I thought I'd share some very old time and money saving tips from the Watkins Almanac and Home Book of Useful Information, printed in 1940. As we all know, that was a very hard time in history with everyone trying to save pennies wherever and whenever they could, which is one reason why I love tips from this period.

-Place a square of oilcloth under the sewing machine when sewing. This will save picking up pins, threads, etc. from the rug.

Note: Oilcloth was a heavy cotton or linen fabric that was coated with linseed. Sometime in the 1950's it was replaced mostly by flannel backed plastic tablecloths.

-If boiled frosting will not thicken, the syrup is too thin. Place bowl in hot water and use a rotary beater. If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of hot water and beat.

-Glass broken into tiny splinters which are practically invisible can be picked up by wiping the floor or surface with moistened absorbent cotton.

-Diced leftover baked or boiled ham blended with peas, rice or macaroni will be appetizing in a well-seasoned creamed dish.

-Save the water in which fresh vegetables are boiled. The vegetable stock is excellent for soup.

-Muffin tins are excellent for baking apples, tomatoes, stuffed peppers, etc. because they will keep their shape.

-When doubling the ingredients of a recipe, do not double the seasoning. Use the amount stated and taste before adding more.

-Dishes in which milk, eggs or starchy foods have been cooked should be soaked in cold water. Use hot water for sticky or greasy dishes.

-If dividing a recipe in half, use 2 small eggs when it calls for 3 eggs in the original recipe.

-Always cool melted fat before adding to the flour to make a smooth mixture; otherwise, there will be tiny balls of dough that will leave holes in the cake.

Do you have one of those small tabletop fountains? We have a nice article on OFL with tips on cleaning the fountains: http://oldfashionedliving.com/fountains2.html

~Brenda

Growing Herbs Indoors During Winter

Usually about this time of year I start getting antsy to play in the dirt. The snow is covering most everything, and what isn't covered is brown. Browsing seed catalogs is always a partial cure, but so is growing herb plants indoors. I don't have a bay window, or a sun room, but even my smaller windowsills will work for a few herbs, and I get to play in the dirt.

Clay pots work well for growing herbs inside because they drain well, and don't hold in the moisture too long like plastic pots tend to do. For smaller windowsills use smaller pots (at least 6 inches round) with only one herb per pot. If there is more room, such as a bay window, a 12 inch pot can hold several herbs. One combination that works well is a rosemary plant in the center of the pot, with two small parsley plants on one side and winter savory on the other. Another combination is a sage for the center and thyme, sweet marjoram and tarragon on the sides. These will grow well together and don't mind the close space.

Chives, whether garlic or traditional, are better grown in pots by themselves. Basil is best on it's own too, and has so many wonderful varieties that it makes it hard to grow just one type.

A nice way to use small pots on a windowsill is to line a long, thin tray with small stones or pebbles, then set the pots on top of the stones.

When looking for herbs to start now, check local garden departments for plants, or start herbs from seed. Dill, basil, and oregano are good choices, but try to buy varieties that are compact such as Globe basil or Fernleaf dill. It should describe it as such on the packet. Soil should always be a mix made for containers if possible. I usually pick up a bag from the local nursery or garden department at Walmart or Meijer.

Line the bottom of each pot with about an inch of small pebbles. I've often used aquarium stones and they work well. Top the stones with soil and sow the seeds as per the instructions on the packet. Water gently and place on the windowsill. This is a wonderful way to bring a little green into the house during winter.

On OFL I have an article on growing fresh ginger in a pot plus recipes:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/ginger.html

~Brenda

Happy New Year!

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. ~John Burroughs

Thank you from all of us at Old Fashioned Living for your support this year. We are truly thankful for your visits, comments and friendship. We hope you all have a wonderful 2012!

~Brenda