Crock Pot Tuesdays~

Every Tuesday I prepare my biggest crock pot for the inner city teens that Mike and Beth work with and together we provide them with a good meal.  The snow has finally melted, but it is still cool so tonight it will be scalloped potatoes (and other vegetables) with ham and bacon. Tuesday nights started off with just a few teens and now we are up to fifteen or more. (Actually 21 showed up this time.) The first Tuesday of the month had very few kids attending, but now they are coming every Tuesday with gusto.

My sister-in-law turned me on to the plastic crock pot liners which makes clean up so much easier for the workers to handle.  I dragged my heels a little because plastic bags in a slow cooker just didn't seem like a good idea. I'll have to practice with this concept a little more before I am into it fully.  It does not, however, make the tastiest looking picture, but there you have it.

                                                                        

 

 

 

Since I am also getting ready for Easter, I had a ham/bone that I turned into ham and bean soup for Sunday with some left over chunks of ham to be used in this dish.  I sauteed sweet onions and the diced ham into almost a jam consistency and that was sprinkled in between layers of potatoes, cauliflower, cheese, bacon, and peppers. (I made a small casserole for three of us as well.)

 

Always like to experiment with the relatives--how about this new idea for cornbread to go with the ham and beans and or beef stew?

 

Boston Market Cornbread

Ingredients:

• 1 box Jiffy Mix Cornbread Mix
• 1 box Jiffy Mix Yellow Cake Mix
  OR
• 2 boxes Jiffy Mix Cornbread Mix
• 1 box regular yellow cake mix

Directions: Mix both boxes according to directions, and combine the batter. You can use a large mixing bowl and combine both boxes of mix together and add the other ingredients all at once. If you have only boxes of Jiffy Mix, use a brownie sized baking pan, 8x8", if you are using a box of regular cake mix, use a 9x13" pan. Spray pan with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees until done, approx. 30 minutes. Test for doneness: insert a toothpick, it should come out clean.

Edited to add: Please note from the comments: "If you can't find the Jiffy yellow cake mix, only use Duncan Hines, Butter Golden cake mix...It's the only one WITHOUT pudding in the mix." I have made it with regular yellow cake mix and I liked it, but it may be too 'cakey' for some...if so...try the Duncan Hines, Butter Golden cake mix.