Crabapplehouse Sloppy Joes

I never refuse a good Sloppy Joe....

Brown together 1 pound ground beef and 1 chopped onion. Add 3/4 cup ketchup, 2 Tbsp. chili sauce, 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp. prepared mustard, 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar, and 1 Tbsp. brown sugar. Mix well, and simmer over medium-low heat 15-20 minutes.

Serves 4-6

Slow Cooker Herbed Beef Stew

I LOVE a good beef stew. B. not so much, but even HE didn't mind this one, and so I post the recipe here, for all to enjoy, because this ones great!

1 lb. beef round, cubed ( I used beef stew meat- reduced for quick sale!)

4 Tbsp. seasoned flour*

1 1/2 c. beef broth

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 bay leaf

4 carrots sliced

3 potatoes, cubed

2 onions, diced

Put meat in slow cooker, add seasoned flour and toss to coat. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 10-12 hours.

During last hour, add:

1 rounded tsp. fresh thyme, or 1/2 tsp dried

1 rounded tsp. fresh basil or 1/2 tsp. dried

1 Tbsp. fresh or parsley or 1 tsp. dried

1 rounded tsp. fresh marjoram, or 1 tsp. dried

(If you add the herbs at the beginning, the flavor cooks off)

*For the seasoned flour.mix together 1/4 c. flour, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. paprika, and a pinch of pepper.

Serves 6-8

Cheese Fondu Revisited

Some time ago, I posted this recipe. But. I have since improved it, and now make it without the can of plastic-y looking orange soup. So much better.

Melt 2-3 Tbsp. butter of butter over medium heat. Once it starts melting add about 1 clove minced garlic. Watch carefully so the garlic doesn't burn.

Meanwhile mix together 2-3 Tbsp. flour, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, and 1/4 tsp. dry mustard. Whisk into the melted butter and garlic, and let bubble for a minute or so.

Slowly whisk in 1 cup milk, and allow to thicken. Remove from heat and stir at least one cup of shredded cheese, depending on your cheese love. Mine is deep. I usually use up odds and ends, but a bit of Swiss makes it spectacular, and Asiago? *Swoon*. Serve with your favorite cubed bread. Or mix it with hot noodles for mac and cheese, OR add some bacon, slice up some hard boiled eggs, lay them over toast and smother in sauce. Mmmm-mmmm.