Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Slow Cooker Creamed Peas, Potatoes, and Ham


Slow Cooker Creamed Peas, Potatoes, and Ham

Slow Cooker Creamed Peas, Potatoes, and Ham is a super quick and easy version of a hearty and comforting classic your grandma used to make!
Prep Time20minutes 
Cook Time6hours 
Total Time6hours  20minutes 
Servings8 -10
AuthorAmy

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 chicken broth
  • 4 c. diced potatoes
  • 2 c. diced ham
  • 1/2 diced onion
  • 1/3 c. flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
  • 1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. ground thyme
  • 1 T. dried parsley
  • 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1/4 c. butter
  • 2 c. frozen peas
  • 1 c. sour cream
  • milk to thin if necessary

Instructions

  • Add potatoes, ham, onion, seasonings, one cup of cheese, and flour to slow cooker. Toss together to coat in flour.
  • Pour chicken broth over potatoes. Stir. Set slices of butter over potatoes.
  • Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
  • After cooking stir frozen peas, and sour cream into the potato mixture. The peas will thaw and warm quickly. If creamed potatoes are too thick add a little extra milk to think them out. If they are too thin make a little slurry of flour mixed with milk and add it to the potatoes. It will thicken after a few minutes. You might also want to taste and add more salt to taste.
  • Top potatoes with remaining cheese. Put the lid back on the slow cooker and let it sit for a few minutes until the peas are melted.
  • Serve warm!

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Vanilla Base Ice Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream:

  •  2 c cream
  • 2 c whole milk
  • 1 c sugar (divided for strawberry)
  • 2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

  1. Whisk in bowl and let rest 10 min
  2. Whisk again to make sure sugar is dissolved
  3. Churn in ice cream maker

STRAWBERRY:
  • 2 c blended up strawberries:  About 6 c strawberries fresh or frozen and thawed 
With Strawberry Swirl or use as a topping:
  • 2 c blended up strawberries
  • 3 Tbs granulated sugar (just a little more)
  • 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch

Strawberry Ice Cream Directions:

  • Place 1/2 c sugar with blended strawberries.  Let sit 15-20 min to let strawberries release their juices.  
  • In a large bowl, add the 2 c cream, 2 c whole milk, 1/2 c sugar, and 2 tsp vanilla.  Let sit 10 min. Then, add the strawberries.
  • Churn in ice cream maker.
Make strawberry swirl by mixing strawberries, sugar, and cornstarch in a small sauce pan.  Bring to a boil and lightly boil for 1-2 min.  Reduce heat and cook about 5 more min until a little thickened.  Use as a sauce or swirl in the actual ice cream.

*Or 

Monday, June 8, 2026

Charoset- Easter Dish

  •  4 apples, chopped
  • 1 c toasted walnuts (or not)
  • 1/2 c raisins
  • 2 Tbs honey
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch of kosher salt

Monday, March 30, 2026

Roasted Brussel Sprouts and carrots

12 oz brussels sprouts halves/quarters

4-5 large carrots, sliced into small chunks

2 Tbs olive oil

salt, pepper, garlic powder


Mix and place brussels sprouts face down.  Bake at 425 for 20-30 min

Thursday, September 18, 2025

Julie’s Protein Balls


Ingredients

1 c natural PB (creamy or crunchy)

1 ½ c rice crispy cereal

½ c honey (little less)

1 tsp vanilla

¾ scoop vanilla protein powder

Optional:  mini chocolate chips


From Juile Gerrard


Thursday, September 4, 2025

Roasted Green Beans

Roasted Green Beans 

  • 1 1/2 Tbs olive oil
  • 3/4 lbs fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 1/2 tsp onoin salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • ground pepper

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add grean beans and seasonings to skillet.
Cook until desired tenderness, 5-10 min.

How to Reheat Steak

How to Reheat Steak: 

  • Preheat oven to 250
  • Place whole stake on a rack set over a baking sheet.  
  • Splash a little water or beef broth on top.
  • Reheat for 20-30 min.  Or until temp is at 110 on meat thermometer. 
from the pioneerwoman

 Mexican Ground Beef Skillet


Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbs olive oil

  • 2 Tbs minced garlic

  • ½ medium yellow onion, minced

  • 2 large bell peppers, diced

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 3 Tbs taco seasoning

  • ½ c tomato sauce

  • 2 Tbs green chilies (opt)

  • 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

  • 1 c quick-cooking brown rice *white works, too

  • 1.5 c beef broth

  • ½ c MX shredded cheddar cheese


Directions:

  • Heat oil over medium/high heat in large skillet.

  • When oil is fragrant, add garlic, onion, and pepper.  Saute 3-5 min.

  • Remove veggies and keep warm. Add ground beef.  Saute for 7-9 min until fully cooked.  Mix everything together in pan.

  • Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce, chilies, black beans, cook a few min. 

  • Add quick cooking rice and broth.  Bring to a boil over med/high heat.

  • Once boiling, turn down to low and cover.  Let simmer for about 20 min, (or only a few min. if using white rice) until rice has absorbed most of the liquid.

  • Sprinkle cheese on top of skillet.

  • Serve with chips and salsa.


*From fitfoodiefinds.com / Emily


Sunday, July 27, 2025

Monster Cookie Bars

 

Monster Cookie Bars

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  •  cup (141 g) granulated sugar
  •  cup (141 g) packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (255 g) creamy peanut butter
  •  cup (75 g) salted buttersoftened to room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups (255 g) chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 cups (300 g) quick oats
  • 1 cup (198 g) M&M's

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9X13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter and butter. Mix until creamy and well combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, baking soda and oatmeal. Mix well.
  • Spread the batter into the prepared pan and press lightly into an even layer. Sprinkle the M&M's evenly across the top and gently press them into the dough.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until the edges are golden and set. Let the bars cool completely in the pan. For a cleaner cut, refrigerate the bars before slicing and serving.

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients
  •  1 c butter
  • 2/3 c white sugar
  • 2 c flour
  • raspberry jam
  • 1/2 c powdered sugar
  • 1-4 tsp milk

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350
  • Beat butter and sugar until creamy.  
  • Add flour and mix until dough comes together.  (It will be a little crumbly, if it's too crumbly add a few splashes of milk.)
  • Roll dough into 1" balls and place on cookie sheets about 2" apart.  
  • Use thumb to press down and make a dent in the center of each ball, then fill with jam.
  • Bake in batches for about 14 min; allow to cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes. (don't let them get brown or they will be too hard)
  • Mix powdered sugar and milk together in zip lock bag until smooth.  Cut small corner of the bag and drizzle lightly over warm cookies. 

From Amelia Lusk

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

CAKE: 

1 strawberry cake mix with ingredients that go with it EXCEPT, replace 1/4 c water with 

1/4 c fresh squeezed lemon juice

(Get lemon zest for frosting first)

Bake into 21-22 cupcakes


FROSTING:

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 c butter, softened

2 tsp zest

2 Tbs lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla

5 c powdered sugar


Mix cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla.  Add 3 c powdered sugar and mix, then 2 c and mix.  

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Mashed Potato Soup

 

  • Ingredients:
  • 2 Tbs Salted Butter
  • ½ small Onion diced
  • 1 Tbs All-purpose flour
  • 2-½ cups 2% milk
  • 3-4 cups Leftover mashed potatoes
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp Dried parsley
  • ½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 4 slices Cooked Bacon diced, or ham chunks

Instructions

  • In a large stock pot melt butter on medium heat.
    (2 tablespoons Salted Butter)
  • Then add in onion. Caramelize until golden brown mixing periodically, for 10 minutes.
    (½ small Onion)
  • Once the onions are golden in color add the all-purpose flour and mix well until the onions have been coated with the flour mixture.
    (1 tablespoon All-purpose flour)
  • Pour the milk into the pot and stir for one minute.
    (2-½ cups 2% milk)
  • Then add in the mashed potatoes. Mixing until all the potatoes have broken up. Cook on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are smooth. Taste the soup and add salt and black pepper if desired.
    (3-4 cups Leftover mashed potatoes,salt and pepper to taste)
  • Ladle into bowls and top with dried parsley, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and cracked black pepper. Enjoy!
    1 teaspoon Dried parsley,½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese, 
  • (4 slices Cooked Bacon)