Even before I received the invitation to be a part of the Mom Central Ultimate Party Meatball Recipe Blog Tour, I was looking for an abundance of meatball recipes. 

 

You see a few weeks ago, I was wanting to make a recipe that required meatballs.  That was the week we were doing our once a month warehouse club run.  I had thought of just running to the grocery store to pick up a package of meatballs, but that would require an extra trip, so I got a warehouse sized bag.  Um...that's a lot of meatballs for three people to eat, LOL!!  Hence the looking for recipes to use meatballs with.

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I struggle with menu planning.  Sometimes I go armed to the grocery store with a list and coupons in hand, all ready to cook for the week.  Yet other times, I wander the aisles aimlessly, wondering if this is the week my family loses 5 pounds, because I can't decide what's for dinner.  Can you identify?

I was introduced to this great website called relish! last month, which has helped me overcome the cooking blahs.

This very simple to use site, allows you to chooses 5 healthy, delicious meals each week (and one dessert ☺).  You can pick from kid friendly, vegetarian, and crockpot dishes to name a few, and then a grocery list is generated fro you listing all the ingredients you need.

The meals are all budget friendly and quick to prepare as well.

The service does come with a cost, but not an exorbitant one if you typically go the grocery store without a list.  $7.00 a month gets you complete access tot eh site, which could be less than what you spend on impulse or ready made food purchases just because you're not sure what's on the menu for the week.

They also have neat features like a monthly freezer menu, seasonal goodies and a soon to be released iPhone app.

One of the recipes I chose to make was the Meatball Soup and it indeed turned out fantastic.  Amber has asked me to make it again!

A subscription to relish! would be a great holiday gift for the busy mom or a teacher on your list.

If you live gluten free, check out relish!'s sister site Gfree!

To enter visit relish! and view their sample menu.  Leave a comment telling me one recipe you would like to try.

For extra entries (the above must be done first) you can:

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway - leave a link to your tweet in the comments you can do this once per day.
• Subscribe to my feed
• Put my button on your site
• Blog about this giveaway including a link to this post - leave the url.

Thisgiveaway will end on December 2, 2009 at 11:59 pm cst and open worldwide ages 18+.  The winner will be chosen by random.org and will bee-mailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the e-mail or analternate winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you arestating that you have read my **About Reviews and Privacy/Rules declaration and agree to them.

I received a complimentary subscription to relish! to thank me for writing this post.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking (2nd Edition) has all the ins and outs you need to make yummy meals in your slow cooker.

Not only does it have a bunch of delicious recipes -- it gives you the information to make virtually any recipe adaptable for a slow cooker.

You'll find hints and tips for veggies, fish , chicken, turkey, pork, beef and more.  The recipes range from comfort food to the exotic and all kinds in between.

It's an Idiot's Guide so believe me when I tell you that the recipes are comprehensive and you won't feel stumped on how to put your dish together.

What I found interesting were the tips and recipes for using the slow cooker to prepare only part of a dish.  I've always only used mine for main dish meals and I'm now challenged to expand my slow cooker repetoire.

Supper in our home has already been made from the Chicken Cacciatore, Turkey Meatloaf and Italian Ham Steaks recipes.

They all turned out amazing and due to the well written instructions were simple to make.

Here is the Chicken Cacciatore Recipe:

3 TB olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and diced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1/2 green bell pepper, seed and ribs removed, and finely chopped
4 (6-oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 TB fresh oregano or 2 tsp. dried
1 TB. fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried
1 TB. fresh rosemary or 1 tsp. dried
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cooked orzo or rice

1. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat.  Add onion, garlic, and green bell pepper.  Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes or until onion is translucent.  Scrape mixture into the slow cooker.

2. Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels.  Arrange chicken on top of vegetables in the slow cooker.

3. Combine tomato sauce, wine, stock, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf in a small bowl.  Pour mixture over chicken.  Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 or 3 hours or until chicken is cooked through, tender, and no longer pink.  Remove and discard bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper.  Serve chicken with orzo or rice.

== Page 198 - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking Second Edition - © 2007 Ellen Brown - Alpha Publishers

I highly recommend this guide to anyone who would like to use their slow cooker to its full advantage, and prepare some outstanding meals as well.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking (Second Edition) is available at Penguin.com (USA) for $16.95.


I received a complimentary copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Slow Cooker Cooking (2nd Edition) from Penguin USA for the purpose of this review.

Eva Marie Everson and Linda Evans Shepherd authors of the book are experts when it comes to hosting and attending these shared meals. Veterans of countless potlucks over the years, the duo has gathered their favorite potluck-ready recipes—from salads to slow-cooker delights—plus their experienced insights about pulling off a potluck into one source: The Potluck Club Cookbook. Shepherd and Evans are also the authors of the popular fiction series The Potluck Club and The Potluck Catering Club—so their penchant for potlucks is obvious.

I have not personally read any of the fiction books written by these ladies, but I am always looking for new recipes to try and so when this book tour came along, I really wanted to participate.

There are sooo many good recipes in this, and the majority of them are super easy with accessible ingredients.

When my parents came to visit I made Texas Barbecued Chicken in a Crock-Pot. It got a thumbs up from both the adults and the child!

I also have made the Chicken in a Pot, which is as easy as can be and as close to comfort food as you're going to get!

And for dessert...Butterscotch Brownies....oh yum...

Another recipe, Mary's Slow Cooker Lasagna is on my list to try very soon.

If you are ever at a loss of what to bring to a potluck gathering, this book has over 100 recipes that will make you stand out among the crowd!

Here's a recipe from the book to whet your taste buds:

Linda’s Chicken Tortilla Casserole

2 ½ Tbsp. chopped onions
¼ cup butter
3 Tbsp. flour
1 ½ cups milk
¾ cup chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. jalapeno peppers
1 ½ cups chopped canned tomatoes (stewed)
3 cups cubed chicken, cooked
½ cup shredded cheese
12 tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips

Sauté onions in butter, then add flour and cook until mixture is bubbly. Stir in milk and broth gradually. Stir in salt, peppers, and tomatoes.

In casserole dish, layer chicken, cheese, then strips of tortillas. Pour sauce over layers then sprinkle casserole with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve hot.

Serves 6-8.

Linda: “You can’t go wrong with this tasty dish. It’s a potluck crowd favorite.” (Page 130)

The Potluck Club Cookbook: Easy Recipes to Enjoy with Family and Friends (Paperback) is
“Available September 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Through my many meanderings on the internet I get to a lot of different blogs -- some of them stay on the "check them frequently list" like A Year of Crockpotting. If you are looking for tried and trued crockpot recipes this is one site to check out. I have tried a few recipes from there already, and all have gotten a thumbs up from the family. Ribbon Rock Star Mom - is celebrating her 1000th post at her blog and is having a giveaway for yep, you guessed it a crockpot!! She is asking you to post a crockpot recipe to enter - and there are some fabulous ones up there already. So even if you don't desire to win a new crockpot (but why wouldn't you?), it's worth checking out, just for the recipes posted!