Here is a fun thing I did a few years ago on my old blog. Last time, I challenged myself to cook at least one meal (or even side dish or drink) per day in my crock pot for 30 days. It could be anything, including breakfast. Sometimes I even made more than one meal a day in the crock pot, at times using multiple crock pots (I own more than one). This time around, I will be challenging myself to cook one or more recipe in the crock pot for the entire month of December. I will post daily updates with recipes, suggestions for modifying recipes, as well as my family’s (and my) reaction to each meal.

Before I begin by posting the recipes for Days 1 and 2, I must mention the fact that I just love my crock pot. I have thought about writing a little poem entitled “Ode to My Crock Pot,” but I haven’t come up with all the verses yet. My oldest daughter makes fun of my fondness for my crock pot, but the truth is, I truly love that thing! I use mine most days, even when I am not challenging myself to cook something in it for a month straight. As a busy mom, I just love putting something in the crock pot in the morning and just letting it simmer away all day while I teach school, run errands, or do whatever may be on my plate on any given day. So, join me on this crock pot adventure. Try the recipes and let me know what you think. Of course, always feel free to share my blog with anyone you think might be interested in it.

Day 1: Calico Beans
I have a large family and a somewhat tight budget, so lately I have been trying to stretch the old grocery budget as much as possible. Beans are a great way to do that! People talk about living on rice and beans when times are tough economically, and I’m here to tell you that eating beans can be delicious AND beans can be easily put in the crock pot in the morning and turned into a scrumptious meal while you get on with your busy day. My children love this meal, and it’s just so quick and easy to make! It’s a hit over here, so it often appears on our weekly menu! I double this to feed my family of 12.

Ingredients:
1 pound bacon, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3-1/2 cup brown sugar, according to taste
3 Tablespoons cider vinegar
28-oz. can pork and beans, drained
16 oz. can kidney beans
16 oz. can butter beans

Instructions:
1. Brown bacon in skillet. Drain, reserving 2 Tbsp. drippings. Saute onion in bacon dripping.
2. Mix together ketchup, sugar, and vinegar.
3. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
4. Cover and Cook on low 3-4 hours.

Day 2: Split Pea Soup
OK, I know some of you will not even want to try this one.  But trust me, it’s actually really good!  My husband loves split pea soup.  It is rich in vitamins and is listed as one of the helthiest legumes one can eat.  I love this recipe.  It is a huge hit with my husband, and more than half of the kids like it, too :).  You can vary this recipe by using turkey sausage for your meat or just taking the meat out and making it vegetarian.  It is a bit spicy with the sausage, so if you have kids, you may want to use a breakfast sausage or something a little milder, or just plain ground meat.  Admittedly, my kids don’t all like this.  In fact, I have a couple who act like they might just die if I make this dish again, but everyone eats it when I make it (at our house, that’s the only choice).  I’m hoping they will all grow to actually like it in time.  I’ve only made this recipe a handful of times.  Again, I double this recipe even though not everyone adores this one.  Todd and I eat the leftovers for lunch for a few days.

Ingredients:
1 pound bulk sausage (pork, turkey, or ground meat of your choice…or omit)
6 cups water
1 bag (2 1/4 cups) dry split peas
2 medium potatoes, diced
1 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram, or thyme
1/2 tsp. pepper

Instructions:
1. Wash and sort dried peas, removing any stones.  Then combine all ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cover.  Cook on Low 12 hours (or you can start it on high for a couple of hours and then cook on low for 5-6 hours more).

Today, I will be making a family favorite–Red Beans and Rice!  Stay tuned for the recipe!