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Slow Cooker Ranch House Pork Chops

I bought pork chops yesterday to re-make this recipe (and take a better picture!), however it turns out I've got three kids going three different directions tonight, so we'll be having leftovers on our way out the door. I'll update the picture when we actually do have a night home to make this one, but oh-my-goodness I promise this one's delicious and you'll love it!

I've tried several recipes for pork chops in the crockpot, and not really been all that impressed.  (A crockpot is a wonderful thing, but a bad recipe in the crockpot always seems to turn out just horrible!)  So, I was a little skeptical about this recipe, but it turned out perfectly!  (In fact, my son called it a “five star meal” . . . yayyy!)  I literally found this recipe on Pinterest at noon, popped my pork chops in the microwave for a minute to defrost, threw them in Mrs. Potts with the rest of the ingredients while they were still half frozen (really!), and sure enough they were just delicious five hours later. Woot!

Looking for more slow cooker recipes to add to your menu plan this week? Here you go . . .

This Slow Cooker Ravioli Bake is the easiest ever recipe to throw in Mrs. Potts, and yesterday as I was racing out the door to pick up my girls for gymnastics, I knew it would hit the spot! I literally dumped everything in as I headed out the door, and came home four hours later to dinner all cooked up for me. (Have I mentioned lately I love my slow cooker?) We ate it with a side salad and some garlic bread, and dinner was done with less than ten minutes of effort.  That's less time then it takes to get through the drive-thru window ~ success!

If you're like me and grabbed some of those BOGO ravioli in the current ad at Publix (it ends tonight in some areas, but some of you lucky ducks can still pick them up tomorrow!), this is a great simple meal to add to your menu plan this week. I'd love to hear if you like it, and if you have any other tips on cooking pasta in the crockpot, please leave a comment to share. (By the way, I added a little of the DiGiorno Parmesan Cheese that you'll find in your deli area on top. It's BOGO in the upcoming ad at Publix, and tastes so much better than the Grated Parmesan.)

Looking for more slow cooker recipes to add to your menu plan this week? Here you go . .  

If you enjoy this recipe, I’d sure love for you to “share” it on Facebook or “pin” it on Pinterest ~ just click the buttons above. Thanks so much for supporting PPP!

This is my all-time-absolute-best-slow-cooker-pot-roast-on-the-planet recipe, and if you haven't tried it yet you've got to add it to your menu plan this week! I'd love to hear if you have other ways to cook your roast, but this one (at least right now. . . ) is our family's favorite.

I've tried way too many pot roast recipes to count. . . fairly unsuccesfully. (At least according to my not-always-impressed-with-my-penny-pinched-meals hubby.) But when I saw shoulder roasts on sale at Publix this week, I was determined to get it right, and I think I finally did!  I realized that the biggest problem with the pot roasts that I've tried in the past has probably been the cut of meat ~ I thought that because everyone said to use a chuck roast, that was what I needed.  But I don't think think I'll ever use another chuck roast again!

I've also tried the ever famous cream-of-mushroom & Lipton soup trick over and over again, but to me the roast always tasted like a soupy cream of mushroom mess. (I know some of you may just love it, but it wasn't a favorite at our house!)  This however, was perfect.  I started with a basic recipe from A Year Of Slow Cooking (if you love your slow cooker you've gotta check that site out), but adapted with what I had in the pantry.  Here was my secret ingredient ~

The original recipe called for 3 tbsp. of Worcestershire sauce, but when I couldn't find it in the pantry I decided this Beefy Mushroom soup might just work.  It worked, and was really, really good.  In fact, my son said it was the best recipe I've ever made and decided that we needed to pack up our slow cooker for our next family vacation. Yup, this is my new Slow Cooker Roast Winner!  I'd love to hear what you think if you try it out.

If you’ve tried out a great slow cooker recipe I’d love the recipe. . . there are so many good ones, and since I’m planning to keep Mrs. Potts busy this month, I’d love to try out a few of your suggestions! Leave a comment to share your tips.  And if you're looking for more slow cooker recipes, here are several more in the series:

• Day 1: Slow Cooker Meat Loaf
• Day 2:  Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
• Day 3: Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
• Day 4: Slow Cooker Ham
• Day 5: Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodle Soup
• Day 6: Slow Cooker Mug Brownies
• Day 7 : Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
• Day 8 Slow Cooker Ham & Cheese Melts
• Day 9: Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings
• Day 10: Slow Cooker Monkey Bread
• Day 11: Slow Cooker Beef Fajitas

Need a slow cooker to get started? Here are a few decent deals on Amazon:

• Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker for just $29 (regularly $39.99)
• Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker $49, regularly $59.99
• Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touchscreen Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel $79.99 (regularly $119.99)
• Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cookerto $46 (regularly $110)

If you enjoy this recipe, I’d sure love for you to “share” it on Facebook or “pin” it on Pinterest ~ just click the buttons above. Thanks so much for supporting PPP!

Here's a super simple recipe for slow cooker beef fajitas that will make the dinnertime hour quick and easy! I'm usually such a fan of chicken (it's just so much easier on this penny pincher's budget!), but decided to treat our family to a little splurge, and using pre-cut beef stir fry strips made it so easy to make.

You *might* even just add the beef to the crockpot without searing it for a few minutes to save time in the morning, but taking just a few minutes of cooking kept the meat nice and tender.  I'd love to hear what you think if you try it!

If you’ve tried out a great slow cooker recipe I’d love the recipe. . . there are so many good ones, and since I’m planning to keep Mrs. Potts busy this month, I’d love to try out a few of your suggestions! Leave a comment to share your tips.  And if you're looking for more slow cooker recipes, here are several more in the series:

• Day 1: Slow Cooker Meat Loaf
• Day 2:  Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
• Day 3: Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
• Day 4: Slow Cooker Ham
• Day 5: Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodle Soup
• Day 6: Slow Cooker Mug Brownies
• Day 7 : Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
• Day 8 Slow Cooker Ham & Cheese Melts
• Day 9: Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings
• Day 10: Slow Cooker Monkey Bread

Need a slow cooker to get started? Here are a few decent deals on Amazon:

• Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker for just $29 (regularly $39.99)
• Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker $49, regularly $59.99
• Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touchscreen Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel $79.99 (regularly $119.99)
• Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cookerto $46 (regularly $110)

Mrs. Potts did absolutely no work today. Instead, my husband and I snuck out of town for a conference he's attending way up in Rhode Island, and we've been following the news closely as they're bracing for over 20 inches of snow in the area. Yikes! 

Thankfully I was planning to work from the hotel tomorrow while he's away, so I'm kind of looking forward to watching it snow from my cozy room . . as well as praying for the safety for everyone in the Northeast. It's quite an adventure for the two of us, but I think the biggest adventure is undoubtedly for my parents at home watching our three {sweet-busy-active} kiddos…. bless their hearts! (You might just want to say a prayer for them too . . . )

Here's a picture of the Breakers House that we toured today in Concord thanks to reader's suggestions on the PPP Facebook page ~ it was just incredible and I felt like we were on the set of Downton Abbey! 🙂

Before we left though I made a few extra recipes to share while we're gone, and this Slow Cooker Chicken & Noodle Soup  made the menu plan last night at our house. I found a loaf of markdown Italian bread for $.99 at Kroger yesterday, and we enjoyed some yummy comfort food for dinner! I love that it's made completely with whole foods, and since Kroger has their whole chicken on sale for $.88/lb. this week, it makes for a delicious frugal feast.

{If cooking a whole chicken completely grosses you out, you could also just use boneless skinless chicken breast in it's place.  However, I really think you can do this!} 

If you've tried out a great slow cooker recipe I'd love the recipe. . . there are so many good ones, and since I'm planning to keep Mrs. Potts busy this month, I'd love to try out a few of your suggestions! Leave a comment HERE to share your tips.

Need a slow cooker to get started? Here are a few decent deals on Amazon:

• Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker for just $29 (regularly $39.99)
• Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker $49, regularly $59.99
• Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touchscreen Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel $79.99 (regularly $119.99)
• Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cookerto $46 (regularly $110)

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet:  if you like ham, you've got to try this oh-so-easy-but-incredibly-delicious-slow cooker ham.  It's perfect. And easy. And all you have to do is add three items to your slow cooker in the morning.

Yup, you've got this. 

(It's also gluten free . . . I'll be making it at our house this Easter for my mother-in-law and am so excited to have that part of the meal already planned!)

Note: if the ham is just a bit too big for your crockpot, you can put the lid on and secure with aluminum foil. The ham will cook down throughout the day, and should fit nicely by dinnertime!

Here are the sale items you’ll want to watch for this week (1/31/13) to pinch those pennies on this meal:

• Cumberland Gap Ham On Sale $1.99/lb. at Publix (regularly $3.29/lb.)
• Use $0.75/1 Dixie Crystals Product-Granulated, Poly Light Brown, Dark Brown, Powdered, or Redi-Measure Light Brown Sugar printable
  

If you've tried out a great slow cooker recipe I'd love the recipe. . . there are so many good ones, and since I'm planning to keep Mrs. Potts busy this month, I'd love to try out a few of your suggestions! Leave a comment HERE to share your tips.

Need a slow cooker to get started? Here are a few decent deals on Amazon:

•  Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker for just $29 (regularly $39.99)
• Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker $49, regularly $59.99
• Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touchscreen Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel $79.99 (regularly $119.99)
• Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cookerto $46 (regularly $110)

Here's the second recipe in the 25 Days of Slow Cooking series here on PPP, and I promise you'll love these Slow Cooked French Dip Sandwiches.  They're one of those simple recipes that you can just pop in Mrs. Potts in the morning, and then come home to a delicious home cooked meal at the end of the day. Enjoy it either on traditional hamburger buns or slider sandwiches ~ either way you're in for a simple meal that will help you pinch those pennies while you skip the drive thru this week.

If you've tried out a great slow cooker recipe I'd love the recipe. . . there are so many good ones, and since I'm planning to keep Mrs. Potts busy this month, I'd love to try out a few of your suggestions! Leave a comment HERE to share your tips.

Need a slow cooker to get started? Here are a few decent deals on Amazon:

•  Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker for just $29 (regularly $39.99)
• Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker $49, regularly $59.99
• Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS 6-1/2-Quart Programmable Touchscreen Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel $79.99 (regularly $119.99)
• Cuisinart PSC-350 3-1/2-Quart Programmable Slow Cookerto $46 (regularly $110)