Sweet Pork (Cafe Rio)

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds pork shoulder/butt
• 16 ounces Coca-Cola soda (not diet), divided
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (4 oz.) can diced green chilies
• 1 (10 oz.) can red enchilada sauce
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar

Directions:

1. Spray insode of a large crock pot with cooking spray. Place pork roast inside. Pour 8 ounces of Coca-Cola (I used a measuring cup) and water around pork. (It does not need to cover roast). Sprinkle evenly with garlic salt, salt and pepper. Cover with lid and cook on High heat for 6 hours, or on Low heat 8-9 hours.
2. Remove pork from crock pot and transfer to cutting board. Discard liquid from crock pot. Shred pork with two forks, and remove any fat.
3. In a blender or food processor, blend the remaining 8 ounces Coca-Cola, diced green chilies, enchilada sauce and brown sugar. Blend until smooth.
4. Place shredded pork back in crock pot. Pour enchilada sauce mixture over the shredded pork. Cover crock pot with lid and cook 2 hours on Low heat.
5. Serve pork in burritos, salads and tacos!

~Adapted from life-in-the-lofthouse.com

Crockpot Beef Stew

Ingredients:

• 2 Pounds beef stew meat (cut into bite-sized pieces)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, sliced
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 6 oz can tomato paste
• 32 oz beef broth
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 4-5 small red potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups)
• 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup water

Directions:

1. Combine beef, celery, carrots, onion, potatoes, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and tomato paste in the crockpot. Cook on LOW for 10 hours or on HIGH for 6-7 hours.
2. About 30 minutes before serving, mix the flour and the water together in a small dish and pour into the crockpot. Mix until well combined. This will add nice thickness to the stew. Next add in frozen peas and corn. Continue cooking covered for 30 minutes.

*I forgot to add the peas and corn but it was still very good.

~Recipe from familyfreshmeals.com

Three Bean & Beef Chili

Prep time: 15 minutes
cook time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbs olive oil
• 1 onion, diced (1 cup)
• 1 red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
• 2 carrots, diced (1/2 cup)
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced
• 2 tsp adobo sauce
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• salt & pepper
• 1 (15.5 oz) can black beans
• 1 (15.5 oz) can kidney beans
• 1 (15.5 oz) can pinto beans

Directions:

1. Heat oil in large pot or Dutch oven over moderate heat.
2. Add onion, bell pepper & carrots, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
3. Add cumin and cook, stirring 1 minute.
4. Add ground beef; raise the heat to high and cook, breaking up meat with spoon, until meat is no longer pink.
5. Stir in tomatoes, water, chipotle and adobo sauce, oregano, salt and pepper.
6. Cook, partially covered, stirring from time to time, for 30 minutes.
7. Stir in beans and continue cooking, partially covered, 20 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

*I enjoy a mild chili, so I use a few tablespoons of hot sauce rather then chipotle and adobo.

~Recipe via Ellie Krieger on foodnetwork.com