Serving This Week 10-12 To 10-16-20

Serving This Week 10-12 To 10-16-20

Come and see what I will be cooking up on Marilyns Treats this week!

This is what I featured the week of 10-12-to 10-16-2020 on my blog. On Tuesday was Slow Cooker Chicken and Sausage Paella. Wednesday was Crock Pot Meatballs and Gravy. Thursday was Pierogi and Sausage Crock Pot. And winding up Crock Pot week was Crock pot Sausage and Sauerkraut. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Chicken and Sausage Paella

Paella is a popular dish from Spain that has a rice base and includes ingredients such as meat, seafood, and or vegetables.

If you like Spanish food this tasty and healthy dish is for you.

You really can’t beat any toss and go recipe.

When you choose to use your crock pot this is an absolute given.

A fellow blogger friend of mine said her 15 year old son used this recipe for a class project.

And he boasted to all his friends how easy it was to make this delicious dinner.

Keeping with best slow cooking practices, I always brown my meat first.

Get all your Slow Cooker tips at How Not to Make the Worst Crock Pot Meal Ever.

After browning the meat I start adding the initial ingredients into the cooker.

Next just pour your chicken broth and water over the meat.

Then you leave it alone for the next 7 hours.

This allows you to go to work and follow your regular routine without having to worry about getting dinner started.

When the cooker hits that 7 hour mark remove the cover and add those tomatoes, peppers, peas olives and thyme!

You just need about 15 minutes for those to cook into your dish.

Be sure to check your rice to make sure you have enough time for preparation.

When you plate your paella that is the first ingredient you need!

When you walk into your home you aren’t going to be immediately hit with the mouth watering aroma coming from the kitchen.

I have the kids set the table and just bring the plates to the Slow Cooker.

you get all your veggies, protein and grains in this meal.

Add a warm bread and this dish is ready to serve!

Crock Pot Meatballs and Gravy

Meatballs are such a comfort food in our home. Add the gravy and use a crock pot and I am all over those babies! They are a great appetizer for a family get together or a party!

The addition of all the spices in this recipe marinates the flavors and combine in a way that will wake up your mouth.

I used frozen meatballs here for convenience as I was making several dishes.

But feel free to make your own from scratch. If you are starting with a raw meat I would brown the meatballs prior to adding them to the Crock Pot. They can finish cooking along with the rest of the dish.

And use any type of ground meat or meat alternative that you like. This recipe will taste just as good as the one I made here.

When using hamburger, turkey or a meat substitute it is nest to use a higher fat content. For ground beef I use a 70/30 or 80/20 ration.

The moisture adds more liquid to the dish. If you are using a lower fat content then I would watch and make sure the meatballs don’t get too dry.

I have an tip on How Not To Make the Worst Crock Pot Meal Ever you may want to read.

You also have the option to add sliced mushrooms to the numerous spices. I make these Crock Pot Meatballs and Gravy both ways depending on personal preferences.

These meatballs go well for a Sporting party, scouting event, and a pot luck.

Having a nice easy and hot appetizer is well appreciated!

Crock Pot Pierogi And Sausage

I married into a Polish family many years ago. In that time they have learned to love my Italian food but I am still trying to master their Polish.

I botched cabbage rolls in the first few weeks I was married. I couldn’t get them to stay together as nice as I had seen so I used tooth picks under them and forgot to tell anyone.

And I had many unanswered questions!

Do you cook the rice before hand?

How do you core a cabbage?

Do you cook the cabbage first?

What brand tomato juice do you need?

I am sure you get the idea. And I have NEVER tried them since.

I find sausage easy, and pierogi easier to understand.

After all. Aren’t the pierogi just like little hand pies? I have made those before. Many times.

And Polish sausage has to be as easy as Italian Sausage, right?

I quickly found out that I really could cook a Polish dinner my husband would recognise.

I dissected the frozen pierogi so it would be easier to make them. And they seemed easy to figure out.

I took no chances though in trying my hand at improvisation. I learned my lesson.

Later I tried making Potato Cheese Pierogi from scratch.

Even though I used frozen, my husband was just happy knowing I was willing to try to make a boyhood favorite.

He asked me to try my hand at City Chicken next.

Anyone want to tell me if that would be boneless skinless?

Crock Pot Sausage and Sauerkraut

The crock pot is a blessing in my family. It raises this sausage and sauerkraut dish to a whole new level. The blend of flavors and textures are what make this crock pot dish so unique.

My family eats a lot of sausage as well as sauerkraut.

My husband’s grandmother used to soak it in water 4 separate times to get the flavors she wanted.

Coming from a more Irish and Italian background I was never taught the best ways to prepare these foods. The first time I bought jar sauerkraut I learned a major lesson.

My husband told me the can proved it wasn’t sauerkraut.

He abruptly took over and I was “offered” a lesson on the finesse of cooking the authentic sauerkraut.

I learned a major lesson that day.

What was it?

Always cook when my husband wasn’t home when I was preparing something new.

This just wasn’t my expertise and I admit it. Anyone want to teach this old dog a new trick??

As we were married for a bit longer, I ventured out of my comfort zone.

Pierogi weren’t hard but they weren’t HIS family way. And cabbage? Well go read my recipe for Stuffed Cabbage Rolls aka Golabki.

It paints a clear picture. Polish dinner by candlelight doesn’t fool anyone! LOL.

Now that I have learned the art of the Lesniak family cooking, I am doing much better.

Let’s not divulge the secret it took over 40 years to even come close..

I am a southern cook at heart. I take that talent from my grandmother.

I am much better at cooking Italian and Irish meals when I want to leave my comfort zone.

I have taught him an appreciation for my styles as well as his.

This Crock Pot Sausage and Sauerkraut has become a dish I take to family gatherings.

My relatives appreciate this much more than trying to compete with them.

I do find this dish very delicious and easy to prepare.

I hope you will find many uses for it. I am sure your family and friends will enjoy it as much as we do!

I have some great tips on getting the most from your crock pot at How Not To Make The Worst Crock Pot Meal Ever.

Want To learn all about Meal Planning? Find out What to Know, How to Succeed, and What to Skip. Click to read my article, Meal Plan 101 And Why You Need To Do It.