Pork Roast Set 'n' Forget

Here's what is cooking up in my slow cooker today:

Slow Cookin' Easy Livin' Pork Roast (yeah, I just made up the name right now)

4-5 lb boneless pork roast
Sprinkle liberally with VE Beef & Steak Rub
Dried Rosemary
Dried Sage

Wrap in plastic wrap and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.

In the morning:

Unwrap the pork roast and sear it all side in a frying pan drizzled with olive oil (med-high heat). Once nice and golden, place it in your slow cooker.

Add:
1 large onion chopped
2 celery ribs sliced
1 large carrot sliced
1 large tomato quartered
2 whole cloves of garlic
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 cups water
2 tsp VE Beef Bouillon
1-2 dried bay leaves
1/4 cup your favourite BBQ sauce

Pour it all on top of the pork roast...then Set 'n' Forget. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 6-8.
If you are around for the last hour, take the roast out and add:

2 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Turn the slow cooler ot high to thicken. Alternatively, pour the juices into a saucepan, add the water and cornstarch and boil to thicken.

It smells so good in here right now...

Yummy Apple Pie with a Tangy Twist

I love to find recipes that are quick and easy and require very little clean up ;)

Here is my favourite apple pie...and the only recipe I have used for years:

Martha Stewart's Pate Brisee
Makes two 8- to 10-inch single-crust pies or one 8- to 10-inch double-crust pie
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut in pieces
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor, and process for a few seconds to combine. Add the butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, add the ice water in a slow, steady stream, through the feed tube, just until the dough holds together. Do not process for more than 30 seconds.

Turn the dough out onto a work surface. Divide in two. Place each half on a sheet of plastic wrap. Flatten, and form two discs. Wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour before using. I usually just put them in the freezer while I prepare the filling.

The filling is my own recipe:

5-7 McIntosh apples, peeled, cored and sliced thinly. This really depends on the size of the pie plate and the apples. My plate is a bit smaller (8") and my apples were about the size of my fist.
Slice them into a bowl that has the juice of half a lemon tossing to coat the slices -- I use my all-time fav reamer for this!
Add 6 TB brown sugar, I love using demerera sugar for a nice carmel flavour
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg -- I brought some back from one of my trips to the Caribbean but you can easily substitute with the ground nutmeg that you find at your local grocery store
2 TB flour
Grated lemon rind from half a lemon.

Stir it up and set aside while you prep the pastry.

Take the pastry out and use a rolling pin to flatten and shape to a large circle to fit your pie plate.

Drape it over the plate ensuring you have a good two inches of overlap on the sides.

Pour the apple filling in (it will be quite full).

Repeat with other circle of pastry and put it on top of the apples.

Trim and seal as you prefer.

Brush the top with an egg beaten with 2-3 tsp of water and sprinkle generously with granulated sugar. Cut some vents into the top pastry. Make it pretty :)

Bake for 45-50 minutes. One half hour at 400 deg and then turning it down to 350 deg. I like to start it on the middle rack and then move it to the lower rack when I lower the temperature to 350. This ensure that the bottom crust also browns nicely and cooks evenly.

Let it cool on a rack before serving.

Yummy!

(Image courtesy of me and my kitchen!)

Cheesy Potato & Cauliflower Soup

Serves 6

4 cups VE Chicken Boullion, prepared
2 cups water
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 large cauliflower, chopped
1 tsp VE Minced Garlic
2 tsp VE Bruschetta Herbs

Put into large VE Multipot and bring to a boil. Simmer until vegetables are tender about 15 minutes. Using hand blender, process in the pot until consistency you would like. I prefer to have a bit of texture to mine.

To this add:

1 cup milk
2 tbsp whole wheat flour

Process again for a couple of seconds to make sure the flour is mixed it and not lumpy.

Then add:

1-2 cups of low fat sharp cheddar, grated
2 Tbsp VE Cheese, Chive, & Bacon Dip Mix
VE Salt , to taste
VE Black Pepper , to taste

Simmer for 10 more minutes and enjoy! Smells good...