Steak & Gravy Recipe or One More Reason I Love My Slow Cooker

I could make a list of reasons I love my slow cooker and it would be lengthy. One of my favorite things is you can buy a cheap cut of meat and after a few hours in the slow cooker it's as tender as the expensive stuff. I'm all for good food and saving money! I'm also a fan of easy prep.

This recipe is no frills, basic comfort food. It's also a snap to put together.

Not a great pic because my camera broke and I have to rely on the phone, but you get the idea.

Ingredients

• 1lb round steak
• 2 - 3/4 ounce packages beef gravy mix packets - I used mushroom
• 3 cups water
• one small onion, finely chopped

Directions: 

• Spray the crock of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or use one of those nifty slow cooker liners. 
• Place meat in crock.
• In a small saucepan bring water to a boil then add gravy mix. Mix until smooth then pour over steaks in slow cooker.
• Top with chopped onions. 
• Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

See how easy that is? It makes a hearty meal with seamed veggies and mashed potatoes. We really enjoyed this for dinner tonight!

Does your family have favorite no fuss meal?

Southern Living What's for Supper Review and Giveaway

There are not many things I collect, but of the things I do cookbooks are at the top of the list. Some of my favorites are Southern Living cookbooks. Not only are the recipes amazing, but the pictures make you drool. I can spend hours just browsing a good cookbook. Southern Living's What's for Supper cookbook is no exception. I was excited when this cookbook arrived because trying new recipes is one of my favorite things. The cookbook's chapters include:

• The Supper Table
• Dinner's in the Pantry
• Don't Drive Through, Drive Home
• No -Cook Suppers
• Slow Cooker
• Picky Eaters
• Cooking for Two
• Weeknight Company

No matter what cooking challenges you face, What's for Supper likely has a solution for you. The Supper Table offers quick fix solutions on everything from salads to beverages, including a recipe to make perfect sweet tea. We are on a pretty strict grocery budget, so Dinner's in the Pantry was a big hit, offering new recipes made with ingredients I had on hand. Don't Drive Through, Drive Home is full of recipes that are quick to prepare and taste so much better than fast food fare. My favorite chapters are No-Cook Suppers and Slow Cooker. Summer in Texas is not the ideal time to be slaving over a hot stove, so delicious recipes that can be made without heating up the house are always a welcome addition to our menu. Those with Picky Eaters will find an array of kid friendly fare sure to please those with even the most discriminating palettes. I also very much enjoyed the Cooking for Two chapter because this is something I still find challenging after so many years of cooking for a bigger bunch. In Weeknight Company you will find great recipes to offer guests that won't have you in the kitchen forever, but will still impress. What's for Supper really offers a little something for everyone.

One of the tasty No-Cook Suppers recipes is this light, refreshing Honey Chicken Salad. It makes a great supper on a hot evening.

Honey-Chicken Salad
makes 4 to 6 servings
hands-on time: 20 min. total time: 20 min.

1⁄2 cup chopped pecans
4 cups chopped cooked
chicken
3 celery ribs, diced (about 1 1⁄2 cups)
3/4 cup chopped fresh peaches
3/4 cup fresh blackberries
1 1⁄2 cups mayonnaise
1⁄3 cup honey
1⁄4 tsp. salt
1⁄4 tsp. pepper
Garnish: toasted chopped pecans

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together mayonnaise and next 3 ingredients. Add to chicken mixture, stirring gently until combined. Garnish, if desired.

sidekick: green salad with raspberry vinaigrette
Process 1⁄3 cup raspberry or red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper in a blender or food processor until smooth. With blender or processor running, add 1/2 cup oil in a slow, steady stream; process until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup fresh basil. Top salad greens with sliced vine-ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, and 1/4 cup red onion; drizzle with dressing.

Want a copy of What's for Supper to add to your collection? I have a copy for one lucky reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

Biscuits Anyone?

Image via WikipediaI have a wonderful friend from Australia who I very much enjoy talking to. Dan cracks up whenever we talk and thinks I should transcribe some of our conversations. Like the other day when we were talking about biscuits.

I love biscuits and gravy, especially sausage gravy. I could eat it for any meal, it's like the ultimate comfort food. Not long ago I was cooking exactly that for dinner while on the phone with M. "You're making what?" she asked me. "Biscuits and gravy," I replied. This led to great discussion about biscuits. I had no idea biscuits were not a universal thing. She explained what a "biscuit" is over there. I'm from Texas y'all, we have cookies, we have crackers, and we have biscuits. She asked me what we called a biscuit. How do you describe a biscuit? Listening to me try must have been amusing because Dan was laughing and shaking his head. I should have Googled it. I even tweeted a pic of of a sausage biscuit trying to make her understand.

So, I promised to share my favorite biscuit recipe with her and decided to share it here. When she shares her favorite "biscuit" recipe with me, I'll be sure to pass that along to y'all.

Southern Living's Buttermilk Biscuit recipe is my favorite, although I use white flour rather than wheat. It makes prefect, fluffy biscuits every time.