Slow Cooker Paella

Slow Cooker Paella via Rachael Ray

Ahhh, the crock pot: our best friend on busy days.  I'm excited about trying out this new recipe from a recent Everyday with Rachael Ray issue.  While I usually omit or substitute meat in recipes, I'll be using the chicken & chorizo in this.  I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Cuban Pork & Pineapple Tacos

I'm still trying to figure out how to use the convenience of my slow cooker with a mostly-meat-free diet.  But until then, this super-easy Rachael Ray find is a repeat winner at my house.

* Cotija cheese is very mild & crumbly and can most often be found in Mexican dishes.  I regularly find it in the deli cheese section at Aldi.  Can't find it?  I believe feta or mozzarella would work in it's place in this dish.

INGREDIENTS:
1 pork tenderloin
3-4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Juice from 2-3 lemons
2-3 Tbsp garlic
3-4 pinches of dried oregano
Flour tortillas (or whole wheat tortillas)
Chopped pineapple
Cilantro
Crumbled cotija cheese

DIRECTIONS:
1. Marinate pork in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, & oregano overnight.

2. Place marinated pork in slow cooker & cook on high for 4 hours; shred.

3. Add shredded pork to tortillas along with pineapple, cilantro, & cotija cheese.

November Meal Planners - Week One

In the spirit of goodwill towards mankind, I am offering this November's Menu Planners to all of my foodie followers for FREE!  Merry Thanksgiving!

Now, I know I'm a bit behind, so let's get to it:
(click on the link below to access the Menu Planner)

November Week One - Super Frugal Planner

Week One's Menu may not be the most delicious food you've ever tasted in all your livelong life, but...it's going to save you money.  We are all about stretching your dollar, and if you're like me, that is greatly welcomed in this denial-that-the-holiday-season-is-upon-is week.

You will start with a few "base" meals that you can use the leftovers to morph into something else.  

1. Slow Cooker Chicken Roast: Like pot roast, only with chicken.  I found this recipe in Rachael Ray's magazine and felt ashamed that I hadn't thought of it on my own.  It is SO easy, and super cheap.  You will end up using the leftovers for Chicken Tortilla Soup & Chicken Salsa Quesadillas.

I do need to tell you: The slow cooker chicken stock that I recommend making at the end of this recipe will (1) taste delicious and (2) make your house stink.  So, sorry about that second one--I'll let you weigh the pros & cons for yourself.  I put all of the ingredients in the slow cooker, left it on low overnight, and when we woke up in the morning, a funky smell was wafting from the kitchen.  BUT, the funky smell was gone as soon as I stored the stock and cleaned the crockpot.  And the yummy homemade stock was enough to make 2.5 soups, so it was worth it in my opinion.

2. Pasta w/ Homemade Tomato Sauce: This is an easy go-to at my house.  The sauce is healthier & cheaper than buying jarred marinara--less sodium, sugar, & other preservatives, and therefore less ingredients.  The sauce will be used on your pizza later on, and if it's too thin for pizza sauce, I'd recommend mixing some tomato paste in with it to thicken it up.

3. Chicken Tortilla Soup: If you want to earn extra frugal credit, skip the recipe ingredients and make my favorite easy chicken soup.  Saute 1 chopped onion, 3 chopped carrots, & 3 chopped celery stalks (or however many are lurking in your crisper) in 2-3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil & season with salt & pepper.  Add 4-8 cups of chicken stock.  Bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes or so (until carrots are soft).  Season again with salt & pepper (& I add a little thyme as well).  Voila.  

4. Chicken Salsa Quesadillas: By now you're catching on to the recurring ingredients.  Stretch 'em out and use 'em up!

5. Cheese Pizza: My favorite thing about pizza is there are a billion different ways to make it & almost everyone likes pizza.  I know the crust can be intimidating.  Just try it on a Friday morning after breakfast or before lunchtime...stick it in the fridge after a couple of hours.  It will be easier than you think.  (Even EASIER: Swing by your local pizza place and buy pizza dough from them--Memphis Pizza Cafe has sold us theirs from time-to-time for $1-$5, depending on who rings us up.)

Hopefully your wheels are turning on how to do this again & again on the weeks you need to pinch pennies.  I am admittedly not the greatest at this--I have friends turn their leftovers into something else day after day, week after week.  I crave the variety & end up resenting the restraint it places on my recipe choices.  (I'm not a leftovers-lover.)  But when it comes to eating cheap, you can't beat something like this!  (Unless maybe you eat Ramen Noodles & Kraft Macaroni & Cheese every night, which I have done, but I do not suggest.)

If you go grocery shopping tonight (Tues) or tomorrow (Wed), you could start these recipes on Wednesday evening and it will get you through Sunday night.  Happy Eating!

(November Week Two is THIS WEEK, so I'm going to cut it until next month.  Don't worry--there is a giant need for Light & Healthy Menu Planners in December!  Around our house, the week before Christmas is actually "Salad Week!"  I will post November Week Three on Friday, which is sure to get your taste-buds excited for next Thursday!