I love autumn. The colors, the cooler weather, the zing in the air, and the food. This time of year always brings me back to my cookbooks and recipes for the crockpot. First of all, I have a lot going on, the Darling Family is on the go all the time with school, work, and activities. I usually start some massive project in November and this year is no exception. However, as always, the Darling Family expects dinner. Quite frankly, so do I!
A lot of my friends are participating in the NaNoWriMo this year. NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. Writers all over the world like the Romance Magicians, Gwen Hernandez, and Ellen Brickley will write 50,000 words in November. I'm not actively participating because I am taking a screenwriting class with Alexandra Sokoloff. However, I'm sure I'll reach and exceed the 50,000 mark as I'm writing my next book as part of the class.
While writers are hunkering down and plunking away at their computers and laptops, other hardworking people will be getting ready for the holidays and will need a break from figuring out what to cook when they get home. And that is why someone very wise invented the crockpot. The most wondrous creation of all time. I love my crockpot. I use it a lot. And during this next few months I'm sharing my recipes. I also hope to get more recipes from my blog friends.
Today's family favorite crockpot recipe is TACO SOUP.
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 onion chopped (I like to cook it a bit first in the frying pan)
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 envelope ranch dressing mix
1 can kidney beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can hominy (if you can't find hominy then put in another can of corn or beans)
1 can rotel tomatoes with green chilies
Dump all ingredients into a large crockpot (I use a 5 quart). Cook all day on low. Serve with tortilla chips and top with grated cheese and sour cream.
I use low sodium canned products and light sour cream. You can serve over rice as well.
Yummy!
How do you plan your family meals when life gets hectic?
4 comments:
I love taco soup. We have a similar recipe that I use in the crock pot or on the stove if I fail to plan ahead.
When things are busy--even more than usual, that is--I buy for meals that I know will be quick and easy to make, and leave the experiments and more involved meals for the weekends.
I like to make a lot on Sundays, then live on leftovers through the week. I freeze leftovers in from our crockpot recipes cause they are all for huge families. We are only three, but freezing in is good cause it saves me time later.
:-)
Hi Christine!
Thanks for the recipe. My family is big on soups and stews, but admittedly, I don't use the crock pot all that often. My last attempt at pulled pork didn't turn out as I'd hoped. (I think because I tried to cut calories by using low fat BBQ sauce.) Anyway, looks like the family will be eating taco soup at some point in the near future! Oh, and I love recipe books, but more for entertainment reading than actual meal planning. So I appreciate when someone tries a new recipe out and recommends it so I know it's good!
Pork butt is tough to work with but I have a good recipe for it. I'll share later. I also have a good one for chicken that is asked for whenever I make it.
I'm going to post some more recipes on the blog.
You'll need all the crockpot love you can get when you are promoting your debut novel!
:-)
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