Thanksgiving Side Dish: Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes & Bacon

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Thanksgiving Side Ingredients:

8 servings

Slender sweet potatoes (4 pounds; peeled and cut into 1-inch thick slices)

Cooked bacon (3 slices; crumbled)

Cornstarch (2 teaspoons)

Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (1/2 cup; chopped)

Fresh rosemary (2 teaspoons; chopped)

2 garlic cloves (minced)

Kosher salt (2 tablespoons)

Light brown sugar (3 tablespoons)

Butter (4 tablespoons; melted)

Orange zest (1 tablespoon)

Frozen orange juice concentrate (1/2 cup; thawed)

Cold water (1 tablespoon)

Thanksgiving Side Dish Directions:

1. Take a 5- to 6-qt. slow cooker and place the sweet potato slices into it.
2. Take a small bowl and stir together orange juice concentrate, butter, kosher salt, light brown sugar, and chopped rosemary. Pour over the potato slices and toss to coat.
3. Cover the slow cooker and cook until the potato slices are tender or for 5-1/2 to 6 hours at LOW heat.
4. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the potato slices to a serving dish. Keep the cooking liquid into the cooker and increase the heat to HIGH.
5. Mix 1 tablespoon cold water and cornstarch in a small bowl until the mixture becomes smooth. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker and whisk for 3 to 5 minutes or until the liquid becomes thick. Pour the sauce over the potato slices in the serving dish.
6. Mix together minced garlic, chopped parsley, and orange zest. Sprinkle the parsley mixture over the potatoes.
7. Finally, serve the potatoes after sprinkling the crumbled bacon over them.

Love Sweet Potato Dishes?

Try this Sweet Potato Casserole for your Thanksgiving meal

The great thing about this slow cooker Thanksgiving side dish recipe is that you can just pour the potato mixture into the slow cooker in the evening and forget about it for the next 5-6 hours. Have it ready to serve when everyone sits down to dinner!

For more Thanksgiving dishes take a look at these 22 make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes!

20 Of Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes

1. Slow Cooker Recipes: Pulled Pork or Chicken Sliders

Looking for some perfect addition to a relaxed menu? Try these delicious, mouthwatering pulled chicken sliders. The intelligent slow cooker does all the work for you, so that when you come back home six to eight hours later, you will have juicy pork or chicken ready to be shredded and served in a sandwich with your favorite barbecue sauce.

2. Butternut Squash Soup is the perfect Crock Pot Recipe

This one is one of our all time favorite soups. We love the recipe because you can throw everything in the crock pot and walk away. In about few hours you have a tasty soup all ready waiting for you. And of course, your home will smell just amazing while it’s cooking way. Simply open the cupboard and add what you desire. Freeze for another meal!

Don’t you love butternut squash soup in a slow cooker?

3. Easy Crock Pot Recipes: Herb Chicken with Mushrooms

Flavorful spices and herbs, onion and mushrooms give this plain herb chicken recipe a rich flavor. Vegetables and cooking juice complete the meal. If you don’t wish to use the wine, you can use cooking sherry instead and omit the salt. Serve it with mashed potatoes or a side dish like steamed green beans and you will have a satisfying meal.

4. Slow Cooker Recipes: Delicious Cranberry Pork

Cranberry pork tenderloin is a tasty, easy dinner any time of the year, but it’s especially a great choice during cooler weather. It’s healthy, simple, and just as good reheated the next day. A slow cooker really helps to bring out the best in pork loin, leaving it juicy and tender, and saving you hours in the kitchen.

5. Thai Pumpkin Soup Slow Cooker Recipes

The smell of fresh pumpkin soup with Thai spices has to be one of the best wafting through your home during the colder months. Try this delicious Crock Pot Thai Pumpkin Soup recipe and delight your senses!

Slow cooker meals are such a time saver. Set and forget at the beginning of the day and come back home to a hot dinner. Let us know through comments what you think about our collection of recipes?

15 Slow Cooker Recipes from Blogger Friends

1. Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken
2. slow Cooker Butternut Stew
3. Slow Cooker Lasagna
4. Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki Quinoa Bowls
5. Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
6. Slow Cooker Pizza Meatloaf
7. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
8. Slow Cooker Herbed Cornish Hens
9. Slow Cooker Apricot BBQ Chicken Wings
10. Slow Cooker Loaded Carnitas
11. Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich
12. Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
13. Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
14. Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
15. Slow Cooker Healthy Beef Stew

For more slow cooker recipe ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

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The good news is, all that great hardware is within reach. A new piece of cooking equipment can be like adding a new medium to a painters’ palette.

5 Kitchen Essentials your Home Can’t Do Without

If you’re like me and you want to get the most from your cooking, you may want to focus on these pieces of equipment:

1. Professional Kitchen Equipment:

What we have in our kitchens will get us though many of the meals we have in mind, but the game changes when we introduce professional equipment. Restaurant-grade equipment, such as the kind found at http://www.missionrs.com, endures the wear and tear of a busy kitchen. From stoves and refrigerators to blenders and whisks, you can use what the pros use. You don’t need to be a restaurant chef to own them; if you plan out your kitchen remodel carefully, you’ll be able to step up your ability with what’s offered a professional level.

2. Kitchen Storage:

Baking is a science, whereas cooking is an art, and kitchen storage is important. That’s how I always heard it and it definitely seems so when you start digging through the pantry for that one ingredient or trying to find a way to reincorporate leftovers in a meal. Storage is worth the investment even though it takes a while to get set up; once you know where everything is you will spend less time looking, less money rebuying ingredients you didn’t realize you already had, and less time trying to fight over the stove if you’re cooking socially. A good system to your kitchen storage is a life hack you’ll want if you want to get the most out of your experience.

3. Slow Cooker Appliances:

Yes, the once old Crock Pot, now know as the slow cooker is getting a placement on this list by itself because it’s probably the most versatile tool in the kitchen. Slow cookers can do just about everything with very little effort, which is why it’s so perfect for those off-days. More importantly is the fact that I think slow cookers develop a sense of patience, which goes a long way in cooking. Because you have to wait, you begin to appreciate the prep so everything comes out great; you’re also not the one to immediately dig in and not allow meals to properly set thus ruining the flavor.

4. Digital Kitchen Essentials:

This one is kind of straight forward because probably 99% of people rely on “eyeballing” the food or just working from measuring cups when it comes to baking and cooking. Well, cut out the guess work and embrace the digital. Invest in a digital thermometer and scale. Just these two kitchen tools will drastically change how you go about making food – it simplifies the process, cuts out the guesswork, and removes the mistakes. You can’t beat hard data.

This kitchen essentials checklist from Real Simple will ensure your kitchen is well-equipped

5. Kitchen Technology:

Sorry grandma but I’m not going to dig through the monster stack of recipes to find how you seasoned your brisket because I’m in a rush. Tablets are inexpensive these days and make for a great fit in the kitchen because you can quick search for recipes, YouTube tutorials, and have something to do to bide time while you’re waiting around.

Each new piece you add to your kitchen can change the dynamic of the dish. You’ll not only be inspired to try something new with traditional recipes but also feel inclined to explore something new based around what you can make with your available tools.

Mashable highlights 10 high-tech kitchen gadgets that we’d all love to have!

A small investment in the tools you’re working with can go much further than a one or two-time occurrence of a new ingredient so think about that next time you’re looking at recipes, binging on cooking shows, or out at the store. Bon appétit!

Slow Cooker Dessert: Spiced Poached Pears

Image via: Tartelette Blog

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Total time: Preparation 25 minutes + Cooking 4 hours

Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients

1 and half cups cranberry juice or dry red wine

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons dried cherries

1 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1 whole star anise

1 dried Sichuan pepper, optional

4 ripe pears

Ganache Ingredients  

4 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

Toppings

2 tablespoons pine nuts

Fresh blackberries

Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream, optional

Procedure

Image via: Great British Chefs

1. In a 3-qt slow cooker, mix wine, cherries, brown sugar, cinnamon, star anise, and if desired Sichuan pepper until blended. Peel and cut peers lengthwise in half. Remove cores and leave a small hole in the center of each. Arrange pears in wine mixture.
2. Cook, covered on low heat for 4-5 hours or until pears are almost tender. Discard Sichuan pepper and star anise.
3. In a small bowl put chocolate. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate and stir with a whisk until smooth.
4. To serve, put pears on dessert dishes; drizzle with some of the poaching liquid. Spoon ganache into pear holes. Top with pine nuts and blackberries. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.

While we love this slow cooker dessert recipe for reasons more than one, we are happy with the fact that it is on the healthier side, is easy to make, and can be mostly prepared well in advance. And of course, who can overlook the presentation which is lovely!

For more dessert recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Slow Cooker Meal: Pork Cutlets Recipe

Image via: Mc Cormick Spices

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Total time: Preparation 15 minutes + cooking 4 hours 25 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 pork loin cutlets, excess fat trimmed

Olive oil spray

2 pink lady apples, quartered and cored

1 pale section of leek, halved lengthways and cut into 4 cm pieces

3 potatoes cut into 6 wedges

1 tablespoon plain flour

1 ½ cups chicken stock

1 cup white wine

1 ½ tablespoons wholegrain mustard

2 crushed garlic cloves

1 bunch baby carrots, trimmed and peeled

3 small parsnips, peeled and quartered lengthways

Steamed green round beans to serve

Procedure

Image via: Pork Be Inspired

1. Season pork with pepper and salt. Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium to high heat. Spray with oil. Cook pork for 2 to 3 minutes each side or until golden brown. Transfer to a plate. Spray the pan with oil. Cook the apple 2 to 3 minutes each side or until browned. Transfer it to the plate with the pork. Now cook the leek for 1 to 2 minutes or until light golden.
2. In a 5L capacity slow cooker, place 2 pork cutlets. Top with ½ the apple, ½ the leek, and ½ the potato. Put the remaining pork cutlets on the top. Top it up with remaining apple, potato, and leek.
3. Place the flour in a jug. Add some stock to make a smooth paste. Now add remaining stock, wine, mustard, and garlic. Pour over pork. Cover and cook on high for three hours.
4. Add carrot and parsnip. Cover and cook on low for another one hour or until the vegetables are tender. Divide the pork, apple, and vegetables among serving plates. Serve with steamed beans.

Whipping up this slow cooker meal is as simple as tossing the ingredients into your crock pot, setting it to the right temperature, and coming back home hours later to a fully cooked scrumptious meal. Let us know how it was.

For more slow cooker meal recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Slow Cooker Dessert: Gingerbread Pudding Cake

Image via: Eat In Eat Out

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Total time: Preparation 20 minutes + cooking 2 hours + standing

Yields: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

¼ cup softened, butter

¼ cup sugar

1 egg white

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

½ cup molasses

1 cup water

1 ¼ cups all purpose flour

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

Pinch of salt

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ cup chopped pecans

Topping ingredients

6 tablespoons brown sugar

¾ cup hot water

2/3 cup melted butter

Procedure

Image via: Food Network

1. In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg white and vanilla.
2. In a separate bowl, combine water and molasses.
3. In another separate bowl combine all purpose flour, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, salt, allspice, and nutmeg. Now gradually add to the creamed mixture alternating with molasses mixture. Beat well after each addition. Fold in pecans.
4. Pour into a properly greased 3-qt slow cooker. Sprinkle the brown sugar. Combine butter and hot water and pour over batter. Do not stir.
5. Cover and cook on high heat for 2 to 2 ½ hours or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Turn off the heat. Let it stand for 15-20 minutes. Serve warm.

Come home to this sweet and scrumptious slow cooker dessert that is ready the moment you walk in the door. Finish it with a dollop of whipped cream and mint sprig on the top.

Winter Soup: Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Image via: Williams & Sonoma

Ingredients

1 cup dried, brown lentils

1 can diced tomatoes (14-oz) with their juice

2 carrots cut into thick rounds

2 celery ribs, cut into thick pieces

1 onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

6 cups water or vegetable broth

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

2 bay leaves

¼ cup olive oil

Directions

1. Pick over the lentils and rinse them thoroughly.
2. Add all ingredients, except for the vinegar, into the slow cooker. Cover and cook for about 6-8 hours on low, until they are as soft as you like them. You can remove about 2 cups of the soup and blend them in a blender, then return this puree into the soup. Add vinegar and stir gently to combine. Let it cook for a couple of minutes.
3. Serve in deep bowls or plates, together with fresh bread, pickles and olives as sides. Have some oregano, olive oil and vinegar ready on the table for everybody to add to their dish if desired.

You can see that this recipe is really easy to put together. You can make it heartier by adding pieces of ham or your favorite sausage cut into pieces to the soup from the beginning. This Winter Soup: Slow Cooker Lentil Soup is a great and tasty way to take in all the healthy nutrients lentils have.

For more slow cooker recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Try this recipe and enter for your chance to win your own below!

I decided to try an apple dessert and chose this Dutch Apple Pudding Cake recipe. Not only did I love how I could start it in the morning and set and forget it, but it made the entire house smell delicious! Here’s how I enjoyed using the slow cooker.

  All images by Stagetecture

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Dutch Apple Pudding Recipe

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
1 20 ounce can apple pie filling
1/2 cup dried cherries, dried cranberries, or raisins
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1 1/4 cups apple juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
Chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)
Vanilla Ice cream (optional)

Directions

1. Lightly coat a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray; set aside. In a small saucepan bring apple pie filling to boiling. Stir in cherries. Transfer apple mixture to prepared cooker.

2. In a medium bowl stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and melted butter; stir just until combined. Stir in the 1/2 cup walnuts. Pour and evenly spread batter over apple mixture in cooker, spreading evenly.

3. In the same small saucepan combine apple juice, brown sugar, and the 1 tablespoon butter. Bring to boiling. Boil gently, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Carefully pour apple juice mixture over mixture in cooker.

4. Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center of cake comes out clean. Remove crockery liner from cooker, if possible, or turn off cooker. Cool, uncovered, for 30 to 45 minutes.

To serve, spoon warm cake and its sauce into dessert dishes. If desired, top each serving with vanilla ice cream.

This recipe from BHG was really easy, but what made it better was the ability to set the slow cooker and walk away from it! I left the house, set the timer and when I came back home it had turned off and the house smelled delicious. The spring loaded hinges snap the lid down which I love, and it can be programmed for varying lengths of time. Thanks Hamilton Beach!

‘Pin to Win’ Giveaway

Ready for a chance to win a Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker?

How to Enter Giveaway:

1. Read through the Rafflecopter entry options. This contest wants you to pin your favorite slow cooker recipe image and URL on Pinterest from anywhere on the web onto our shared ‘Thanksgiving in Style” board.

2. Ask to join the Stagetecture group Pinterest board – ‘Thanksgiving in Style” with your email or username on the Rafflecopter entry. We will invite you to the board and then you can pin!

3. Follow all directions on Rafflecopter, including leaving #SlowCookerMeals in your description.

4. Leave a comment here on Stagetecture.com comments area of your favorite slow cooker meal you would make and include the URL for another chance! Need some ideas? Look through Stagetecture’s slow cooker recipes here. ‘IF YOU LEAVE A RECIPE URL, YOU STILL NEED TO ENTER IT AS AN ENTRY IN THE RAFFLECOPTER +1″

5. One winner will be chosen on Saturday, Oct. 25th at 9:00am EST. Check back to see if you won! Winner should fill out contact form to claim prize.

Note – Only open to continental U.S. residents. Must have a shipping address and not a P.O. Box for Hamilton Beach to mail you the prize if chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent a promotional slow cooker by Hamilton Beach for this post. All opinions, notes, and setup of the giveaway are on my own consent.

For more slow cooker recipes on Stagetecture, try one of these!

After a filling meal there is always a little room left for a decadent dessert. Try this Slow Cooker dessert recipe that is all about a delightful, fudge chocolate cake. Top it with the warm coffee-cream sauce to round this yummy dish up. What a great way to finish a meal!

Slow Cooker Dessert: Chocolate Walnut Bread Pudding

Image via: BHG

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Slow Cooker Dessert: Chocolate Walnut Bread Pudding Recipe

Ingredients for the Bread Pudding

(serves about 8)

1. Nonstick cooking spray
2. 3 cups milk
3. ¾ cup semisweet chocolate pieces
4. ¾ cup presweetened cocoa powder
5. 3 eggs, lightly beaten
6. 5 cups cubed Hawaiian sweet bread or cinnamon-swirl bread (no raisins), dried
7. ½ cup chopped walnuts

Ingredients for the Coffee-Cream Sauce

1. ¼ cup sugar
2. 2 teaspoons cornstarch
3. ½ cup whipping cream
4. ¼ cup freshly brewed strong coffee
5. ¼ cup coffee liqueur or water

Image via: Table For Seven

Directions

1. If you want to cube and dry bread, just preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Cut 1/2-inch bread slices into 1/2-inch cubes. Now simply spread the bread cubes in a single layer in a 15-1/2×10-1/2×1-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes or until cubes are dry, stirring twice. Allow to cool. The cubes continue to dry and crisp as they cool.
2. For the dessert, coat the inside of a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray and set aside.
3. In medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it becomes very warm but not boiling. Remove the milk from heat. Add the chocolate pieces and cocoa powder, but do not stir, and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk the mixture until it is smooth. Allow it to cool slightly for about 10 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and the chocolate mixture. Now, gently stir in the bread cubes and the walnuts. Transfer the bread mixture to the prepared cooker.
5. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for about 2-1/2 hours or until a knife inserted near center of pudding comes out clean (the mixture will puff). Remove crockery liner from cooker, if possible, or turn off cooker. Cool, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Note that the pudding will fall as it cools.
6. To make the sauce, in a medium saucepan stir together sugar and cornstarch. Add the cream, coffee, and liqueur. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more.

To serve the slow cooker dessert, spoon the warm pudding into dessert dishes. Top each serving with the Coffee-Cream Sauce.

Thank you BHG for this wonderful Slow Cooker recipe. Enjoy this mouthwatering pudding with a nice cup of coffee!

For more dessert ideas on Stagetecture, click here,

Do you want a taste of Mexican food delight? Try this delicious Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Soft Tacos recipe. This is an easy to make recipe that you can do in the convenience of your home kitchen. You will definitely feel a genuine taste of Mexican recipe without leaving your home or ordering from a restaurant.

Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Soft Tacos 

Image via: Carmencita Saunders via Pinterest

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
3- to 4-lb boneless pork sirloin roast, netting or string removed
1/4 cup water
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso® chopped green chiles, undrained
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
1 cup Old El Paso® Thick ‘n Chunky salsa
1 large tomato, chopped (1 cup)
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 lime, cut into 16 pieces
16 flour tortillas (6 inch)

Image via: The Wicked Noodle

Procedure

1. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add pork roast pieces. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides.
2. In 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker, place pork. Add water to skillet; cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes, scraping up browned bits. Pour over pork. Top pork with taco seasoning mix and chiles.
3. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours.
4. Remove pork from cooker to cutting board. Pull pork into bite-size chunks, using 2 forks. Return pork to juices in cooker.
5. Place cheese and salsa in separate serving bowls. On serving platter, arrange cheese, salsa, tomato, cilantro and lime pieces. Warm tortillas as directed on package. Spoon pork onto tortillas, using slotted spoon; top with cheese, tomato, cilantro and salsa. Squeeze lime juice over fillings. Fold tortillas in half over filling.

The whole ingredients should yield up to 8 servings of Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Soft Tacos. You can now enjoy the delicious and authentic taco recipe that you can serve to your guests and loved ones for any occasion.

For more recipes on Stagetecture, click here.