Crock pot recipes are perfect for busy cooks anytime, but they are especially great when celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Since most people don’t have the day off work, you can simply add the ingredients to your slow cooker, turn it on and be on your way. When you walk back into your door, your house will be filled with the tantalizing aroma of dinner waiting to be eaten. All that will be left to do is invite your family and friends over and get ready to celebrate the green! Best of all you don’t have to be Irish to be lucky with these recipes, they are perfect even for the novice cook. Here are some crock pot recipes to use for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration-
Irish Beef Stew-This is another alternative for those who may not like corned beef.
Ingredients you will need:
- 1/4 C olive oil
- 1 1/4 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces(make sure that it has lots of marbled fat)
- 6 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 6 C beef broth
- 1 C of Guinness
- 1 C of red wine
- 2 T tomato paste
- 1 T sugar
- 1 T thyme(dried works best)
- 1 T Worcestershire
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 C peeled and chopped carrots
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 T fresh parsley-chopped
Instructions for the recipe-Heat up the oil in a heavy pot. Season the beef lightly with salt and begin browning it in the pot. It is important to make sure that you do not add to many pieces as this will cause the meat to not brown. When they are nicely browned turn over using a pair of tongs. This entire process will take about 3-4 minutes. When all of the pieces are browned add the garlic. Place all of the pieces of meat and the brown garlic into your crock pot. Add of the ingredients except for the vegetables. Mix all ingredients together to combine well. Cook for about an hour on a medium setting. At this point you will need to add in all of the vegetables. You will then simmer the stew without the lid until the all of the ingredients are fork tender, which takes about an hour. Make sure to throw away the bay leaves and take off any fat that has accumulated on top. You are now ready to serve the stew. Salt, pepper and parsley can be added at this point. Makes 4-6 large servings.
Apple Crock pot Cake-Apples are the basis of many Irish desserts. This delicious dessert just couldn’t be any easier.
Ingredients you will need: For the apple mixture:
- 1 can (20 oz) apple pie filling
- 1/2 t cinnamon
- 3 T brown sugar
For the cake batter:
- 2 small yellow cake mixes (9-ounce size)
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- 1/2 C sour cream
- 3 T butter softened
- 1/2 C evaporated milk
- 1/2 t cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon butter for greasing the crock pot
Directions for the recipe: Stir together everything in a small bowl, for the apple mixture. Stir together all of the cake batter ingredients and mix until combined. Use the butter to grease the sides and bottom of your crock pot (a 3 ½ qt crock pot works best). Cover the bottom of the crock pot with about ½ of the apple mixture. For the next level carefully spread about ½ of the cake batter over the apples. Repeat the process again. Put the cover on and cook for about 2-2 ½ hours on the high setting. Turn the heat completely off, and tilt the cover of the crock pot, so the cake can cool for about 15 minutes. Invert the cake onto a plate. Don’t worry about everything coming out as you can place any lost apples on the top of the cake. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.