Slow Cooker Pork & Hominy Posole Soup

 

Ingredients

1. 1 teaspoon ground cumin
2. ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
3. 1 teaspoon dried oregano
4. Kosher salt and black pepper
5. 1 2-pound boneless pork shoulder
6. 1 onion, chopped
7. 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
8. 1 15.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
9. 1 15-ounce can hominy, drained
10. 1 15-ounce can pinto beans, rinsed
11. 2 tablespoons lime juice, plus wedges for serving
12. Chopped avocado, cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco or Feta, for serving

Directions

1. Combine the cumin, paprika, oregano, 1½ teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Coat the pork with this mixture, then transfer to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add the onion, broth, tomatoes, hominy, and beans and stir to combine. Cover and cook until the pork is tender, on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
2. Shred the pork using 2 forks and mix it into the cooking liquid. Stir in the lime juice and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve the soup topped with the avocado, cilantro, cheese, and lime wedges.

Tip: Cut down on grease in the broth by trimming the pork fat before cooking.
Total Time Range: 4 hours, 20 minutes to 7 hours, 20 minutes

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/slow-cooker-pork-hominy-posole-soup

7 ingredient zuppa toscana

 

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground hot* Italian sausage
• 1 small white onion, peeled and diced
• 4 cups good-quality chicken stock
• 1 (12-ounce) ja roasted red peppers, drained and diced
• 1 bunch kale, roughly chopped (and stems removed, if desired)
• 1 pound potato gnocchi
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• salt and pepper
• optional toppings: freshly shaved or grated Parmesan cheese, crumbled bacon

Directions:

Add Italian sausage and diced onion to the large stockpot or Dutch Oven. Cook over medium-high heat until the sausage is completely browned, stirring occasionally and breaking up the sausage with a spoon.  Drain out as much of the excess grease as possible.
Then add in the chicken stock and diced roasted red peppers, and bring the mixture to a simmer (still over medium-high heat).  Once it reaches a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low and add the kale and gnocchi and stir to combine.  Continue cooking for 5 minutes, or until the gnocchi are cooked through and tender.  Stir in the heavy cream.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  (I used about 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper.)
Serve warm with desired toppings.
You can also refrigerate this in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

*I highly recommend using "hot" Italian sausage for this recipe.  With so few ingredients, the sausage is actually the ingredient that provides most of the seasoning for this soup.  And much of the heat will be dispersed over the multiple servings.  So unless you're really averse to spicy food, take the chance and go hot with this one!
(And if you can't find hot Italian sausage, you can also add in some crushed red chili flakes instead.)

http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/easy-zuppa-toscana-recipe/

slow cooker shepherd's pie

Ingredients 

1.   1½ pounds beef chuck, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2. 2 large carrots, chopped
3. 1 large onion, chopped
4. 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
5. 1 cup dark beer (such as Guinness)
6. 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
7. 2 tablespoons tomato paste
8. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
9. Kosher salt and black pepper
10. 2 large russet potatoes, peeled
11. 2 cups frozen peas
12. ½ cup milk
13. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

1. Combine the beef, carrots, onion, broth, beer, Worcestershire, tomato paste, flour, 1½ teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Nestle the potatoes in the liquid.
2. Cover and cook until the potatoes are tender, on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Transfer the potatoes to a medium bowl. Stir the peas into the stew, cover, and warm until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Mash the potatoes with the milk, butter, and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl.
4. Serve the stew topped with the mashed potatoes.

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/slow-cooker-shepherds-pie