Aunt Audeen's Winter Chili

This is Aaron's version of his Aunt Audeen's Chili.

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2 tbs vegetable oil
4 lbs ground beef
4 bell peppers (different colors)
1 large onion
2 large cans crushed tomatoes
2 small cans tomato paste
2 cans ranch style beans
2 cans black beans
2 cans whole kernel corn
2 cans ranch style beans w/jalapeno
2 cloves garlic
3 tbs black pepper
3 tbs chili powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
3 tbs seasoned salt
4 1/2 tbs cumin

Brown the meat. Chop up all the vegetables and lightly sauté them. Open the cans. Do not drain. Throw everything into a giant cooker and stir. You may need to add 1 – 2 cups of water, depending on how wet your canned vegetables are - just make sure that it is wet when you start cooking. Make sure you don't have any tomato paste globs. Cook for approximately 2 hours on medium heat.

Beef Stroganoff

This recipe was inspired by one I found on cdkitchen.com. I made a few adjustments to fit our taste.

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1 pound stew beef cut in chunks
1 packet Lipton onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup red wine
1 cup water
1/2 cup sour cream

Put all ingredients, except for sour cream, in crock pot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Add sour cream before serving. Serve over hot egg noodles.

Pork Taco Meat

I got this recipe from my mom. It makes a lot, and it is a good change to tacos.

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2 1/2 lb pork butt roast-trim off excess fat
2 cups salsa
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp dried oregano
2 tbsp cocoa powder
kosher salt

Mix all ingredients except for the roast. Put in crock pot and put the roast on top. Cook on High for 4-5 hours, or Low 7-8 hours. Turn it once or twice during cooking. When done, take out roast and shred meat. Then put the shredded meat back in the juice. Use in place of hamburger meat for tacos.

We have always used flour tortillas and had soft tacos, but I am sure it would be good in hard shells as well.

French Dip Sandwiches

This recipe came from my friend Laurie Jewell.

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1 beef chuck roast (3 lbs.) trimmed
2 cups water
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
1 bay leaf
1 tsp pepper
8 french rolls, split

Place roast in slow cooker. Add water, soy sauce, and seasonings. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or until beef is tender. Remove meat from broth; shred with forks and keep warm. Strain broth; skim off fat. Pour broth into small cups for dipping. Serve beef on rolls.

I usually double the recipe (except for the roast), because I like lots of au jus.

Chocolate Crock Pot Cake

This is for my mother-in-law.

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1 (18 oz) Chocolate Cake Mix
1 (16 oz) carton Sour Cream
1 (3.9 oz) Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix
1 (12 oz) bag Chocolate Chips
3/4 c. Oil
4 Eggs
1 c. Water
Cooking Spray

Spray crock pot/slow cooker with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix all ingredients well. Pour into crock pot/slow cooker. Cook 4-5 hours on Low. Scoop out and serve with ice cream.