Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Crockpot Cuban Black Beans

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Learn how to make this easy, healthy delicious Cuban Black Bean recipe in a crockpot or slow cooker! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step by step how easy it is to make this healthy crockpot bean recipe! If you are looking for new vegetarian or vegan crockpot or slow cooker recipes you will love how easy and delicious this recipe is!

Cooking black beans is very easy in a crockpot or slow cooker. These Cuban Black Beans are the best over rice, couscous or quinoa. If you have been looking for healthy black bean recipes I think this will be your favorite recipe. If you like black bean soup, I expect you will also love this Cuban Black Bean Recipe! Watch this video and try this easy, healthy, delicious Cuban Black Bean recipe today!

Yield: 6 servings

Crockpot Cuban Black Beans

Ingredients

  • 1 pound black beans, dried
  • Water
  • 1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce, low sodium
  • 2 - 3 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 2 - 3 teaspoons cumin, ground
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons salt, Kosher
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, minced (optional)

Instructions

  1. Sort beans and remove stones and debris. Rinse them in a colander.
  2. Place beans in the crockpot. Cover with 8 cups cold water and soak overnight (at least 8 hours).
  3. Drain water and rinse beans in a colander.
  4. Put beans back in crockpot with about 3 1/2 cups of clean water.
  5. Stir in the onion, onion powder, soy sauce, minced garlic, cumin, and garlic powder.
  6. Cook on high for about 4 - 5 hours or low for about 12 - 14 hours or until the beans are as soft as you would like them.
  7. When the beans are soft, stir in the salt and lemon juice.
  8. Taste the beans and if needed, add more salt and spices to your taste. Let the beans cook for 5 - 10 minutes longer.
  9. Serve the Cuban Black Beans over rice, couscous, or quinoa. Top with minced cilantro if desired.

Notes

For an average cooker cook on high 4 hours or low, 12-12 1/2 hours. If your cooker is faster or slower adjust the times.

You can substitute Bragg's Liquid Aminos for the soy sauce.

© Karen Breyer

 

Meatless Sloppy Joes

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Check out this Meatless Sloppy Joes cooking video! Learn how to make this easy, healthy, delicious Meatless Sloppy Joes in a crockpot or slow cooker. In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make this very easy, vegan crockpot recipe! If you are looking for some new, meatless, vegan or vegetarian recipes I think you will love this recipe for an easy, healthy dinner! Trying to make more healthy meals for your family but do not have much time?  This is the perfect easy crockpot or slow cooker recipe for you! Watch this video and try this Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe today!

 

Yield: 4 servings

Meatless Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 15 ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups onions, chopped
  • 2 cups green bell peppers, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon mustard, prepared (not powder)
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons chili powder

Instructions

  1. Add the tomato sauce and beans to the crockpot. Mash the beans with a potato masher.
  2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 5 1/2 hours or until the vegetables are soft.
  4. Serve on sandwich buns, bread or toast.

Notes

This Meatless Sloppy Joes recipe is delicious reheated as leftovers.

Keep a batch of this Sloppy Joes in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can prepare a quick, healthy and satisfying sandwich anytime!

Watch a cooking demonstration of this Meatless Sloppy Joes recipe on my Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Dad’s Favorite Beef Stew

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Learn to cook Dad’s Favorite Beef Stew! In this cooking video Karen Breyer and her dad will show you step-by-step how to cook this delicious, healthy beef stew. This recipe is an easy beef stew for the crockpot or slow cooker. If you are looking for new, delicious, easy crockpot or slow cooker recipes I think you will love this one! This is a hearty, healthy beef stew with plenty of vegetables. I think it will be one of your favorite crockpot or slow cooker recipes! Watch this video and try my Dad’s Favorite Beef Stew recipe today!

Yield: 6 - 8 servings

Dad's Favorite Beef Stew

Ingredients

  • 1 - 2 cups carrots, diced
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1 cup green pepper, diced
  • 2 - 3 cups potatoes, diced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary, dried
  • 1 teaspoon salt, Kosher
  • Black pepper, ground (to taste)
  • 5 teaspoons beef broth/seasoning, dry
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 - 2 pounds boneless beef chunks for stew

Instructions

  1. Dice the carrots, celery, green pepper, potato and onions.
  2. Add all the ingredients in a crockpot (or slow cooker) and stir together.
  3. Turn the crockpot on high and cook about 4 hours (or low for 8 - 10 hours) or until the beef and vegetables are cooked to your desired tenderness. If desired, adjust the seasonings.

Notes

You can experiment with different types of potatoes and onions in this stew. I often use red potatoes and yellow onions. My dad likes to use red onions.

You can vary the amount of vegetables, beef, and spices to how you like it.

You could leave out the beef and add cooked beans or a vegetarian meat substitute for a delicious vegetable stew.

If you use fresh rosemary instead of dried, use 1 tablespoon instead of 1 teaspoon. In general, 1 teaspoon of dried herbs are equal to 1 teaspoon fresh herbs.

You can use a different type of salt if you would like.

Choose a good quality beef broth/seasoning. Check the ingredients to make sure the ingredients are as natural as possible (no MSG!).

You can substitute 5 cups of liquid beef or vegetable broth in place of the dried seasoning and water.

This beef stew is delicious served with a crusty bread and a salad.

© Karen Breyer

 

Dad’s Favorite Chicken Stew

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Learn to cook Dad’s Favorite Chicken Stew! In this cooking video Karen Breyer and her dad will show you step-by-step how to cook this delicious, healthy chicken stew. This recipe is so easy! It is a hearty, healthy chicken and vegetable meal perfect for lunch or dinner. If you like chicken stew I think you will love this chicken stew recipe! Find out why this is my Dad’s Favorite Chicken Stew recipe! Watch this video and try this chicken stew recipe today!


Yield: 6 - 8 servings

Dad's Favorite Chicken Stew

Ingredients

  • 5 teaspoons dry chicken broth seasoning
  • 5 cups water
  • 1- 2 pounds chicken, boneless and skinless (cut in bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 - 2 cups carrots, peeled and cut in 1 inch pieces
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1 cup green pepper, diced
  • 2 - 3 cups red potatoes, diced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon thyme, dried
  • 1 teaspoon salt, Kosher
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Instructions

  1. Wash green pepper, celery, and potatoes. Peel carrots.
  2. Dice carrots, celery, green pepper, potatoes, and onion and place in the crockpot (slow cooker).
  3. Add water and chicken broth seasoning; then stir.
  4. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to crockpot.
  5. Stir and cover with lid. Turn crockpot on high. Cook for 3 to 4 hours.
  6. Check to make sure chicken and vegetables are done.
  7. Add more seasoning if desired. Serve.

Notes

In place of the 5 teaspoons of dry chicken broth seasoning and water you could use 5 cups of prepared liquid chicken broth.

I use a vegetarian dried chicken broth seasoning. I suggest looking for a brand that has lots of herbs and spices and no MSG or other artificial ingredients.

You can use 1 tablespoon fresh thyme in place of 1 teaspoon dried.

You can also cook this chicken stew on low for 6 to 8 hours.

You may want to serve this stew with a salad and bread or crackers. It is great for lunch or dinner. It can be a main dish or side dish.

See a cooking demonstration of Dad's Favorite Chicken Stew on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

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