Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Crockpot Indian-Inspired Lentil Dal

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This Crockpot Indian-Inspired Lentil Dal is an easy, healthy, and flavorful meal you can make right in your crockpot or slow cooker. The lentils are seasoned with warm Indian-inspired spices and cook until tender and delicious. Serve this comforting lentil dal over rice or with naan for an easy and satisfying meal.

Yield: 6

Crockpot Indian-Inspired Lentil Dal

Crockpot Indian-Inspired Lentil Dal
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Ingredients

  • 4½ cups water
  • 2 cups lentils
  • 3 cups onion, diced
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1½–2 teaspoons cumin
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala, divided
  • 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1½ teaspoons Kosher salt (or to taste)

Instructions

    1. Add all the ingredients to the crockpot except the
    garam masala. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the garam masala and reserve the remaining
    teaspoon for the end of cooking.
    2. Cover and cook on high for 2–2½ hours, or until the lentils are tender.
    3. Stir in the salt and the remaining teaspoon of garam masala. Adjust the
    seasonings to taste.
    4. Serve.

Notes

Try adding a (14-ounce) can of diced tomatoes or 1 tablespoon of tomato paste for a brighter, deeper flavor.


Serve over rice or with naan.


For added color and nutrition, stir in chopped spinach or cilantro at the end
of cooking. 

© Karen Breyer

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

5.0 Stars (1 Review)

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

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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

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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

 

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