Fix-It and Forget-It

Summer Kick Off Giveaway – May 20, 2013

Fix-it and Forget-it — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:48:28 +0000

We are in the home stretch! We are driving with the windows down and the radio cranked to really let the feeling of summer wash over us. To show you how excited we are for summer sun and warm breezes, we are going to kick off summer with a giveaway – the Jarden 6 qt. Programmable Slow Cooker and Fix-It and Forget-It Vegetarian Cookbook!

What excellent timing for trying out the Vegetarian cookbook with roadside stands overflowing with homegrown fruits and veggies. You will love using your new slow cooker in the summer because you can be cooking dinner while swimming at the pool all afternoon.

The Jarden 6 qt. stainless steel programmable slow cooker features High and Low settings, and automatically switches to Keep Warm when time elapses. That means dinner is ready when you are. The removable black ceramic insert provides gentle uniform heat to create richly flavored soups, stews, casseroles, and braised meats. Both the insert and the tempered glass lid are dishwasher-safe.
(Jarden doesn’t know that we’re giving away this slow cooker.)

TO ENTER

To enter our slow-cooker giveaway, just answer the following question in the Comments section of this blog:

What is your favorite summertime slow cooker meal that you are looking forward to?

Scroll down to the very bottom of the page, type your answer into the Comments section, and you’re entered to win! (Or if you can’t think of anything, just say “Hi.” That’s fine, too.)

THE RULES

Just one entry per person. If you would like to respond to another entry, don’t worry; duplicate comments will be weeded out so everyone has an equal chance to win.

No entries after 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) today, May 20, 2013. We’ll post the one (1) lucky random winner here Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Don’t forget to check back to see if you won!

(The winners will be chosen completely at random. Winning is not based on the quality of your response.)

Top 4 Mexican-inspired Recipes

Fix-it and Forget-it — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:02:11 +0000

In the mood for some Mexican-inspired dishes? Try these wonderful slow cooker favorites!

Mexican Casserole

Mexican Chip Dip Ole

Meatless Mexican Lasagna

Roast with Tomatoes, Onion, and Peppers for burritos

We’re Closer Than You Think

Fix-it and Forget-it — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:20:11 +0000

We’re just 3 hours from New York City, 4 hours from Pittsburgh, 1.5 hours from Baltimore, 1.5 hours from Philadelphia and 2.5 hours from Washington, DC. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is a wonderful day trip from many big cities! If you are looking to find some excellent food, wanting to see the serene countryside or just need to “get away from it all,” Lancaster is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Sunday Muffins

Fix-it and Forget-it — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:04:16 +0000

What’s your least favorite time of the week to cook?

For me? Sunday after 4:00. I’m trying to wind down so I’m ready for the week, not start something. I’m trying to chase every last dirty fork and glass into the dishwasher and not mess stuff up again.

But then people get hungry. And they look at me. (You all know I’m not persecuted, but I am the main cook in our household. It’s part of the pact Merle and I worked out together a long time ago when he volunteered to clean!)

So late one Sunday afternoon, I hit on the idea of making muffins. We’d had a big main meal mid-day, so nobody needed a lot of food. Muffins are quick to mix up. You can make them with tons of variations. And muffins are somewhere between dessert and bread, so they’re a little special.

Then I added one more thing to those warm, fresh-from-the-oven little delights. I told our girls, who were pretty young when we started this routine, that they could eat anything they wanted alongside the muffins. I was usually pretty tough on snacks and desserts, so they could hardly believe my suggestion!

This made for blissful Sunday evenings from then on. They were doing a little rule-breaking, and I got to extend my relaxed-Sunday mood a bit longer.

Here’s a springtime muffin recipe that I love. Ever since I was a little kid, I haven’t been able to get enough fresh strawberries. Try these on your family Sunday afternoons. Or anytime, really.

Print Recipe

Strawberry Muffins
from Fix-It and Enjoy-It Potluck Heaven

Makes 12-14 muffins

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Standing Time: 30 minutes
Baking Time: 10-12 minutes

1½ cups mashed fresh strawberries
¾ cup sugar, divided
1¾ cups flour
¼ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
half stick (4 Tbsp.) butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine strawberries and ¼ cup sugar. Set aside for 30 minutes. Drain strawberries, reserving liquid.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, nutmeg, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In yet another bowl, mix together eggs, melted butter, vanilla, ½ cup sugar, and juice from berries.
4. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.
5. Fold in berries.
6. Spoon batter into greased muffin tins.
7. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in centers of muffins comes out clean.

Flowers

Fix-it and Forget-it — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:18:45 +0000

May is THE month for flowers. With all the April rain, the grass is green and lush and the flowers are blooming in full force with their vibrant color. Beautiful! Isn’t spring wonderful?

Learning to Like Asparagus

Fix-it and Forget-it — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:30:35 +0000

Rebecca is my daughter. She’s a very good cook. While I couldn’t get her to chop an onion when she was growing up, she’s become a cook who tries everything now—successfully. She also is the Manager of The Good Cooking Store in our little Lancaster County town of Intercourse, PA. She taught Language Arts to middle-schoolers for 7 years. Now we benefit from all of her energy and good ideas. Don’t miss what she has to say!

When I was little, I used to take any green food that was placed in front of me on my high chair and drop it piece by piece on the floor. It took me a little while to learn to like veggies.

As I was growing up, my dad’s favorite vegetable was asparagus. My mom prepared it by steaming it. Then she added a bit of hot milk, scattered toasted bread cubes over the asparagus, and drizzled everything with brown butter. I was never a fan of it. In fact, I’m pretty sure I called it something offensive like, “asparagus with soggy bread.”

When I outgrew my high chair, I was taught to take no thank-you helpings. This meant I had to try a little bit of everything that was served at the table, even if it didn’t tempt me. This tactic worked, and I was introduced to foods I’m sure I wouldn’t have tried. I actually learned to like a whole range of foods, including most vegetables. But I still was not a fan of asparagus.

In more recent years, I have learned to like asparagus. My favorite way to have it prepared is roasted. I love roasting vegetables, first because it’s the easiest way to prepare them, and it’s very forgiving. I think roasting enhances flavors of some veggies that people are wary of like asparagus, and even Brussels sprouts. Roasting almost caramelizes the veggies and creates a great nutty flavor.

If you wouldn’t mind becoming a fan of asparagus, or you’re looking for an easy go-along to your spring slow-cooker dinner, give the following recipe a try:

Print Recipe

Roasted Asparagus

Fix-It and Forget-It Vegetarian Cookbook – p. 169

Makes 3-4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 10 minutes
1 lb. fresh asparagus
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. sesame oil
? tsp. salt
? tsp. black pepper
1-2 Tbsp. sesame seeds

1. Trim any tough, woody stems from asparagus. Place asparagus on an ungreased large baking sheet.

2. Combine the olive oil and sesame oil in a small bowl. Spoon mixture over asparagus. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss asparagus to coat and arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet.

3. Roast at 400° until tender, about 10 minutes. Turn the baking sheet front to back and end to end halfway through roasting.

4. Meanwhile, toast the sesame seeds in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly until golden, 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle seeds over roasted asparagus. Serve immediately.

Tip: For extra flavor, add 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar to olive and sesame oil in Step 2 before roasting.

Winner! – May 8th, 2013

Fix-it and Forget-it — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:49:59 +0000

Yesterday we posted a giveaway for this gorgeous Hamilton Beach 5.5 qt. stovetop slow cooker and the Fix-It and Forget-It Pink Cookbook.

We asked,

“What meal or recipe reminds you most of your mom? Why?

You responded with tons of great recipes and memories, but our lucky random winner is…

#198 Joyce, who responded, “Chicken, dressing, gravy after church!”

Thanks to all who responded, and congratulations to Joyce! We know you’ll love your new slow cooker and cookbook.

Please contact prizes@fix-itandforget-it.com to claim your prize.

“Mother’s Day Giveaway” – Hamilton Beach 5.5-qt. Stovetop Slow Cooker

Fix-it and Forget-it — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:28:22 +0000

Sunday is Mother’s Day, and what better way to honor all of those special women in our lives than with a slow cooker? We’re giving away a Hamilton Beach 5.5-qt. Stovetop Slow Cooker along with a copy of the Fix-It and Forget-It PINK Cookbook.

What mom wouldn’t love a beautiful, brand-new slow cooker as well as a slow-cooker cookbook full of lots of recipes for delicious and fast meals for your family?

We love the Hamilton Beach 5½-Quart Slow Cooker because its removable stainless steel crock is stovetop-safe. That means you can brown meat or onions and garlic in this crock right on the stovetop and then place the crock straight into the slow cooker! The fewer dishes your mom needs to wash the better!

This lovely slow cooker also has a stainless steel exterior, a glass lid, and a warm setting that keeps food nice and hot without overcooking it.

(Hamilton Beach doesn’t know that we’re giving away this slow cooker.)

TO ENTER

To enter our slow-cooker giveaway, just answer the following question in the Comments section of this blog:

What meal or recipe reminds you most of your mom? Why?

Scroll down to the very bottom of the page, type your answer into the Comments section, and you’re entered to win! (Or if you don’t have something to share, just say “Hi.” That’s fine, too.)

THE RULES

Just one entry per person. If you would like to respond to another entry, don’t worry; duplicate comments will be weeded out so everyone has an equal chance to win.

No entries after 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) today, May 7, 2013. We’ll post the one (1) lucky random winner here Wednesday, May 8, 2013. Don’t forget to check back to see if you won!

(The winners will be chosen completely at random. Winning is not based on the quality of your response.)

Top 4 Dessert Recipes

Fix-it and Forget-it — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:02:44 +0000

Why not have your dessert before supper as an appetizer? Check out the four most popular dessert recipes on our blog.

A Proper Hot Fudge

Applesauce Cake

Pumpkin Pie Dessert

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Top 4 Cobbler Recipes

Fix-it and Forget-it — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:21:21 +0000

Are you the type of person who eats pie but doesn’t eat the crust? If you are, then you may be more of a cobbler person! Check out the four most popular cobbler recipes on our blog.

Breakfast apple cobbler

Black and Blue cobbler

Cherry Cobbler

Peach Cobbler