Crockpot Beans 'n' Kraut Stew

Some of you have been waiting for this recipe...

WAIT NO MORE!!

Oh I think you're gonna love this dish. 

(even if you're one of those people who thinks they don't like sauerkraut!)

It's very simple to put together and is deliciously wonderful.

A good friend, Joan, brought her crockpot full of this delectable dish to a recent Sunday School Class potluck.

Joan got there late because she had a plumbing problem, Everyone had finished eating, but still they all had to have some of Joan's stew because the first taste testers were raving!

This recipe is very similar to my own Kraut 'n' Beans recipe here at my blog.  This is just a little different with potatoes and pork and beans added. 

And since I had everything on hand, I made it a day later. 

CROCKPOT BEAN N KRAUT STEW

2 cups diced raw potatoes

2# sauerkraut, undrained

1# kielbasa, sliced or diced

1/4 c. water

1 - 15 ozs. can northern beans, slightly drained

1 - 15 ozs. can pork and beans, undrained

2 Tb. brown sugar

(or more if desired)

In 4 or 5 qt. crockpot, layer potatoes, sauerkraut, water, kielbasa, then beans. Sprinkle brown sugar over all.

Cover; cook on high for 3 - 4 hours, or until potatoes are done. Stir a few times during cooking.

DEEEE-LISH-OUS!!

(Trust me on this one Brandie=)

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Octoberfest
Ingredient Spotlight

Meet Penny - Beans & Rice Foodie Friends Friday   Keep Calm & Cook On: Crockpot Recipes Weekend Potluck  Whatcha Crockin Wednesday  Meal Plan Monday

Painting the World PINK for a Day...

My blogging buddy, Lark, of Lark's Country Heart shared this idea with me and I'm 'Paying it Forward'.....

Today is a single day project dedicated to Breast Cancer. A Fun Day Of PINK. A host of bloggers dedicating the day to this cause(ALL PINK ACROSS THE BOARD!)  A day simply dedicated to the cause will totally be more than enough. Every inch adds on to milestones of helping spread awareness and standing to fight for this cause. I know everyone’s knee deep in Halloween projects, but I thought it’ll be fun to switch off a day and see PINK EVERYWHERE!!!

 COME ON GIRLS --- LETS ROCK THIS TOGETHER!!!

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I am proud to be participating in the Part of Being the Best is Doing Good program, helping to spread the word about the Eggland's Best Eggs/Susan G. Komen partnership and “pink ribbon” eggs.

On Friday I went to our local high school (where I graduated...oh what emotions run through me to walk those halls again!) and gave presentations to two high school Home Ec (Healthy Foods) classes.

I shared this info about EBE's...

Eggland's Best Eggs have, when compared to 'ordinary' eggs, 25% less Saturated Fat, 10 times more Vitamin E, and double the amount of Omega 3s (for more related nutrition facts, click here).

And also read facts about Breast Cancer Awareness shared at the Susan G. Komen website.

I did a scrambled egg demonstration and made breakfast quesadillas, with the help of a student in each class.  A simple, but versatile recipe they can make themselves. The kids seemed to love them. I also gave them copies of 3 easy egg recipes to take home. 

I also served them PINK Poke Cake, inspired by Lisa at
Flour Me With Love.

The teens LOVED it!

One gal said it was the best cake she'd ever eaten! =)
That's always nice to hear.
I was thrilled when another said she was going to find my Facebook page & "like" me.  Yahoooie!

Many dressed up for Halloween...the kid in the orange was a 'pumpkin pie'! Clever huh?  It was nice to see him smiling at me during the presentation.

I HAD to take a closeup of the gal with the pink wig...after all, we ARE  "Painting the World PINK" today! She was doing that on Friday.


The kids were pleased with their coupons from Eggland Eggs for a free dozen eggs.  We also had a giveaway in each class - one teen from each group received an EBE apron and whisk, provided by Eggland's Best Eggs. 

THANK YOU EGGLAND'S BEST FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT SUSAN G. KOMEN AND BREAST CANCER AWARENESS!

Spooky Witches Fingers and more Scary Stuff....

Oh how fun to make something 'spooky' to eat & to share...
(and to make me giggle...)

I found this cute recipe idea at allrecipes.com.
They are fairly simple to make and oh-so cute! 

SPOOKY WITCHES FINGERS
 1 c. butter, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 - 2/3 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. whole almonds
1 (.75 ozs) tube red decorating gel

Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease baking sheets.

Remove dough from fridge in small amounts. Using 1 TB. at a time, roll onto a piece of waxed paper, shaping into a thin finger-shaped cookie. Press one almond into one end of each cookie to give appearance of long fingernail. Squeeze cookie near tip and again near the center of each to give the impression of knuckles. You may also cut into the dough with a sharp knife at the same points to help give a more finger-like appearance. Arrange shaped cookies on prepared baking sheets.

 Bake in oven until slightly golden in color, about 20 minutes.

Remove almond from the end of each cookie; squeeze a small amount of red decorating gel into the cavity; replace almond to cause the gel to ooze out around tip of the cookie.
Yield: about 40 fingers
(the recipe called for using 1 heaping TEAspoon of dough.  I found those to be too small for the almonds, so I used a TABLEspoonful instead.





Linked at Farm Girl Friday
Michelle's Tasty Creations Halloween/Fall Party
Full Plate Thursday
Meal Plan Monday

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I just had to share these darling foodie ideas from Mommy's Kitchen.  She has so many of them!  Tina's done much to make things fun and easy this time of year.


Combine butter, sugar, egg, almond and vanilla extracts in a mixing bowl. Beat together with electric mixer; gradually add the flour, baking powder and salt; continue beating until smooth. Cover and refrigerate 20 - 30 minutes.

Halloween Popcorn Mix

Mummy Dogs

Pumpkin-Shaped Sugar Cookies

Trick or Treat Brownie Cupcakes & Nutter Butter Ghosts

Halloween Cookie Bars

ENJOY A FUN AND SAFE WEEKEND!!!

Nutella/PB-Banana-Oatmeal Smoothie

I have thought about this recipe soooooo much since seeing the recipe at Grandma Loy's Kitchen

I woke up thinking about this the day I finally made it for the first time. 

Sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do right? 

In fact, I made it TWICE the first day I tried it!!!

Loy and I crossed paths a few weeks ago and have become good email buds, sharing many things in common. 

She fits into the 'grandma' category with me and hasn't been blogging long.  I think that's just so cool and know her grandkids have to be bustin' their buttons over all she does.

She also has a part time job as a quilter! 

Very talented too!

We share very similar tastes in our kitchens. It's so fun to connect with someone who thinks like you do, isn't it?

I appreciate all the 'DIY' recipes she shares at her blog.  Always GREAT ideas. Check out her recipe for Homemade Cake Mix. Please pay her a visit and show her some love.

This is a recipe I will enjoy again and again.  It's quick, easy and nutritious.

Just in case you're not familiar with Nutella, it is a chocolate-hazelnut spread. The texture is similar to peanut butter, and oh so satisfying!

Enjoying this smoothie is a great way to begin the day or as a pick me up in the afternoon!  Bedtime snack anyone???

I'd read somewhere (sorry - I don't recall what blog?) about blending dry oatmeal into a powder to use in a smoothie.  I really liked that idea, and so that's the only change I made to this delicious treat.

Can't go wrong adding more 'healthy' eh?

(I used MORE nutella the second time around, can you tell?=)

NUTELLA/PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA-OATMEAL SMOOTHIE

1/4 cup oats

2 bananas, sliced and frozen

1/4 cup nutella (or peanut butter)

3/4 cup milk

(I used skim)

Put oats in blender and blend until powder-y. Add remaining ingredients and blend until there are no more chunks of frozen banana. Garnish with fresh banana slices if desired.

Yield: 2 servings

Linked to Made it on Monday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Recipe of the Week
Weekend Potluck
Ingredient Spotlight
 Ingredient Spotlight - Peanut Butter
     Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Smoothies

Pink for the Cure/Eggland Giveaway {Update}

WE HAVE A

#6 comment...Angie said...


I am a "liker" of all your stuff....


Please contact me to confirm your win. Your gift package will be mailed directly to you from Eggland's Best Eggs.

Thank you to each of you who participated!


As most of you are aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I'm honored to team up with Eggland's Best Eggs once again as they raise support to help find a cure.

From now until November 15th, Eggland's Best have turned their egg-y 'birthmark/stamp' into a pink EB and Susan G. Komen Ribbon printed on them as well.

Aren't they are just adorable!

Eggland’s Best will also be pledging $50,000 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which will help expand the foundation’s mission to discover and deliver the cure for breast cancer across the globe.

Right now, in the U.S. there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors! This is a result from early detection and proper treatment! In the past year, with the help of great companies like Eggland's Best, SGK for the Cure has been able to invest $93 million in research, as well as provide more than 600,000 women with free screenings and over 100,000 with treatment assistance.

ISN'T THAT JUST PHENOMENAL!!!!

Read more details at this link....
Eggland's Best goes "Pink" to Fight Breast Cancer

If you want more information or are unsure about the signs of breast cancer, please visit the Susan G. Komen website. You will find answers there for any questions or concerns.

You can raise awareness by buying products, such as these, that contribute to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Eggland has also offered some lovely gifts for one of my lucky readers!

Check out this cool prize package...

The prize pack includes an eco bag, plush egg, spatula and an EB coupon for a free dozen EB eggs.

To enter the giveaway, all you simply do is...("Likes" below)

then leave a comment letting me know what you've done.

(Be sure to include a link or email address so I can contact you if you win)  

"Like" my "Recipes & Recollections" cookbook page at Facebook

    "Like" Eggland's Best Eggs at Facebook

"Like" Susan G. Komen for the Cure at Facebook

~Giveaway open to U. S. Residents Only~

{Must be 18 or older}

Winner will be drawn on Monday, Oct. 24th at 6:00 PM EST

The winner will be notified via email and I will share it on a blog post also.

Thanks for supporting Eggland's Best Eggs and Susan G. Komen in this awesome cause.

Disclosure: Eggland's Best provided me with coupons and is providing a prize pack to one of my readers. Source of information is provided from Eggland's Best & Susan G. Komen for the Cure

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.