Easy! Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs

I halved this recipe.  Original feeds 6.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
• 5 pound bone-in beef short ribs, cut crosswise into 2″ pieces
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves, optional
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, optional
• 2-3 regular-sized carrots {or a heaping handful of babies}, (see notes)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes, if using.
2. Place short ribs into a 6-qt slow cooker. Stir in soy sauce mixture until well combined.
3. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1/4 cup water. Stir in mixture into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
5. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley and sesame seeds, if desired.

*To test for doneness, meat should fall freely off bone.

I didn't think the flavor was very "Asian," so I served my short ribs with mashed red potatoes and carrots.  The last hour of cooking, I chopped the carrots (I used a large handful of baby carrots that I had on hand) and threw them right in the crock with the meat.

*www.damndelicious.net

No Mixer Needed! Easiest Banana Bread EVER.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 very ripe bananas, peeled (I used 3.)
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar (1/2 cup if you like it less sweet, 1 cup if more sweet) (I used a scant 3/4 cup.)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F, and butter a 4x8-inch loaf pan.  (I made mine into muffins.  Makes 12.)

In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until completely smooth. Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.

Mix in the baking soda and salt. Stir in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour.

Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan (or lined muffin pan....about 1/4 cup batter in each cup). Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. (My muffins took 23 minutes.)

Remove from oven and cool completely on a rack. Remove the banana bread (or muffins) from the pan.  (A bread knife helps to make slices that aren't crumbly.)

(Notes: You can add 1 cup of chocolate chips or nuts too!  Add those after the flour and gently stir.) 

*www.simplyrecipes.com

Hands Down, THE BEST Sloppy Joe Recipe. Ever.

Sloppy Joes = so ugly, and frankly, I think they are disgusting; whenever I hear the name, I immediately think of the lunch lady on Billy Madison.  This recipe instantly changed my mind about them.  I made a few modifications for a healthier, sneak-veggies-in version, so refer to my notes for my adapted version.  Yum.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons butter
• ½ cup onion, finely diced (frozen diced for ease)
• 1 red bell pepper (I used half of a red pepper and added one large chopped carrot.)
• 1½ teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground beef (we use 80% lean) (Try turkey for a healthier version.)
• 2½ Tablespoons dark or light brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• ¾ teaspoon Liquid Smoke
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 cup ketchup
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• salt and pepper, to taste
• one heaping handful of spinach, chopped
• buns for serving

Directions:

1. Heat a dutch oven over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, quickly add the onion and stir occasionally until translucent. Add the peppers, (carrots), and garlic and stir occasionally for 1 minute then add the ground beef (or turkey) and break it up with a wooden spoon, stirring it all together. Allow to cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, Liquid Smoke, chili powder, and paprika. Stir for 30 seconds and then add the ketchup and vinegar. Allow to cook for 5 minutes, season to taste, and serve or cook up to 1 hour on low and then serve. The longer it cooks the better the flavor. (With about two minutes left on the clock, I added my chopped spinach, giving it just enough time to wilt.)
3. Scoop onto buns that have been brushed with butter. (I didn't brush buns.)

(This recipe serves 4-6.)

*www.ohsweetbasil.com