Crock Pot Red Beans & Rice

Well hello there. I know it has been a good while since I've updated the blog. You see most of what I have been cooking lately has been so simple that I thought it unblogworthy. But, then thinking about it, I figured that is really one of the purposes of this blog - cooking simple recipes that are good to eat.

So here is what you will need:

• 1 pound dry red beans
• 1 pack of seasoning blend veggies
• 1 pound sliced country sausage
• 1 piece of smoked ham hock
• 6 cups of reduced salt chicken stock

Dump all the contents in the crock pot and cook on high for six hours, then check to see that beans are soft. As it cooks, check your stock to see if you have enough, as the beans will soak up the liquid. It should be enough, but check it just in case.

When done, serve over rice.

Frank's Beef Short Ribs

OK, we are going back to the tagine this week with some awesome short ribs. Pretty simple recipe and it turned out to be great. While you have to deal with the gristle on the bone of the ribs, the meat is very tender and some kind of good. I used a tagine spice blend that is subtle and savory and leaves your lips warm with spice after you've enjoyed the dish. As a side, I did a pack of rice, which I dumped in with the stock and veggies. It was awesome as well, and the fat in the rice and juices coats your mouth like a fine steak will do. It is one of the best things ever.

What you'll need:

A pack of beef short ribs
2 heads of green onions chopped
About a 1.5 cup of carrots
8 Oz pack of shitake mushrooms
Tagine spice blend
And a splash of red wine

Check out the video...

Honeycrisp Hen

Here is a great little dish I cooked up this weekend. It is super simple to do and combines the great flavor of apples and Cornish hen. And not just any apple - the great Honeycrisp apple. I stuffed the bird with apple slices and cooked it in a tagine cooker over a bed of sliced portobello mushrooms. It was one of the best things ever. Check out the prep video below.

Honeycrisp Hen Ready To Serve

Here is a short clip, peering into the tagine cooker as the Cornish hen is cooked and ready. I cooked the bird about 2 hours and 45 minutes on low heat. I served the hen and mushrooms with mashed potatoes. I mixed in a little of the stock from the pan in with the potatoes. OMG, it was great.