Good lazy day sauce, add-ins with what’s on hand. Ingredients: 1 Can (15 oz) whole or crushed tomatoes 1 Can (15 oz) tomato sauce 1 Pound ground beef 4 oz mushrooms (sliced) 1 medium yellow onion (diced) 4 cloves garlic (chopped or grated) Salt and Pepper to taste Directions: Add 1 Tablespoon butter, or oil to skillet Brown beef in a large skillet with salt and pepper, set aside Add 1 Tablespoon butter to skillet Add diced onion, cook until translucent and slightly brown Push onions to perimeter of pan Add 1 more Tablespoon of butter to skillet Add sliced mushrooms, and brown on both sides Add garlic, stir in for a minute Set slow cooker to low Add both cans of tomatoes Add beef, onions, garlic and mushrooms Cook for 6-8 hours Hint, if you don’t have 6 hours, cook on high for 1 hour, low for 3+ hours An hour or two before done, taste and add salt/pepper if needed

An easy to prepare, and very flavorful dish. There are a variety of ways to prepare, I consolidated my favorite ideas from a bunch of different recipes. Note, timings are really approximate. You can start this dish in the morning, and cook it for 8 hours if you like, as long as you keep the temp low, and don’t let the sauce turn into paste. Changed a few things up in 2023 to make it easier and or better.

Easy, cheaper than a packet, and you can customize to your own flavor profile… Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon chili powder 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp paprika (smoked if you got ’em) 1 tsp ground black pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp cayenne (or go crazy!) Directions: Combine all ingredients, you’re done!

Original recipe from The Woks of Life You’ll find a couple other recipes for Mapo Tofu here, I really like this version, although I had to modify it to add a smaller amount of hot ingredients at the end, since I’m the only one who eats spicy food. Ingredients: 1/4 cup oil 2 tablespoons chili oil 1 fresh Thai chili pepper, sliced 3 dried red chilies, chopped 1 Tablespoon ground Sichuan peppercorns + some for finishing 3 Tablespoons ginger (grated) 3 Tablespoons garlic (grated) 8 ounces ground pork 2 Tablespoons spicy bean sauce, divided in half 2/3 cup chicken broth (or water) 1 package (16 ounces) tofu (cut into 1 inch cubes).

Original recipe by Katie Lee Biegel Ingredients: One 4- to 5-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup pitted dates, quartered 1/2 cup pitted Cerignola olives, halved 1/4 cup capers with brine 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley 1 tablespoon dried oregano 8 cloves garlic, peeled and finely pureed or grated 2 bay leaves 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 1/2 cup white wine Directions: