Beef Stroganoff: Easy and Delicious Slow Cook Recipe

When I was in college I feel in love with this Beef Stroganoff recipe. We had roommate dinners in college, where one roommate would cook dinner for all the rest of the roommates one night a week. When we got home from school dinner was always there. My roommate made this Beef Stroganoff and every so often I would ask her to make it for us because I loved it so much. When we parted ways I made sure to grab the recipe and now I so excited to share it!


This recipe is super easy. Throw the ingredients in the slow cooker, boil the noodles and done!

I like to either grab any kind of beef for this meal. I have made it with several different cuts; stewing beef (pictured here), steak, and a roast. If I use a steak or a roast I throw in the whole thing and then cut the meat right before I serve it. I bought the mushrooms pre-cut to make it that much faster. The only thing I had to really prep was the onions and that was super fast.

BEEF STROGANOFF
Author: Jennifer Crowther
Yield: 12
Prep Time: 15 Min Cook time: 8 Hours

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 5 to 10 fresh mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 slab round steak, cut into pieces (stewing beef makes it easy)
  • 2 to 3 Tablespoons Worcester sauce
  • 4 cans cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • garlic
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup sour cream or cream cheese
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Add all ingredients to a crockpot, except cream.
  2. Mix together and let cook on high 4 hours or low 8 hours.
  3. Add cream just before serving.
  4. Serve on rice or egg noodles.
Here is the finished product, yummy goodness.


I hope you enjoy this recipe as much I do. I brought it to a church function last night where there 20 other crock pot soups and it was almost gone when we left. (Some other soups were still full.) There is just enough for one more serving. Everyone really loved it. I think you will too!




I am sharing this recipe as part of Slow Cooker Spooctacular event hosted by Simple Simon and Company. Check out their tips, other posts and a giveaway to win your own slow cooker. 

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Easy DIY Fruit Bouquet

Have you ever seen a fruit bouquet? I think they are genius. Not only are they beautiful, but they are delicious to eat, and they are healthy! That is three wins.

Earlier this year I made this fruit bouquet for a friend. These can be made for any occasion, birthdays, holidays, thinking of you etc. And they are not that hard to make, the pineapples and melting the chocolate took the longest time. And that was not long at all.

Supplies for a fruit bouquet
  1. Fruit- I used pineapple, green and red grapes, and strawberries.
  2. Cookie cutter
  3. Skewers-I got these at my local grocery store meat department.
  4. Vase
  5. Tissue paper
  6. Foam or pool noodle to go inside
  7. Bow
  8. Simple syrup (water and sugar)
  9. Pastry brush
  10. Cookie sheet-can line with wax paper
Steps to Make a Fruit Bouquet
  1. Prepare the vase by putting the tissue paper in first, then put in the foam. Tie the bow around the vase.
  2. Wash all the fruit.
  3. Make a simple syrup, heat 1 part water with 1 part sugar until sugar is melted.
  4. Melt and temper chocolate using the double broiler method. Ie place a pan of water on the stove. On top of that place a heat resistant bowl. Heat water to a low boil or just below boiling. Melt chocolate in the bowl.
  5. Cut pineapple open. Slice in rectangles. Use the cookie cutter on the slices to make heart shapes or whatever shape is desired.
  6. Dip the strawberries in the chocolate. I did half and half to create a color differential on the arrangement.
  7. Place all fruit on the cookie sheet. Brush with the simple syrup. Let dry for a few minutes
  8. Place all the fruit on the skewers. This will be a little sticky depending on how dry the fruit is. The pineapples are the most tricky. They are slimy and like to fall off.
  9. Stick the skewers in the foam and arrange the fruit randomly.
That is all the steps to make the perfect Fruit Bouquet. Whoever gets it will love it! Let me know if you make one. I would love to see it.


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Magnolia Bakery Devil's Food Cake with the Best Chocolate Frosting

I do not know if you have noticed, but baking is one of my favorite things to do. I made this cake for my husband's birthday a couple weekends ago. This amazing Devil's Food cake is from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook. I love making cakes and desserts from that book. This cake is super delicious and the frosting is TO DIE FOR. Next time I make this I think I will only do half or third it instead though because it makes a lot.



Magnolia Cupcakes Devil's Food Cake with the Best Chocolate Frosting
Author: Jennifer Crowther
Yield: 36
Prep Time: 30 Min Cook time: 30 Min

INGREDIENTS FOR DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE:
  • 1 1⁄2 (3 sticks) cups unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups light brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs (room temperature, separated)
  • 8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 1⁄2 to 2 3⁄4 cups flour
  • 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
INGREDIENTS FOR BUTTERCREAM ICING:
  • 1 1⁄2 cups unsalted butter
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 9 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cup powered sugar
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE:
  1. Grease the pans, add wax paper to bottom. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Separate eggs before they come to room temperature. Leave milk, butter and eggs out for an hour to come to room temperature.
  3. Sift together the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  4. Combine the milk and vanilla.
  5. Using the double boiler method, melt the chocolate. This involves placing a pan of water on the stove and then a heat resistant bowl on top. Place the chocolate in the bowl, stir until melted. IMPORTANT-Do no let any water get in the bowl or the chocolate will seize. Let cool.
  6. Whip butter for 2 minutes in a mixer.
  7. Add sugar and beat for additional 3 minutes or until creamed.
  8. Beat the egg yolks until yellow, add to mixture beating until thoroughly mixed.
  9. Add the cooled chocolate, mix well.
  10. Alternate between adding the milk mixture and the dry mixture 3 times.
  11. Whip the egg whites until fluffy.
  12. Fold in egg whites.
  13. Put batter in pan(s). Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the cake is springy to the touch.
  14. Let cool for 10 minutes in pan on wire racks.
  15. Remove from pans and let it continue to cool
  16. Ice the cake.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE:
  1. Leave the butter, and milk out for at least an hour before making the frosting.
  2. Melt the chocolate using a double broiler method. Boil some water over the counter, place a heat resistant bowl on top. IMPORTANT-Do no let any water get in the bowl or the chocolate will seize.
  3. Let the chocolate cool for 15 minutes.
  4. Beat the butter for 3 minutes, incorporating lots of air.
  5. Add the milk and mix well.
  6. Add the chocolate and beat for 2 minutes.
  7. Add the vanilla extract and beat for 3 minutes.
  8. Add the sugar gradually, beating on low. You may need more, you may need less depending on your desired frosting consistency and temperature of the butter.
  9. Spread on your cupcakes and enjoy!
*I use a Wilton straight spatula

*Sprinkles add a very nice touch

*If you do not have time to let the butter cool down, cut the butter into slices and leave on a plate for 5 minutes. Put the milk in a wide bowl.


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Homemade S'more Cake and Churro S'mores SoBakeable Review




Have you ever had a really good S'more? You know the kind where the chocolate and the marshmallow is melted? We were on vacation in Utah a few weeks ago and had S'mores, but by the time the marshmallow got in the graham cracker, the marshmallow was cold and the chocolate hard. That reminded me why I generally do not eat S'mores. Not that I do not love the ingredients, I do not like the hardness of it all. Well today I just tasted the best S'more I have ever eaten and I want to eat some more. Notice the pun. :) And want to know why? Everything was perfectly melted, the way a S'more should be!

This very yummy post was sponsored by SoBakeable. (I love doing posts like these btw, ones where I get to eat yummy baked items)
What is SoBakeable?
I am so excited to share with you today my review of SoBakeable. They are a San Francisco based company founded by Chloe, who is from Australia and Jocelyn, who is from South Africa. They both moved to the US when their husbands started working here. They spend a lot of time together and really enjoy baking. They decided to start SoBakeable so others could eat the yummy things they made too. They focus on dessert items.

What do They Make?
SoBakeable has kits available on their website for different baked goods. The kits are for beginning to advanced bakers. They even have an app to download for videos and instructions on making their baked goods. Right now their offerings are; S'more Kits, Cookie Cups, Salted Caramel Brownies, Chocolate Lover, Crazy About Coolies, Fresh & Fruity, Fancy Celebration, Vanilla Cupcakes, Sprinkles and Baking Tools. They range in prices from 19.95 to 49.95.

I received the S'mores kit and I can tell you it was delish. The S'mores kit came with instructions for S'more Cake and Churro S'mores.

What's In the Kit?
Each kit comes with all the dry ingredients packaged nicely, a list of wet ingredients to buy, and instructions on how to make the dessert. Here's what came in my kit.

The S'more Cake Kit  came with chocolate chips, sugar, cake mix, crumbs, and meringue mix.
The Churro S'mores Kit came with delicious Smash Mallow Cinnamon Churro, Graham Crackers, and Chocolate Chips.
Baking
I was not too nervous to make the Churro S'mores. They looked pretty easy, melt the chocolate and warm the marshmallows. I was however nervous to make the S'more Cake. I kept putting if off scared I would mess it up. I have never made homemade marshmallow and I was super nervous about browning the top. I thought I would burn it. I decided to finally be brave and went to work. And am so glad I did.

I love to get all the ingredients and tools together before I start so I do not have to look for anything while I am cooking. I love my Breville mixer because it has a scraping mixer attachment so I do not have to scrape the sides.

Here's the finished cake. They even included a liner for the bottom for easy removal. They said to test the cake by toothpick. I did that, but I also like to feel the firmness of the cake. When it is springy everywhere, ie it pushes back up when you press it, it is done.

They had me make a ganache and melt the chocolate in the microwave. I usually use the double boiler method, but the microwave was super easy. I used a Wilton wand to spread the chocolate just like the instructions said.

Here I am starting the homemade marshmallow, so far so good.

And guess what? It turned out! I really surprised myself.  To get the little ridges I spread out the marshmallow and then dipped and raised wherever I wanted a ridge. I could have left it in a little longer, but I was nervous about burning the top. It was hard to tell if it was golden brown in the oven.

And here are the S'mores. They turned out amazing as well.

What did I think?
The food was delicious. The cake was to die for! The sponge was fluffy, the topping was sweet, but not too sweet and the chocolate added a nice layer in between. The S'more was so good. The marshmallows they use for the middle are covered in cinnamon and sugar. Yum!

I was super surprised how well I did. Their instructions helped me develop some more baking skills I did not even know I had. I made homemade marshmallow for goodness sake. I loved that the ingredients were premeasured so I did not have to measure anything. I just opened the bag and threw things in. The cake was super easy to make. I probably made the batter in 6 minutes using my mixer. The only thing I would change is to have more graham crackers. I only got enough for crackers to make three S'mores, but I definitely have enough chocolate and marshmallows to make 14. I will go buy some more graham crackers to finish the S'mores, because they were delicious. Other than that it was an amazing experience baking. I loved everything I made and surprised myself. Hurry to sobakeable.com, enter BAKINGFUN to save $5 dollars, and get baking! You will not regret it.



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French Toast made with Panera Bread


Recently I went to Panera and placed an order for fresh bread for a sponsored post I did on Instagram.  I was given a gift card to purchase the bread. They were out of the bread I ordered online. They gave me Challah bread instead and told me people liked it for French toast. So what did I do? I went home and made some French Toast and let me tell you, it was amazing! Thanks Panera for such a good idea.

French Toast Made with Panera Bread
Author: Jennifer Crowther
Yield: 8
Prep Time: 5 Min Cook time: 6 Minutes 

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 fresh bread loaf, Challah bread from Panera, cut in to 6-8 pieces
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tbs salted butter melted
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbs sugar
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Heat skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes
  2. Beat egg
  3. Whisk in butter, milk and vanilla
  4. Whisk in sugar, flour and salt
  5. Cook on each side until golden brown
  6. Serve with your favorite toppings
*Any bread will do

*I used strawberries, whipped cream and powered sugar for toppings


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Grandma's Sugar Cookie Recipe

Have you ever had an amazing sugar cookie? This recipe by Grandma Rowley's is the best ever. Our whole family makes it. You can find it written on random 4x6 or recipe cards in all our kitchens. It makes soft and fluffy sugar cookies, the best ever. It can be made any time of year. The only change would be the color of sprinkles and frosting to coordinate for each holiday.

Grandma's Sugar Cookie Recipe
Author: Jennifer Crowther
Yield: 24
Prep Time: 10 Min Cook time: 15 Min

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Cream the butter, add the sugar and beat well. Beat in the egg. Add the milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
  2. Chill one hour. Cut out to desired shape on parchment paper.
  3. Bake at 375 degrees.
  4. Cook 10-12 minutes for thick cookie, 7-8 minutes for thin cookies.
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