The weather is getting cooler now as fall approaches, and schedules are super busy, making it an ideal time for simple, frugal and comforting slow cooker meals!
I use my slow cooker all year round. It saves us money and time and is always so inviting to come home to the aroma of a warm meal ready to eat. But at this time of year, like me you are probably looking for more recipes to use in your slow cooker that are simple yet flavorful!
Red Gold is focused on slow cooking this fall, and encouraging families to have a hot meal waiting after a busy school/work day. Getting back into the fall schedule is always busy, and slow cookers make mealtimes easier. Plus, in most families there’s usually some delicious leftovers to freeze and reheat on another busy night!
And, did you know that using tomatoes in soups, stews and casseroles may also offer more nutrition? When tomatoes are heated, the antioxidant lycopene (linked to several health benefits) is released.
Red Gold is currently hosting a promotion on its Facebook fan page starting today (Sept 17) during which they will give away two slow cookers a day for three weeks — that’s 44 Crock-Pots! Just go to https://www.facebook.com/RedGold to fill out an entry form.
Red Gold sent me a slow cooker kit with the following: 2 cans crushed tomatoes, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can diced w/ green chiles, 1 diced with lime juice and cilantro and 1 diced with garlic and olive oil, plus a Red Gold apron, wooden spoon and recipes.
The yummy, hearty recipes include Pulled Pork Sliders, Rustic Italian Chicken, Sausage & Sweet Potato Chili and Slow Cooker Spicy Mac & Cheese, and they’re all available on the Red Gold website here.
Here’s the Slow Cooker Spicy Macaroni & Cheese recipe (note – to make it non-spicy, substitute cans of Diced Tomatoes for the Diced Tomatoes w/Green Chiles):
Slow Cooker Spicy Macaroni & Cheese
Servings: 8 | Preparation Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 240 minutes
- 2 cups pasta of choice, uncooked
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 ounces processed American cheese, cut into cubes
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup low fat milk
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can Red Gold® Petite Diced Tomatoes With Green Chiles, drained or 2 (10 ounce) cans Red Gold® Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles , drained
Place the uncooked pasta in the bottom of a 3.5-qt. crock pot that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Add the remaining ingredients, except RED GOLD® PETITE DICED TOMATOES with GREEN CHILES, to the slow cooker and stir until well combined. Cook on LOW for 4 hours.
Just before serving add RED GOLD® PETITE DICED TOMATOES with GREEN CHILES; stir to combine.
Remember to go to https://www.facebook.com/RedGold to enter the 2-a-day crock-pot giveaway!!!!
(Disclosure: Red Gold sent me a complimentary Red Gold slow cooker kit in exchange for this post. No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% mine.)