Bodacious Bread Pudding

I always love Bread Pudding but I never knew how to make it. Today, I decided to take the leap and make one using the slow cooker. It's SO EASY!

6 - 8 slices of bread, cubed
4 eggs
2 cups milk
1/8 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg (or use 1/4 tsp cinnamon if you do not have nutmeg)
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup walnuts (optional; you can use 1/2 cup raisins if you do not have walnuts)

1. Grease the slow cooker with butter. Place the cubed bread. Start the slow cooker on High.
2. Beat the egss and milk. Stir in sugar, butter, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg.
3. Pour over bread.
4. MUST DO: STIR to coat the bread cubes with the liquid goo or those raisins and nuts will just sit on top of the bread.
5. Cover and cook on High for 2 hours.

I eat my bread pudding sans sauce. So, you make the decision if you want to get carried away by topping your bread pudding with the caloric sauce and stay for 2 more hours in the gym. Your choice!

Test Lab: Slow Cooker Lasagna

Slow-cooker lasagna

6 to 8 servings

2-½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup Parmesan cheese

2 cups low-fat ricotta or cottage cheese

1 egg

1 tablespoon dried parsley, optional

2 cloves garlic, minced, optional

5 cups spaghetti meat sauce, store-bought or homemade

12-ounces regular or oven-ready lasagna noodles, uncooked (I used oven-ready.)

• Spray the interior of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

• Combine cheeses, egg, parsley and garlic in a bowl, reserving ½ cup mozzarella for topping.

• Spread about ¾ cup spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange one-quarter of the uncooked noodles over the sauce, breaking them up if necessary to fit better.

• Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture and about 1 cup sauce over noodles. Repeat these layers twice, ending with noodles. Top with remaining sauce.

• Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

• Top with reserved mozzarella, and continue cooking until cheese is melted.

ref: http://www.thestate.com/food/story/695595.html

Pork Loin with Dates

1.89 Western corn-fed boneless pork
Spice melange of Za'atar from Lebanon, roasted garlic, basil and Everyday seasoning
Lea and Perrins sauce
Lemon
Onion, thinly sliced
Red Pepper, sliced
Sillaj dates, about 8 pieces
Dash of Olive oil

1. Coat the onions with the olive oil in the slow cooker. Set the slow cooker on High.
2. Coat the pork with the marinade of L & P sauce and lemon. Allow to sit for 5 - 10 minutes.
3. Rub the Spice Melange.
4. Place the pork in the slow cooker.
5. Add the slice red pepper and sillaj dates.
6. Cook for 2 1/2 hours

Beef Roast with Bacon

1.19 lb of Prime Beef Rib Steak (boneless)
Melange of provence herbs and everyday seasoning
Lemon
Bacon strips
Lea and Perrins sauce
Olive oil
Fresh tomatoes, sliced
Onions, thinly sliced

1. Drizzle olive oil on the slow cooker. Set on High.
2. Coat the onions with olive oil. Layer the tomatoes on top of the onions.
3. Marinade the rib steak with the melange, lemon and L & P sauce
4. Wrap bacon strips around the rib steak
5. Slow cook for 4 hours or until ready

Ms. California '09 Bimbo Bar-be-Q Pork Loin

If the Beauty Pageant sponsors gave Ms. California an advantage, this recipe will definitely make you appealing and popular without having a boob job. Just follow the steps below:

1 3/4 - 2 lbs of pork loin
Everyday seasoning and rosemary herbs
Trader Joe's Organic Steak Sauce
Fresh onions, thinly sliced
olive oil

1. Drizzle the bottom of the slow cooker with a dash of olive oil.
2. Place the fresh onions onthe slow cooker. Set on High.
3. Rub the pork loin roast with the Everyday seasoning and rosemary herbs
4. Coat with Trader Joe's Organic Steak Sauce.
5. Cook for 2 hours.

Carrot Raisin Salad

This is a nice way to introduce yourself to eating vegetables.

1 package of shredded carrots
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 small box of raisins, plumped
3/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1/8 cup honey

crushed walnuts

1. Blend the low-fat mayonnaise and honey
2. Combine the carrots, pineapple and raisins
3. Mix 1 and 2. Keep in refrigerator for 2 hours
4.Serve with a sprinkling of crushed walnuts

Easter Pot Roast

1.5 lbs sirloin (well-marbled)
herb and spice mix for the sirloin - Provence herbs, dutch meat spices and everyday seasoning
Worcestershire sauce
red pepper, sliced
onion, thinly sliced
1 fresh tomato, sliced
1 lb small white potatoes, sliced in quarters
1 lb baby carrots, slice din half
1 chorizo, thinly sliced
1 can of tomato sauce
olive oil

1. Spread the olive oil at the bottom of the slow cooker
2. Make sure the sirloin is coated with the Worcestershire sauce and herb and spice mix
3. Layer the bottom of the slow cooker with onions and the fresh tomato
4. Place the sirloin in the center
5. Shore-up the sirloin with the veggies - red pepper, potatoes and carrots

Set on high for 2.5 hours.