Slow-Cooked Favorites

Readers were quick to enter the Slow-Cooked Favorites contest in the February/March magazine. If your slow cooker sees plenty of service this time of year, you’ll want to try these bonus recipes from fellow readers:

Glazed Kielbasa
You’ll need only three ingredients to prepare this pleasantly sweet treatment for sausage sent in by Jody Sands Taylor of Richmond, Virginia. Serve it as a main dish…or with toothpicks for a hearty appetizer. TIP: "Fat-free or turkey kielbasa can be used instead."

Ham Barbecue
"We have used this recipe countless times for family gatherings and birthday parties," writes Jennifer Middlekauff of New Holland, Pennsylvania. "The sandwiches are so easy to make, and they taste great. I usually double the recipe so I’m sure to have leftovers."

Ranch Beans
This sweet and tangy side dish uses lots of convenient canned goods, so it’s a snap to throw together. "The recipe was sent to me by a friend," says Barbara Gordon of Roswell, Georgia. "It’s nice to serve at a group picnic. This dish can be cooked in the oven instead. Cover and bake in a 350° oven for 40 minutes. Remove cover and cook 10 minutes longer."

Slow Cooker Fajitas
"I love fajitas like they serve in Mexican restaurants, but when I prepared them at home, the meat was always chewy," explains Katie Urso of Seneca, Illinois. "Then I tried this recipe in my slow cooker, and my husband and I savored every last bite. Fresh cilantro gives these fajitas the extra punch that makes them taste truly authentic."

Texas Beef Barbecue
A boneless beef roast simmers for hours in a slightly sweet sauce before it’s shredded and tucked into rolls to make hearty sandwiches. "This is a family favorite," notes Jennifer Bauer of Lansing, Michigan, who shared the recipe.

Tender Chicken Dinner
This all-in-one poultry dinner from Wanda Sanner of Amarillo, Texas provides lots of family-appeal. "It can be put together so fast before you leave for school or work," she says.