Some Different Recipes for Your Slow Cooker or Crockpot: Chowder for Vegetarians and Applesauce

Yes, the crockpots and slowcookers are also for those who don't care for meat. Personally, I eat mostly vegetables because I don't particularly like meat. I grew up with pet animals and never enjoyed eating them. My best friend's family ran a commercial chicken farm. I helped out there, especially after her father's death, and decided I would never eat anything that nasty again! Yes, my dislikes are in my head but so be it! But I know there are many of you out there who don't eat meat for more personal or political reasons. That is your choice and that is fine with me. But I realized almost all my crockpot and slowcooker recipes have meat in them. So in honor of you who don't eat meat, here are a couple of recipes for you. But never fear, meat lovers will enjoy these recipes, too. Just add a sandwich or a chicken breast, etc. and make a meal for all. The Chunky Applesauce is a great and easy way to enjoy apples and by substituting Splenda or other sugar substitutes for the sugar, you can make it a diabetic applesauce. It is also a good way to use up apples if you have too many and they are starting to go soft. And forget buying little jars of baby food applesauce. Your baby will love you for making your own.

BELL PEPPER-CORN CHOWDER
1 cup chopped yellow onion
5 cups frozen whole-kernel corn
2 cans (14-oz each) chicken broth*
1/2 cup water
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 green onions, chopped

Combine all ingredients, except green onions, in a slow cooker or crockpot; stir to blend and cover the pot. Cook on low to medium setting 4 to 6 hours. Before serving sprinkle each bowl with the chopped green onions and a dash of freshly ground black pepper, if desired.

*Vegetable broth may be substituted. I use vegetable broth and frankly, I think it makes a better chowder. The choice is up to you!

CHUNKY APPLESAUCE
10 large apples
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 to 1 cup sugar (depends on natural sweetness of the apples)*

Peel, core, and slice apples. Place the apples into crock pot along with the water, cinnamon, and sugar. Stir gently to combine. Cover the cooker and cook on low overnight or all day (8 to 10) hours. Delicious served warm or can be kept in the refrigerator in a sealed container for around a week.

*Make this a diabetic applesauce by substituting Splenda granular for the sugar. You probably won't need a full cup unless your apples are really tart!

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's slowcooker/crockpot recipes visit her blog at http://grandmasslowcookerrecipes.blogspot.com

For her quick and easy recipes visit her at http://grandmasquickfixrecipes.blogspot.com

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