what a crock of... beef!

Didn't think crockpot dinners could be easy, delicious, affordable AND healthy? Well that's a crock pot of beef! If you haven't explored what your Crock-Pot can do for a family meal lately, then you are one of only an estimated 30 percent of people that either don't own one, or you have yet to find a reason to use yours. 

Busy moms, working parents, overwhelmed singles and even college students craving a home-cooked meal have found the benefits of slow cooking using their Crock-Pot. 

Benefits to Using a Slow Cooker or Crock-Pot:
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• Saves Time. Slow cookers allow you to leave food unattended, so you can be cooking dinner while at work or school.

• Enhances Flavor and Softens Meats. Slow cooking can help soften tougher (and often less expensive) cuts of meats.  The result is a robust, tender, delicious, one-pot meal. 
• It’s Good for Novice Cooks.  Using the lower temperatures of a slow cooker lessons the chance of burning foods or scorching them on the bottom.  It also allows you to put all your ingredients together at once, eliminating extra steps, utensils, and dishes. 
• Saves Space. Using a slow cooker relieves the need for an oven and stove-top, which is especially convenient when hosting or cooking a large meal, or helpful to dorm-occupying college students. 
  
• Easy.  Because slow cooker recipes are generally one-dish ideas, it’s an easy way to feed one–or many, with minimal cleanup. 

Even delightfully textured and supple meat like our Steakhouse Elite Kobe-Crafted ground beef can benefit from slow cooking by bringing out the subtle flavors and softer textures of the other ingredients. It's so simple--just add ingredients, set the timer and enjoy a fulfilling, home cooking meal with almost no effort. 

One quick look on Instagram or Pinterest can spark the idea wagon for which Crock-Pot recipe you'd like to give a try, but if you're stumped, try this no-fail Steakhouse Elite Crock-Pot Bolognese and see just how delicious and savory slow cooking can be.

Crockpot Bolognese by Steakhouse Elite

Ingredients:
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2T Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) 1lb Steakhouse Elite Ground Beef 3T Butter
3T Garlic (minced)
1/2C Onion (chopped)
2/3C Celery (chopped)
2/3C Carrot (chopped)
28oz Can of Diced Tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted) 8oz Tomato Paste
Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasoning & Nutmeg (to taste) 1C Cream
1C White Wine
1/4C Parsley (chopped)
1/2C Parmesan (shredded)
Pappardelle Pasta or Spaghetti (or lighten it up with zucchini noodles)

Instructions:

Heat 1T of EVOO in a pan over medium-high heat. Add Steakhouse Elite ground beef and brown. Set aside.

Turn heat on your slow cooker to high and add EVOO and butter. Add garlic, onion, carrots and celery and stir. Add tomatoes, tomato paste and then add the beef. Stir and add your favorite combinations of seasonings (we recommend a heavy dose of salt, pepper, oregano and basil with a touch of red pepper and rosemary). Stir in cream and white wine, parsley (if desired), and parmesan and bring to a boil.

Turn slow cooker temperature to low and simmer for 4 – 8 hours. Serve over Pappardelle Pasta, spaghetti or zucchini noodles.

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