Crockpot Beef Roast

3-4 lb. beef roast
1 1/2 pounds baby carrots
7 potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 package onion soup mix
3 cans swanson chicken or beef broth

Prepare beef by removing most visible fat from exterior. Place vegetables in the bottom of crockpot, add beef. Salt and pepper the top of roast and sprinke on the onion soup mix. Pour broth around roast. Cook for 6 hours on High. (I turn meat over 4 hours in) Remove vegetables and meat, slice and serve with creamy horseradish. I also make a gravy out of the left over sauce by simply pouring into fry pan whisking in wondra flour bring to a boil until it thickens.

Italian Vegetable Soup

1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 (19 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups water
5 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 cups chopped cabbage
1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn
1 (15 ounce) can green beans
1 cup macaroni

Place ground beef in a large soup pot. Cook over medium heat until evenly browned. Drain excess fat. Stir in onion, celery, carrots, garlic, chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, water and bouillon. Season with parsley, oregano and basil. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in cabbage, corn, green beans and pasta. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer until vegetables are tender and pasta is al dente. Add more water if needed.

Popcorn Balls

A little more than 3/4 cup unpopped kernels (you want an over flowing 2 gallons popped)
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. light corn syrup
2 tsp. cold water
2 c. confectioners sugar
1 c. mini marshmallows
1/4 c. margarine
2 tsp. vanilla

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the corn syrup, salt, margarine, cold water, confectioners' sugar and marshmallows. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil, boil rapidly for 1 minute (no more). Add vanilla at the end. place about 1 gallon popcorn in a very large bowl, Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn, stirring with a wooden spoon, continue adding the other gallon of popcorn coating each kernel. Lay out some sheets of waxed paper... Spray hands with Pam and quickly make 14-18 piles of popcorn on the waxed paper (for me it's both hands cupped of popcorn each) the piles will be loose at first, as soon as you have your 14-18 piles go back and reshape into tight balls. Wrap with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
Makes 14- 18 balls

Worlds Quickest Chocolate Cake

This is a recipe for when you need a late night sugar buzz! This is for 1-2 people.

1 large coffee mug
4 Tbls flour
4 Tbls sugar
2 Tbls cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbls milk
3 Tbls oil
splash of vanilla
3 Tbls chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients in mug, add egg and stir thoroughly. Mix in milk, oil and vanilla, mix well, but don't over mix cause your cake will turn out rubbery. Stir in chocolate chips, cook in MICROWAVE for 2 1/2 minutes. The cake will rise up over the top of the cup, but won't overflow. Allow to cool for a couple minutes, slide knife around edge, Dump out onto plate, cut in half sprinkle with powdered sugar and share with a friend. Serve with ice-cream for added yumminess.