Italian Meatballs, Hot Choclate & Hash Brown Casserole {GP Slow Cooking All Year Round}

It's that time again for another Goosey Review & Giveaway. I'm excited to announce that I will continue as one of Gooseberry Patches Early Bird Reviewers for 2013! The Gooseberry Patch Cookbook series truly is one of my favorite cookbook series. All of their recipes are tried and true from real home cooks like you and me. 

My first review book for 2013 was a much needed one. Gooseberry Patches Slow Cooking All Year Round. The title says it all. I own 4 slow cookers in various sizes, and I can honestly say I use each and every one of them. I do find myself using my slow cooker more in the winter and summer months. I need to start using it all the time, because it really does makes my life easier.

My slow cooker gets a huge workout in the summer, because I can still enjoy all my favorite comfort foods without heating up the entire house. In the winter it runs non stop with soup, stews and chowders. This year I have vowed to use my crock pots year round. 

So, when I say this cookbook came at a perfect time you can see why. This yummy cookbook is broken down into seasons, so if you're a seasonal cook your going to ♥ this. 

• Warming Winter Dishes
• Simple Speedy Springtime
• Slow & Easy Summer
• Hearty Harvest Favorites

Slow Cooking All Year Round is packed with over 225 no fuss recipes specially tailored for your slow cooker. A few Winter Favorites are Moms Holiday Ham, Hot Lemonade, Four Cheese Lasagna, Winter Night Chowder and a Ooey-Gooey Chocolate Cake. 

The Springtime chapter features St. Patricks Day & Easter Recipes. Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, Reuben Bake, Slow Cooker Iris Stew and more.

Slow and Easy Summers has barbecue favorites like Chuck Wagon Beans and BBQ Beef Sandwiches. I don't want to forget all the summer cobblers, Berry Cobbler, Peach Cobbler and even a Breakfast Cobbler.

Last but not least is a sampling from Hearty Harvest Favorites. They have a Hot Turkey & Stuffing Sandwich I can't wait to try. As well as Caramel Apple Cider, Slow Cooker Spanish Rice and a Slow Cooker Turkey Breast recipe.

The first recipe that I chose to make was out of Warming Winter Dishes. I needed a quick meal and  Grammam Phyllis's Italian Meatballs did not disappoint. 

This recipe is a basic meatball recipe that utilizes store bought spaghetti  sauce. I have never made meatballs in a crock pot, so this was a first for me. Carson is my big meatball lover, so he approved this recipe with a thumbs up.

Crock Pot Hot Chocolate was the next recipe on the list. Our weather lately has been crazy to say the least. One day it's warm and the next we get snow. All I can say is that's  how we roll in Texas.

Last weeks we were blessed with several inches of rain, so it was really cold and yucky outside. While the kids were at school I prepared this rich and yummy hot chocolate. It was a nice surprise and after school snack. It only took 2 hours to cook and then I just kept it on the warm setting. 

 While I was thumbing through the cookbook I got a nice surprise. My recipe for Slow Cooker Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole was among one of the recipes. It was such a unexpected treat. This Hash Brown Casserole graces my dinner menu quite often. Originally this was a oven recipe, but I converted to a slow cooker recipe as a time and space saver during the holidays. 

 Since cooking this in the Slow Cooker I haven't prepared it any other way. This dish pairs perfectly with ham, pork chops or smoked sausage. It's also great with leftover ham added to make a cheesy hash brown casserole with ham. Review Recipes are listed at the end of this post.

This new cookbook is a great addition to my gooseberry collection. Since doing this review I have already made four recipes with a few others waiting on my list. 

Would you like to get your hands on a free copy of Slow Cooking All Year Round? Well you can, because the wonderful folks at Gooseberry Patch have hooked me up with an additional copy to share with one of my readers!

How to Enter This Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. The winner is Jen Gerwig-Dively.

Mandatory Entry:
Leave a comment on this post telling me what you're favorite crock pot meal is? For me it's a roast every time.

Additional Entries: (Not Mandatory)
You can do any or all of the following to earn extra entries. Please leave a separate comment for each one.

1. Become a Fan of Gooseberry Patch on Face book. When you have done that, return to this post and leave a separate comment letting me know.
2. Join Gooseberry Patch "Circle of Friends" so you can stay Gooseberry Patch updated.
3. Become a fan of Mommy's Kitchen on Face book. (If you're already a fan that counts too)
4. Mention this giveaway on your face book page. Come back and leave a comment telling me so.
5. Tweet the following for another entry: Win a copy of @gooseberrypatch "Slow Cooking All Year Round" http://tinyurl.com/ahz455g @mommyskitchen #giveaway

Last day to enter this giveaway will be at midnight (CST) on February 7th, 2013. I will pick a random winner using random.org and announce the winner on February 8th, 2013 

If you can't wait I wanted to let everyone know that Barnes and Nobles has it priced at $10.45 and you can also grab one from Amazon.com for $11.20. Both are awesome prices.

 

Disclosure: Contest open to U.S & Canadian Residents only due to shipping charges. If you leave an anonymous comment please include your email address. This way I can contact you in the event that you're a winner. Winner will have 48 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen. I would like to thank Gooseberry Patch for sponsoring this review and providing an additional copy of "Slow Cooking All Year Round" to use in a reader giveaway.

Grammam Phyllis's Italian Meatballs

1 1/2 pounds ground beef or half ground turkey

1/2 - cup Italian bread crumbs

1 - tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

2 - eggs, beaten

2 - 26 oz jars spaghetti sauce

1 - 16 oz package spaghetti noodles

In a large bowl combine beef, bread crumbs, cheese and eggs; mix well. Form beef mixture into one inch meatballs. Place meatballs into slow cooker and cook on high for one hour. Drain any grease. Add the spaghetti sauce and cook on low for 4 - 5  hours. About 15 minutes before serving  prepare spaghetti noodles according to package directions. ladle sauce and meatballs over cooked spaghetti. Yields 6-8 servings. 

Best Ever Hot Chocolate

1 1/2 cups whipping cream or half & half

1 - 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

2 - cups milk chocolate chips

6 - cups milk

1 - teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Ladle into mugs and serve warm. Yields 8-10 servings

Slow Cooker Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

1 - 26 - 32 ounce bag frozen hash browns
1 - 8 oz container sour cream
1 - 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
1/4 - cup onion, chopped fine
1 1/2 - cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 - cup butter, melted
salt and pepper, to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon each)

In a large bowl add the hash browns thawed or frozen, sour cream, soup, onion, shredded cheese and melted butter.

Mix to combine. Spoon hash brown mixture in a 4 quart slow cooker that has been sprayed with non stick spray.

Sprinkle salt and pepper on top cover, and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until done. The casserole should be crispy on the sides and bubbly throughout. Yields 8 Servings.