Snuggly Slow Cooker Meals

Well, it looks like things on Saturday are going to get just down right chilly. Some might be sad but I am super excited. I have dusted off my Ugg boots, washed those snuggly throw blankets and have my crockpots standing by to cook!

One of the fams favorite things to eat on a football Saturday or Sunday in soup. There can never be enough so instead of just keeping the stove on all day. Why not the slow cooker? Well this soup is hearty for the boys yet lite enough for me to nibble on all day! What makes the soup so flavorful is the Fast Fixin’ Italian Meatballs. While they slow cook they add a decadent flavor to the soup.

Tuscan Tortellini Meatball Soup

4 cups chicken broth
3 cups water
2 cans fire roasted tomatoes
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
4 celery ribs, chopped
1/2 cup carrots, chopped
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 package Fast Fixin’ Italian Meatballs (frozen section)
1 cup dried tortellini ***

In a slow cooker pour in the chicken broth, water, fire roasted tomatoes, onion, celery, and carrots. Drop the whole sprigs of thyme and rosemary into the bowl. Add the meatballs and cook on HIGH for 4 hours. Add the tortellini once the soup has cooked for 3 hours. Place the lid back on and finish for 1 hour.

After all day of soup I can promise you that everyone will be wanting a treat! Why not bake in your slow cooker? My Mom used to make hot fudge sundae cake every so often as a kid. It was the BEST DAY EVER when that happened. Well, in honor of that happy memory now I make my own version in a slow cooker! If you do not like cherries…then just keep them out. But I think you should at least give it a whirl…too yummy.

Hot Fudge Cherry Cola Cake

1/2 cup coke
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1-1/2 cups Shawnee Mills All-Purpose Flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Braum’s chocolate milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Hot Fudge Topping:

1 1/2 cups coke
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Braum’s Vanilla ice cream

In a small bowl combine the coke and dried cherries. Allow this to set for 20 minutes. Place the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a well greased slow cooker bowl. In a small bowl melt the butter. Then add in the milk, vanilla and the coke/cherry mixture. Pour the wet mixture into the slow cooker bowl and mix to combine.

To make hot fudge topping:
Place the coke, sugars and chocolate chips into a medium sized bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes and stir. Pour over the top of the cake mix. Place the slow cooker lid on and cook on HIGH for 2-21/2 hours. Serve with vanilla ice cream.