BEEF STEW WITH BACON (Williams-Sonoma) (Slow Cooker) 4 oz. thick-cut bacon, chopped 3 Tbs. flour 1 tsp. salt, plus more, to taste 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more, to taste 3 lb. boneless beef chuck, trimmed of excess fat and cut into chunks 3/4 lb. fresh cremini mushrooms, halved if large 1/2 lb. baby carrots 1/2 lb. frozen pearl onions 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup dry red wine 1 cup beef broth 2 Tbs. tomato paste 1 Tbs. minced fresh rosemary In a large fry pan over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off the drippings into a small heatproof bowl, leaving about 1 Tbs. drippings in the pan. Set the pan, reserved drippings and bacon aside. In a sealable plastic bag, combine the flour, the 1 tsp. salt and the 1/2 tsp. pepper. Add the beef chunks and shake to coat evenly with the flour mixture. Return the fry pan to medium-high heat. When the drippings are hot, add half of the beef chunks and cook, turning once, until well browned, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker. Repeat with the remaining beef chunks, adding the reserved drippings if needed. Scatter the mushrooms, carrots, onions and garlic on top. Return the pan to medium-high heat and add the wine, broth and tomato paste. Mix well, bring to a boil and deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits on the pan bottom. Pour the contents of the pan over the vegetables and beef. Cover and cook on the high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours or the low-heat setting for 8 to 9 hours. The beef should be very tender. Stir in the reserved bacon and the rosemary. Cook, uncovered, on the high-heat setting for 10 minutes more to thicken the sauce slightly. Season with salt and pepper and serve. Serves 6.

Next Saturday is the start of college football season--woo hoo! I think I will make these and freeze half for another Saturday. I will probably use Havarti instead of Swiss. Harry isn't crazy about it (but he likes gueyere??). HAM AND CHEESE SLIDERS (The Girl Who Ate Everything) 24 good white dinner rolls 24 pieces good honey ham 24 small slices Swiss cheese 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup miracle whip Poppy Seed Sauce: 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds 1 1/2 Tablespoons yellow mustard 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 Tablespoon minced onion 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together. In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. You do not have to use all of the sauce! Just use enough to cover the tops. Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm. Note: Sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge ready to bake.

Luckygardnr, I posted a recipe similar to that earlier this month. Don't they look like you could eat the whole batch in one sitting? This looks like good football treats--why wait for the Kentucky Derby for hot browns? KENTUCKY HOT BROWN BITES (Plain Chicken) Mornay Sauce 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup milk Pinch of freshly ground pepper Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste 1/2 cup coarsely grated Gruy�re or Swiss Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in flour, and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. (Do not let mixture brown.) Add milk, whisking constantly. Bring to a low boil, and cook, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes more. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Remove from heat, and stir in cheese. Allow to cool slightly. Bites 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls 1 cup finely chopped turkey 1 cup mornay sauce 2 slices bacon, chopped 1 tomato, diced 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl combine finely chopped turkey and mornay sauce. Lightly spray a mini muffin pan with non stick cooking spray. Unroll crescent rolls and press dough into one large rectangle. Cut rectangle into 24 squares. Press dough squares into muffin cups and shape up around the edges. Fill each muffin cup with some of the turkey mixture. Top each bite with some diced tomato, bacon and parmesan cheese. Bake 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

ROCKY ROAD CROCK POT CAKE (Bless This Food) 1 (18.25-oz.) package German chocolate cake mix* 1 (3.9-oz.) package chocolate instant pudding mix* 3 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup sour cream 1/3 cup butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 1/4 cups milk, divided 1 (3.4-oz.) package chocolate cook-and-serve pudding mix (or vanilla) 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional) 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels Vanilla ice cream (optional) 1. Beat cake mix, next 5 ingredients, and 1 1/4 cups milk at medium speed with an electric mixer (used my Kitchen Aid) 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Pour batter into a lightly greased 4-qt. slow cooker. 2. Cook remaining 2 cups milk in a heavy nonaluminum saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or just until bubbles appear (do not boil); remove from heat. 3. *Sprinkle cook-and-serve pudding mix over batter. Slowly pour hot milk over pudding. Cover and cook on LOW 3 1/2 hours. 4. (optional if using pecans) Meanwhile, heat pecans in a small nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant. 5. Turn off slow cooker. Sprinkle cake with pecans, marshmallows, and chocolate morsels. Let stand 15 minutes or until marshmallows are slightly melted.