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Workman's Slow Cooker Roast Recipe

Here's a recipe to try out on a cool day.  Easy to make and tender to eat!

Workman’s Roast
Prep time: 
Cook time: 4-
Total Maximum time: 
Serves: 6-8
You can use any cut of roast that you prefer. I love to serve it with steamed rice or mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. Last time I made it my roast was still quite frozen when I put it in. I was worried, but it still came out great!
Ingredients
  • 4-5 lb Beef Roast
  • 2 10.5 ounce cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 1 pkt Lipton Onion Soup Mix
  • 1½ Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • Dash of garlic powder (about ⅛ tsp)
  • Small squirt of ketchup (optional)
  • Salt and Pepper to taste (I use about ¼ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp pepper)
Instructions
  1. Put everything into the crock pot or if cooking in the oven you need a roasting pan that has an air tight lid.
  2. (I usually mix all the sauce ingredients and then put the roast in it and spoon some of the sauce onto the top of the roast.)
  3. Make sure crock pot lid or roaster lid fits air tight. If it doesn’t put a layer of tinfoil tightly over top and then put lid on.
  4. Set crock pot to low or oven to 250 degrees and cook for at least 8 hours and no more then 10 hours. Or high for 4-5 hours.

It happens every year...

This year is no different....it has snowed.  The ground is slowly being covered and turning white.  Though it takes a little to adjust to the colder temperatures I always find it refreshing when winter finally arrives.  Tobogganing with the kids, building snowmen, drinking hot chocolate and spending lots of time visiting with family and friends.  I know it's not everyone's favorite thing, but I have a hard time thinking there isn't at least something for everyone in winter. Happy Snow days everyone!  Get out there and enjoy what the change of season brings.

Thirsty Thursday - Hot Chocolate!

So fall is here, cold/flu season is upon us and on a cool night one of the best things to enjoy is some hot chocolate with the kids and family. I found this recipe on a blog that I'd like to share with you.  Why? What does hot chocolate have to do with Maximum Training? WELL around here we really do enjoy our coffee and hot warm-up beverages on cool days.  Our team spends lots of time outside with the trucks and students so having something comforting to warm up with is a must around here! http://www.thefarmgirlrecipes.blogspot.ca/2012/12/polar-express-hot-chocolate-aka-best.html?m=1

Polar Express Hot Chocolate!

1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups whipping cream 6 cups milk 2 tsp vanilla Optional: whip cream and marshmallows to top it off

1.  In a large, heavy bottom sauce pan combine sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips over medium heat. Stir constantly until chocolate is completely melted and smooth.  Add whipping cream, milk, and vanilla, whisking mixture together till smooth and completely combined.  Serve warm with whip cream or marshmallows. Enjoy!

Tip: If you are making this for a party the mixture can be put in a large crockpot 3-4 hours before serving time, stirring every hour.

Since after today we're supposed to cool down to temperatures below zero it's a great time to share this recipe so you can try it this weekend!

Friday's Recipe to share with Friends and Family

Canada has had a very sad week this week.  There is talk everywhere about the events in Ottawa and how it has affected our country and everyone living in it.  For me I think all we can do is take the moments to cherish our family and friends.  Things are happening all around us everyday and we are only in control of ourselves.  So take some time this weekend to share memories and moments with family and friends.  Today's recipe is an easy one that pleases even the most critical crowds, what better way to gather those you love together than around the kitchen table to share a meal. Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Ingredients:
4 thick-cut pork chops, bone in or boneless
1 (10.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup (I used 98% fat free)
1 (1 oz) package dry ranch dressing mix
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
pepper to taste

Directions: Combine soup, dressing mix, garlic, and broth.  Sprinkle chops with pepper (do not salt).  Place chops in slow cooker and pour soup mixture over top.  Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low 6-7 hours.  Serve over rice or hot potatoes.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

As I looked outside this morning and saw the windshield of my car completely frosted over, I started to think of cozy winter sweaters, socks, hot chocolate and comfort food.  So I think today is a great day to share a slow cooker beef stew recipe that you could easily make on a cool fall or winter day. Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Beef Roast, cubed
  • 1/2 cup Flour
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Thyme
  • 1 tsp minced Garlic
  • 1 Bay Leaves
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 large Onion, chopped
  • 2 cups Beef Broth
  • 1 lb Potatoes cubed
  • 1 lb Baby Carrots
  • 2 stalks Celery, chopped
  • 2 tbsp Brown Gravy mix
  • 2 cup Water

Instructions

  1. Place meat in slow cooker.
  2. In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper.
  3. Sprinkle flour mixture over the meat and toss to combine until the meat is coated.
  4. Stir in remaining ingredients.
  5. Cover and cook on high for 4 - 6 hours or low for 10 - 12 hours.
  6. Remove bay leaf
  7. Serve and enjoy!
Super simple and very tasty! Give it a try! Have a great weekend.

Fresh Recipe Friday! Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

Happy Thanksgiving weekend everyone! We hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend with family and friends.  And to make that weekend even more enjoyable here's a recipe for you to try out.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

MUFFINS:

  • 1 15 oz can pumpkin
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 (200g) cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

FILLING:

  • 8 ounces (200g) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 5 tablespoons (75g) sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans) (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F (180C) Mix canned pumpkin, oil, and sugar together, either by hand or with a mixer on low. Add in eggs, one at a time, combining thoroughly after each.Add vanilla. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Slowly add flour mixture to liquids, combining thoroughly and scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula until well combined.

Mix together cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla until well combined.

Grease your muffin tins or line with paper cups. Drop in spoonfuls of pumpkin mixture then add smaller spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture on top. Swirl with a skewer.

Bake as follows, turning the tins half way through baking times: Mini muffins: 20-25 min Standard muffins: 25-30 min Jumbo muffins: 30-40 min

These little treats will be perfect for snacks all weekend or for leftover lunches next week! Enjoy!

It's Motivational Monday!

To get your week off to a good start everyone needs a little motivation.  What motivates you to be productive? Do you have a goal for the week? If you woke up this morning and had that moment where you just didn't want to get out of bed and go to work or school, you're not alone! Mark Twain said "The secret of getting ahead is getting started" and this morning when I was dragging my feet I thought of that.  I have goals...small ones, big ones and in-between ones and I'll never accomplish any of them unless I get started.  So get going with your Monday and focus on those goals ahead of you.  There's a whole week full of possibilities!

Chili for those Chilly days ahead

With cooler weather arriving this is a perfect time to share a recipe for some comforting chili! You can make a big batch of this and enjoy it for supper or lunch any day, anywhere. Beef Chili

1 tbsp Olive oil or Canola oil

1-2 lbs Ground Beef

1 medium Onion –diced

2 cloves Fresh Garlic

1 cup Celery- chopped

1 can Mushrooms – or 1 cup fresh chopped

1 can Diced Tomatoes

1 can Tomato sauce

1 can Beans in tomato sauce

1 can Red Kidney Beans

1 tbsp Italian seasoning

1 tbsp Chili Powder

1 tbsp Oregano

1 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Vinegar

1 tsp Sugar

 

Heat oil in skillet. Add beef and onion.  Once meat is fully browned add in garlic, celery and mushrooms. (You can add any additional vegetables you like such as bell peppers too).  Cover and let cook for 5 minutes.  Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and beans.  Stir and cover until it’s lightly bubbling.  Add in all dry seasonings, mix well and then add the vinegar and sugar.

Reduce heat to simmer and cover.  Let it simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Dish up and serve or let cool and place into freezer safe containers to save for later.

For the students out there...

I have been thinking on this fine Friday afternoon about all the things on my to-do list.  It seems there's always something that has to be done and something else waiting next in line.  I think today's

an appropriate time to plan the weekend...plan on sitting back, relaxing and spending some time away from work and school.  Lots of our students come for training and then head to work in the evenings after a busy day with us.  You all deserve a nice quiet weekend!

Friends Helping Friends

Fundraiser For Brian This is our chance to help one of our own.  We are having a steak night fundraiser to show our support for Brian, our lead instructor in Saskatoon.  There will be a supper and live music.  We are reaching out to all our former students, current students, friends and family to join us September 12, 2014.  Call the office today to get your tickets! 306-931-7638

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). It is the 3rd leading cause of death from cancer in men in Canada.

It is estimated that in 2014:
  • 23,600 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. This represents 24% of all new cancer cases in men in 2014.
  • 4,000 men will die from prostate cancer. This represents 10% of all cancer deaths in men in 2014.
  • On average, 65 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every day.
  • On average, 11 Canadian men will die from prostate cancer every day

Fundraiser for Brian

We are throwing a fundraiser in support of Prostate Cancer for one of our team members. Brian Harrison is our lead instructor in Saskatoon and has been a part of the Maximum Training family for 8 years, we really hope to give him some extra support through this fundraising night out! Tickets can be bought by phoning the office: 306-931-7638 $20.00 per Adult 6:00pm - Drinks 7:00pm - Dinner (you have a choice of Steak or Chicken)

To top off the night we'll be enjoying the music of Gong Show band! Gong Show band is a Saskatoon based classic rock and classic country cover band and with over 10 years of experience you're sure to enjoy the show!

We really hope to see you there....and feel free to invite your friends!

Work Hard Play Hard

With only a few weeks left of August it's important to take advantage of every moment we have.  Work hard each day so you have the time to play hard later.  Do you make the most of your off work time? I'm guilty of wasting my free time some days but this morning as I drove to work I couldn't help but think how fast this summer has gone and how it's only a few short weeks until the kids are back in school and extra-curricular activities start up.  So keeping that in mind it's Monday...time to get some work done, be productive! And once that's done and it's time to go home and enjoy the company of family and friends.  Have a great Monday and a great week.  Work hard so you can play hard!

Good Luck!

It's been a busy Monday morning around here and we would like to take a moment to pause and wish our new students well.  Good Luck on the course you're starting this week and we're glad we can be a part of your continuing education! To the rest of the world...take a deep breath this morning, finish your breakfast and smile...this is the beginning of a great week.  Anything is possible and each day is a brand new day with brand new possibilities!