The: I'm broke and prefer to smoke but gotta eat on the cheap crock pot thread

I wouldnt go that far haha its good for sure (blackberry was a little better imo) but itailian beef has been a crowd favorite for a while and i dont think it is losing steam

 

I slow cooked some bratwurst today. It's not the same as one boiled in beer then charred on the grill but still good.

I poured a can of Natural Light into the crock pot, a diced onion, a pound of bratwurst. Once it had been cooking for awhile, I added the sauerkraut. Waited a few more hours and it was alright. Buns are expensive so I made an open face sandwich.

 

You could still throw it on the grill to char it up, even though you slow-cooked it.

 

True. But I was lazy.

 

I thawed some leftover Spicy Italian Beef. It sucked! That stuff is outstanding, but apparently doesn't freeze well. Good thing I picked this today:

 

Good to know. Need to make that again, i was making it for a few weekends in a row and got tired of it

 

Couple of days ago noticed the grocery store had baby backs on sale for $6 a rack.



Plan B. I also noticed they had Prime grade top sirloin on sale for $10.99. I'll take 2 pounds please.



Normally use barley for soups with grouse and pheasants, but also like vegetable beef barley soup. Been a long time since had that and had about a cup of pearl barley left so thought I'd use it up. First time using the saute feature of the IP, and like not having to clean another pot or pan.



Turned out perfect.



Ice and snow with 40mph+ winds through 7 PM tomorrow. Comfort food please.

Vegetable beef barley soup

2 pounds prime grade sirloin cubed (or stew meat)
bacon grease
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
Can petite diced tomatoes
6 cups beef base
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup pearl barley
3 sprigs of thyme
2 Bay leaves
3 cups mixed vegetables

Saute meat in bacon grease with cut up onion until brown, add minced garlic when almost done.
Add everything else into pot
Set valve to sealing
Select manual to 18 min. High Pressure cooking
Once done let manual release, or 20 min.

Simple, fast, and very tasty. Of course take the thyme sprigs and bay leaves out when lid is opened.

 

Do you dice or slice any of the bottled veggies or just put them in whole?

This size packet?...

 

Yes, that size packet. Normally the giardinara is already diced small enough.

 

You’re putting kombucha in there too?

 

I was wondering same thing!

Edit: It sounds delicious, though

 

These are what I bought. The giardinara has pretty big cauliflower chunks and I see a couple whole pearl onions in there. Plus the pepperoncinis are whole. Leave all of it as is?

 

Yeah, I wanna get it in crock now for dinner tonight but I want to know if I need to dice all this up first.

 

If I don’t hear back from @Bloodhound or somebody else soon who’s made this, I’ll put them in whole because you’re right, all this seems like it would break down especially when shredding the meat at end. But, worth waiting a few before I commit.

 

Could be interesting flavor added with that haha. Not a fan of that particular kombucha though. Too much carbonation goin on for me if I remember it correctly

 

Last I made it, I diced everything up. Next time I make it I think I'll either leave it whole or cut in to pieces bigger than when I first diced.

 

I've been buying some homebrew kombucha from this tea shop near me. Super asian owner but I'll be damned if its not some great kombucha.

 

I cut up the big chunks. Ima use this next time: https://www.mezzetta.com/our-products/detail/specialty-vegetables

 

Krap. I found the original recipe online, now I know what he’s saying about it already being chopped up. It’s a different blend than what I bought, even says Italian sandwich blend. My Safeway didn’t have that. Not sure if I’m gonna proceed until I find this other blend, it’s a whole different animal...
https://iowagirleats.com/2013/10/23/crock-pot-italian-beef-sandwiches/

 

Yeah, I’m about to drain what I bought, chop, add Italian herb blend, then toss with a little regular olive oil.