Our "We don't do Valentine's Day Valentine's Day dinner" III.

Sara picked number 2. (Thanks Sara!) The second card is...

"Southwestern Beef Stew" (6 quart pot)

~2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
~1 (16 oz) jar picante sauce (I used hot.)
~2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
~4 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch slices
~1 onion, chopped
~1 t chili powder
~1/4 t salt
~1/4 t ground cumin
~1 T cornstarch
~1/4 c cold water

In a large skillet, brown beef on all sides; drain.
Transfer to crock pot.
Stir in picante sauce, potatoes, carrots, onion, chili powder, salt, and cumin.
Cover and cook on low for 9 hours or until meat and veggies are tender.
In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into stew.
Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes or until gravy if thickened.

7 servings. (Or...4.)

REALLY spicy. And delicious. This will put some spice into your (love) life.

AND because this silly holiday is a good excuse to crock dessert, that's exactly what I did. I crocked the only crockable dessert in the book of recipe cards.

"Slow-Cooked Bread Pudding" (6 quart pot)

~4 whole wheat bagels, split and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
~1 tart apple, peeled and chopped. (I used a red delicious because it was on sale.)
~1/2 c dried cranberries
~1/4 c golden raisins
~2 c milk
~1 c egg substitute (I used 4 eggs instead...because we had them.)
~1/2 c sugar
~2 T butter, melted
~1 t ground cinnamon
~1 t vanilla extract

Coat crock pot with PAM.
Combine bagels, apple, cranberries and raisins in crock pot.
In a large bowl, whisk milk, egg, sugar, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Pour mixture over bagel mixture and stir to combine.
Gently press bagels down into milk mixture.
Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or until knife inserted  near the center comes out clean.

8 servings. (In what universe?)

Mmm...

Happy Thursday!