Hearty Black-Eyed Peas!

Black-eyed peas are one vegetable the guys in my house absolutely LOVE, so I gotta make 'em taste great! Here's a good, down-home way to get some veggies in your family's system!

Kyrstie's Black-Eyed Peas

Ingredients:

• 1 pound black-eyed peas
• 4-6 pieces of bacon, chopped, or real bacon bits
• Ham, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 6 cups water
• 6 teaspoons chicken bullion
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning or chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Rinse black-eyed peas, place in a bowl, submerged in water for 8 hours (or overnight).
2. Brown bacon in hot skillet on the stove, followed by ham, and then onion.
3. Add water and chicken bullion to the slow cooker. Season broth with onion powder, garlic powder, garlic salt, Cajun seasoning or chili powder, and ground black pepper. Follow with black-eyed peas, bacon, ham, and onion. 
4. Cook on High for 4 to 6 hours.

French Dip Sandwiches!

The hubby absolutely LOVES Arby's French Dip sandwiches with their Au Jus sauce, so I decided to make them at home, and they came out amazing (if I do say so myself)! Love my crock pot!

French Dip Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 4 pound beef roast (rump, sirloin tip, etc.)
• 1 can beef broth
• 1 can Campbell's condensed French Onion soup
• 1 packet of Au Jus sauce/gravy mix
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• Sliced Provolone or Mozzarella cheese
• 6 French rolls
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

• Add beef broth, French Onion soup, Au Jus mix, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, garlic salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.
• Trim excess fat from the beef roast and add to the slow cooker.
• Cook on High for 6 hours or on Low for 8 hours. 
• Remove roast from slow cooker and slice. 
• Slice French rolls and butter. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes, or until butter is melted and rolls are toasted.
• Assemble sandwiches between sliced rolls with cheese placed on top of the meat. Serve crock pot liquid (your homemade Au Jus sauce) on the side for dipping.