Ingredients:

1 Cup cooked rice
2 Tablespoons sugar or corn syrup
1/4 Cup raisins
1 teaspoon fat (margarine or butter)
1/4 Cup orange juice
2 Tablespoons chopped nuts or peanuts, if desired

Directions:

Stir cooked rice gently with rest of ingredients in a pan. Cook over medium heat for a few minutes to blend flavors. Serve warm or cold. Sprinkle with chopped nuts (if used).

Makes 2 servings, about 1/2 Cup each

Makes 6 servings

This very easy dish looks and tastes like you worked all day. Regular raisins can be used in place of golden raisins if you prefer. You can also add more cinnamon if you like.

This recipe is from the cookbook, Cooking for Two: Add Candles for a Romantic Meal (Volume 1).

Ingredients:

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and divided
6 slices of white bread cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 C golden raisins
1 C of milk
1 (15 oz.) container ricotta cheese
1 C sour cream
2 eggs
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

Coat a 1 1/2 qt. soufflé dish with 1 tbsp of the melted butter.
Place the bread cubes into the soufflé dish.
Sprinkle the raisins in with the bread.
Pour the milk over the top and stir to coat the bread well.
Stir together the ricotta cheese and sour cream in a mixing bowl.
Add the eggs and mix until the eggs are blended in well.
Sprinkle in the sugar and lemon zest.
Add the extract and mix until all the ingredients are blended together well.
Pour the mixture over the bread and gently stir until combined.
Drizzle the remaining butter of the mixture.
Sprinkle the cinnamon over the top.
Cover the soufflé dish tightly with foil and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Add enough boiling water to the slow cooker to go 1 inch up the side of the soufflé dish.
Lay a dish towel over the top of the slow cooker then place on the lid.
Cook on the high setting for 2 1/2 hours or until the internal temperature on an instant read thermometer reaches 140 degrees.
Remove the soufflé dish from the slow cooker and allow standing 20 minutes before serving.

Makes 6 servings

This very easy dish looks and tastes like you worked all day.  Regular raisins can be used in place of golden raisins if you prefer.  You can also add more cinnamon if you like.

Ingredients:

4 tomatoes, chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 C fresh green beans cut in half
2 small zucchini, cubed
1 yellow summer squash, cubed
4 carrots, sliced thin
2 celery ribs, sliced thin
1 C eggplant, peeled and cubed
1 C fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tbsp garlic and herb seasoning
4 C of vegetable juice

Directions:

Place all the vegetables into a 5 quart crock pot and stir to combine.
Sprinkle the parsley and garlic and herb seasoning over the vegetables.
Pour the vegetable juice into the crock pot and gently stir to combine.
Cover and cook on low 8 hours or until all the vegetables are fork tender.

Makes 12 servings

Tihs is a great way to use up those extra vegetables you have growing in your garden.  You can add any of your favorite vegetables to this recipe or remove any of your less favorites.  You can also add brown beef chunks to this recipe for a hearty dinner soup.

Ingredients:

1 cinnamon stick
2 small apples, peeled and sliced
1/3 C dried cranberries
1/2 C golden raisins
1/2 C dried halved apricots
1 (8 oz.) can pineapple tidbits in its own juice
1/4 C sugar
3/4 C orange juice
1 (21 oz.) can peach pie filling

Directions:

Place the cinnamon stick in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Lay the apple slices into the slow cooker.
Sprinkle in the cranberries, raisins and dried apricots.
Add the pineapple tidbits along with their juice.
Sprinkle the sugar over the top of the fruit.
Pour the orange juice into the slow cooker but do not stir.
Cover and cook on the low setting for 6 hours.
Remove the cinnamon stick and discard.
Gently stir in the pie filling until completely combined.
Cover and cook on low an additional 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Serve by itself or over warm pound cake.

Makes 10 servings

This friut medley tastes great as a side dish or served or pound cake or ice cream as a dessert.  The pie filling helps to thicken this fruit.  Adding the pie filling shortly before serving helps to retain it color and texture.