Slow Cooker Roast Beef Sandwiches

In the summer we grill. A lot. Once in a while I like to use my slow cooker, especially on a rainy day when grilling can get wet and soggy. One of my favorite summer recipes for the slow cooker is roast beef sandwiches. I cook the beef in the slow cooker and then shred it at the end of the day for juicy sandwiches with tons of flavor. You just can't go wrong with these roast beef sandwiches!

Roast Beef Sandwiches
beef roast (your preference of cut and size)
1 packet onion gravy mix
1 packet au jus mix
pepper, to taste
1 cup water

Combine everything in a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours. I don't add any salt because I think that the gravy mixes give it enough.

After 4-6 hours, I let the meat sit in the slow cooker on the keep warm setting for several hours before I touch it. After the meat has set in the slow cooker, take it out and shred it. Then put it back in the slow cooker to soak in all the juices for about a half hour to an hour before serving. This step is very important!

Serve on buns with your favorite toppings. The meat will just melt in your mouth and the bun will soak up some of the juice. It's hard to eat just one sandwich!
You can also use the juice in the cooker as an au jus dip if you want to make french dip sandwiches. It has a ton of flavor from the gravy mixes and juices from the meat.

However you like to eat your sandwiches, this is a simple recipe that makes flavorful, juicy meat. Enjoy!

Linking up to Hunk of Meat Mondays!

Ground Pork Burgers

If there is one thing that I make on the grill that is my hubby's favorite, it's these ground pork burgers. With onion and cheese, these burgers satisfy the need for a burger that is a little different!

Ground Pork Burgers
1 pound ground pork
chopped onion
shredded cheese
salt
pepper

Chop the onion. Add it to a bowl with the shredded cheese. The amount you use depends on your taste, although if you use too much it will be hard for the burgers to stay together.

Add the ground pork and the salt and pepper. Don't be afraid to add a little more salt. The salt will help to absorb some of the moisture and help the burgers to bind. I probably add about a teaspoon.

Make as many patties as you wish. I usually make four patties for us.

Grill on a preheated grill until done. They will stick to the grates and make a mess, so it is a good idea to grease them first. Except I usually am too lazy to do that.

Serve with tomato, onion, lettuce, cheese, jalapeno, and any other topping you wish! My hubby prefers mayonnaise. I eat mine chopped up with pork and beans. My daughter eats hers by dipping in ketchup.

Happy grilling!

S'mores Bars

I am definitely a summer gal and I love everything that comes with summer. I especially like summer foods. Nothing beats a juicy burger off the grill with a tall glass of lemonade and fresh sweet corn. I even like cooking hot dogs over the campfire. And I LOVE s'mores over the campfire! I recently found a recipe for s'mores bars on Pinterest that I thought I would try and they were delish! I can now have s'mores year round, even during a blizzard (given I have electricity)! If you like s'mores as much as I do, you need to make these! You can find the original recipe here.

You need:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 king-sized milk chocolate bars (I used 4 regular sized bars because that is what I had)
1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (not melted marshmallows)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Add in the egg and vanilla. Add the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt and mix at a low speed until combined. Divide the dough in half and press one half into the bottom of your pan. I used my handy Baker's Roller. It made it real easy and left a nice ridge on the edge.

Put your chocolate bars on top. The original recipe says that two king size bars will fit about perfectly in the pan. I had regular bars so that is what I used.

Spread the marshmallow cream on top of the chocolate.

Spread the other half of the dough on top. I flattened pieces with my hands and pieced them together to make a top crust. It worked for me best this way.

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Cool before cutting, if you can wait! Don't these just look fabulous?

Linking up my new favorite remind me of summer treat to Made From Scratch Tuesdays with From Mess Hall to Bistro!