Split Pea Soup

This recipe is part of my "40 Pounds of Pork Project" because I use the frozen pork broth as the base for the soup. In the winter time I make up the soup in my pressure cooker in the morning and set it on the woodstove all day. Then in the evening I bring it to pressure and release right away. We eat it with cornbread (making extra for breakfast in the morning), and a glass of good beer.

1/4 cup pork fat, skim from top of broth
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced
5 celery ribs, sliced thin
2 16 oz. bags split pead, rinsed
6 cloves garlic, pressed
1 pint pork juice
16 cups water
salt and pepper to taste

Buon Apetito!

Creamy, Fruity Slow Cooker Oatmeal

Slow Cooker Oatmeal, or any slow cooker breakfast, for that matter, has to be one of the homeschooling mother's greatest treasures! We use oats we get from the healthfood store or co-op and which we roll at home (with the great grain mill I got from Tuesday Morning for $35--check Ebay.)

4 servings

2 cups old fashioned oats
5 cups water, or 2 cups milk and 3 cups water, or 5 cups fruit juice, or any combination you prefer
cinnamon (optional)
dried fruits, dates, raisins, cranberries, nuts coconut, etc. (optional)
1/2 cup bran or wheat germ (optional)

Put the oats and the water, along with anything else you want to add to the mix in the crock pot, turn on to low, and go to bed.

In the morning serve it with milk, cream, syrup, more butter, brown sugar, or whatever your family likes.

You can add the fruit in the morning if you like them a little chewier. You can also use canned crushed pineapple and the juice when you mix all the ingredients in the evening. Just dump the can of pineapple into a large measuring bowl (like the glass measuring bowl from Pampered Chef) and add enough water to make 6 cups.