Slowcooking is for Togetherness! Two Fondue recipes for one great night!

Tonight, I couldn't decide whether I wanted to make Butterscotch Fondue, or Chocolate Marshmallow Fondue.  One of my friends suggested making both, and since I have two slowcookers, I am going to take her suggestion and make both for tonight's Family Night.  The Butterscotch Fondue can also be drizzled over some Kettlecorn Popcorn, which is available in microwaveable bags.

Butterscotch Fondue:
In a 2-quart slowcooker:
Ingredients:

1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup milk

And any sort of food you want to dip into the pot, such as: apple wedges, strawberries, cookies, or brownies.


Directions:
stir together the condensed milk, brown sugar, butter, cornsyrup, and vanilla.  Cover and cook on LOW 1-2 hours.  Whisk in 1/4 cup milk until smooth.  Serve immediately after adding the milk.



Chocolate Marshmallow Fondue:
In a 3-4 qt slowcooker
Ingredients:

15 oz milk chocolate candy bar, chopped
1 10-oz package of mini marshmallows (large can be substituted, if desired)
1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream

And whatever you want to dip in the chocolate, such as: graham crackers, large marshmallows, strawberries, etc.

Directions:
Stir all ingredients together in slowcooker, cover and cook on LOW 1-2 hours, stirring once halfway through.  At the end of cooking time, whisk well until smooth and serve immediately.

Tonight, for my family, we are having a "camp-in" in our living room, in which the whole family makes up beds of sleeping bags, blankets and pillows on the living room floor and we enjoy movies, stories, and homemade treats by lanternlight.  Fondue is a great way to make Family Night even easier and more fun!  All you need is a slowcooker (or two), some skewers, and some treats to dip in the pot.  Let Family Night begin!

Tender Flank Steak Without Marinating!

Ok, so let's face it, steak is great, but some steaks are more naturally tender than others.  Flank steak can be downright "chewy" if it isn't tenderized and marinated in advance.  If you're like me, you have a hard time planning tomorrow's menu a day in advance, and more likely than not, the flank steak is still half-frozen in it's packaging.  ...And Marinating?!?!  Uh, whoops....

So, here is a great recipe that doesn't require tenderizing or hours of marinating, because the steak marinates while it cooks!

This recipe is made for two adults and two children to enjoy, but you can add or subtract any amount you want, from any of the ingredients.  One of my favorite things about slowcooking is it's versatility!

In a small or medium slowcooker combine:

2-3 Flank Steaks
1  8oz can unsalted tomato sauce
1  15oz can Pork N' Beans
1/4 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (Spam Alert: I love KC MasterPiece Original)
1/2 medium onion
1/2 tsp salt

Cover and Cook 6-8 hours on Low setting

That's it!  Add your favorite ingredients, or take out any ingredients you don't like.  It's easy, cheap (steak is expensive enough without having to deal with the cost of dressing it up!), and takes about 3 minutes to put together.

About 30-45 minutes before supper, chop up and boil some Yukon Gold Potatoes (again, my favorite!), mash with a dash of milk and butter, and serve alongside steak with a lot of sauce.  Don't forget some peas or a cold fresh salad, and an ice-cold beverage of your choice!  And have your perfect summer steak without the work that usually goes into making the perfect steak!