Crock Pot Cowboy Soup & A Easy Greasy Giveaway

Today I have a recipe and a giveaway for y'all!!! Fall has definitely arrived here in North Texas, but with polar vortex coming through it feels a lot more like winter than fall. I always tell people that Texas has two speeds hot and cold! I hate that we only get a small taste of spring and fall around here.

When the cold rolls in I immediately turn to all my favorite fall comfort foods. Soups and stews are always at the top of my list and are big crowd-pleasers. Today's recipe for Crock Pot Cowboy Soup is a pantry staple soup that calls for basic ingredients that you usually have on hand.  I made this recipe recently when I had the chance to review a new product that I just love.   

Have you heard of Easy - Greasy? Easy Greasy is a kitchen tool that makes draining hot grease a snap. One of the worst things you can do it pour hot grease down your kitchen drain. 

I personally do not do this because I know the damage that can be done. I usually drain any grease I have from cooking into a empty can or jar, but that can be challenging at times.  

When Michelle a mom from Baton Rouge, La and the inventor of Easy-Greasy contacted me I knew this was something I needed.

I don't always have an empty can or jar on hands to drain grease especially if my recipe does not call for a canned or jarred item. I am then left wondering what do with all that grease?  

If I don't have a jar or can on hand I usually make a bowl out of foil and drain the grease into that. Once it hardens then I toss it in the trash. I was glad to see that someone finally invented an easier, safer, and hands free way of disposing unwanted grease.  

When my Easy-Greasy arrived what I noticed first was it's size. The strainer is made to accommodate up to 3 cups of food or meat which is great for me. It comes in three parts, a specially designed no clog strainer bowl, a heat resistant grease catcher container (up to 260°F), and a storage lid if you want to store any grease.  

Easy-Greasy is also dishwasher safe, made in the U.S.A. and BPA free. Since using this product I have found that not only is it great for draining grease, but it's also perfect for defrosting meats, straining and rinsing beans, pasta, fresh fruits, and vegetables. This little strainer has really made things so much easier for me in the kitchen.  

To drain cooked meat place the Easy-Greasy strainer over the heat resistant container, pour in the meat, and then lift up the strainer. Your cooked meat is in the strainer and all the unwanted hot grease is contained in the bowl below. Once the grease is cool dispose into your trash or cover with the easy-greasy lid for grease storage.    

Now your drained meat is recipe ready. Add the meat back to your skillet or a crock pot and continue with your recipe. Easy-Greasy is perfect for making chili, taco's, spaghetti, lasagna or any recipe that calls for ground meat, bacon or sausage.

I cooked my Cowboy Soup in my crock pot, so all I had to do was drain my meat, add the drained meat mixture into my crock pot and pretty much just toss in the rest of the ingredients. The full recipe for this yummy soup is listed below.  

Crock Pot Cowboy Soup
{mommyskitchen.net}

2 - lbs ground beef 
1 - medium onion, chopped
1 - clove garlic, minced 
1 - green bell pepper, chopped
1 - 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 - 10 oz can mild Rotel 
1 - 14.5 oz can corn or 1 - 11 oz can of Mexicorn
1 - 15. 5 oz can chili beans or Ranch style beans
1 3/4 - cups beef stock or water
1 1/2  - teaspoon chili powder
3 - potatoes, peeled and diced
1 - cup uncooked macaroni
salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet saute ground beef for 5 minutes. Add the onions, garlic, green pepper, salt and pepper to taste. 

Saute until the meat is browned and the onion is soft and translucent in color.   

Drain the excess fat (I used my easy greasy), then transfer the meat mixture to a 6 quart crock pot.

Add the remaining ingredients except for the macaroni. Set the crock pot on low and cook for 6-8  hours or cook on high for 3-4 hours.

During the last hour of cooking add the macaroni and cook until macaroni is done. Ladle into bowls and serve with a skillet of cornbread.

servings: 6-8

Easy-Greasy is the perfect kitchen gadget for anyone that likes to cook. Draining unwanted grease has never been easier. The Easy Greasy Strainer is $19.99 plus shipping and handling at the Easy-Greasy website. You can also order it on QVC, Amazon, and on LTD Commodities. 

Would you like to have an Easy-Greasy for yourself? Well today Michelle has graciously offered to give one lucky Mommy's Kitchen Reader the chance to win a Easy- Greasy of their own. See below on how to enter. 

The Winner of the Easy Greasy is Comment #129 Carla Shiver. Thank you to everyone who entered.

How to Enter: 
Just leave a comment on this post telling me what you would use the Easy-Greasy for? 

Bonus Entries: 

For a bonus entry tweet the following: Stop by @mommyskitchen for a chance to win a @Easy_Greasy grease drainer. The new safe way to drain grease.
http://tinyurl.com/nq57v9l. Come back and leave a separate comment telling me you did so.   

Rules & Information: This Giveaway starts today, Thursday November 20th 2014 and ends on Friday November 28th 2014.  I will choose a random winner and notify the winner via email. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or new winner will be chosen. Contest is open to US residents only due to shipping charges. If you leave a anonymous comment please leave your email address so I can contact you in the event that you are the winner. 

For more information visit Easy- Greasy or follow along on Twitter and Facebook!

Disclosure: I was given an Easy-Greasy for the purpose of this review. All comments stated above are my own. Bush's Beans provided me with beans to use in this recipe.