Quilt Retreat Recipes

When we get together on a quilt retreat*, there's nothing like a crock pot steaming away in the other room, cooking up something we can nosh whenever it's ready. Here's a recipe that travels well:

Kathie's Krockpot Kassoulet (an American version of French baked beans)

Serves 12

6 cans Navy or Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
water to cover beans in crock pot
4 large carrots, quartered lengthwise and sliced
3 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 t. of each of the following dried herbs: basil, chervil, tarragon, thyme, rosemary
4 large whole cloves garlic, peeled
2 yellow onions, carmelized***
3 lean German sausages, quartered lengthwise and sliced
20 thin slices pepperoni
1/2 c. deli beef, chopped
salt to taste

1. Place beans in the crock pot and pour over them enough water to cover them. Add carrots, celery, herbs, garlic and about 1/3 of the German sausage. Set crock pot to high for 3 hours.

2. When beans are hot and veggies are tender, add all the remaining ingredients, except the onions, and heat through. Taste the broth for salt and adjust seasonings. More herbs will probably not be needed but a teaspoon of crushed fresh garlic might be desirable. Add the carmelized onions just before serving.

Serve with a green salad, fresh veggie relish tray and/or toasted tortillas**

*What IS a 'quilt retreat'?

A quilt retreat happens when 2 or more quilt friends decide to divorce themselves from the world for a few days; gather in a cozy cottage at least 50 miles from home and sew quilts together. We eat, sleep and live quilting......for a while. To find a quilt retreat facility near you, Google 'quilt retreat [your area or state]'.

**Toasted tortillas

12 flour tortillas
1 pkg. shredded Italian blend cheeses (romano, parmesan, etc.)
garlic granules or powder

Place 1 tortilla on a baking sheet and sprinkle with cheeses and garlic. Toast under the broiler until well-browned. Remove and cut with a pizza cutter into wedges. Continue to prepare and toast the tortillas until there is enough for each person to have 3 wedges each. Place the wedges in a napkin-lined basket and serve with soup or any main dish.

***Carmelized Onions

Place 2 roughly chopped onions in an electric frying pan with 3 T. butter on medium heat. Cook until they turn golden, turning them when they are golden. Remove when all the onions are a deep golden brown. Store in a ziplock bag until ready to use.