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Easy Slow Cooking Swiss Steak is a hearty and delicious meal made with simple ingredients. It cooks away while you’re at work, or at court in our case.

*insert personal life information as part of story*

We took Monday off for a court hearing…a good court hearing *crosses fingers*  You see, S is still technically married.  Separated for almost 10 years, but technically still married.  He tried to file once before a few years ago and there were just too many hoops and couldn’t afford a lawyer.  Fast forward to last Christmas where he proposed.

So, now it’s imperative that he get a divorce this time.  I was ON IT!  If they sent a “you didn’t dot this I and cross this T letter” I was ON IT!  I fixed it and sent it back lickity split!  I mean, I REALLY wanted this to go through and since I was the one with the experience, I volunteered to make sure it happened.  There’s a vested interest…

Here’s how Monday played out:
Wake up in the wee hours of the morning because the power went out.  You know how that silence just wakes you up.  It’s weird.
It’s snowing….and sticking and it’s cold.
We have to drop off the payment for the court report BEFORE court.
It’s 7.  We should down our coffee and get moving if we’re going to get all this done in THIS crap weather (cause NO ONE can drive in the snow in this area) and still make it to the courthouse at 10.

Seriously…WHAT ELSE CAN GO WRONG?

I shouldn’t have asked that.  *sigh*

We get everything done and are at the courthouse by 9:30.  The courtroom opens and we all pile in.  Then the bailiff announces, “If you’re not X vs X, then you belong elsewhere.  Please check the monitors as they should update in 5 minutes with your new court room assignments.”  So, we wait…and wait…and wait…and I’m watching dollar signs pass by just PRAYING that we don’t go over an hour and have to shell out another $35 for the reporter.  Yeah…shouldn’t have asked that.   I say, “Seriously?  Can’t someone show up with a piece of paper telling everyone where they’re supposed to be?”  I know it’s a unique concept…paper.

FINALLY!  Gee, we’re right next door!  And we’re like 6th in line.  Tick tock tick tock.  It’s almost our turn and Lord knows why, but this woman, who signed a separation and custody agreement might I add, shows up…to do what I have NO idea.  She can’t afford the lawyer to contest the custody.  She signed the agreement.  What are you doing here?  Hoping the judge would have pity on you?  YOU SIGNED!  Bottom line.  Stop wasting my time… tick tock tick tock.  

Yeah it sounds heartless, but if you can’t afford a lawyer, how are you going to afford to take care of your child?  You can barely walk…  Just sayin.  Just let him live with the parent best suited to care for him.  Sorry that’s NOT you, but sometimes we just do things for the best of others and not be selfish.

Okay…our turn!  YEAH!  And it’s not even 11!  S goes through his statement then asks me my questions.  The judge stops as we’re almost done and says, “How long have you lived together?”  “6 years your honor.” “Then I’m sure you’d know if she had moved in with him.  There is sufficient evidence to grant the divorce.”  Then there was just one clerical thing to take care of and YIPEE!!

Needless to say, it was an exhausting day.  Physically and emotionally.  We were both high strung as soon as our feet hit the floor until we left the court house.  Thankfully, I planned for the EASIEST meal in existence today.  When I made the beef stew, I had taken out too much sirloin.  SOOOOOO, I decided to throw together a Swiss Steak.  And not just ANY Swiss Steak, but seriously the EASIEST Swiss Steak EVAH!

Coat a slow cooker with cooking spray.  Place the meat of the choice (I used a sirloin, but you could use a round steak or even a chuck roast if you wanted).  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon of caraway seed.  Top with a frozen bag of bell pepper mix.  Thinly slice one onion and place on top of the pepper mix.  Top with 2 cans of diced tomatoes, undrained.  That’s it.  5 minutes tops and you have dinner cooking away for you.

No, it doesn’t look pretty.  But trust me it’s tasty.  I cooked ours on high as we were home and I could monitor it was I was finishing up the cupcakes.  If you cook yours on low you will need to set it to high for 30 minutes so that it’s boiling when you put the cornstarch slurry in to thicken the sauce.

Combine 1/2 cup of water with 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons of cornstarch depending on how thick you want the sauce to be.  I made it really thick, so I added 2 tablespoons.  If you want it less, go 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons. Allow it to boil for an additional 10 minutes or until thick.

That’s prettier!  I boiled some No Yolks dumplings to go with the steak.  After draining the noodles, I tossed them with 2 tablespoons of ICBINB and 1 tablespoon of garlic salt.  It’s the perfect base for this vegetable laden Swiss Steak.