Healthy Crock Pot Ideas/Recipes

Hey all. I am very busy working two jobs and eat out WAY TOO MUCH. I asked Santa for a crock pot. I must have been a good girl because I got a crock pot and a 16 spice spice rack! :) Now I just need something to cook.

Ps. I don't eat pork. :)

I don't have any recipes off the top of my head, but I use Cookling Light A LOT, and they always have great recipes.  You can either buy their magazine, or buy the annual Cooking Light Cookbook. 

One of the best cookbooks I have ever purchased is called "Fix it and Forget it Lightly". I have yet to make anything we didn't like. I use it all the time. Good luck!

Black Bean & Beef Chili crockpot instructions:  Brown the beef in a saute pan or skillet, then put everything into the crockpot.  Cook on low for 8 hours.

Split Pea Soup with Ham  crockpot instructions - cook on low for 8 to 10 hours

Vegetarian Lentil Soup  Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours

If you love veggies like me, all you have to do is pick some of your favorites like corn, green beans, potatoes, tomatos and such. Add a chopped onion, rosemary, and thyme. Add enough light beef broth to cover the veg and a half-glass of red wine. Cook till the potatoes are done, salt and pepper to taste and it's a killer, simple veggie soup. Oh yes, and if you like kick, add a bit of hot sause or if you like it more sour, add yellow mustard and a bit of cocktail sauce. Sounds strange, I know, but trust me! It's really good.

OMG I so envy you :O spice racks is so cool!

 Anyway, regarding recipe, ever try chinese herbal soup? Not about the benefit per-se, but I really like the taste (if you are more inclined to an herby type of soup). Smells like chinese pharmacy of course (ginseng etc), but it's good. I happen to love that fragrance, may be coz I grew up with it :)

Took a long time to simmer that's why crock pot is perfect. And in the soup, whatever kind of herb or roots you put in, usually we use black or yellow chicken - that is free range chicken that are lean and no hormone added. If you are interested, do some online search or PM me and I will help you find out. I only know the ingredients by looking at them since I can't pronounce the name and the latin name is hard to remember :) 

I do something I call Chicken in the Pot. 

Wash and season with salt and pepper a whole chicken.  Stuff a bunch of parsley and a quartered onion inside.  Put the chicken into the crockpot and add the following

For each person - a whole potato, a carrot cut in 2" pieces, 1/4 of an onion, a stalk of celery, sliced.  Put in a bay leaf and some thyme and sage (poultry seasoning). Add salt and pepper to taste.  I also like to add a dash of cayenne pepper, but that's optional.

Cover with water to 1" over the top of the vegetables. 

Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

Serve the broth as soup after skimming all fat.  Cut up the chicken and arrange on a platter with the vegetables.