What if I promised you an easy and delicious dinner with only dirtying one pot? AND it would be ready when you walked in the door after work and/or picking up the kids! Guess what – it is possible, thanks to a slow cooker! I swear.
You should know that I shied away from using a slow-cooker for so long before I had kids as I strived to be the fancy Le Cordon Bleu chef of my dreams. But let me tell you, the French are the kings and queens of slow cooking (err…braising). Whoop! Life is busy, being a mom is time-consuming, and we are all working hard to feed our kids good, wholesome meals. You are one step away from being Julia Child with a slow cooker.
I use my slow cooker year-round. Dinners made in this method remind me most of fall; of boozy cinnamon apple cider and tailgating delights. I will also let you in on another secret – is to great to use in the summer as well; it doesn’t heat up the kitchen! A win in my opinion. You just can’t go wrong. Heck, you don’t even need to a fancy slow cooker to get the job done; I used to have a timer on mine but dropped the lid in a pregnancy-related clumsy fit and ended up with the basic of all models. It still works well. Additionally, don’t forget that you can purchase crockpot liners at the grocery store to make clean-up simple but again this isn’t necessary.
So without further ado, here are some recipes for you to try. Experiment with what your family will eat or tolerate (in my case for my picky/discerning child) and know that you can slip in secret veggies if necessary. I’d also love to hear your thoughts on these recipes or feel free to add links to more in the comments! Here’s to happy meals, full bellies and relaxed moms.
My Mom’s World Famous Chili Recipe
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 3 cans chili beans
- 2 (12 oz) cans tomato juice
- 1 lb brick of Mannings Chili (in the freezer section at Dillons)
- 4 TBSP Williams Chili Seasoning (or less if you have small, sensitive mouths to feed)
- 1 c. water
Brown hamburger and onion in skillet, drain any fat. Place everything in crockpot. Stir. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. You’ve got chili! Serve with oyster crackers, Fritos, shredded cheese and lots of fresh veggies.
Here are links to my top six tested and family-approved slow cooker recipes:
Martha’s Garlic Chicken & Couscous (Tip: Use chicken broth instead of water to prepare. It instantly gives it more favor!)
Finally, thanks to our French friends, try some coq au vin in your crockpot. This recipe may be a bit more time consuming than others, but trust me, it is worth it. Personally, I dredge the chicken in flour with salt and pepper before browning it in the pan with the bacon grease. Don’t forget to serve it with some French bread and mashed potatoes with loads of butter!
Bon Appetit!
