Lentil Soup - the easy way

Lentil Soup

Ingredients
1) 2 cups dried lentils - rinsed

2) 8 cups vegetable stock
3) 1 1 lb bag of baby carrots
4) 3 stalks of celery  - chopped
5) 1 tablespoon onion powder
6) 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Directions
Throw everything in the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours!!!

You can also cut up carrots. 

That' it!! Can you believe it? 

Baby Back Ribs in the Crock Pot

Baby Back Ribs in the Crock Pot

Ingredients
1) 8 ounce can tomato paste with no sugar added
2) 1 tablespoon onion powder
3) 1 tablespoon garlic powder
4) 1 tablespoon dried mustard
5) 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
6) 1 tablespoon honey
7) 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
8) 1/2 cup water
9) 2 1/2 pounds baby back ribs


Directions
1) In a mixing bowl, combine tomato paste, onion powder, garlic powder, dried mustard, pepper, honey, cider vinegar and water and mix well.
2) Place ribs in crock pot with the meatier side lining the wall of the pot.
3) Spoon the sauce over the ribs making sure to get some sauce underneath as well.  It's okay if the sauce seems thick.  The juices during cooking with thin it out. 
4) Cook on low for 6 hours

Pepper Steak in the Crock Pot

Pepper Steak - Sounds Fancy :)

Ingredients

1) 1 lb round steak (Beef)
2) 1 green bell pepper
3) 1 red bell pepper
4) 1 onion
5) 1 clove of garlic
6) 6 Tablespoons Bragg's Liquid Aminos or low sodium soy sauce - There is a link to Bragg's through Amazon on the side.
7) 1 Teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1) Slice steak, peppers and onions into strips
2) Quickly brown steak in frying pan over high heat - This step is optional as I don't like using another pan besides my crock pot but it does seal in the flavor.
3) Mince (or press) garlic and place in crock pot
4) Add beef, peppers, onions, Bragg's (or low sodium soy sauce) and black pepper
5) Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
6) Enjoy!

Chicken Noodle Soup in the Crock Pot

DAY 3
Who doesn't love a good chicken noodle soup.  Make this and add a salad on the side and you've got a great healthy meal.  Use leftovers for lunch the next day or freeze them for a future dinner.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients
1) 2 lbs of chicken - this can be any type, white meat, dark meat but it must be skinless and boneless
2) 6 cups chicken broth (low sodium) - extra points if it's homemade or left over from another recipe!
3) 2 stalks of celery
4) 4 carrots
5) 1 small onion
6) 2 cloves of garlic
7) 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley
8) 1/4 teaspoon pepper
9) 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes OPTIONAL
10) 8 ounces whole wheat pasta - small pieces are best or break long spaghetti into pieces

Directions
1) Cut chicken, celery and carrots into 2 inch pieces
2) Dice onion
3) Mince garlic
4) Chop parsley
5)  Place chicken, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, parsley and chicken broth into crock pot.
6) Cook on low for 7 hours
7) Add pasta and continue cooking for 1 hour on low
8) ENJOY

Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps in the Crock Pot

Buffalo chicken is one of my favorite things.  Unfortunately, I like it when it's presented in deep fried, skin on, chicken wing form!  This recipe is not only easy, it is much healthier than my buffalo chicken wing obsession. This will soon be a family favorite - I promise!!

Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients
1) 3 lbs. boneless, skinless, chicken breast
2) 1/2 small onion
3) 1 celery stalk
4) 1 clove garlic
5) 16 ounces chicken broth (low sodium if possible)
6) 1/2 cup cayenne pepper sauce (Something like Frank's - check the ingredients. There should not be sugar in it)
7) lettuce leaves (bibb or iceberg)

Directions
1) Cut celery stalk into 2 inch pieces
2) Dice onion and garlic
3) Place chicken, onions, celery, garlic and broth in crock pot - The broth should cover your chicken.  if it isn't enough, add water until meat is covered. 
4) Cook on low for 7 hours

5) Remove chicken from pot
6) Measure out 1/2 cup of the liquid from the pot and dispose of the rest
7) Shred chicken with two forks

8) Place shredded chicken, broth and hot sauce back in the crock pot.
9) Cook for another 30 minutes on high

10) Fill lettuce leaves with shredded chicken
11) ENJOY!!!!

If you want to get a little fancy, you can add shredded carrots and celery on top of the chicken!!

Pot Roast for the Crock Pot

When I was younger, pot roast was a staple in our house.  We would have it almost every other week.  My grandmother would cook it in the dutch oven and make a really thick gravy for it.  This recipe forgoes the gravy but still brings back such good memories.  Hope you enjoy it!

Pot Roast For the Crock Pot

Ingredients

1) 2- 3 lb chuck roast

2) 5 potatoes if they are small 3 if they are large
3) 4 carrots
4) 1 onion
5) 2 cups beef broth (low sodium if possible)
6) 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
7) 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions
1) Cut potatoes, onions and carrots into 2 inch pieces
2) Place chuck roast in crock pot
3) Cover roast with potatoes, onions and carrots
4) Sprinkle onion and garlic powder over the meat and vegetables

5) Add beef broth
6) Add water until meat is covered in liquid
7) Cook on low for 8 hours

When the pot roast is done, you will have meat that just falls apart. The vegetables will be tasty and cooked to perfection.  If you like more seasoning in your meal, I've also added Italian seasonings, paprika and dry mustard but this simple recipe is delicious as is.  As for the liquid when the pot roast is finished cooking, it certainly does make a good gravy but if you are watching your calories (like I am) you should forgo making a delicious, think  gravy ;) 

Enjoy!!

Crock Pot Whole Chicken

I am so excited to share this first recipe with you.  I remember the first time I did this.  There was no way I thought it would work.  Well, it did and the chicken tasted great.  Recently, I've been getting chicken straight from the farm.  What a difference in taste. If you have a local farmer selling chickens, eggs or anything, that's the way to go! This recipe calls for some vegetables but you can also make it without if you are doing this last minute.  I'll show you how!

Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot

Ingredients
1 4-5 lb whole chicken
2 carrots
2 stalks of celery
garlic powder to taste
onion powder to taste
pepper to taste
paprika to taste and even optional

Directions
1) Peel and cut carrots into 2 inch pieces

2) Cut celery into 2 inch pieces

3) Line the bottom of the crock pot with carrots and celery.

4) Season chicken to taste with garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and paprika.  I go really heavy on the paprika but I know some people don't like it.  Really, any seasonings you want to put on the chicken will work.

5) Place chicken on top of carrots and celery.

6) Cook on low for 8 hours

7) ENJOY!

If you find yourself without carrots and celery don't worry.  All you have to do is make 4 aluminum foil balls and place them on the bottom of the crock pot.  They work the same way the vegetables would've.  Place the chicken on top of the aluminum foil and cook away!