[3/14/12] Wednesday Wellness: Slow Cookers

I love my slow cooker.

I use it as often as I can, which is pretty often.

It's so easy. You put the stuff in in the morning, and it's ready for dinner that night.

What could be easier than that?

You can even put the meat in when it's frozen because you forgot to thaw it. Again. (Just add 2 hours to the cooking time).

It's almost magical.

Here are my favorite slow cooker recipe books (these images, as well as the books, can be found at amazon.com):

I also love 101 More Things to Do With a Slow Cooker (image not available)

Busy People's Slow Cooker Cookbook

Here are three of our family's favorite slow cooker recipes (they work just as well with pork loin):

Creamy Black Bean Salsa Chicken (from 101 More Things to do with a Slow Cooker)

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I even use up to 6)

1 c chicken broth

1 c salsa

1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained

1 can (15 oz) corn, drained

1 package taco seasoning

½ c fat free sour cream

1 c grated cheddar cheese

-Place chicken in sprayed slow cooker.  Pour broth, salsa, corn, black beans, and taco seasoning over chicken.  Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours.  Remove chicken and place on serving dish.  Stir sour cream and cheese into sauce in slow cooker, then pour over chicken or use as sauce for rice.  Makes 3-5 servings.  Can serve with warm tortillas and Spanish rice.

All Day Salsa Chicken (from 101 More Things to do with a Slow Cooker)

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I even use up to 6)

1 jar (16 oz) chunky salsa

1 can (10.5 oz) 98% reduce fat cream of chicken soup

-Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.  Place chicken breasts in slow cooker.  In a bowl, combine salsa and soup.  Pour mixture over chicken.  Cover and cook on high heat 3-4 hours, low heat 6-8 hours. 

Chicken and Green Chilies (from 101 More Things to do with a Slow Cooker)

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 ½ cups chopped onion (I even use dehydrated sometimes)

1 can Reduced fat cream of chicken soup

2 cans (4 oz each) chopped green chilies, with liquid

Place chicken in sprayed slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low heat 6-8 hours or on high heat 3-4 hours. Makes 6-8 servings. 

Enjoy!