Fabulous Fall.
It’s my favorite time of the year. The trees are turning yellow and orange, the days have an autumnal glow, and it’s harvest season. It’s also the start of school, and a myriad of activities that make for busy days and evenings, adding to the daily challenge of getting three healthy meals (and snacks!) together.
What’s the number one thing that would help all of us feed our families?…TIME! Add hours to your day by using a slow cooker to make dinner while you get other things done.
Five ways that using a slow cooker can help you feed your family:
- Save money – it’s almost always less expensive to cook dried beans, and large cuts of meat, than to buy it canned or pre-cooked in the deli.
- Eat healthier – reduce sodium, omit preservatives, and use your favorite ingredients.
- Make ahead – cook your meal the day or morning before, or even further ahead by preparing and freezing.
- Double batch – serve half the batch, and freeze half for a meal later in the month.
- Multi-task – “cook” while you’re asleep or away from the house.
Save Time and Money
Dust off your slow cooker and enjoy meals that can cook overnight or while you are out during the day. Many slow cooker favorites are perfect for the cooler weather. A lot of classic slow cooker meals make use of cheaper cuts of meat that require a long cooking time to get tender. They also usually make large batches, too; you will probably have leftovers that can be eaten later in the week, or frozen. As anyone who has used a slow cooker before knows, it doesn’t always give you a free pass on ingredient preparation — you still have to chop the veggies and sometimes brown the meat — but there is great satisfaction to having a little planning payoff with an entirely cooked meal when you get home and have to feed your family.
Five family favorite dishes to make in a slow cooker:
- Chicken Stock
- Black Beans
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Pot Roast
- Chili – Veggie, Turkey, or Beef
Have a delicious week!
