[Moonglo]

Hmm, so my husband and I actually sat out and planned our dinners for the week, so I can start actually having dinner ready when he gets home (or at least attempting to... we'll see how it actually goes!)

I was dusting off some old cookbooks that I've never actually opened but that people have given to me as gifts over the years, and I found a slow cooker recipe book where all of the recipes have five or fewer ingredients. Several of these actually seem pretty reasonable on the carb front. Two that I think we may try this week are:


Zesty Italian Chicken
-2-3 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
-16 oz bottle Italian dressing
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

poor all ingredients into slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or until chicken is tender but not dry. I would probably eat this with a salad or green beans.

Chicken & Rice soup
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups cut-up chicken, cooked
1 1/3 cups chopped celery
1 1/3 cups chopped carrots
1 qt water
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice

poor all ingredients in cooker and cook on low for 4-8 hrs (until veggies are cooked to your liking)

I know the second recipe has carrots and rice in it, but I figure each one of those divided into 8 portions can't be too bad. Since it already has the rice and meat in it, this may very well serve as a whole meal.

Thoughts? I know I really need to make myself learn to enjoy more "grown up" veggies, but I figure this may be a good way to get myself used to eating more veggies that I actually do like before I start throwing in others, if that makes sense.

Another reason these meals both look appealing to me is they seem like they should be relatively cost effective.

If anyone has any other "kid friendly" (also known around our house as "Courtney friendly" ) recipes that work in clow cookers, I'm all ears!

[Moonpie]

years ago, I used my crock pot almost daily, must get it back out. Meats & veg cook well in it, but I never had luck with rice. it turns to mush, so if I were you, I'd omit the rice in the second recipe, & just add it ( the rice) cooked before serving, Hope your meals done out well

[Moonglo]

Thanks Moonpie! I've never been much on cooking, so I never would have known any better than to put the rice in the crock pot. I'll definitely add it after the fact

[mzteacher]

i love slow cookers...it always feels like the cooking fairies have been there while i am at work!!!
susan

[ProudMOM]

One of my family's favorites is Salsa chicken. It is incredibly simple.

I take 4- 6 chicken breasts, trim them, and throw them in the crockpot on low for around 3 hours. I then empty the chicken broth off, let them cool and then shred them. Place the shredded chicken back into the crock pot and add 1/2- 1 jar of salsa. They make great chicken tacos or chicken quesadillas or chicken nachos. Way too easy

[Moonpie]

right now I have a pork tenderloin in mine, & I added an acorn squash, but I wrapped that in foil, I don't like it to cook in the meat fat. I also covered the pork with some garlic cloves & half an onion, & a few baby reds ( potatoes,) for DH ( also wrapped in foil.) I shall leave it cook all day & then have a nice dinner tonight. I may even steal one of the baby reds, if my BG is good
I will probably also steam some greens or brocoli to go with it.

[ramon]

I recommend a good book REAL MEN COOK by K.KOFI MOYO. Mostly 10 min meals like Sour Cream pound cake, Texas corn bread,bar b q pot roast, veggie chili and for thanksgiving left over turkey chili. HMMMM

[Moonpie]

How did it go, Moon glo? I hope they were a hit. Stews are also real easy, just throw in your favorite stew meat, small potatoes ( or cut up larger ones) carrots, onions & any other hard root veg you like. If you want to add peas, add them about 10 or 15 minutes before serving, they don't need to cook all day. I know some folk add a cup of soup mix to it ( like onion soup) but I'm not sure on the carb count, maybe if you can find a jar of lowish carb gravy mix, you could add that, otherwise I normally jsut add some wine or broth for it to cook in, & leave it on all day. Have fun.

[Moonglo]

The italian chicken went really well; I'm so glad you told me to add the rice after the fact, and to not let it sit all day. I haven't done any of the others yet; I'll be sure to let you know when I do.

[Moonpie]

I have been browsing through a slow cooker cook book & thought this one looks good, Chicken & vegetables.

1lb small potatoes,
2 cups ready to eat baby carrots,m
1 cup frozen small onions
6 boneless skinless chicken thighs,
half teaspoon salt & 1/8 of pepper
I 12oz jar chicken gravy
1.5 cups of valley fresh steamers ( peas ) but I think any frozen peas will work

1)spray cp (crock pot) with cooking spray, add all veg except peas. Sprinkle thighs with salt & pepper, place over the veg in the cp. Pour gravy over top.

2)Cover & cook on low for 10 hours.

3)Stir in peas, & cook 15 minutes longer, or until peas are cooked.

serves 6 at 1.5 cups per serving. says 310 calories per serving & 1 starch exchange.

I saw some jars of chicken gravy at Safeway earlier & they didn't seem to have alot of carbs, This is a good time of year to buy stuff like that.

[kmac]

I love cooking in my crock pot. Great idea for a thread! I will def try some of your recipes. It is just after 6 pm now and I am wondering why I didn't start something good off in my slow cooker this morning. Oh well, I guess I'll check out what's in the fridge for today. Maybe scrambled eggs.

I recommend a blog called "AYear of Slow Cooking" I am sure you will find it if you google and I'm not sure if I can post the link. There are many varied slow cooker recipes on that site and I have tried some with good success. Many are very D friendly or can be made so with very little alteration.
I will follow this thread to look for more great slow cooker ideas. It is so nice to come in and smell a home cooked dinner simmering away.

Kathi

[Moonpie]

Originally Posted by Moonpie

I have been browsing through a slow cooker cook book & thought this one looks good, Chicken & vegetables.

1lb small potatoes,
2 cups ready to eat baby carrots,m
1 cup frozen small onions
6 boneless skinless chicken thighs,
half teaspoon salt & 1/8 of pepper
I 12oz jar chicken gravy
1.5 cups of valley fresh steamers ( peas ) but I think any frozen peas will work

1)spray cp (crock pot) with cooking spray, add all veg except peas. Sprinkle thighs with salt & pepper, place over the veg in the cp. Pour gravy over top.

2)Cover & cook on low for 10 hours.

3)Stir in peas, & cook 15 minutes longer, or until peas are cooked.

serves 6 at 1.5 cups per serving. says 310 calories per serving & 1 starch exchange.

I saw some jars of chicken gravy at Safeway earlier & they didn't seem to have alot of carbs, This is a good time of year to buy stuff like that.

I tried to edit the post, but I can;t. I just wanted to add, I think instead of trying to weigh the potatoes, I think I will just take 6 small baby reds, & cut hem in half, that way, each pc of chicken will have one potato to go with it, I am going to make this tomorrow.

[inkvisitor]

Thanks for posting the recipes - I have been meaning to get out the crock pot and those seem really easy and good. I was also given a couple crock pot cookbooks so once I unpack them I'll see if I can dig out some low carb recipes..