slow cooker recipe – Thoughts Along Life's Highway

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This week we start dance classes, added to the first full week of school for the girls. Should be a busy week for us. That’s why I got my meal plan ready early in the weekend and went shopping. Hopefully, there won’t be any last-minute dashes to the store for things we forgot or stops for takeout dinners. I’m going to get us back into our routines (if it kills me!) this week for sure.

I’m breaking out the crock pots and making sure we have healthy meals in spite of our busy schedules!

Sunday, we “baked” two chickens in the crock pot while we were at church. If you’ve not tried my Crock Pot Rotisserie Chicken, I highly recommend it for busy weeknight dinners (or having dinner ready when you arrive home after church on Sunday!)

One of the chickens was our Sunday dinner and the second one was deboned and will become chicken salad for sandwiches (in pita pockets) this week. If there is any extra, I’ll use it to make salads with chicken on them (as opposed to chicken salad – hee hee) and maybe do that for lunch one day, too. I whipped up some cole slaw for SuperMan to have with his chicken salad sandwiches at lunch, too, and he has requested a second round of a pasta salad I made last week that I’ll share the recipe for soon.

I also made a trip to my favorite meat market/butcher and stocked up on some yummies to cook this week.

So, here is our plan for the week:

Monday: grilled steaks (that were planned for Saturday but didn’t get cooked) with grilled veggies & potatoes
Tuesday: Slow-cooked pork loin with sticky rice
Wednesday: Grilled Pork Chops with cous cous & a salad
Thursday: BBQ sandwiches (from the leftover pork) & homemade fries
Friday: Asian Flank Steak with stir fry
(that was planned for last week, but I ended up making Chicken & Dumplings instead because Little Bit wasn’t feeling well)
Saturday: we’ll probably eat out – either Friday or Saturday, so the meals will interchange.

I’ve also made the Amish Breakfast Casserole that I love so much, and I am thinking I’ll make some type of bread (maybe banana?) for the kids for breakfast. Hmm… Maybe I’ll make a banana-chocolate bread…. (the wheels are turnin’)

Well, that’s it from this kitchen. What’ve you got planned in yours?

Hop over to orgjunkie.com for some more great menu ideas!

I am a big fan of soups – especially in the fall and winter.

I love how they make my house smell when I’m cooking them – homey and warm and welcoming.

I love how they feel when they’re in my tummy – warm and filling.

I love how they feed my family healthy things that taste great and fill them up inside.

I love that I can usually get multiple meals out of one preparation… especially if you pair it with some good bread or a salad.

I made this soup the other day with some leftover vegetables. That’s another thing I love about soups- that I can clean out the crisper and makes something good at the same time.

This soup is one of those “clean out the ‘fridge” recipes. So, use your own veggies that you have on hand – don’t think you have to match my recipe exactly.

I let this cook overnight in my crock pot on low and then SuperMan and I have been eating on it for lunch all week.

Clean out the Crisper Soup

2-3 celery stalks, chopped
onion, chopped
~2 tbsp minced garlic (to taste)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 box beef broth
1 beef bullion cube
~1 cup corn kernels
~1 cup butter beans
~1 cup spinach leaves (chopped or julienned)
~1 cup carrots, chopped
1 bell pepper, diced
~1 cup frozen hash brown potatoes
Salt & pepper to taste

Sauté the peppers, onion, celery and garlic in some olive oil until transparent.
In crock pot, combine remaining ingredients, adding sautéed vegetables when they’re done.
Set crock pot on low and cook 6-8 hours.

I also added some leftover roast beef and gravy that was taking up space in my refrigerator.

You can also make this more hearty by adding a cup of barley about an hour before serving, but you may need to add more broth if you do that as the barley will soak up some of the broth as it rehydrates.

I buy Publix’s frozen diced hash brown potatoes. They are great for soups and stews and no potato chopping!

Use whatever veggies you have on hand. I have used squash, zucchini, green beans, peas, etc. before as well.