As the cold weather approaches many of us prefer to have hearty, warm meals on the table. But just because the seasons change, doesn’t mean our lives get less busy. This is where a slow cooker can help. A slow cooker can take the hassle out of making dinner at the end of a long day. Load it up in the morning and you can “set it and forget it”. At the end of the day you can enjoy a home cooked meal with minimal effort. Here are some of my favorite recipes for the season.
Thai Peanut Chicken (makes 4 servings)
– 8 bone-in, chicken thighs, skin removed
– 3/4 cup chunky salsa of your choice
– 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
– 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
– 1 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
– 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp. powdered ginger
– 1/3 cup chopped peanuts
– 3 tbsp. chopped cilantro, optional
– Spray bottom of slow cooker with non-stick spray. Place chicken thighs in the cooker. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, salsa through ginger, leaving peanuts and cilantro off to the side.
– Mix well and then pour over chicken. Cook on low setting for 8 hours.
– When finished, remove chicken from slow cooker and place on a serving plate. Skim fat from sauce in the slow cooker and spoon sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with peanuts and cilantro, if using.
– Serve with cooked brown rice and vegetables of your choice.
Ground TuRkey Chili (makes 6 servings)
– 1 pound ground turkey
– 1 small onion, chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1, 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
– 1, 8 ounce can tomato sauce
– 1, 15 ounce can pinto beans, undrained
– 1, 4.5 ounce can chopped green chiles
– 1 tsp chili powder
– 1 tsp. ground cumin
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker, mix well. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours. Optional toppings: cilantro, shredded cheese, sliced green onions
Content submitted by Janyce Gately – MS, RD, LDN, CHWC