What I'm Eating: Week 3 (The Week of The Slow Cooker)

I got this idea in my head early in the week that I just couldn't shake: "What if I made dinner every night this week IN my slow cooker!?" Um, yes please! Dinner ready (or pretty much close to ready) as soon as I walk through the door? That sounds awesome! Challenge accepted!

Okay, first thing that you should know is that I have a pretty fancy slow cooker. Not fancy in that it's stupid expensive, but fancy in that it is digital and is pretty huge. Both of those features make my life significantly easier when I'm using my slow cooker to make dinner and I think we can all agree that if we can find easy tricks while leading a real, whole food lifestyle...we should absolutely utilize them! This is the slow cooker that I use, for those who are interested!

So this week, this is what I'll be (slow) cooking.... 

1. Whole Chicken in A Crock Pot with quinoa and a simple green salad.  I give this recipe to all of my busy friends who are looking for the perfect crowd-pleasing dinner. It's delicious, simple, and not too "out of the box" for people who are still warming up to a real food way of eating. It's also great because, since you cook the whole chicken instead of different cuts, it's typically very budget friendly! Plus, bone for homemade broth or stock (that I also make in the slow cooker!).

2. Crock Pot Lentil Tacos over baked sweet potatoes and roasted broccoli.  This is one of my favorite slow cooker meals (and not just because it's my recipe). Whether you are feeding omnivores or strict veggie folks, people will love this recipe! It's full of so many flavors that the meat-loving people won't bat an eye but it is 100% plant based! This recipe makes a huge batch, so we get to enjoy leftovers throughout the week or throw them in the freezer for a week that my act isn't together (which happens more often than I'm willing to admit).

3. Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Soup (dairy free) and hummus sandwiches with tomatoes and cucumbers. This is a comfort meal through and through. Snuggly warm soup to warm the belly is my favorite on a chilly night, especially tomato. I love that this soup is dairy free, since our family tries to limit how much dairy we have, and it's also totally plant based (the more plants in your belly, the better). Also, homemade tomato soup is just mind-blowingly awesome.

4. Crock Pot Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili. This dish is such a complete meal that I never really feel the need to serve it with any sides. It's a veggified twist on traditional chili and my family simple loves it! I love to top it with a little avocado or cashew sour cream! Also, this is the perfect dish for all those Super Bowl parties!

5. Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Carrot Chips. Butternut squash soup might just be my favorite soup ever. I love how creamy it is with just the right blend of sweet and savory. This soup is super simple, full of vegetable goodness, and topped with the crunch of a carrot chip for all the lovely textures you need at the dinner table! 

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