Tag Archives: crock pot

Cold Slow Cooker Chicken With Mango, Avocado, Spinach, Tomatoes, Peppers, and Quinoa

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Yes, that’s a mouthful of a title, but it’s a flavor explosion in your mouth too!!

I tend to forget about my slow cooker in the summer, because…hot!  BUT…the biggest reason I use my slow cooker is because of it’s convenience factor.  THAT is needed all year round!

The other day, I knew I’d be running around all day and wouldn’t be getting home until right around dinner time.  Slow cooker to the rescue.

What you need…

  • 4-5 Chicken Breasts (I actually threw mine in frozen!)
  • 1 Medium yellow onion  diced
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1/4 Teaspoon crushed garlic
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Crushed Ginger
  • 1 Cup Organic Mango Nectar
  • 1 Large Mango
  • 1 Large Avocado
  • 1 Cup diced peppers (I used a yellow, orange, and red)
  • 1 Cup Cherry or grape tomatoes.  I used multi colored ones.
  • 4-5 cups baby spinach
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 Cup uncooked quinoa

What you do…

  • Put Olive Oil, Garlic, Ginger, and Onion down and mix.
  • Lay Chicken Breasts on top.  Mine were frozen.  I’m sure if they were thawed, they might just be more tender!  BUT…if you don’t have time (as I never do)  you can put them in frozen as an FYI…
  • Pour the cup of Mango nectar (honestly, you could use orange juice too!  It all cooks away…
  • Here’s the odd/specific timing part.  You can totally mess around with this timing depending on when you will be home!  I started this in the morning.  Cooked it on high for 4 hours.   I added the quinoa about 30 minutes before it was done.   Then took the chicken out, chopped it (probably could have shredded it had it been on low for longer!).  I added the chicken back in to soak up a little more juice.
  • While it was still in warming mode, and right before I took it out, I added all the spinach and tossed it around.
  • Then I took it all out and placed it in a bowl to cool for a few hours.
  • Either earlier when it’s cooking or later depending on when you have time.  Dice the mango, avocado, peppers, and tomatoes.
  • Add all the diced fruits and vegetables on top, salt and pepper to taste, and serve!

Enjoy!dit-elle-Lauren

Crock Pot Rosemary Pork Loin with Apples + Onions | Paleo + Whole30

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Every time I make a meal in my crock pot, I think…

“WHY don’t I do this more often!??”  As in…ever single day?! HA!

Alas, I get brain dead with the day to day, and fail to think ahead.  That is pretty much the only prep time with a crock pot meal.  Thinking of it ahead of time.  Once you do.  You toss everything in to the pot in the morning/early afternoon.  Your entire house smells amazing ALL DAY LONG, and then when it’s dinner time-it’s DONE!  Seriously, what’s better than that??

NOT MUCH. 😉

BUT…can we all agree that crock pot meat does NOT look appealing?  Everything you cook ends up looking about the same color, BUT all that really matters is that it tastes delicious!  I may have thrown a few greens on top to break up the monotony haha 🙂  I snapped these pictures about 5 minutes before we ate dinner, as always (with a flash *UGH*)…yet wished I could have made the meal look a liiiiiiiittle more appetizing.  Styling dreams that may never come true.

Added bonus?  The meat easily shreds, so no slicing on a cutting board necessary, aka child friendly and one less thing to clean!! Blog Paleo Whole30 Crock Pot Rosemary Pork Loin Apples Onions-1 Blog Paleo Whole30 Crock Pot Rosemary Pork Loin Apples Onions-2 Blog Paleo Whole30 Crock Pot Rosemary Pork Loin Apples Onions-3What You Need…

  • Pork Loin (depends on how many people you want to feed) I used one pack from Costco, which is equivalent to 2 small ones from other grocery stores.
  • 1 Can of Chicken Stock (have it cover about half the pork loin)
  • 1  teaspoon Rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 small apples or one large apple  (I used Gala, but any strong flavor type would be good)
  • 2 small onions or one large onion
  • 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste

What to do…

  • Chop the onion and apple into approximately 1 inch slices.
  • Layer everything into your Crock Pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours or or low for 7-8 hours.
  • THAT’S IT! 🙂

Serve with any kind of side or all by itself!

Enjoy!dit-elle-Lauren

Paleo Chili

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This is a hearty and delicious paleo chili recipe – legume/bean free, full of veggies and a rich flavorful meat sauce. You can do this in a crock pot or regular stove top pot. This makes a wonderful meal served with Pumpkin Cheddar Muffins!

Blog paleo chili

Ingredients

  • 2Tbsp cooking oil (I chose coconut oil or olive oil)
  • 2lbs. ground beef (or ground meat of choice)
  • 1-2Tbsp chili powder
  • 1-2Tbsp cumin
  • 1tsp oregano
  • 1tsp allspice
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 large white onion diced
  • 4oz. tomato paste
  • 28oz. crushed tomatoes
  • 1cup water or enough liquid to cover the meat/sauce
  • Serve with avocado slices and your favorite chili toppings

Directions

  • In a large pot, add hamburger meat and onions and cook through.
  • Once thoroughly cooked, add the spice mixture and stir until combined.
  • Add remaining ingredients and simmer 1-2 hours. I usually simmer 1 hour and it tastes great. (I can’t wait too long when good food is cooking.)
  • Do not drain the liquid that’s produced when the meal/onions cook. It’s keeps the healthy fat in the dish and adds great flavor. Promise!

Thanks EasyPeas-y for the inspiration!

dit-elle-Esther

Crock Pot // Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Apples, Onions, and Peppers

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So, after you made the Crock Pot Pulled Pork with Apples, Onions, and Peppers Stew, what do you do with the leftovers?  Drain the liquid and make sandwiches!!  I’m all about making a meal with the thought that I can squeeze two dinners out of it.  I mean, really what sounds better to a busy mom than that??  Well, besides relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine?  And that is exactly what you can do instead of fussing over your second meal-WIN!!Blog Paleo Crock Pot Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Apples Onions and Peppers-5Ingredients

Soup Season – Some Fall Favorites!

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Feeling the shorter days, longer nights, chilly and damp weather? Nothing like a steaming bowl of soup to warm from head to toe! Here’s a collection of soups that Lauren and I have posted over the past year – lots of yummy autumn inspired soups (think pumpkin, squash, mushroom) and more!

Blog pumpkinsoup1

Steamy vegetable based soups

Hearty meat soups and stews

Seafood soups

Super Mom Tip: most of these soups and stews freeze very well! Make a big batch and freeze in smaller portions for easy re-heating later on! 🙂

dit-elle-Esther

Paleo Crock Pot Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Apples Onions and Peppers

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Fall and Winter for me equal Crock Pot (Slow Cooker) meals.  Which means yummy smelling houses, and easy throw together meals-WOO HOO!!!  I pulled my Crock Pot out for the first time this season for one of the easiest crowd pleasers-pulled pork.  I decided that I would try and make it a two-fer.  Meaning, I would make a stew the first night, and then drain the liquid to make sandwiches the 2nd night.  What do you know…it worked!!Blog Paleo Crock Pot Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Apples Onions and Peppers-1All that said.  Pork is one of those foods that I cannot quite seem to photograph well.  it just looks blah!  In any case…this wasn’t blah, but you might just have to take my word for it 😉

Ingredients

  • Pork Loin(s) depending on how many people you have to feed and if you want to make sandwiches the next night.  I used the Costco Pack.  There are two small ones per sealed pack.  Probably equal to 2 individual packs elsewhere.
  • Red, Orange, and Yellow Peppers.  I used about half of each diced.
  • One medium/large yellow onion diced
  • 1 Can (2 cups organic chicken broth)
  • 1 Cup of Red Wine (whatever you have on hand that you want to spare ;))  The alcohol cooks off (for kids), but it leaves a good flavor.
  • 1 tsp crushed garlic
  • 2 Diced Apples (I used Honey Crisp, but you could use any apples)

Directions

  • After you dice all the veggies and apples.  Toss everything into the Crock Pot/Slow Cooker and cook for 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
  • THAT’S IT!!   You’re welcome 🙂
  • Dish out into soup bowls and enjoy!
  • We put Sriracha on just about everything, so… 🙂Blog Paleo Crock Pot Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Apples Onions and Peppers-3Blog Paleo Crock Pot Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Apples Onions and Peppers-4dit-elle-Lauren

Paleo BBQ pork in the crock pot

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BBQ pork is one of the few recipes that does very well in the crock pot. Pair with *polenta (or riced cauliflower for a paleo alternative) and some sautéed spinach or steamed broccoli.

Blog pulledporkmeal1 Blog pulledporkmeal2

Ingredients

  • 2 pork loins
  • 1 onion, sliced in rings
  • 2 c ketchup (or contents of a 24 oz bottle) – HFCS/sugar free
  • 1/2 warm water
  • 1/4 c apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp coconut sugar or brown sugar (optional and omit if paleo)
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • 1 tsp Tabasco sauce (optional)
  • salt as needed

Directions: place meat into the stoneware with onion rings. Stir ketchup, warm water, vinegar, sugar, and sauces. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until meat shreds easily with fork.

*Nothing says comfort food like polenta! Especially with parmesan cheese. So not paleo, but so yummy. Polenta is super easy to make. 1 cup polenta to 3-4 cups water, a dash of salt, bring to boil, constantly stirring, simmer for 20-30 minutes or so. At end whisk in some olive oil or butter and parmesan cheese. Serve hot.

Love BBQ pork and want more recipes to try? Lauren posted an awesome looking Pulled Pork Sandwiches recipe as well!

Super mom tip: You guessed it – BBQ pork freezes well. Polenta does NOT though! 🙂

dit-elle-Esther

Chicken Chili

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First of all – what’s easier than awesome Chicken Chili? I don’t know.. Little prep, super easy, slow cooker Chicken Chili! This is a fantastic slow-cooker/crock pot recipe! And let me say that I haven’t always been a huge fan of the crock pot (let’s just say we have a love/hate relationship). I’ve had many recipes turn out as just a pot of mushy vegetables (well what do you expect after 8 hours of cooking?). BUT – there’s hope – some recipes lend themselves very well to the crock pot and you can rest assured that I’ll be sure to try them before posting here! I also put them to the toddler/husband test and will give options for adjusting spices, etc. 🙂 blog chicken chili

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 2 c chicken broth
  • 2 green, yellow or red peppers, seeded and chopped
  • 2 tsps ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder or cayenne (careful, as this adds heat!)
  • 1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 Tbsp chopped jalapeno (careful, this also adds heat)
  • If you are not doing the paleo thing, a can of corn and one of cannellini beans are an excellent addition

Garnish/topping

  • Shredded cheese
  • Sliced avocado or guacamole
  • Chopped cilantro

Directions

  • In the slow cooker, combine onion, chicken, chicken broth, tomatoes, peppers, and spice
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours
  • Once cooked shed the chicken with two forks
  • If you are adding corn and beans, do that now
  • Return lid and let the soup heat
  • Sprinkle desired toppings on individual bowls of soup and serve hot

So easy, so yummy!

Super mom tip: the recipe above makes a large batch. Ladle into freezer containers and store for easy re-heating!

Paleo what? What’s up with the whole Paleo thingy? Read more about my journey and some great resources on my food blog, Les Petits Pois!

dit-elle-Esther