308 Days ’til 40: Fast, Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

I PROMISE this is not going to become a food blog, but I thought that we can all use a break from monotony every once in a while and I am all for FAST recipes that allow us to have something that tastes good, is healthy, and requires a minimal effort.  This is particularly important in our fast-paced society where we work all day and are often too exhausted to spend time preparing a healthy meal when we return home.  I personally work @ 10 hours a day and love it when I am able to come home to a fully cooked meal.  I love walking through the door and smelling the food and knowing that I will have little preparation to do that night.  

The photo above is a red lentil chili recipe I adapted from a meat-based recipe.  I also adapted it so that it could be made in the slow cooker.  Here are a few of our family favorites that require little time, but leave you with a great, nutritious meal.

Red Lentil Chili (Adapted by 400 Days ’til 40):

Ingredients:

16 oz uncooked red lentils

16 oz can crushed tomatoes (with liquid)

1 can kidney beans (with liquid)

1 packet chili seasoning (approx 1.25 oz)

Place all ingredients in crock pot, fill to top with water, stir.  Cook on high for @ 3 hours, then on low for an additional 2-3 hours.  I stir every 45-60 minutes ,as the ingredients tend to settle at the bottom while cooking.

Beef Stroganoff (Found On the Internet, Source Unknown):

Ingredients:

2 pounds beef strips (cut for stroganoff)

1-2 cans cream of mushroom soup (enough to cover and blend with the meat well – do NOT add water)

Rinse beef and place it in the slow cooker, cover with mushroom soup and stir to blend.

Cook on low for 10-12 hours.  Serve over rice or stroganoff noodles.

Cranberry Turkey (Found On the Internet, Source Unknown – Possibly Bakespace.com):

Ingredients:

1 pound turkey breast

1 packet onion soup mix

1 can cranberry sauce, with whole cranberries

Rinse turkey breast and place at bottom of the slow cooker.  Sprinkle onion soup mix on top.  Stir and pour cranberry sauce on top of the soup mix-covered turkey.

Cook on low until done (I think @ 6 hours).

So, there you have it!  I welcome your easy, healthy recipes!  Please share!

Today, 308 days ’til 40, I will continue to search for healthy ways to feed my family.  I can save time without resorting to unhealthy fast food options.  You can too!

On a final note of confession, the beautifully photographed red lentil chili above came at a price, moments after I snapped the shot, my iPhone fell into the chili.  Thankfully, the phone made it out alive and I became very skilled at using a small paintbrush to remove chili bits from all intricate crevasses of my iPhone.  The photo turned out well, and I will be more careful the next time I try to photograph anything over food/ water.  (WHY is it that there are no wrist straps for iPhones????)  🙂

~400daystil40