Crock Pot Ease

Tired, strapped for time, don't feel like cooking? The answer is have a crock pot night once a week. On cold winter nights it's always nice to come home to a hot home-cooked meal that's already cooked!. Another reason to turn to crock pots these days is the low cost of running them. Crock pots use less electricity than heating up an entire stove or multiple burners. You can also buy cheaper cuts of meat and let them tenderize slowly.

So, take the night off. Toss all your ingredients in the crock pot in the morning, go off for the day, attend your child's sporting event or visit friends and don't worry about dinner. Clean up is also a breeze with the crock pot liners, sold at any grocery store, fast clean up allows more quality time with your family in the evening.

Ever tried meatloaf or a dessert from a crock pot?

Healthy Crock Pot Meat Loaf
1 1/2lbs ground turkey- lean

2 egg whites

1/3 c. ketchup

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 t. basil

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1 onions diced

2 potatoes chopped into small pieces or grated

Mix everything together in a bowl.

Put into crock pot.

Cook for 6 to 8 hours on the low setting.

8 servings (200 cal per serving) Serve with a side salad and multi grain roll.

*****On another night try this chicken dinner recipe;
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 bottle barbeque sauce poured over chicken.

cook 8-9 hours on low.

3 slices of turkey bacon and 6 slices of low fat swiss cheese.

After chicken is cooked cut bacon slices in 1/2 cook in microwave, place on top of chicken, then place swiss cheese on top and cook on high till cheese is melted. Steam broccoli as a side dish, boil a bag of baby red potatoes. Fast and simple - Enjoy!

Crock Pot Banana Cake
If you have two crock pots you can prepare dinner and dessert at the same time, or make the dessert the night before.

1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
3 bananas (mashed and ripe)
1 1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/3 c. pineapple (drained and crushed)
1/3 c. walnuts (chopped) optional
1/3 c. vegetable oil

Use a liner, spray the bottom and sides with cooking spray so the cake won't stick to it.

Mix together oil, and sugar. Use your mixer until creamy, 1 minute. Put in eggs, and vanilla. Mix again.

Add bananas and mix till smooth. Then put in flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir to mix.

Put in pineapple and nuts. Stir.

Put batter into the crock pot. Sprinkle coarse sugar over the top (opt.)

Cook: High 2 to 3 hours.

Let stand for 15 to 20 minutes and enjoy! - delicious!

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