Slow Cooker Week

I love my crock-pot but I don't use it nearly enough. However, this week I found two recipes that I wanted to share with you! Hopefully, it will encourage you to dust yours off and put it to good use!

The first one is a a Weight Watchers recipe (Yes, I'm on the wagon again). It's called "Zero Points Value Slow-Cooker Soup". This is a variation on their original zero point soup only this one uses spinach instead of cabbage.

10 oz baby spinach leaves
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 medium celery ribs, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium garlic clove, chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
28 oz canned diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker; cover and cook on high for 5 hours. Remove bay leaves, stir, and serve. Yields about 1 cup per serving. Serves 8.

**I doubled this recipe. I saved a portion (about half) for the fridge to eat on over the weekend and froze 5 individual servings that I can take to work for lunches!!!***

The second recipe is probably the easiest thing I have ever made in the crock pot (besides, maybe, hot apple cider....which I didn't actually make....I just heated)! You will LOVE this...

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)
1 pkg dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 cup chicken broth or warm water

Place chicken in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Add dressing mix and water. Cover. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

That's it!!

I also doubled this recipe. The first night, I served this chicken sliced (you need to let it cool slightly) with steamed broccoli and buttered noodles. The chicken was so moist and it has a wonderful flavor! I then made several meals with the left overs!

For one thing, this chicken shreds like a dream! I made Farmhouse Chicken, chicken salad, chicken soup (I also saved the cooking liquid) and I took the last piece to work...shredded it over lettuce with some tomatoes and mushrooms and had a really good, low fat salad! It would be great for chicken tacos or enchiladas.

This is the perfect time of year for soups, stews and chili. Let the slow cooker work for you so you can spend some time in front of the fire, snuggling with your kids!

Enjoy!