I have a goal for 2009 and that is to lose some weight, but eating healthy and low-fat can be very difficult nowadays. We don’t have time to cook and don’t even have time to go to a good restaurant. The result of this is eating fast foods or snacks and putting on weight. The more unhealthy food we eat, the less good health we have and I have to watch my cholesterol as well these days. But it is possible to eat cook and eat healthy without spending lots of time by using low fat crock pot recipes in our Crock-pot Slow Cookers.

This year I am going to think about my health, and try cooking healthy and low-fat food with my crock pot.

A lot of crock pot recipes use canned food and other prepared mixes, but there are diet crock pot
recipes, that have low sodium and low fat ingredients that will make your food taste better with healthy choices. Use low fat crock pot recipes that have fresh ingredients where possible.  Also, trim skin and fat from all the meats you use for cooking, and try using fresh, instead of canned vegetables (when in season) for a healthy recipe alternative.

A few examples of low fat crock pot recipes that you can try:

Pork Roast with Vegetables
This a slow cooking recipe, which takes about 25-30 minutes to prepare. Includes boneless pork roast, vegetable oil, peeled sweet potatoes, acorn squash, apple butter, horseradish, corn and spices. The dish is cooked in the crock pot for about 7 to 9 hours until the pork and vegetables are tender and it tastes delicious.

Beef Stew in Crock Pot
Another diet crock pot recipe that has only five ingredients and only 20 minutes of preparation time is this one and you have a great low-fat and healthy dish ready to cook. Includes beef, potatoes, tomatoes,  peppers and onions, spices and salt. Cook on low in the crock pot for about 7-8 hours. Thicken with a little flour if needed.

Tender Chicken with Apples
One more of the low fat crock pot recipes that is prepared in 20-25 minutes and cooked about 7 hours on low. Combine orange juice, garlic, onion, chicken breasts, sliced apples, spices.

I will be posting some more low fat crock pot recipes in more detail in the next few weeks. These healthy recipes will help you stay in shape, and cooking with the low fat and diet crock pot recipes will save you time in the kitchen without sacrificing a healthy dinner.

For great recipes RIGHT NOW then buy a great cookbook at Amazon by Judith Finlayson called The Healthy Slow Cooker.

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Tags: Crock Pot, diet crock pot recipes, healthy recipes, low fat crock pot recipes

These are some of my tips for safe crock pot cooking.

DO thaw out your meat and chicken before cooking.  It will then cook evenly and thoroughly.

DONT overfill the crock pot.  Only use to 3/4 filled.

Meat cooks faster than vegetables so DO dice your vegetables, onions can be grated.

DONT leave food in the crock pot to cool down.  Put it in another sealed contained and refrigerate as soon as possible.

DO keep your ingredients refrigerated until you are ready to use them.

DONT look into the crock pot as you lift the lid.  Escaping steam may burn you. Lifting the lid will also add more cooking time to your recipe.

DONT use red kidney beans from their raw state in the crock pot.  Soak and boil first or use the canned ones.

DO follow recommended cooking times and the manufacturer’s instructions.

DONT reheat food in the crock pot.

If possible DO add hot liquids instead of cold

If you follow these tips then you will be cooking safely with your crock pot.

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Tags: Crock Pot, crock pot cooking, safe cooking

Crock Pots or slow cookers are great for busy people.  Ive had a crock pot since the 70s and I used all the time then.  It was put away and got moved around the kitchen cupboards for many years but my lime green crock pot has made a revival for the following reasons:

• Crock pot cooking is simple, healthy and a time saver.

• Crock pots are great for busy families and especially for new mothers,  just add all the ingredients in the morning, turn it on, and leave the cooking to happen while you get on with your day.

• There are many easy crock pot recipes including soups, stews and desserts.

• Crock pots use a small amount of electricity so its a money saver too.

• They come in several sizes from small crock pots that cook enough food for one or two people to medium sized crock pots are often best for families of four or five, and the largest crock pots can serve ten people or more.

• Very little clean up required. Now that’s a bonus.

An electric crock pot or slow cooker usually consists of a removable porcelain bowl which sits inside an outer container that has electric heating elements and some control buttons and switches.  My vintage one has only two settings, low and high, but the more modern have digital programming and automatic settings. My crock pot is round but they also come in oval which is good for cooking whole meats like chicken.

A crock pot is one of the most convenient appliances in a kitchen.  If you don’t have one then you are spending too much time in the kitchen.  Have a look at the great range at Crock-Pot Portable Slow Cooker – Free Shipping! They also have great accessories to go with your new crock pot.  I am hoping I get a new oval crock pot for Christmas ( hint, hint, family).

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Tags: Crock Pot, kitchen appliances, Slow cooker