Thank-You Slow-Cooker!

Have you ever had those days when you get home from a busy day at work and you are craving something warm and wholesome? I have them all of the time, especially during the winter months. I get home, unbundle myself, and stare into the fridge, pondering what I can cook up to keep me warm. Those are the days when I wish that I could snap my fingers and have a nice homemade soup on my table. The slow-cooker may not be magic, but it is something wonderful.

I love cooking whole chickens in my slow-cooker. I pick up a fresh organic free-range chicken from the Calgary Farmer’s Market and throw it in into the pot along with some water and a touch of drizzled olive oil. I add basil, thyme and oregano and freshly cut garlic. I chop green onions and sprinkle them in. You can’t forget the carrots, cut in long slices. Dinner that has simmered for hours creates a lovely aroma in my house, and when I get home I can’t wait to start eating. For me, chicken is a food that gives me strength and energy for the next few days.

Soups are fantastic to make in the slow-cooker. I soak one cup of a dry bean mix over night, and the next morning I add the beans to 1L of low sodium vegetable broth. I put in all my favorite vegetables and simmer for the entire day along with bay leaves, thyme, parsley, cumin, fresh basil, and some dill. Soup is my comfort food: a nice warm bowl makes all my problems seem far away. For a great bean soup try Bob's Red Mill 13 bean soup mix.

I would love to hear your favorite slow-cooker meals!