10 Reasons I Love My Slow Cooker

As I sit down to do some writing and other projects today, I'm feeling a little less pressure knowing that dinner is already cooking in my slow cooker and I won't have to worry about it later.

 

It seems that every time I cook a meal in my slow cooker, I ask myself why I don't do it more often. Therefore, I thought I would write this post as a reminder to myself to use my crockpot more often. Maybe it will inspire someone else as well... who knows?

 

So, without further ado...

 

Here are the top ten reasons why I love my slow cooker:

 

 

1. It's perfect for hectic days

Slow cooker meals are ideal for weeks when I have a lot on the go, and for days when everyone's schedules are so crazy that we may need to eat dinner at different times.
Many newer models of crockpots have a "warm" setting on them, so you can keep food warm without overcooking if some of your family needs to eat later than others.
 

2. It makes the house smell delicious

There's nothing like coming home and being greeted by the smells of dinner cooking! Seriously... nothing better.

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I love my Crock-pot!

 

3. It helps prevent pre-dinner chaos

Having dinner cooking in the crockpot means that I can focus on other things, instead of rushing around to get dinner ready. This can definitely reduce stress levels and makes meal time more enjoyable for everyone.

With more free time before dinner, I can:

• work on a project
• read a book
• help kids with their homework
• do some gardening
• go for a walk
• work out
• browse the internet
• write
• go for a bike ride
• relax
• take a nap (wishful thinking!)

4. It works well with freezer cooking

There are many slow cooker recipes you can prepare ahead of time and freeze. Spending a few hours a month putting together meals for the freezer that you can later cook in the slow cooker is a big time saver. These meals really come in handy when life gets busy or you don't feel like cooking.

Another timesaver is to cook big batches of soup, stews or other favourite recipes in the slow cooker, and freeze the leftovers for future lunches.

 

Want more freezer cooking tips? Read 10 Tips for Getting Started with Freezer Cooking

 

5. It doesn't heat up the kitchen

On hot summer days, often the last thing you want to do is turn on your oven to cook dinner. Slow cooker meals are perfect for days like these, as they won't heat up your kitchen like your oven would.
 

6. It helps save money

Because of the long cooking time, you can buy cheaper cuts of meat and they will turn out very tender in the crockpot.

Also, by using your slow cooker on days when you might not normally have time to cook dinner, you can reduce your reliance on eating out, which will save a lot of money.
 

7. It's versatile

I used to only use my slow cooker occasionally (mostly in the winter) for recipes like stew or chili. However, over the last few years, I have been using it more and more to cook a variety of foods. When my oven and microwave were both broken at the same time, I discovered lots of new ways to use my slow cooker to cook a variety of meals.

 

Some of the foods I've successfully cooked in the slow cooker are:

• whole chicken
• soups
• stews
• chili
• lasagna
• pulled pork, pork roasts, pork chops
• meatballs
• lemon chicken, chicken divan, chicken and veggies
• pot roast and vegetables
• chicken tacos
• ham
• stuffing
• pasta sauce
• casseroles
• apple crumble

Some of the foods I've made in my slow cooker

 

8. It helps us eat healthier

Cooking meals in the slow cooker makes it more possible to eat home cooked meals on busy days. This means you may be less tempted to order pizza or grab dinner at the drive thru, or rely on heavily processed convenience foods.
 

9. It's easy to make food for a crowd

Slow cookers are wonderful to have if you're cooking for a crowd. You can cook extra stuffing in a crockpot for Thanksgiving dinner, or make a big batch of chili, stew or meatballs for a buffet or party.

You may not cook your entire meal in the slow cooker, but cooking part of it this way makes it less stressful and can free up some time to enjoy your guests more.
 

10. It makes me feel smart and organized

When I use my crockpot, I can't help but feel like I've discovered some magic secret. It makes me feel like I'm more in control of my life. And really, who doesn't want to feel smart and organized?

I could probably come up with more reasons, but I think you get the point... I love my slow cooker!
 

Support McHappy Day on Wednesday May 8th!

Wednesday, May 8th is McHappy Day at McDonald's restaurants across Canada.

For every Happy Meal, Big Mac or hot McCafe beverage sold on May 8th, McDonald's will donate $1 to Ronald McDonald houses and other local childrens' charities across Canada.

Last year's McHappy Day raised over $8,000,000. This year marks the 20th anniversary of McHappy Day in Canada, and McDonald's is hoping to make this one the biggest and best yet.

As I wrote about for last year's McHappy Day, I am happy to support this event which provides important funds to help so many families in need. I encourage everyone to stop by their local McDonald's tomorrow. Whether you stop by for a morning McCafe beverage or you take your family out for dinner, you will be helping to raise money for a great cause.

Need more reasons to support McHappy Day?

Watch this History of Smiles video to learn how Ronald McDonald House Charities help give sick children what they need most - their families.

 



Help spread the word on Facebook or Twitter using #McHappyDay to encourage your family and friends to support families who could use some more smiles.

Disclosure: McDonald's has asked me to help spread the word about this year's McHappy Day, which I am happy to do. A donation in my name will be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada in exchange for my involvement. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Few Articles for Getting Back on Track with Your Health and Wellness Goals

How are you doing with your New Year's Resolutions? Are they long forgotten, or have you managed to stick to your commitment to eat healthier, be more organized or workout daily?

If you have managed to stick with your plan, congratulations!

If not, it's not too late to get back on track.

February can be a tough month. It's cold and the constantly changing weather conditions can wreak havok on any outdoor workout plans. The good news is that February is now more than half over. Spring is just around the corner - at least that's what I keep telling myself!

Brrr...

Somebody was definitely thinking when they made February the shortest month of the year, don't you think?

Over on HubPages, I've been writing some articles focused on eating healthy foods and staying active. I thought that I would share them here, for anyone who's looking for ways to get back on track with their goals to be a healthier version of themselves.

20 Fun Ways to Keep Active will hopefully remind you that exercise can indeed be fun. Seriously.



Snowshoeing is a great way to keep active in the winter

 

Are you getting enough calcium and fruit everyday? If not, why not whip up one of these Quick and Healthy Fruit and Yogurt Smoothies as a tasty treat?

Pineapple Orange Smoothie

If you're trying to eat more vegetables, here are some ideas to get you started:

How to Cook with Spinach provides information on 10 things you can make with fresh or frozen spinach.


Spinach feta pasta
 

Cooking with Parsnips has lots of easy and delicious ways to cook this underappreciated vegetable.

Baked parsnip and carrot fries
 

And finally, if you're not eating a healthy breakfast every morning, you might want to read   A Guide to Eating Healthy Breakfasts for some tips and ideas to improve your health.