by admin | Sep 21, 2016 | Grown Up, Recipes
The weather is getting cooler so it’s time to pull out your slow cooker! Slow cookers are a great kitchen gadget for when you can’t spend more than 30 minutes in the kitchen but want a satisfying meal. Another great use for slow cookers is to make sauces, like this recipe for Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce. To avoid all the flavors blending together, we sauté the onions and garlic first for 10 minutes before putting the rest of the ingredients into the cooker.
The result is a recipe that makes a savory, filling and fresh tomato sauce that you can use in your favorite pasta or pizza recipes. You can also freeze it for up to 6 months and defrost when you need a healthy tomato sauce in a pinch. Also, by making your own tomato sauces you not only use fresh tomatoes, which are in season this fall, but you cut down on added salt and sugar from jarred sauces.
Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce
2016-09-16 16:13:05
Serves 8
111 calories
9 g
0 g
9 g
2 g
1 g
171 g
206 g
5 g
0 g
7 g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 111
Calories from Fat 77
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Total Carbohydrates 9g
3%
Sugars 5g
Protein 2g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 red or white onion, sliced thin
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 29 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1 29 oz can pureed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1/4 cup pesto
- Salt, sugar and pepper, to taste
- Heat a nonstick skillet to medium heat. Add the extra virgin olive oil. When it begins to sizzle, add the garlic cloves and stir to coat in the oil. As soon as they begin to brown, add the onion. Stir to combine ingredients.
- Set heat to medium low, cover, and let the onion and garlic cook for 10 minutes until the onion becomes translucent.
- After the onion has cooked, add the tomato. Cook for 5 additional minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the rest of the ingredients except the salt, sugar and pepper to the slow cooker. Mix well. Transfer the stovetop ingredients to the slow cooker and combine. Add the salt, sugar and pepper, to taste.
- Cook on low for 2 hours. Before serving, use an immersion blender or blender to blend all ingredients together.
- Store or serve immediately with your favorite pizza or pasta.
OrganWise Guys Blog https://blog.organwiseguys.com/
by admin | Feb 5, 2016 | Uncategorized
Buffalo Chicken = Party Food
Buffalo chicken is the epitome of party food, especially during football season! Buffalo chicken wings, buffalo chicken sandwiches, salads, etc. The list goes on! Buffalo chicken dip is typically prepared in a not so healthy way. Think cream cheese, lots of cheese, very little vegetables, and only a little bit of chicken. The main thing that you are really eating in most buffalo chicken dip is heavy dairy products and not much else! We wanted to change this so we came up with a recipe for buffalo chicken dip… made in a slow cooker! Having slow cooker buffalo chicken dip not only saves you time in the kitchen (mainly because the chicken cooks itself in the slow cooker), but this recipe is also a way to enjoy the buffalo chicken dip without extra added fats. Plus, we added veggies like celery and carrots to give this dip a nice crunch and a pop of color. Make this for your upcoming Super Bowl party; it will be a hit!
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
2016-02-03 14:01:20
Serves 12
160 calories
4 g
50 g
8 g
17 g
5 g
132 g
332 g
3 g
0 g
3 g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 160
Calories from Fat 73
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Total Carbohydrates 4g
1%
Sugars 3g
Protein 17g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
- 1 lb. chicken breast
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup low fat sour cream
- 1/2 cup fat free Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp. low fat mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1/4 cup Frank's hot sauce
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 large carrots, diced
- Blue cheese, for topping
- Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Add the water and cook on high for 3 hours.
- After the chicken has cooked, remove it from the slow cooker, shred and return to slow cooker.
- Add in the sour cream, yogurt, cheese, and mix together. Next, add the hot sauce and mix again. Finally, add the celery and carrots and mix all ingredients together.
- If the dip needs to be warmed up, or you are not serving immediately, turn the slow cooker back to "keep warm" for up to 1 hour (any longer and the vegetables will start to become soggy).
- When it's time to serve the dip, transfer to a dish, top with blue cheese, and dig in!
OrganWise Guys Blog https://blog.organwiseguys.com/
by admin | Dec 23, 2015 | Grown Up, Recipes
One thing we love above the holidays and the weather cooling down is comfort food. Find us by the fire with a cheesy baked spinach dip and whole grain crackers, or maybe with some healthy macaroni and cheese for lunch or dinner. Another one of those feel good dishes is slow cooker French onion soup. Have you ever tried it? We adore making it at home because not only is it usually healthier than restaurants (we will show you how), but your entire house will start to smell delicious when you cook this slow cooker french onion soup recipe.
How is homemade soup healthier? There are a few different things you can do. First, buy broth that is low-sodium. We promise that the loss in salt will not make this recipe any less tasty! Secondly, when soup calls for butter, skip it. Instead, use melted coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil. And third, for this slow cooker French onion soup recipe, go light on the cheese and crouton toppings (we actually skipped the bread altogether when we made it). Let the delicious broth and the tender onions be the star of this recipe!
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
2015-12-23 13:39:03
Serves 8
A tasty take on French onion soup! Use swiss cheese and whole wheat baguette slices or whole wheat croutons for topping this delicious soup.
142 calories
12 g
0 g
6 g
8 g
4 g
464 g
126 g
4 g
0 g
2 g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 142
Calories from Fat 49
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Total Carbohydrates 12g
4%
Sugars 4g
Protein 8g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
- 5 yellow onions, sliced thin
- 12 cups low sodium beef broth (or low-sodium french onion soup broth if you can find it)
- 1 cup red wine or beer
- 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp. coconut oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 fresh rosemary springs
- Slice the onions and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Top with the remaining ingredients, in the order listed above.
- Turn the slow cooker on to low and cook for 8 hours, until the onions are completely softened and no crunchiness remains.
- Spoon the soup into bowls and (optional) top with swiss cheese. If you use the cheese, broil in the oven for 3 minutes so the cheese melts. Serve with (optional) whole grain baguette slices for dipping in the broth.
- Refrigerate the onions for 1 hour before you cut them to avoid making your eyes tear. The coldness makes the chemicals less likely to irritate you!
OrganWise Guys Blog https://blog.organwiseguys.com/
by admin | Jun 8, 2015 | Grown Up
One of the many things that we love about Mexican food is that there are loads of ways to use peppers, a June Foods of the Month, in recipes! This slow cooker fajitas recipe is amazing for two reasons. The first is that it is absolutely delicious. You can eat it in a bowl with your favorite low-fat Mexican toppings, or roll up the ingredients in a whole grain tortilla and enjoy. The second is that is could not be any easier to make. Follow these 10 minute directions, wait for your house to fill with a delicious smell of the chicken and veggies cooking, then enjoy this healthy meal for your next dinner.
Slow Cooker Fajitas
Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 peppers (red, green, or yellow) sliced into thin slices
1 yellow onion, diced
1 packet low-sodium taco seasoning
Directions
- Add the sliced peppers and chopped onion to the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables.
- Sprinkle the low-sodium taco seasoning packet on top of the chicken and the veggies.
- Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
- 1 hour before serving, use a fork to shred the chicken, then continue cooking.
- Enjoy with your favorite Mexican toppings like guacamole, pico de gallo, low-fat shredded cheese, low-fat sour cream and whole grain tortillas.
by admin | Jan 19, 2015 | Grown Up, Recipes
Legumes, a January Foods of the Month, make the best base for soups. This time of year, when the temperates are chilly, is the best time to bring out your slow cookers and enjoy a bowl of hearty soup. Whether it’s for a Sunday football party or an easy weekday meal, these are our favorite slow cooker soup recipes.
Chicken and White Bean Soup – Place 2 uncooked chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker. Add 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 2 15 oz. cans of Great Northern beans, 2 cups store bought salsa verde, and 2 tsp. cumin. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Remove chicken, shred, and return to slow cooker. Serve with low-fat sour cream and avocado.
“Hardy” Beef Chili – Dice one onion and one green pepper, then cook in olive oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add 4 chopped garlic cloves. Next, add 1 lb. of ground beef, crumbled. Mix the meat and veggies together until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add 1 6 oz. can of tomato paste, 1 15 oz. can of kidney beans, 1 15 oz. can of canellini beans, and 1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes, with the juices. Add 2 cups vegetable broth and red pepper flakes, cumin, salt and pepper, to taste. Let simmer for one hour, stirring occansionally. Serve with your favorite toppings like low fat cheese, avocado, cilantro and green onions.
Black Bean Chicken Soup – Place 2 uncooked chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker. Add 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 1 15 oz. cans of black beans,1 15 oz. cans of corn, 2 cups store bought mild tomato salsa, and 1 package low-sodium taco seasoning. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Remove chicken, shred, and return to slow cooker. Serve with low-fat sour cream, low-fat cheddar cheese and whole wheat tortilla chips.