This is the year I decided to try a low-glycemic diet. It's working so far, but I'm starting to miss my crock pot meals, and so is my family. I'm sure they're getting tired of eating my "diet" food and would like us all to sit down together and have a nice, hot meal. My crock pot has always been one of my favorite ways of cooking, but now what?
My family is very supportive of my diet, but they are starting to feel just a bit neglected. Well, I can understand that because I'm feeling a bit deprived as well. I miss my crock pot and the wonderful aromas that fill the house after a day of gently simmering savory ingredients together. Will I go off my diet in order to enjoy my crock pot once again? No need to, now that I've worked up a few recipes to create meals fit for my diet AND fit for my family!
Ginger Garlic Beef with Snow Peas
Take a 2 1/2 lb. boneless Round Steak, and cut into 4 pieces. Put the beef in your crock pot. In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup of soy sauce, about 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger, 2 cloves of garlic, grated or minced, and 2 tablespoons canola oil. Pour over the beef and put on the crock pot cover. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or until steak is fork tender. Serve with hot, cooked snow peas mixed with sauted mushrooms for the perfect Asian inspired meal.
Split Pea Soup with Ham
To create a classic split pea soup, put a 1 lb. bag of split peas into your crock pot along with 2 lbs. of boiled ham, diced up, 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated, 1 medium onion, diced, 3 ribs celery, finely diced, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 7 cups fresh cold water, and 5 chicken bouillion cubes. Cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours. Quickly lift the lid on this a couple times during cooking and give it a stir. Otherwise the peas will sink to the bottom and not get as smooth.
3 Bean n' Beef Chili
In large heavy skillet, brown 2 lbs. of lean, ground beef. Drain excess fat if necessary. Meanwhile, dice 2 medium onions, 1 green pepper, 2 stalks of celery, and 3 minced cloves of garlic and put it all in the crock pot. Add 2 (16 ounce size) cans of diced tomatoes, 2 cans of garbanzo beans, 1 can of butter beans, and 1 can of black beans, all drained first but not rinsed. Add a 15 ounce can of chicken broth, 3 teaspoons chili powder (more or less), 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt. A bit more salt may be added later if desired. Add the browned ground beef, stir together gently and cover. Cook on LOW for about 6 hours. Serve in big bowls with a spoonful of low fat yogurt topped with chives.
Trying to figure out what you can make in your crock pot that follows the rules of your diet can be a bit difficult. I know if I have just a few go-to recipes for my crock pot that I can put together fast and easy, I'm more likely to stick to my diet. And, when you are cooking dinner in your crock pot, you are most likely cooking for the whole family, right? Well, the fact is, my family doesn't even think of these meals as "diet food" so no one is disappointed, and I'm still on track! These crock pot recipes may be just the start you need to get on that diet and stick to it. Happy Dieting!
If you are trying to follow a low-glycemic diet, you may have given up on using your crock pot. But, my crock pot has become a loyal companion in my kitchen, so what else could I do but figure out a few family-friendly meals that I, and my diet, can live with. With just a couple crock pot recipes at my disposal, we can enjoy home-cooked meals together more often. My family doesn't even consider a crock pot meal as diet food, so everybody is happy! If dieting while trying to feed your family at the same time isn't working for you, give these simple recipes a try. It may just get you on track, too! Good luck to you!
My family is very supportive of my diet, but they are starting to feel just a bit neglected. Well, I can understand that because I'm feeling a bit deprived as well. I miss my crock pot and the wonderful aromas that fill the house after a day of gently simmering savory ingredients together. Will I go off my diet in order to enjoy my crock pot once again? No need to, now that I've worked up a few recipes to create meals fit for my diet AND fit for my family!
Ginger Garlic Beef with Snow Peas
Take a 2 1/2 lb. boneless Round Steak, and cut into 4 pieces. Put the beef in your crock pot. In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup of soy sauce, about 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger, 2 cloves of garlic, grated or minced, and 2 tablespoons canola oil. Pour over the beef and put on the crock pot cover. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or until steak is fork tender. Serve with hot, cooked snow peas mixed with sauted mushrooms for the perfect Asian inspired meal.
Split Pea Soup with Ham
To create a classic split pea soup, put a 1 lb. bag of split peas into your crock pot along with 2 lbs. of boiled ham, diced up, 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated, 1 medium onion, diced, 3 ribs celery, finely diced, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 7 cups fresh cold water, and 5 chicken bouillion cubes. Cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours. Quickly lift the lid on this a couple times during cooking and give it a stir. Otherwise the peas will sink to the bottom and not get as smooth.
3 Bean n' Beef Chili
In large heavy skillet, brown 2 lbs. of lean, ground beef. Drain excess fat if necessary. Meanwhile, dice 2 medium onions, 1 green pepper, 2 stalks of celery, and 3 minced cloves of garlic and put it all in the crock pot. Add 2 (16 ounce size) cans of diced tomatoes, 2 cans of garbanzo beans, 1 can of butter beans, and 1 can of black beans, all drained first but not rinsed. Add a 15 ounce can of chicken broth, 3 teaspoons chili powder (more or less), 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt. A bit more salt may be added later if desired. Add the browned ground beef, stir together gently and cover. Cook on LOW for about 6 hours. Serve in big bowls with a spoonful of low fat yogurt topped with chives.
Trying to figure out what you can make in your crock pot that follows the rules of your diet can be a bit difficult. I know if I have just a few go-to recipes for my crock pot that I can put together fast and easy, I'm more likely to stick to my diet. And, when you are cooking dinner in your crock pot, you are most likely cooking for the whole family, right? Well, the fact is, my family doesn't even think of these meals as "diet food" so no one is disappointed, and I'm still on track! These crock pot recipes may be just the start you need to get on that diet and stick to it. Happy Dieting!
If you are trying to follow a low-glycemic diet, you may have given up on using your crock pot. But, my crock pot has become a loyal companion in my kitchen, so what else could I do but figure out a few family-friendly meals that I, and my diet, can live with. With just a couple crock pot recipes at my disposal, we can enjoy home-cooked meals together more often. My family doesn't even consider a crock pot meal as diet food, so everybody is happy! If dieting while trying to feed your family at the same time isn't working for you, give these simple recipes a try. It may just get you on track, too! Good luck to you!
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If your family has heard enough about your diet, try serving them a surprise dinner that features either some BBQ Meatballs or a real change of pace like a big plate of Mexican Chicken. They won't believe that you're still on a diet!
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