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In deepest, darkest winter, a surefire cooking solution is to pull out the slow cooker.\u00a0 Crock pot recipes are an ideal way to beat cold outdoor temperatures since these dishes warm us from the inside and help keep us cozy when the days are short and the nights are long. They can transform any kind of food into something fragrant and tender.<\/p>\n
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Crock pots not only serve up comforting meals, but this kind of cooking also is effortless. Well, kind of.\u00a0 For the best flavors it\u2019s good to brown meats before popping them in, and to prep vegetables.\u00a0 This can be done first thing in the morning and then you can turn on the heat setting and walk away, only to return in the afternoon or after work for a dinner just waiting for you. \u00a0And crock pot dishes are not just for meats.\u00a0 Soups, stews and even vegetarian dishes benefit from slow cooking.<\/p>\n
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![\"healthy-slow-cooker-italian-meatball-soup-0075\"](\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/healthy-slow-cooker-italian-meatball-soup-0075-258x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Crockpot dishes warm the soul on cold winter nights but they can be healthy too, such as this delicious Italian-style soup. Photo courtesy of Food Done Light<\/p><\/div>\n
I surveyed a few of my food writing friends for their favorite slow cooker recipes and they came back with an amazing array of tasty dishes. \u00a0Here are some of my favorites.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n From Christie at Food Done Light, here is a soup option, a delicious and healthy soup filled with little meatballs, beans and spinach<\/em>.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t this look like healthy way to start off the year?<\/p>\n http:\/\/fooddonelight.com\/slow-cooker-italian-meatball-soup\/#_a5y_p=4800290<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n From our friends at Curious Cuisiniere: The use of a crock pot makes this Chicken Tortilla Soup a perfect weeknight meal. This is a simple, comforting dish, made from good chicken stock that has been blended with roasted tomatoes, onion, garlic, chilies, and fried tortilla strips.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.curiouscuisiniere.com\/chicken-tortilla-soup\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n From Renee Dobbs at Magnolia Days who offers a Cuban Pork Slow Cooker dish where a pork butt is transformed into juicy, fall-apart tender meat. The bonus is a wonderful sauce that is created in the process. The sauce starts as a marinade made with orange, lemon, lime, garlic, onion, and spices. It becomes a Cuban mojo sauce once it is cooked and concentrated. <\/p>\n And here is another from Renee who says that for Slow Cooker Spiced Beef Stew, a great \u00a0addition is apricots, which adds a tangy taste to the beef. The flavor is reminiscent of Caribbean or other tropical dishes because of the cumin. Serve it over couscous, or over rice for a gluten-free option.<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/magnoliadays.com\/2014\/slow-cooker-cuban-pork\/<\/a><\/p>\n