Have you ever dreamed of having a private chef?

I have. Don’t get me wrong, I love to cook, but if I’m being honest, I’d much rather be playing with my kids, going for a walk, or spending quality time with my love, rather than slaving over a hot stove – specially in the warmer months. 

Even using my best-kept secrets to stress-free homemade meals, it still takes a LOT of time to plan, prepare and serve healthy, delicious meals. 

The good news?

The next best thing to enlisting the services of a personal chef is something many of us already have in our kitchen. 

Introducing… the talented and irreplaceable Crock Pot!

I know, Captain Obvious, right? That’s what I’m here for. But seriously, the Crock Pot (or Slow Cooker) is one of the most underused gadgets in the kitchen and KEY to making easy recipes with little effort. This is the one I have (and LOVE).

There is a false assumption that the only thing it’s good for is making giant vats of chili on game day. Well that couldn’t be further from the truth and what I’m about so share with you will banish those misconceptions forever. 

It’s time to re-think Crock Pot cooking, my friends!

Wouldn’t it be great to spend your afternoon reading a book, practicing your downward dog, or more realistically, schlepping your kids from activity to activity, instead of hovering over a hot stove?

Consider it done. 

That small window of time between your work day ending, commuting, coming home, and getting dinner on the table with the least amount of stress is sacred. Pull out that dusty slow cooker before you start your day and with very little prep work, you will be well on your way to more blissful pre-meal moments!

Here’s a SUPER easy and hearty vegan and grain-free root vegetable stew the whole family will love that makes a great meal any time of the year. The prep work can be done in the morning and by dinner time your sous chef has finished the meal!

Slow Cooker Hearty Root Vegetable Stew {Vegan | Grain-Free}

2015-04-28 15:11:41

Serves 6

Use organic ingredients when possible

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Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

6 hr

Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

6 hr

Ingredients

1. ¼ cup virgin coconut oil, {buy here}
2. 2 medium yellow onions, diced
3. 1 ¼ teaspoons ground ginger {buy here}
4. 1 cinnamon stick {buy here}
5. ½ teaspoon ground coriander {buy here}
6. ¼ teaspoon ground cumin {buy here}
7. 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper {buy here}
8. Celtic sea salt {buy here} and fresh ground pepper {buy here} to taste
9. 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes {about 3 large}, diced large
10. 1 pound diced carrots {about 4 to 5 medium}
11. 1 pound diced parsnips {about 4 medium}
12. 3 cups homemade vegetable or bone broth {learn how to make here}
13. 2 pounds butternut squash {about 1 small}, peeled, seeded, and diced large
14. 1 pound diced sweet potatoes {about 2 medium}
15. 2 cups cooked chickpeas {learn how to soak & prepare here}
16. ½ cup raisins {buy here}
17. 4 cups loosely packed spinach
18. 1 ½ tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar, plus more as needed {buy here}

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and cook over medium heat until translucent. This should take about 4 minutes. Add the ginger, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, cayenne, and a pinch of pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
2. Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker, add the remainder of the ingredients, season with salt, and stir to combine. Cover and leave cook on low for 4-6 hours.
3. Add the spinach and gently mix. Let sit until wilted. Gently stir in the vinegar, taste, and season with more salt, pepper, and vinegar as needed.

MIX Wellness https://mixwellness.com/

Want more? Here are some easy Crock Pot dinner recipes from some of my favorite bloggers!

• Apricot Sesame Crock Pot Chicken Wings
• Chicken Cacciatore Stew
• Chicken Parmesan
• Crock Pot Carnitas with Homemade Corn Tortillas
• Crock Pot Chicken with Salsa, Black Beans, & Green Chiles 
• Crock Pot Enchilada Casserole
• Crock Pot Luau Pork with Cauli Rice
• Easy Moroccan Beef Stew with Lemons & Butternut Squash
• Fish Curry
• Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Lasagna 
• Lemon Chicken with Rosemary
• Middle Eastern Lamb Stew
• Red Beans & Rice
• Roasted Chicken with Carmelized Onion & Apple Honey Stuffing
• Simple Chuck Roast
• Slow Cooked Beef Bourguignon
• Slow Cooker Beef Shanks with Garlic & Herbs
• Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
• Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara with Basil Zucchini Noodles
• Slow Cooker Curry
• Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Shallots & Baby Carrots
• Slow Cooker Turmeric Chicken
• South of the Border Chicken Chowder
• Tangy Pineapple Shredded Beef
• Vegetarian Lentil & Sweet Potato Cottage Pie

Addicted your Crock Pot yet? That’s what I thought.

Ok, so the dinner dilemma now solved, but what about the most important meal of the day – breakfast? Weekday mornings can be pure madness in a house filled with littles, and breakfast tends to take a hit on the priority list.

Did you know that you can also prepare a healthy breakfast in your Crock Pot too? EUREKA!

Sign up here to receive part two of this series, where I’ll be sharing my best breakfast secrets and one of my favorite recipes, Apple Quinoa Porridge, that is ready to eat as soon as we wake up! Trust me – it doesn’t get any more delicious than this.

Sign up here.

Now it’s your turn. In the comments below, please share your favorite Crock Pot dinner recipes or any other tips to Crock Pot cooking! I’d love to hear!