Easy Recipes For Your Slow Cooker, Instant Pot and Microwave

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Are you in the middle of a remodel too??

Or just doing a lot of projects around your house?

Maybe you’re super busy decking the halls for the holidays

And Christmas shopping

Or maybe you’re working from home and the last thing you want to do is spend hours cooking dinner at the end of your day

Well, whatever the case, these ‘recipes’ are so quick and easy to throw together in the morning and then forget about until it’s dinner time

I wrote this post a long time ago but I think it’s a good reminder that even though we’re super busy, it’s still possible to eat good, home cooked meals

Today we’re going to talk about how

YOUR SLOW COOKER , INSTANT POT AND MICROWAVE ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS DURING YOUR REMODEL

When you’re in throws of a DIY remodel, you’re tired by the end of the day. I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to do is cook dinner! (you can see the rooms we’ve already finished HERE)

This is where your slow cooker will become your best friend.

Now I’m not talking about some slow cooker recipes that take an hour or more in the morning to prepare and put into the pot…

I’m talking about 2-minutes-into-the-pot-and-turn-it-on ideas.

Quick effortless meals that will greet you at dinner time.

All cooked.

And really tasty.

These are meals that we cook all the time. Even though we still have have a fully functioning kitchen right now. Because we haven’t started that project yet…

So extra points for you if you are in the middle of a kitchen remodel!

Italian Sausage in Marinara Sauce

Toss about 6 raw Italian Sausages into your slow cooker (we like Jennie-O Sweet Italian Lean Turkey Sausage). Pour a jar (about 25 oz) of your favorite marinara sauce over them. Cover. Cook on low until done - about 6 hours. Serve over pasta. You can even avoid having to cook the pasta by using a ready-made variety.

Pork Verde Burritos

Toss a raw lean pork tenderloin into your slow cooker. Pour a jar of green verde sauce over it. We like Signature Select Salsa Verde 24 oz. Cover. Cook on low until done - about 6 hours. When cooked, shred the meat. Serve on flour tortillas (rolled into a burrito) , with jack cheese and sour cream.

Chicken Tacos

Toss a large raw chicken breast into your slow cooker. Pour a jar of red salsa over it. Cover. Cook on low until done - about 6 hours. Shred the meat when done. Serve in taco shells with cheese, tomato and avocado.

BBQ Pulled Pork

Toss a raw lean pork tenderloin into your slow cooker. Pour a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce over it. Cover. Cook on low until done - about 6 hours. Shred the meat when done. Serve on hamburger buns.

Taco Soup

This one takes a little longer because you have to cook the ground turkey and onion first. But it’s so good! Toss into your slow cooker:

1 lb cooked lean ground turkey cooked with 1 chopped onion

2 (16oz) cans chili style pinto beans undrained

1 can (16 oz) chili black beans undrained

1 can (16 oz) whole kernel Mexican style corn undrained

1 can (16oz) chopped tomatoes undrained

1 small jar Pace Picante chunky salsa (mild)

1 can (4oz) chopped green chilies

1 package taco seasoning

Still all together. Cover and cook on low about 6 hours.

Serve in bowls and top with tortilla strips, sour cream, shredded cheese and ripe avocado slices.

Serve any of these dishes with a side of salad or other favorite veggie and you’re good to go!

And you can make any of these recipes in your instant pot as well

Now here is where your microwave will become your best friend:

We all know that it’s great for re-heating food. And we certainly use it a lot for that.

But the thing that makes my microwave my best friend is —

MUG CAKE!

Quick. Easy. Decadence. IN A COFFEE CUP.

Individual size.

Just for me.

When my house is under construction. And I’m tired.

But I need just a little something C H O C O L A T E

So here’s a really good Mug Cake recipe

Chocolate Mug Cake

Whisk together in a coffee mug:

3 TBSP all purpose flour

3 TBSP sugar

2 TBSP cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking powder

tiny dash of salt

Add:

3 TBSP whole milk

3 TBSP vegetable oil

splash of vanilla

3 TBSP chocolate chips (optional)

Stir with a fork until smooth and microwave for 90 seconds

Cool 2 minutes.

Top with whipped cream or ice cream.

Enjoy!

Due to health issues I need to live a low sugar/low fat lifestyle. And I’m thinking there might also be some of you out there that might be doing the same. So I’m sharing my version of Mug Cake that’s low glycemic and lower fat.

Now we can have our cake and eat it too!!

PS It’s so rich, I only eat 1/3 of it at a time…

Low Glycemic/Lower Fat Chocolate Mug Cake

Whisk together in a soup mug or 2 cup ramekin:

1/4 C white whole wheat flour

2 TBSP cocoa powder

1 TBSP coconut sugar

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

Add:

1 tsp liquid coconut oil

1/4 tsp vanilla

3 TBSP Kithul syrup or Agave

Mix together well with a fork.

Microwave on high for 40 seconds or until a toothpick comes out clean.

When cool, I top it with a ‘frosting’ I make that is about 1TBSP softened low fat cream cheese sweetened with about 1tsp Kithul or Agave and a dash of vanilla.

Enjoy!

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