Slow Cooker Ratatouille

Like I said yesterday, I've been super busy lately, so I've been using the slow cooker. The recipe for this ratatouille was in the booklet that came with the slow cooker. It called for eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, a few spices, olive oil and a can of chopped tomatoes. Throw everything in the slow-cooker, turn it on, leave for work, and dinner is ready when you get home! Perfect!

Like what you're reading? Then sign up for my healthy living newsletter!

Lebanese Eggplant Stew

Yesterday was another busy day, so I started up the slow cooker before I left for work in the morning. This time I made Lebanese Eggplant Stew, which is another recipe from The Vegetarian Slow Cooker. The dish consists of diced eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, onion, garlic (I used shallots), cinnamon, allspice and red pepper flakes. I chopped all the veggies the night before so I wouldn't have much work to do in the morning. The recipe didn't call for any any liquid, which I thought was strange, so I added a little vegetable broth. I also added some chickpeas to make it more of complete meal. When I got home, I cooked up a brown and wild rice mixture in my rice cooker. I added a little olive oil to the stew and topped it with chopped olives and parsley.

This was a good meal, but next time I make it, I think I'll omit the cinnamon and allspice. I'd also like to try it with a tomato sauce base instead of broth.


Like what you're reading? Then sign up for my healthy living newsletter!

Risotto with Lentils

I had to take my cat Schroeder to the vet for a check up last night. Last year I found a lump on his paw that turned out to be an aggressive tumor of the cartilage, and Schroe had to have his arm removed. He has to go to the vet every 3 to 4 months to have his progress checked (there's a slight chance the tumor could have spread), and he also needs his blood sugar checked because he's diabetic. (I should have studied animal health care!) He ran a comprehensive wellness blood test, which came back normal. The vet said Schroeder looks great and there's nothing to worry about!

Before I left for the vet's office, I started up the slow cooker with another meal from The Vegetarian Slow Cooker. This is Risotto with Lentils, and it's extremely simple. I added half an onion and a little bit of olive oil to slow cooker and let it cook for a few minutes. Then I added half cup of lentils, a cup of ariboro rice and four cups of water. I set the time for two hours and ran out with Schroeder. When I came home, I chopped and sautéed some kale. I garnished the rice mixture with a little olive oil, parsley and chopped olives. It was an quick and easy meal, and it was quite tasty!

Schroeder doesn't have extra appendages in the back, that's his friend Archie behind him!

Like what you're reading? Then sign up for my healthy living newsletter!

Vegetarian Slow Cooker

The people at Ten Speed Press were kind enough to send me a copy of The Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Lynn Alley. I was quite excited to find it in my mailbox, but disappointment set in once I remembered that I didn't own a slow cooker. Dennis solved that problem by buying me one for Valentine's Day. Most girls like getting flowers and chocolates for Valentine's Day, but I really like kitchen gadgets! (Last year he gave me a Vitamix!)

I had a really busy day yesterday and I knew it would be difficult to find time to make a good meal for dinner, so I decided to take the slow cooker on it's maiden voyage. I made Potato Artichoke Stew, which was super easy. The recipe called for a tomato sauce recipe from the book, which I didn't have time to make, so I used canned tomatoes. I cut all of the veggies up the night before, turned the slow cooker on in the morning before work, and dinner was magically ready when I came home! The meal was very tasty and I can't wait to try more recipes from the cookbook!

Like what you're reading? Then sign up for my healthy living newsletter!