It was last Easter that I had a game changer realization.
I had borrowed a second crockpot from a friend so that I could have the meat and mashed potatoes cooking at the same time while we were at church, ensuring I would be able to host dinner in a timely manner. I was nearing my third trimester of my second pregnancy, and while my body said “you should not be hosting this year”, my mind said “you need to be making quality memories for your daughter”.
So there I was hosting and thinking how thankful I was that crockpots existed.

Fast forward to this Easter when I had a bouncy baby boy on one hip and an energetic four year old calling “mama come look!” every five seconds. I couldn’t figure out how to successfully prepare daily dinners let alone fathom how I was going to host again. But then I remembered crockpots and then it hit me.

Why am I using two crockpots on holidays but not weekly when I actually really do need the extra help?

So instead of borrowing, I bought a second slow cooker. This time Green Life brand. And now at the beginning of the week I throw two meals in the slow cookers and run them at the same time. If my sweet picky four year old doesn’t like one of the options, she simply chooses the other. And I have enough food to run off leftovers for a few days!

Sometimes I do two whole meals, and sometimes I throw a meal in one and batch cook meat for the week in the other. My favorite go to is throwing a couple chicken breasts, some bone broth, salt, pepper, & garlic powder in a slow cooker on high for four hours. Then I shred it and use it to make quick chicken quesadillas, throw it in a pot pie, or make easy shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches on toasted bread.

My easiest go to meal in the slow cooker is salsa chicken which is just the following ingredients cooked on high for four hours and served as nachos, burrito bowls, or on flour tortillas:

3-4 chicken breasts

medium jar of salsa

bag of frozen corn

one container of black beans

one bag of frozen sliced bell peppers

cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper

It always bothers me when someone posts an “easy quick recipe” and it takes more than 10-15 minutes to prep because that’s just not doable for me right now.

Lately, running the two slow cookers has been such a great way to simplify my time in the kitchen and also maximize the time I do spend in there!

This method also allows me the flexibility to throw a meal in for another family in need which is something I often find myself doing.

We can’t pour into others lives effectively if our own families are running on empty. When we’re parenting babies and small children it’s very likely that we’re exhausted and struggling ourselves! This is one way I can quickly allow space for both and not feel like I’m running on fumes by dinner time.