I have 2 kids, a husband, 2 dogs, 3 goats, 115 students, 3 different grade levels, 2 jobs, and prepping for any number of contests…at any ONE point in time!  And somehow, I still manage to cook breakfast and dinner nearly every night of the week (we usually go out once a week to give mom–ME–a break!). So how do I do it?  Simple…I have a weekly menu (that I stick to), a crazy detailed calendar, and 3 Crock Pots and 1 electric pressure cooker.

For working moms (and dads), learning to use a slow cooker (Crock Pot) and a pressure cooker (Insta-Pot) can be a game changer.  Dinner can be thrown into the slow cooker before work, dinner is done when you get home, and no longer are you relying on boxed, prepackaged meals.  Some people have even gone as far as having their dinners pre-planned and bagged in the freezer so that even the ingredients are ready for the slow cooker. Personally, I’m not there yet.

One of our favorite slow cooker meals was actually inspired by a stew that I once had at the Moerlin Lager House in Cinncinnati.  It’s a hearty pork stew filled with lentils and tomatillos with a ton of ingredients, but oh sooooo worth it!

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. pork, cut into chunks–either cut from pork steaks or pork butt and patted dry with a paper towel
1 lb. fresh tomatillos–chopped
1 c. chopped bell pepper
1 c. chopped sweet onion
3 cloves garlic–chopped
1 c. chopped carrot
1 c. uncooked lentils
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 bay leaves
4 c. beef or pork broth

Directions
Heat 3 TBSP olive oil in a large skillet.  Brown pork and remove from oil.  Place pork into slow cooker. Reduce heat on the skillet to medium.  Add pepper, onion, garlic, tomatillos, and carrot. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes.  Deglaze pan with 1 c. of broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet to pick up all of the flavor bits.  Add to pork in the crock pot and stir to combine. Add remaining ingredients to the crock pot.  Allow to slow cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

Slow Cooker Comfort Food Recipes #SundaySupper

Desserts, Breakfasts, and Sides

• Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crisp by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Slow Cooker Banana Pudding by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Baked Apples by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Slower Cooker Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding by A Little Fish in the Kitchen
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter by Our Good Life

Main Dish

• Beef Brisket in Slow Cooker by Life Tastes Good
• Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff by Flour On My Face
• Crockpot Cabbage Rolls by My World Simplified
• Slow Cooker Asian BBQ Pork by Simple and Savory
• Slow Cooker Asian Garlic-Ginger Meatballs by The Weekend Gourmet
• Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy by Sunday Supper Movement
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Slow Cooker Cube Steaks Paprika by Hardly A Goddess
• Slow Cooker Pepperoncini Chicken by Cricket’s Confections
• Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak by Soulfully Made
• Slow Cooker Short Ribs with Mushrooms by Cooking Chat
• Slow Cooker Swiss Steak by Palatable Pastime
• Slow Cooker Tinga de Pollo Poblano by Cooking On The Ranch

Soups, Stews, and Pastas

• Beef Massaman Curry (Slow Cooker) by Caroline’s Cooking
• Beefy Chili Mac by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup by Food Lust People Love
• Kid Friendly Mac and Cheese in a Crockpot by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pork & Lentil Stew by Gourmet Everyday
• Slow Cooker Baked Ziti by A Mind “Full” Mom
• Slow Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Soup by Bites of Wellness
• Slow Cooker Low Carb Mexican Casserole by My Life Cookbook
• Slow Cooker Pesto Mozzarella Chicken Pasta by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Slow Cooker Southwestern Pork Stew by The Freshman Cook

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