What No Single Dad Should Be Without

How many times does your busy schedule include your dinner recipe of …I’ll take a #1 with a Coke, #3 with BBQ sauce and #2 no tomato?

No matter how guilty it makes you feel, it is almost impossible to prepare dinner when you get home from work, or just  finished coaching their t-ball game. I have one amazing kitchen appliance that can save your life!

The Crock Pot!

My life completely changed once I found the world of slow cooker recipes. It was like the parting of the red sea. Miracles happen when you let the crock pot cook your meals. Overnight, I became the dad that can cook. You can purchase less expensive meats, throw some stuff on top of it, let it cook on low all day and presto—you’re Dad- the Super Chef !  Really, it is almost impossible to screw up.

Guaranteed winner: Combine onion soup/dip mix and a can of cream of mushroom soup, couple tablespoons of water. Slop it all over any meat in the crock pot, set it on low for  8 – 10 hours. You have just become an expert in the kitchen.

Trust me. It will look like a mess when you start, put when it is done,  it will taste great and you will have terrific gravy sitting on the bottom of the pot. (See, don’t I almost sound like an  official chef) . You could even add some sliced or red potatoes and some carrots and you have a complete meal.

I was given the  cookbook  Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Feasting with Your Slow Cooker This is a great book. The recipes are so simple and easy and each recipe was  submitted by different people.  If your looking for a diet book, this is not for you. But the reality is, most crock pot recipes are more about ease and simplicity and filling your home with the aroma of a good home cooked meal, then counting calories. I am sure there are books available to address the light variety.

Do you have a hard time getting your kids to eat vegetables? This is one of my kids favorites from this book and it even includes string beans! It was submitted by Shirley Hinh of Wayland, IA.

Tater Tot Casserole : makes 6-8 servings so also good for reheated leftovers

32 oz bag frozen tater tots, 1 lb. ground beef, browned, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, 2 – 14 oz cans of green beans – drained, 10 3/4-oz can cream of mushroom soup (stuff works in everything), 1 Tbsp. dried onions, 1/4 cup milk

1. Line slow cooker with frozen tater tots.

2. Combine remaining ingredients. Pour over potatoes.

3. Cover. Cook on High 3 hours.

It may not look pretty, but it never fails to bring requests for a second serving! (I realize this is not exactly “cooking light”, but sure beats the combo meal in the drive thru. )

* you can sprinkle individual servings with your choice of grated cheese

So if you don’t already have one, go out and buy a crock pot.  Put your dinner in when you leave for work or the game.  You have  just become the single dad in the kitchen your kids will brag about. Might even make some single moms curious

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