[shortandfluffy]

I have really been wanting to use my slow cooker to make soup. But I can't find how to make any?

Does anyone have some good recipes to share that are low cal??

Or any other suggestions for my slow cooker.. its only been used ONCE and that was for a roast my mother in law made. Sad I know.. still trying to learn how to cook.

Thanks guys!!!

[Vladadog]

i put a pound of boneless skinless turkey breast (or chicken but i prefer turkey), a can of drained black beans ( i prefer these to kidney beans although those will work), and a can of ro-tel line & cilantro (usually in the section with tomatoes not in the salsa area although it is like salsa and you can use salsa) in the slow cooker. Cook for about 5 hours till the turkey is totally falling apart. Drain off the juices and shred the turkey together with the beans and ro-tel.

The whole thing altogether has about 1,100 calories, 11 grams of fat, 89 carbs, 24 fiber, and 137 protein (according to myplate). You get a lot of servings. You can use it in tacos or wraps (add brown rice for more fiber) or put some in an omelet. I often just put some in a pita for lunch. It's good hot or cold and it's low enough in fat you can add cheese if you want (although it's so yummy it doesn't need cheese and anyway, i always manage to find my daily fats somewhere else during the day...)

I use canned beans. If you use dry beans completely cook them before putting them in the slow cooker - the tomatoes will keep the beans from softening if they aren't fully cooked already and beans are really bad for you if they aren't cooked all the way.

[astrophe]

Here's my fav black bean soup.

* 1.5 cup dried black beans, rinsed, picked over.

Dump it in a bowl filled with water to soak overnight.

In the morning, rinse, and drain and then dump it in a crockpot with 6 cups of water. Cover and cook on high for 6-8 hours or until beans are tender.

Once tender add:

* 2 cups rough chopped onion
* 1 (15 oz) can italian or mexican stewed tomato (Or Muir Glen Fire Roasted -- yum!)
* 4 cloves garlic
* 1 tsp oregano
* 1/3 tsp thyme
* 1/2 tsp black pepper
* 3 vegetable stock cubes
* salt to taste

Cook another hour. I like to puree with hand blender and serve but you don't have to. Garnish with green onion, cilantro, minced tomato, sour cream -- whatever is handy.

A.

[shortandfluffy]

Those both sound great! I see a common trend with the black beans!

We just recently tried some in a recipe I found on here.. they are pretty good!

Now I need to go to the grocery store!

[Vladadog]

another good use for the slow cooker is to make oatmeal. Just put all the ingredients in the slow cooker before you go to bed and wake up to hot fresh oatmeal for breakfast.

[MyBestYear]

I love soup when calorie counting (or anytime). It can be SO filling and so low in calories. I do a simple one in a crock pot --

half bag (3 servings) of egg noodles 630 calories
whole big bag of frozen veggies 800 calories
better than boullion all vegetable boullion 30-50 calories for the entire soup
can of chick peas 300 calories

then spices to taste but the boullion spices it up a lot

The entire crockpot full is about 1800 calories and I would estimate that it makes 10 huge bowls (I have a really big crock pot lol) which would make each big bowl about 180 calories give or take.

Very low fat and cal but a little high on the sodium if you are watching that. A big bowl satisfies me for a meal.

Alternatives would be to ditch the noodles and add another can or two of beans for the same calories (white beans are good, as are pink kidney). I also put a few cans of baby food in there to thicken the stock and add some more nutrients.