Sometimes it seems like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I know that all of our readers can relate to not having enough time. We’re all out there, forging our way in the world, trying to make ends meet and juggle a million and one things. Personally, I have a lot on my plate this year. Between a Full-time job, completing my Graduate Degree, working as a Research Assistant and writing for Canada’s hottest blog (wink, wink) there is little to no time left to prepare dinner. And when there’s no time to prepare, un-healthy habits tend to rear their ugly heads. Take-out seems like a much more viable option, when there just isn’t any prep time available.

When time is limited, I often turn to my slow cooker. Not only does a slow cooker save time, but it also cooks some of my hands-down favourite meals! And without trying to sound too much like an infomercial: you can prepare your meal, set it and forget it! You can turn on your slow cooker before you leave for work and come home to a delicious meal. And, with thousands of recipes available on-line, there is no shortage of meals that you can make with a slow cooker. Just in case you don’t have a few minutes to look for any recipes, here are two of my favourites…

Swedish Meatballs on Rice:

This is actually fool-proof and the prep time is less than 5 minutes. I combine President’s Choice Swedish or Angus Meatballs (there is a Blue Menu option if you’re health conscious!) and Meatball Sauce into the slow cooker. Set it on low for 3-4 hours or on high for an hour and a half. Whip up a pot of rice and voila, you’re done!

Homemade Chili:

This recipe is my boyfriend’s pride and joy. It takes about 15 minutes of prep work for this deliciousness. Cook 1-2 lbs of extra lean ground beef in a frying pan. Combine meat with one large diced green pepper, one diced red onion, two cans of diced tomatoes, one large can of tomato paste and one can of red kidney beans into the slow cooker. Add chili powder and flakes to taste. Feel free to add hot sauce if you like your chili spicy! Set on low for at least 5 hours, although we usually leave it for a full 8 hours while we’re at work. TIP: It’s great if you add tex mex cheese as well!