Skinnytaste Fast and Slow: Knockout Quick-Fix and Slow Cooker Recipes

442 Pages·2016·32.29 MB·English

by  Gina Homolka

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pork Tacos with Charred Pineapple Salsa
CONTENTS
Introduction
Cooking Fast and Slow
A Month of Good-for-You Meals
HEALTHY MORNINGS
CHILIS, SOUPS, AND STEWS
ONE-BOWL MEALS
ZOODLES, SQUASHTA, PASTA, AND SAUCE
TACO NIGHT
POULTRY MAINS
MEAT LOVER MAINS
FISH AND SEAFOOD MAINS
MEATLESS MAINS
ON THE SIDE
THE SWEETER SIDE
Acknowledgments
Index

INTRODUCTION
I COOK BECAUSE I LOVE TO EAT. I’m not talking about just good-
for-you foods like salads and quinoa—although, yes, those are great. The foods I
crave range from classic comfort dishes to global cuisine, and everything in
between. At the same time, I try to eat a light and balanced diet, and these two
things don’t necessarily go together. That’s what led me to start experimenting
in my own kitchen eight years ago. I wanted to find ways to eat the foods I
craved, but without throwing off all of my hard work to lose weight and keep it
off. Plus, as a mom, I had to find a way to please not only my palate, but my
picky family’s preferences as well, because cooking separate meals is just not an
option for me. The results of those experiments ultimately became my blog
Skinnytaste.com, and later inspired my first cookbook, The Skinnytaste
Cookbook.
My mission with my first cookbook was to help people create low-calorie
food without sacrificing flavor. I also wanted to help take away some of the fear
and intimidation that people—especially beginners—feel about cooking. I was
thrilled that the book was received so well—thanks to loyal Skinnytaste fans and
so many others, it was a bestseller. What a dream come true! But, as I talked
with people about the book, I kept fielding similar questions: “Are the recipes
easy?” and “Are the recipes fast? I don’t have time to cook.” At the same time, I
was receiving emails and Facebook requests for more superquick weeknight
ideas, as well as recipes for the slow cooker. With all of this feedback, I knew
exactly what my next book should be about.
Skinnytaste Fast and Slow is filled with two types of recipes: quick and easy
dishes that are ready in 30 minutes or less, and those that are made in a slow
cooker. With this book, no matter how busy you are, you can enjoy a delicious
home-cooked meal. Tasty, light, and time-saving! I want everything in these
pages to help simplify your life, because I totally get it—I understand the stress
of having to come up with healthy meals the whole family will enjoy on a
limited time schedule. Talk about pressure!
TAKE A TASTE
In this book, you’ll find 140 recipes that are light on calories and packed with
nutrients and satisfying flavors, while being simple enough to make anytime.
Many of these dishes are versions of the comfort foods I loved during my
childhood, and others are my current favorites. All of them have been simplified
and skinny-fied, so they slim your waistline and fit into your busy schedule. I’ve
spent a year testing and tweaking everything here, and I learned a lot along the
way (you’d be amazed what you can make in a slow cooker…hello, brownies!).
I hope that as you flip through this book, you’ll discover that you can enjoy great
taste and good health, even when time is tight.
In each chapter, I’ve dished out fast recipes, so you can get your meal on the
table in less time than it takes to watch your favorite TV show, as well as slow-
toss all the ingredients into your slow cooker in the morning and come home to a
fabulous masterpiece. If Slow Cooker Hamburger Stroganoff, Pizza-Stuffed
Chicken Roll-Ups, and Slow Cooker Peach-Strawberry Crumble don’t whet your
appetite, then I don’t know what will! And, of course, I’ve covered you from
breakfast to dessert, and every meal in between. You’ll even find some special
chapters, um, sandwiched in between, including one on bowls—because I love
the convenience and ease of tossing a bunch of yummy ingredients into a single
bowl—and one devoted entirely to tacos. I’ve peppered in time-saving tips,
served up some prep and cooking strategies, and even whipped up a meal plan to
give you a day-by-day map for eating well. I’ve given you all the info you need
to achieve your health and diet goals: Each recipe has a full set of nutrition facts
as well as icons that indicate which dishes are vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free,
and freezer-friendly. And the photography…well, don’t be surprised if your
stomach starts growling as you begin to turn the pages!
TACKLING THE TIME OBSTACLE
The truth is that most of us would love to cook or make all of our meals at home.
The truth is that most of us would love to cook or make all of our meals at home.
Research shows that home cooking is healthier than dining out. That’s no
surprise to me, considering that restaurant and take-out meals are enormous and
typically loaded with calories, fat, and sodium. But despite these facts, many of
us are still unable to make it happen. What’s the main issue? For most of us, it’s
time.
With this cookbook, I hope to help you eliminate that excuse once and for all.
If you have 15 minutes, then you have more than enough time to whip up my
kid-friendly Easiest One-Pot Pasta and Broccoli, for example. So many of these
recipes take very little time to make; just look for the ones under the “fast”
sections of each chapter. On the other end of the spectrum, the thrill of slow
cooker meals is that you do some prep work—sometimes as little as tossing
everything in the cooker, though some recipes need a little sautéing to build
flavor—and then you set the timer and head out the door! While you go to work,
run errands, work out, or hang out with your kids, your dinner cooks itself.
Sounds pretty great to me!
Taking charge of your cooking and eating habits can make a big impact on
your health and weight. I hope that Skinnytaste Fast and Slow is a helpful tool to
getting on the road to your very best self—and having fun while you’re at it.
There’s one final point I’d like to make about this book—and this one is
crucial. The good-for-you food here actually tastes really good! Who wants to
eat “diet” food and ditch all the good stuff? Not me! Remember, if you don’t
enjoy the process, it isn’t likely to become a lifelong habit. I kept this thought in
the back of my mind as I was in my kitchen testing recipes. Every dish had to
meet three criteria: Deliver great taste, without many calories, and in a small
amount of prep time. For you, it’s a weight loss win-win…win!
Ready to dig in? Let’s go!
GINA HOMOLKA
RECIPE KEY
Look for these helpful icons throughout the book:
Quick (ready in 30 minutes or less)
Pressure Cooker
Slow Cooker
Vegetarian
Gluten-Free
Dairy-Free
Freezer-Friendly