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The HC Wellness Center offers both traditional and alternative therapies to assist clients in achieving optimal health, wellness and balance. Featuring as its principle service Colon Hydrotherapy, formerly seen only at fine spas and destination resorts, HC Wellness Center & Spa is one of the first to offer this valuable wellness service to the Charlotte Metropolitan and surrounding areas. HC Wellness Center & Spa is a premier North Carolina spa providing the most luxurious, and beneficial wellness and beauty services available to the Charlotte Metropolitan and surrounding areas. Established in 2004 with the vision of combining traditional spa treatments, that promote relaxation and well being, with the most advanced skin, body and wellness services. The HC Spa supplies a moment of luxury for your body, mind and spirit. Here nature and science meet harmoniously as the finest massage, skin care and spa treatments await you.
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Monday, November 9, 2015

Warm Up with Your Slow Cooker

Warm Up with Your Slow Cooker
Just set-it-and-forget-it! So goes the appeal of the slow cooker and it just so happens to be the perfect time of year for it. Slow cooker meals are a great way to enjoy healthier home cooking while saving time, money and calories from eating out. We've compiled a small collection of yummy recipes that will make you and your crockpot happy! 

* Remember you can substitute any meat of your choice, just adjust the cooking time and/or temperature.
Crockpot Chicken Soup
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken, cut into chunks
  • 1-2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1-2 cups carrots, chopped
  • 1-2 cups celery, chopped
  • 1 head garlic, chopped
  • 2 cups kale, chopped [don't use baby kale, you want the heartier kale]
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Directions: 
 Put the vegetables in first, put the chicken on top, pour in the broth (you could probably use water if you wanted), season to taste, cover and put on Low for 8 hours. I stir about every 2-3 hours, make sure the meat is now getting covered by broth so it can fully cook. If I want a bit more heat or to finish it sooner, I'll turn it up to high for 2 hours in the middle of cooking.
 If your crockpot gets a bit full -- wait to add the kale, let items cook down a bit and settle into the pot, then slowly incorporate kale over the first few hours.
 Seasonings to use: rosemary, thyme, pepper, salt (add less), tarragon.
Creamy Pork Chops 
  •  1 can cream of chicken soup
  •  1 can cream of mushroom soup
  •  1 cup water
  •  4 pork loin chops
  •  Rosemary
  •  Black Pepper
Directions:
Pour the two cans of soup and water in the crock pot and mix. Put pork chops in the crock pot and then season with rosemary and black pepper to taste. Cook on low for 8 hours.
Use Campbell's Healthy Request soups for less fat, and sodium. Recipe is pretty low in calories.

Quick Turkey Dinner
  • Slice up 1 medium Granny Smith apple and line bottom of crockpot
  • Top with 1-2 turkey breasts
  • Cover with another layer of apple slices
  • Add 1 can of cranberry jelly
  • Cook on low 8-10 hours. Serve with steamed vegetables and voila!...a turkey dinner without all the fuss!
  
Apricot Chicken!
  • 6 frozen chicken breasts
  • 1 packet french onion soup mix
  • 1 jar of apricot preserves
  • *optional: half a bottle of french dressing
Directions:
Throw it all in the crockpot on low for about 8 hours. Also delicious served over rice. 



Cilantro-Lime Chicken 
  
  • 16 oz of chicken (or more and yes, this can be put in frozen)  2 cans of black beans, rinsed and drained (no salt added)
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
  • 3 T. lime juice
  •  3 garlic cloves (or 1 t. garlic powder)
  •  1 t. cumin

    Directions: Cook on l
    ow for 8 hours. If you go silly and forget to drain the beans, it turns into chili.    

    CrockPot Recipe for Sweet and Spicy Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Stew with Coconut Milk

    Makes 4-6 servings; recipe inspired by Sweet and Spicy Asian Pork Shoulder from Real Simple Magazine.

    Ingredients:
    1 - 1 1/4 lbs. ground turkey (I use ground turkey with 7% fat, but not turkey breast)
    2 tsp. + 1 tsp. olive oil
    1 onion, chopped in pieces about 1/2 inch
    2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces about 1 inch
    1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce1/2 cup chicken stock
    1/3 cup sugar, Splenda, or Stevia granulated (I used Stevia; use Splenda or Stevia for South Beach Diet)
    2 T brown sugar (or use 2 T more of the sweetener of your choice)
    2-3 T Chili Garlic Sauce (I used 2 T, which was plenty spicy for me!)
    2 tsp. minced ginger (I used minced ginger from a jar)
    2 tsp. minced garlic
    1 can light coconut milk
    1/2 cup green onions sliced in 1 inch pieces + more thinly sliced green onion for garnish if desired
    cooked white or brown rice for serving, optional

    Instructions:
    Spray CrockPot with non-stick spray. I used a 3.5 quart CrockPot for this recipe.

    Heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a heavy frying pan and brown the ground turkey, breaking it up with the turner as it cooks. This may take 7-8 minutes but don't rush the browning step. Put browned meat into the CrockPot. Add 1 tsp. more olive oil if you need it and saute the onions until they are soft and lightly browned, about 4-5 minutes. Add onions to the CrockPot. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into pieces about 1 inch square. Add sweet potatoes to the CrockPot.

    Mix together the soy sauce, chicken stock, sweetener of your choice, brown sugar (or more sweetener), Chili Garlic Sauce, minced ginger, and minced garlic and pour over ingredients in the CrockPot. Cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the sweet potatoes are done and starting to fall apart just a little. (I stirred it a couple of times, but it's not essential.)

    When the sweet potatoes are done, add the can of light coconut milk and the green onion pieces, turn heat to low, and cook 30 minutes more. Serve hot, with brown or white rice and garnished with thinly sliced green onions if desired.

    To Make with Leftover Turkey:
    Add the leftover chopped turkey about 10-15 minutes before you add the coconut milk.