As the nights get cooler, I’m finding myself craving more comfort food and longing for the delicious aroma of Autumn foods permeating my home. With juggling full-time Birth & Postpartum work, Administrative Director duties, and having a personal life, I’m struggling with making the time to cook healthy, hearty meals. This is when my crockpot is crucial

I utilize crockpots a lot in my work as a Postpartum Doula. It’s an easy way to make large meals while still giving my clients the hands-on assistance they need. Just throw everything in and 4-6 hours later you have a delicious and nutritious meal! You’d be surprised at just how many things you can cook in a crockpot!

One of my favorite Fall crockpot meals is Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup. It’s inexpensive, freezes well, and is packed full of nutrients, not to mention it’s naturally gluten free and can be easily made with vegan ingredients.

My favorite recipe comes from Adventures in Wunderland mainly because in addition to being delicious, it’s also simple. There are a lot of good butternut squash soup recipes out there, but most of them require a ton of peeling, chopping, baking and the like before actually making the soup itself. Spending that amount of time on meal prep is not entirely realistic for new parents or busy professionals. If you have the time to prep it from scratch, I say go for it, but for those looking for an easier way to go about this meal, turn to your local Trader Joe’s or Sprouts. They typically have pre-peeled and pre-cut veggies to make your life easier!

The recipe is listed in the link above, however, I typically tweak it just a bit for my tastes. I add a ¼ of a teaspoon each of ground nutmeg, ground ginger and curry powder for extra flavor. I also use an immersion blender instead of a regular blender.

Once prepared, I like to top it with a dollop of greek yogurt or pair it with a slice of sourdough bread topped with goat cheese. A simple side-salad works too!

We hope you enjoy this delicious recipe and that the Fall flavors and warmth help inspire you to experience the fullness of this beautiful season.

We’d love to hear about your favorite recipes you rely on when you’re busy or wanting to avoid spending hours in the kitchen! Email us at admin@ocdoulacollective.com to have your recipe or meal prep tips featured on our blog!

(photo courtesy of Adventures in Wunderland blog)