Kelly @ New Leaf Wellness

On September 26, 2015 by Kim

Meet OAMM blog partner Kelly. She started New Leaf Wellness as an outlet for creativity and passion for simple, healthy living. She soon found that easy, freezable recipes were the perfect fit for her family and her readers!

Kelly’s specialty is throw and go slow cooker recipes. Follow her on Instagram for some mouthwatering pictures of her latest recipes and blog resources like this one. She also has three cookbooks about slow cooking and freezer cooking. You can purchase them all in a bundle for a very reasonable price.

You can also connect with Kelly via Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

But best of all, you can find her delicious recipes in Menu Builder and incorporate them into your freezer cooking day!

Original: Crockpot Chicken Philly Cheesesteak (Traditional, Nut-Free, Egg-Free)

Freezable: Crockpot Chicken Philly Cheesteak (log in required)

Original: Freezer to Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup (Traditional, Dairy Free)

Freezable: Freezer to Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup (log in required)

Here are a few more!

• Slow Cooker Coconut Chickpea Curry – pictured above (freezer version)
• Crockpot Greens and Beans (freezer version)
• Chicken Pesto Calzones (freezer version)

How long have you been blogging about food?

I’ve been blogging for over three years now. It started as more of a hobby, but turned into a full-time business.

Have you always loved cooking, or was it a skill that you learned to love? Who taught you to cook?

I’m totally self-taught and don’t consider myself an expert at all. I think most people like my recipes because they’re healthy, delicious, and very easy to make.

What is your favorite meal to serve to family and friends? What is your favorite treat to make for yourself (meal or dessert)?

This slow cooker beef and carrots recipe is my all-time favorite, and I always freeze it for friends when they have a new baby. In terms of treats, I probably bake chocolate chip cookies most often.

What is your favorite kitchen tool or gadget? Tell us a little about how you fell in love with it and how you use it in your kitchen.

Jokari hands-free baggy clips are the bomb.com. I bought 10 of them and use them every time I’m making slow cooker freezer meals. No more messes on my kitchen floor!

We LOVE these too!

 

When you are meal planning or looking for new recipes, what kind of guidelines do you follow for choosing them? Or what inspires you in the kitchen?

I like simple recipes with 10 ingredients or less and all of them have to be available at my local grocery store. (With three young children and a fourth on the way, I don’t have time to shop around.) All of my freezer recipes have be “no cook” recipes that don’t require any cooking ahead of time.

What items are ALWAYS on your grocery list? What items will you NEVER put on your grocery list?

I buy eggs, butter, and coffee in bulk at Costco, and most of my weekly shopping trips include fresh fruit, meat, and beans. I wouldn’t say I NEVER buy them, but I try to stay away from condensed soups, chips, and soda pops.

Tell us the best kitchen tip or trick that you’ve ever discovered.

I’m not tech-savvy at all, but I figured out how to make freezer meal labels that can be typed on, saved, and printed. I email them to all of my email subscribers for free.

What do you like to do when you aren’t cooking or blogging?

Run, read, and go out to dinner with my husband or friends.

Have you ever freezer cooked? Share some of your favorite recipes or tips.

Yes! I’ve shared 31 freezer cooking prep sessions on my New Leaf Wellness blog over the past year! Here are my most popular recipes: