Bailey Fischer - Slow Cooked Paleo: 75 Real Food Recipes for Effortless, Wholesome Meals in Your Slow Cooker

To Justin, for always believing that my wings will work when I leap before I look, and that the bridge will manifest beneath me when I run before Im ready. For never doubting my dreams before Ive found a way to catch them, and for your patience with me in the grocery store. Thank you. For all of it. I love you.

Its not a big secret that cooking isnt my thingeating is. I make no bones about the fact that I think food is meant to be enjoyed, and I refuse to waste time eating food that doesnt bring me total satisfaction. I love the aromas, the visual experience of looking at a beautifully prepared plate, the social connection that comes with sharing a meal with friends and loved ones, and of course the gustatory pleasure of eating delicious foods. These are some of the greatest joys in life.

I deeply appreciate people who share my passion for food, especially folks who also recognize that real food tastes better. By real food I mean meat, fish, fowl, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seedsthe items that I have been urging people to eat for over a decade on my blog, Marks Daily Apple. These are the foods that have nourished us for all of human history; the foods that send epigenetic signals for health, longevity and vitality to every one of the cells in our bodies; the foods that connect us back to farmers and ranchers and the land itself.

Bailey shares my passion and my belief that food should be as delicious and as nutritious as possible. She gets it. Her recipes are exactly how I like to eat: simple to prepare, flavorful food made with quality ingredients. She is welcome to come to my home and make my wife Carrie and I some anytime!

Of course, Im honored that she chose to feature my Primal Kitchen condiments in this book. The easiest way to elevate simple food preparations is to add sauces and dressings that take them to the next level. Making basic ingredients like meat and vegetables taste amazing is easy when you have access to healthy condiments. And when you have recipes like Baileys that give you fresh ideas for how to use them, thats a win-win.

I am always working toward making healthy food options exciting and accessible for everyone. Bailey has taken the same approach with the recipes in this book. Too often, people are afraid to make the leap to Paleo/Primal (or just healthy) diets because they are afraid that eating this way is difficult, time-consuming and burdensome. Or, they believe that healthy food is boring and bland. The more people we have like Baileyshowing people that its not only possible, but simple to make tasty, healthful foodthe better. No excuses now!

So, thank you for picking up a copy of Slow Cooked Paleo. I have dedicated the last two decades to educating people about how eating well is a cornerstone of every aspect of health and longevity. I want to thank Bailey for continuing to spread this message on her blog, Whole Kitchen Sink, and with this book. Bailey is one of the ambassadors for the Paleo/Primal lifestyle who make a tremendous difference in stemming the tide of modern, preventable chronic illnesses and promoting a better way forward. I am happy to support her in continuing to bring Paleo to the masses. Keep it up, Bailey!

Transitioning to the Paleo diet can seem overwhelming, but with this collection of easy, flavor-packed recipes and the help of your slow cooker, the process is effortlessand even outright enjoyable! The slow cooker has so many benefits beyond doing the majority of the cooking for you. I chose to focus on healthy, wholesome meals made in the slow cooker because of the diverse yet approachable array of nutritious, budget-friendly recipes that can be made in one easy appliance. Many of the dishes youll find here are Paleo takes on classic favorites, which helps make it smoother to transition to a real-food diet without giving up the flavor and familiarity of the dishes you know and love. These recipes will show you how easy it can be to get a healthy Paleo dinner on the table, and how they can be tailored to suit many other dietary needs, such as low carb, autoimmune protocol (AIP), vegan or vegetarian, so everyone can find something theyre looking for.

The health benefits of eating Paleo by introducing more real foods into your diet and cutting out the processed ones are numerous (and incredible, if you ask me). Youre bound to find yourself with increased energy, sounder sleep, a sharper mind, better performance in your workouts and even down a few pounds. The old adage is true you really should eat your vegetables, and these recipes will help you do it!

Utilizing the slow cooker for your Paleo lifestyle can also do your budget a lot of favors. This was an important factor in the recipes in this book. Not only do I keep your wallet in mind, but I also make eating a real-food diet easier for you and your family for the long hauleven if it means working in less-expensive cuts of meat a few nights a week to balance out the cost of other items like almond flour, coconut aminos and the more expensive almond butter without added sugar.

I know all too well how hard it can be to prioritize your health, work toward weight loss if thats a goal or transition away from gluten, dairy, grain and soy. But I also know it can be done. This book is exactly what I needed when I began my own weight loss journey with Paleo but didnt know how to cook for myself, and then when I realized how great eating real food made me feel but was overwhelmed balancing time in the kitchen with my 12-hour overnight shifts. My hope is that you use these recipes to find better health and that you see how capable you are of making the Paleo diet an attainable, delicious, everyday part of your life.

With love, and in health,

Bailey

My go-to slow cooker is a basic 6-quart (5.4-L) model with the no-frills setting options of high, low and keep warm. This capacity is large enough to make generous helpings for a family dinner or for meal prepping, and its just the right size to fit roasts, stews and egg bakes without overfilling. The recipes in this book have been developed with the 6-quart (5.4-L) slow cooker in mind, unless otherwise noted. Most recipes intended for a 6-quart (5.4-L) model will still work just fine in a 7- or an 8-quart (6.3- or 7.2-L) model, although the cook time will be slightly altered.