It's Crocktober season! Every October, food bloggers, home cooks, and nutritionists whip up recipes using the countertop slow cooker, a.k.a., the crockpot.

These days, Mainers are doing everything they can to stretch their grocery budgets. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data analyzed by the University of Maine, a standard basket of groceries costs about 28% to 30% more today than it did in 2020.

Hester Brooks, a Nourish ME Nutrition Educator and course instructor for the Penobscot Bay YMCA Rockport branch, recently launched a "Cooking for Health and Longevity" free cooking series at the YMCA, which is currently sold out. 

"Soups, chilis, stews, pot roasts, and one-pot meals are generally cheaper and are great for crockpots," she said. "It's so cozy and comforting in the fall. And for me, it's all about saving time.  I can prep something before I go to work and throw it in the crockpot, then when I get home, and I'm tired, it's all ready." 

Here are four Crocktober recipes Brooks cooks and recommends to her clients:

Chicken

Creamy crockpot white chicken chili

"You can take what you already have in the refrigerator, like chicken, onions, and garlic. If you don't have ground chicken, use chicken breasts," she said. "The slow cooker shreds the chicken for the chili; most people don't realize that. Anything you cook in a sauce long and slow is going to come out with great texture."

Beef

Mediterranean beef stew

"Just buy beef chuck roast stew meat, which is cheaper than other cuts, but it's a tough meat if boiled or simmered," she said. "The crockpot makes it incredibly tender, almost like pulled pork. Pat it dry with a paper towel first, then sear it,so it locks in the juices. Then add in an acid like stewed tomatoes, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar, which breaks down the toughness of the meat." 

Turkey 

Moroccan turkey stew

"This is my personal favorite, and the one I make at home a lot," she said. "You can save on some of the ingredients like dried apricots by getting them at Job Lots. I've also made this with chicken thighs, too, which are cheaper than chicken breasts per pound. And if you have a bit of allspice, that really makes the dish."

Vegetarian

Split pea soup with roasted carrots

"Dried peas are cheap and are among the items that often pile up at food pantries, because most people don't know what to do with them," said Brooks. "This is also a great way to cook underutilized, nutrient-dense dried beans, as well."

For more "Crocktober" inspiration, Steph Gigliotti of StephRealLife, is running "31 Days of Crockpot Recipes for Crocktober" series. Every day, she publishes a new slow cooker meal on her social media platforms and blog, featuring easy-to-make dishes like Buttery Onion Chicken, Beef Barley Stew, and French Onion Chicken.

To find a nearby food pantry to supplement your crockpot ingredients, visit this Food Pantry Locator. 

Nourish ME is a new statewide nutrition education program funded by the Maine Rural Health Transformation Grant. Hester Brooks is the Nourish ME Nutrition Educator for Knox County. To learn more about upcoming programs in Knox County, contact hbrooks@penbayymca.org.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com