Sweet Potato, Black Bean & Pork Crockpot Stew

At this point in my pregnancy dinners are alternating between quick and fresh (salads, eggs, fruit) and slow cooked meals that are ready at dinner with no effort. Slow cooked meals feel like a bit of a gamble as I prepare them... will we be around for dinner that night? Or will my water break leaving a simmering crockpot meal for whomever picks up our dog to take to their house?

This meal is everything I like in a dinner. It's hearty with chunks of meat- I tend to load my bowl with more veggies while my husband loves the carnivorous elements. It's quick to prepare and it's cheap. Pork stew meat runs around $1.49/lb in our local grocery stores and I managed to snag a pack that was .50 off. Topped off with some lime spiked sour cream it was a hit with everyone in our family.

Sweet Potato, Black Bean & Pork Crockpot Stew (total cost for recipe is $5.25 or .88/serving)
(serves 6)

1 1/2 pounds pork stew meat (2.19- .50 coupon= 1.69)
1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (.99/lb = 1.49)
1 15.25 oz can black beans (.89)
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes (.95)
1/2 cup orange juice or the juice of 1 orange (estimate .23 cents cost)
2 cloves garlic
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried cilantro
Top with: sour cream, lime & parsley (optional)

Gather your ingredients by the slow cooker. Use a garlic press or mince the garlic and add it into the cooker. Peel and dice the sweet potato and add that into the cooker.

Add the pork in on top of the sweet potatoes. 

Dump in the can of beans and the can of tomatoes. 

Pour the orange juice over the top. 

Add all spices and set the slow cooker to start. I cooked on high for 4 hours but you could also do low for 8 hours. 

When the time is up on the slow cooker and you're ready for dinner you can create a quick lime sour cream topping for your stew. I mixed a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream with the juice from a lime wedge and some lime zest and set a dollop on top of each bowl along with a lime wedge. I also sprinkled some fresh parsley on top since I had some on hand. Toppings are optional. Enjoy!