IDEAS please, night before prep

I start studying full time next semester. This term while studying part time i use the crock pot on the afternoons i go into uni get in ready in the morning. Next semester though i will be going in for the whole day 9-5pm ish. I would really like to spend time with the kiddies when I get home rather than cooking so we can eat at 5.30. So need some ideas for what i can do in the crockpot.

WOuld really like recipes that i can prep the night before as im sure you can imagine mornings are a bit hectic at the best of times.

So far i have made beef stew - diced meat and put in fridge, chopped potatos, carrots, cabbage, onion and put in crockpot. Then in the morning all i had to do was do beef stock, mustard powder and soy sauce with boiling water and chuck in with herbs. Chucked in peas when got home and ate 45mins later.

Im stuck for other ideas though. We have a beast in the freezer so beef meals are always go. Other meats need to be relatively cheap for me to buy.

Thanks in advance

my ex's mother used to prepare the soap the night before and either put in fridge or leave on bench then just turn on before going to work.

most things can be put in the night before i imagine then either left in fridge or the bench.

that pasta dish that someone posted would be good too - you would still get to spend time with the kids.

someone on another thread also mentioned roasting 2 chooks at once ...

alison and simon holst have a crockpot cookbook that is quite popular too.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Will look into that recipe book.

I think i just need to look at the things i cook and try prepping them earlier might work.

Angel - I think I have a copy of that book here. let me have a hunt in the next couple of days and Ill let you know

Angel4 - I found it if you still want to borrow it
it's called '100great ways to use, slow cookers & crockpots' by Simon and Alison Holst

Weve got that book too and its great. Some of our favs are irish stew and pork & peaches.

i live in spreydon just around from barringtons mall. End of the week would be better for us too. Mornings are best as kids sleep in the afternoon. What about thursday morning somewhere?