Thank you Parenthood. Thank you The Newsroom. Twice in one night I found myself bursting into tears because your stories are so damn compelling.

I am talking total waterworks. I’ve been known to fold during iPhone commercials and especially poignant endings to novels, but it was a double-whammy this time around. As I sat alone at home with a glass of wine watching my shows On Demand, these people’s fictional lives really rocked my world. I hate series finales. Worst. Idea. Ever.

So maybe I made myself feel better by stuffing my face with slow-cooked comfort food. Maybe.

What You Need:

• 3 large tomatoes, diced into cubes
• 1 large yellow onion, sliced
• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 green pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 cup Brussels sprouts, halved, with stems cut off
• 1 jalapeno
• 4 carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp dried tarragon
• 1 tsp ground sage
• 1 tsp ground thyme
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth

What You Do:

Easy. Dump everything into a crock pot and turn it on. Cook on high for 6 hours.

Pro Tip: Make ahead and freeze for a fully prepared meal at any time. This serves 4.