The Crockpot Connection

I think I've gone wild with my slow cooker this weekend.  I've cooked two meals and I have enough leftovers for a week or more.  What is it about the slow cooker that I'm attracted to?  Is it the fact that I love comfort foods simmering away all day and dinner is ready when I come home?  Is it that I love finding new ways to cook different dishes but I don't have to worry too much because I dump it all in the slow cooker and let it cook all day? Do I fall in love with my crockpot all over again when the weather gets chilly and crisp?  The answer is Yes, Yes, and Yes!!!  I'm a sucker for easy recipes, and to have a "fairly" no fail recipe to prepare and all I have to do is to cut up or plop in some frozen meats or veggies and spices and herbs and put the lid on the slow cooker and set it to low, I will have the satisfaction in knowing that what I'm going to make is going to be delicious.  It's one pot to clean and there is most always leftovers for lunch.  I'm not a huge leftover fan, but the crockpot dishes.... I LOVE the leftovers.  I even have recipes to make breads and desserts in the crockpot and while I haven't tried those recipes yet, I'm not far off.  I have recipes for appetizers, drinks and side dishes too. 

I have to admit, I'm not a great cook.  I can't create dishes on the top of my head and I don't really know what flavors go with what and I'm notorious for burning or forgetting an ingredient.  With the slow cooker, the recipes and directions are fairly easy and we end up eating a delicious meal.  I feel good that I can cook something.  Plus with our busy schedules, I load up the slow cooker in the morning and when I come home I switch it to warm and it's ready when we're ready to eat.

So, I sound like I should be on QVC trying to sell you a slow cooker (and if they were to call me up and pay me, I'd do it) but I was just so happy to eat yummy, healthy and delicious meals this weekend that I wanted to share my accomplishments, however small they might be.  If you are looking for some good recipes for your slow cooker as the Fall and Winter seasons approach, Betty Crocker has a lot of great recipes.  Also, Stephanie O'Dea author of the book "Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking" has some fabulous ideas that are healthy, east to make, gluten free (although you can use the regular ingredients if you are not gluten resistant) and the recipes are some what inexpensive.  She will be coming out with a new cookbook in late December and I can't wait.  She also has a blog where you can get some of her recipes:  crockpot365.blogspot.com .  McCormick's also has a slow cooker packet/recipe line and the packets I've tried have been great.  There are easy ways to make dinner now a days, but with the slow cooker, you can have the best of both worlds.  You can use healthy ingredients, herbs, spices, frozen, fresh or canned veggies, frozen or fresh meats, low maintenance preparation and directions and a tasty meal that has been simmering all day and when it's done the meal fills our bellies with warmth and nourishment and comfort.  We can all use that from time to time.  Oh, and a slow cooker recipe is great when you have family or company over.  You will be able to spend more time with family and company and you won't have to be stuck in the kitchen all day, or you won't have to spend a lot of money going out all the time either.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my slow cooker experience and I'll be posting about my great kitchen buddy, the crockpot, from time to time.  It makes me happy and confident in my not so great cooking skills.  I'm not afraid of my slow cooker anymore.  Dare to slow cook.  Connect with your slow cooker, connect with your inner chef (though simple it may be, like mine), connect to friends and family through comfort food, and you can even connect with your healthy side.  It's all in the Crockpot Connection..  the Lovers (of good food) the dreamers (of cooking a decent meal) and me (a Crockpot chef).