Slow Cooking

Tip #24
I have an intensive love for my slow cooker.  I actually own two slow cookers.  They are both 6 quarts.  One is oval and the other is round.  The oval one came from Goodwill ($12 thank you very much). 

It is one of my favorite tools in my arsenal for saving time and saving money.  I cook in it regularly all year round. 

The benefit of cooking with a slow cooker in the summer is not having to heat up the whole house and consequently not forcing your air conditioner to work harder to cool the house off.

Some of my favorite summer-time uses for my slow cooker are baked beans to accompany meat that's being cooked on the grill, "roasting" a chicken to eat alongside potato salad or on sandwiches, light summer soups to be served with a salad, steak or chicken fajitas, or a creamed corn side dish. 

In the winter we use the slow cooker at least twice a week.  Today I have a simple chuck roast, diced yukon potatoes, and carrots in there.  Later in the week I'm making chili one night in the slow cooker. 

One of my favorite things about a slow cooker is how it can transform an inexpensive and sometimes tough cut of meat into something moist and tender.  I like to find stew meat marked down at the supermarket and mix it with a package of Mrs. Grimes dry soup mix, some sauted onion, and 1/2 a jar of spaghetti sauce.  I cook it on low for 6-8 hours.  The meat is super tender and falling apart and the soup is thick and delicious.  I serve it with some homemade artisan bread for a terrific, hearty dinner.

What is your favorite slow cooker recipe?