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 Posted By: chubbyalaskagriz 
Mar 2  # 1 of 8
Was a time when I worked in kitchens 18 hours a day and a crock pot wasn't needed or even thought of.

But now that I work a job "in the real world" a crock pot is something I always keep within reach. Perfect for anyone who works outside the home when you cannot or don't wish to keep you oven going for long periods unattended.

Fantastic in winter when delicious, tender, savory one pot meals are the way- but just as handy in the heat of summer when a small contained "oven" that quietly sits out of the way on the counter top suits your efforts to keep your home cooled down w/ expensive central air on those unbearable July and August days.

I have eaten the recipe/preparation the OP suggests- my sister makes it adding half a can of beer. Our family loves it- we shred the beef and eat it on toasted garlicky hoagie rolls w/ sliced provolone- so deeply rich and tender.

I'll soon be using mine for Corned Beef & Cabbage.

I work the graveyard shift so my meal schedule is backwards- sometimes I eat my main meal in the morning- though not always. Plus I often work long shifts still- and in addition to my day job I also bar-tend part time on occasion. A crock pot full of something long-cooked and delicious-smelling to greet me when I walk into the house early in the morning after work- or in the afternoon when I awake is the most wonderful handy luxury!

A couple of the BEST crock pot cookbooks I've seen are those put out by Taste of Home magazine.
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 Posted By: jpshaw 
Mar 6  # 2 of 8
Well Kevin, the crockpot (or slow cooker) is the tool of the employed. While I'm supposed to be retired, I work two jobs during the tax season and the slow cooker is indespensible. It's great to have slow (8-9 hours) and fast (4 hours) to have it ready at noon or dinner. Wife had one of the old (can't remove the crock type) and never used it. I have a 2 Qt and a 4 Qt so I can double or half almost all my recipes. These may sound small but I'm usually cooking for one on my low sodium diet. Also you can stick them on the patio or carport or where ever to keep cooking odors out of the house.

BTW you gave me one of those cookbooks a while back. I use it all the time.
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 Posted By: chubbyalaskagriz 
Mar 6  # 3 of 8
Yep- crock pots are a true savior sometimes... Glad the book is seeing some thumbing wear, John! :)
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 Posted By: jglass 
Mar 24  # 4 of 8
Depends on what I am cooking. I have two crockpots. One 5 quart and an 8 quart. They are great for soups / stews.
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 Posted By: jpshaw 
Mar 27  # 5 of 8
I use mine for light dinners after work too. Bean soup or chicken and rice soup or just chicken and rice (vary the rice). Times are very forgiving so it makes a great unattended work saver.