Rating: 
Summary: Too much trouble...too little payoff
Review: I can appreciate that Mr. Rodgers is trying to perk up slow cooker cuisine, but the whole point of a slow cooker to me is to save time and trouble. Too many of these recipes call for much more preparation than I have time for in the beginning, and extra steps at the end. The recipes I've tried have had mixed results. I have had to tweak all of them to make them more appealing for my family. My family will indeed be "ready and waitng" while I have to do all the extra steps for these recipes! It was dissapointing overall.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for a SAHM with small kids
Review: I can see how this cookbook might be annoying for people looking for meals that stay in the slow cooker for a full work day. However it lets me do exactly what I need to - move the cooking time around to suit the schedule with the kids. If I get the opportunity to cook dinner at 11 in the morning, I can do it then, and not in the last hour before suppertime (invariably the worst time to try). The dishes are wonderful, and not at all difficult if you cook much of anything.Best of all, none of them are so time sensitive that an unexpected delay will ruin dinner. Now that's a Godsend.
Rating:
Summary: Not home town cooking.
Review: I have a family who likes the very basics, meat, potatoes, very basic vegi's like corn...and corn...so it just wasn't the recipe book for us...
Rating:
Summary: One of my five most-used cookbooks
Review: I have dozens of cookbooks, and this one is one of the five that I keep on the kitchen counter. I've never made a recipe that we didn't like. My husband's two favorite dishes are Chicken Stew with Spicy Peanut Sauce (delicious over rice) and Farmhouse Beef and Vegetable Stew. The artichoke dip appetizer is great. The preparation does assume you've got some time, as another reader mentioned, but I think there's room for that kind of crockpot cooking! And that's not actually true for all the recipes. Also, even though the times specify 5-6 hours, I've often left them in longer with no ill effects. Just browsing the recipes makes me hungry. I love this book![updated September 2003] Just thought it would be nice to let people know that it's 4 years later and I stand by my evaluation of this book. It's still on my counter and not in the cookbook closet. I had a niece who wanted to begin to learn cooking, so I sent her this book for Christmas, and now she's a convert, too!
Rating: 
Summary: Innovative recipes perk up 70's cuisine
Review: I have only tried 4 recipes from this book, but am impressed with the results. Having recently rediscovered my crockpot (my great aunt's crock pot, actually) and the manufacturer-supplied cookbook, I am grateful for the modern versions. Too many old recipes simply throw everything in and the results are uneven. Rodgers offers techniques for ensuring very fresh tasting results each time. Some recipes are stylish and innovative, some are simply revised versions of the classics, and some are quite exotic. Thank you Mr. Rodgers!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent dishes usually take some prep time!
Review: I have used this book (the hardcover edition) extensively, and have been very pleased with the results. While the prep time for some of Mr. Rodger's recipes is longer than that required by many other slow cooker recipes, the results are far superior. The amount of prep time for each recipe is easily estimated in advance by glancing through the instructions before beginning--so a little planning when choosing recipes for the day should solve the prep time woes mentioned by some reviewers. If you want exceptional food and the freedom to walk away from your kitchen in the morning knowing that you'll come back to a great meal, this is the one for you. There's nothing insipid here!
Rating:
Summary: Finally!
Review: I love my slow cooker, but was unable to find a book that didn't consist of dumping five cans into the pot and dishing it out eight hours later. Until now! The fresh ingredients, the easy pre-prep, and the fact that someone has road tested these recipes, make this my new favorite cookbook. Great for people who want fresh, good food with great, long simmered flavor.
Rating:
Summary: Are the recipes healthy?
Review: I LOVE the Mr. Pasta recipes. Do the slow-cooker recipes tend to be low sodium and low fat?
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I LOVE this book! Everything my husband and I have made from it has been delicious. I'm truly impressed! I've even made a convert out of my in-laws who previously hated crockpot food.
Rating:
Summary: For those who like to eat well
Review: I love this cookbook! It is NOT for the "dump it in and turn it on" crowd. But with a little prep (some recipes more than others), the results are outstanding. I have generally been disappointed in crockpot recipes. I am thrilled to have a crockpot cookbook that takes cooking seriously. I'm a busy person with small children who still loves to cook and eat well. This book allows me to "time shift" my cooking and still enjoy a wonderfully cooked meal. The bit of extra prepwork pays off. Many thanks to Rick Rodgers for his great cookbook. Your efforts are appreciated in my household!
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