Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes

Rating:
Summary: A Savior for the Cooking-Challenged
Review: I hate cooking. Hate it. With a passion. I can burn water. I spend as little time as possible cooking, and given the choice, would rather live off cold Pop Tarts than (gasp!) light the oven and endanger myself and my fiance, not to mention the surrounding neighborhood. What a delight to me, then, that there is such a thing as a slow cooker. I can only imagine that it's almost as nice as having a personal chef. Minimal work, no hands-on cooking, and one-dish cleanup. Oh, joy!

Having gotten a slow cooker, I was now faced with the prospect of What To Put In It. My fiance and I are meat and potatoes people. If we can't pronounce it, chances are good that we're not going to eat it. Most of the cookbooks I paged through contained fancy recipes that we would never eat. Not to mention, given my limited culinary expertise, I was really starting at rock bottom, here.

Finally, I happened across this book. From cover to cover, it has real everyday recipes that your whole family will enjoy. The directions are clear and easy to follow. (If I can do it, anyone can. Trust me.) And the recipes are delicious! I have used this cookbook more than any other I have bought. It makes cooking (Dare I say it?) fun! Who knows? I might even start doing more of it.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Kitchen Helper
Review: I'd have to say that receiving this book as a gift has been a blessing. I live with my boyfriend and he gets home from work before I do. I found it difficult to cook dinner for him until his mom gave me the "Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes" Book. Fortunately, my mom gave me her crock-pot when I moved out. I had never cooked with it before so it was a new experience for my boyfriend and me. I don't know which of us was more skeptical... but I can say that after trying about a dozen of the recipes in this book we are both believers in this time saving kitchen helper. The "Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes" Book has great recipes, many are suitable for everyday meals and others are really impressive for festive occasions. I never knew there were so many variations of beef stew, and pot roasts couldn't be any easier than this. I haven't tried any of the dessert recipes yet but if you have a Bread `n Cake Bake Pan (A Special Attachment for Rival Company's Crock-Pots) then I'm guessing you couldn't wait to make some of these breads & treats. If you are a Beer & Cheese soup lover then you've got to try this recipe... everyone loved it at my Housewarming Party - unless they were just trying not to hurt my feelings! :) One more thing, if you decide to get this cookbook & bring it to work, be prepared to let others borrow it... I did. I'm glad my co-workers enjoyed the recipes as much as I did but I just hope they buy their own copy soon!

Rating:
Summary: At last, a useable collection of recipes
Review: The only collection of recipes that I've found useable in the past have been those which came with the slow cooker itself, and these were the basic pot roast, stew, etc. Previously published books were full of recipes that I'd never try at home: strange concoctions that just didn't look good and my family wouldn't touch. This book has broken new ground. Page after page of recipes, and you hardly find one that isn't tempting. For someone who likes to use a slow cooker, this is a sure bet.

Rating:
Summary: A great first book of slow cooker recipes.
Review: There are lots of different recipes in here. But the best thing is that they aren't all "add a can of cream of whatever soup." There are a few of those, too, but these are actual recipes that anyone can make. You throw everything together and a few hours later, you have dinner!

Some of the recipes include pictures; most don't. One thing that's a little surprising is the variety of recipes. There are dinner recipes, of course, but there are also appetizers and hot beverages, sides, and desserts. (Fruit and Nut Baked Apples! Yum!)

If you're not already a slow cooker convert, what are you waiting for?? This is not just for people who work all day, this is for anyone who has errands to run, and doesn't want to rush dinner at the last minute. With this cookbook, you will find something to please everyone in your family, from elaborate (spareribs simmered in orange sauce) to simple (macaroni and cheese).

Rating:
Summary: A great first book of slow cooker recipes.
Review: There are lots of different recipes in here. But the best thing is that they aren't all "add a can of cream of whatever soup." There are a few of those, too, but these are actual recipes that anyone can make. You throw everything together and a few hours later, you have dinner!

Some of the recipes include pictures; most don't. One thing that's a little surprising is the variety of recipes. There are dinner recipes, of course, but there are also appetizers and hot beverages, sides, and desserts. (Fruit and Nut Baked Apples! Yum!)

If you're not already a slow cooker convert, what are you waiting for?? This is not just for people who work all day, this is for anyone who has errands to run, and doesn't want to rush dinner at the last minute. With this cookbook, you will find something to please everyone in your family, from elaborate (spareribs simmered in orange sauce) to simple (macaroni and cheese).

Rating:
Summary: Lots of Choices
Review: This cookbook is filled with lots of great recipes of many kinds. I have found more useful and very tasty recipes in this book than any of the other slow cooker cookbooks I have. It is well-organized and the directions are very clear. I highly recommend it for someone who has just gotten or is getting a slow cooker. Is a great source of new ideas for someone who already has a slow cooker.

Rating:
Summary: Also great if you need to lose a few pounds...
Review: Watching your weight and what you're eating can be a full time occupation but I don't have a personal chef at home to do it for me. THIS BOOK IS REALLY EXCELLENT. It has a lot of tasty recipes and although this book is not intended as a weight loss diet, it has recipes that are pretty healthy! I especially like the soup recipes, they really look pretty healthy, there are a bunch that utilize lots of veggies and different spices. A lot of the recipes don't say anything about butter or margarine but the food turns out quite flavorful. By reading through the recipes, you can assemble a nice collection of spices that will really flavor up a lot of your meals. It just takes practice.

Since a crockpot can yield quite a bit, depending on your family size you could have plenty of leftovers. You can freeze some of it and have it a week or two later for some variety.

The other thing I really liked about this book is that it has a nice sturdy hardcover you can wipe off, the pages are thick and glossy, the photographs are very inviting and there are lots of them. There is one recipe per page with nice large clear letters so the text doesn't look so tiny and voluminous to appear like the dish takes a lot of effort. Overall, a really nice book!

Rating:
Summary: Also great if you need to lose a few pounds...
Review: Watching your weight and what you're eating can be a full time occupation but I don't have a personal chef at home to do it for me. THIS BOOK IS REALLY EXCELLENT. It has a lot of tasty recipes and although this book is not intended as a weight loss diet, it has recipes that are pretty healthy! I especially like the soup recipes, they really look pretty healthy, there are a bunch that utilize lots of veggies and different spices. A lot of the recipes don't say anything about butter or margarine but the food turns out quite flavorful. By reading through the recipes, you can assemble a nice collection of spices that will really flavor up a lot of your meals. It just takes practice.

Since a crockpot can yield quite a bit, depending on your family size you could have plenty of leftovers. You can freeze some of it and have it a week or two later for some variety.

The other thing I really liked about this book is that it has a nice sturdy hardcover you can wipe off, the pages are thick and glossy, the photographs are very inviting and there are lots of them. There is one recipe per page with nice large clear letters so the text doesn't look so tiny and voluminous to appear like the dish takes a lot of effort. Overall, a really nice book!