Food Thought
The Great American Slow Cooker Book: 500 Easy Recipes for Every Day and Every Size Machine Paperback
by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough
Clarkson Potter, $35
Slow cookers are having a moment right now, and it makes sense. The countertop electric cooker safely simmers soups and stews all day long, taking cheaper cuts of tougher meat and breaking them down into delectable and fortifying meals after a long day out in the cold. And this book, out just this week in paperback, is the ultimate slow-cooker cookbook, with ideas on everything from soups to breakfasts to even desserts, with special versions of each recipe for the most common slow cooker sizes.
The Works
Crock-Pot Slow Cooker Starter Kit
$40; crock-pot.com
In the old days, you commonly could find Crock-Pot brand slow cookers in the resale shop, right next to the hardly used fondue kits. But with their growing popularity, chances are you’re going to have to spring for a new one. Luckily, they’re affordable and come with more safety features. This Crock-Pot starter kit should put you on the right path, with its 5-quart digital slow cooker, a few dinners, and even a travel bag for slow cooking on the go. Running home late? Don’t worry. Once the preset cooking time has elapsed, the little guy switches to the “warm” setting. For more info, see crock-pot.com.
