The Joys of Slow Cooking

   By Julie Grice  Nov 15, 2011

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During my sophomore year of college, I went to Target with my then-boyfriend (now-husband) to pick up some things for his new apartment. I was still living in the dorms, so I was mostly there to get a few new binders and pens and to help him pick out some small kitchen appliances. He was adamant about getting a crock pot so that he could come home from class to a hot batch of chili.

I, on the other hand, didn’t even really know what a crock pot was. My family didn’t have a crock pot, so I had never before experienced the joy of slow cooking.

We still use that crock pot today, and now I can’t live without it. I use it for everything: making fruit butter for canning, throwing together a soup on days when I’m not feeling well or am pressed for time, slow-cooked pork and beans, even making hot mulled cider for a dinner party.

Here are 13 of my favorite blogger recipes starring the slow cooker. Enjoy!

• Crock Pot Asian Chicken from A Nutritionist Eats
• Crock Pot Baked Potatoes from With a Side of Sneakers
• Dulce de Leche from Taylor Takes a Taste
• Hot Mulled Cider from Savvy Eats
• Sausage and Peppers from The Granola Chronicles
• Slow-Cooked Chicken Fajitas from Heather’s Dish
• Slow Cooker Apple Crumble from How Sweet It Is
• Slow Cooker Chicken Pho from Piccante Dolce
• Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala from Eat Live Run & Tasty Kitchen
• Sugared Cinnamon Almonds from A Year of Slow Cooking
• Three Bean Crockpot Chili from Healthy Delicious
• Vegan African Peanut Soup from Spa Bettie
• Vegan Tortilla Soup from Oh She Glows

What's your favorite slow cooker recipe?

_{Photo credits:}  

_{Slow Cooker Pork and Beans from Savvy Eats}

_{Crock Pot Asian Chicken from A Nutritionist Eats} 

_{Slow Cooker Apple Crumble from How Sweet It Is}