Crafty Goodness:

Taste of Home: The New Slow Cooker

(Can a cookbook be classified as crafty goodness? Hey, why not?)

I possess a terrible weakness for comfort cooking. I love making soups, stews, casseroles and roasts. I'm into simple, homey recipes. As well, I am (more than a little) dependent on my slow cooker. It is one of my few kitchen appliances I could not do without. Lucky for me, comfort food and slow cookers go hand-in-hand!

I recently discovered the Taste of Home series of cookbooks and magazines. (The Taste of Home website is also worth a look.) I like many of their recipes and I especially enjoy all the beautiful pictures accompanying them! The New Slow Cooker is a gorgeous book, filled with over 200 tasty recipes. The book is conveniently divided into categories and even includes an extensive desserts section.

A few days ago, my good friend dropped off several meals for my freezer. The meals were simple, pre-prepared slow cooker dishes. A light bulb went off as I considered her gift. Many of the recipes within the pages of The New Slow Cooker could be adapted for the freezer. The slow cooker is already a time-saving appliance, but I can prepare simple slow cooker dishes and freeze them in advance! How easy is that?

I borrowed my current copy of The New Slow Cooker from our local library. I'm hoping to receive a copy of my very own for Mother's Day. (Hint, hint, hint.) I figure this book is an appropriate Mother's Day gift, as most moms spend a great deal of time in the kitchen!