Crock Pot 101

If you're a working girl like me and you don't own a slow cooker, you are nuts! Here are four reasons why I'm a crack pot with my crock pot, and you should be, too:

1. Your boyfriend/husband/roommate/mooch friends will think you've slaved all day on a delicious meal for them, when all you did was plug-in your crock pot.
2. The food cooks all day while you are at work - and tastes better when cooked slowly and evenly like it does in your crock pot.
   
3. You can make whole meals (Moroccan chicken, Chili, Beef Wellington...to name a few), a delicious homemade, pasta sauce with balls or even desserts!
4. Other than the crock pot, there are virtually NO dishes to clean at the end of the meal. Hooray for soft, moisturized hands!

RECIPE: Chicken Cacciatore

Ingredients

3 skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

Dash pepper

1 tbsp onion flakes

1 green pepper, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup red wine or chicken broth

1 15-oz can tomato sauce

1 4-oz can sliced mushrooms, drained (or 1 c. fresh)

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano

2 tbsp pimiento, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

Directions

1. In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil on both sides. Set aside.
2. Combine ingredients, except for chicken, in slow cooker.
3. Add chicken on top.
4. Cover; cook on Low 7-9 hours.
5. Serve over white rice or spagetti.

Repeat after me: I will not be made a slave in the kitchen!