Crock Pot® - The Original Slow Cooker

It is that busy time of year. School is in session and extra curricular activies have Moms spending more time in their cars than in their kitchens. With everyone's schedules seemingly pulling them in different directions, we often don't find time to plan ahead for a family dinner.

It is at this time of the year when my trusty Crock Pot® comes out of hiding. To help with deciding on what excatly to prepare in the slow cooker, Best-Loved Slow Cooker Recipes, is fast becoming a staple on my cookbook shelf!

"You'll enjoy this collection of recipes developed for your Crock Pot® slow cooker. These easy, convenient recipes are designed to help you make the most of your busy schedule. Just place the recipe ingredients in the Crock Pot® slow cooker in the morning, and enjoy a healthfu;, delicious, homemade meal you can feel proud of."

And, the holiday season is just around the corner and with it brings gift-giving, entertaining and great meals and with that, inevitably, we all begin to feel a little time-crunched. The Crock-Pot® brand is here to help!

Mulled Cider

1 gallon apple cider
1/3 cup brown sugar
15 whole cloves
10 whole allspice berries
5 whole cinnamon sticks

Combine all ingredients in the Crock Pot® slow cooker. Cover and cook on High for 30 minutes and then turn to Low for up to 5 hours. The longer the spices are left in, the stronger the "mulling".

Classic Cheese Fondue

2 & 1/2 cups white wine
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
16 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
1 pound Swiss cheese, grated
3 tablespoons Kirsch
3 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In a large saucepan, heat the wine and garlic to simmer. Combine the Gruyere, Swiss cheese and flour in a large bowl and slowly add the mixture to the wine. Stir constantly until the cheeses are completely intefrated and melted. Add the Kirsch and stir.

Pour the saucepan contents into the Crock Pot® slow cooker and sprinkle with nutmeg. Cover, cook for 1 hour.

Thoroughly mix the fondue, replace the cover and cook an additional 2-3 hours until thoroughly melted and heated through.

Sweet Potato Casserole With Gingersnap Topping

8 large sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon salt
Butter, as needed to grease the stoneware
1 & 1/2 cups ginger snaps, finely ground in food processor
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
Dash of nutmeg

Bake or boil the sweet potatoes until tender, and mash well with 2 teaspoons of salt.

Grease the bottom and sides of the Crock Pot® slow cooker stoneware with butter and add the mashed poatoes.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and spread over the top. Cover; cook on Low for 4-5 hours or on High for 2-2 & 1/2 hours.

Citrus Glazed Cornish Hen

4 Cornish game hens (frozen or fresh)
1 pound packaged stuffing mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons lime juice
4 tablespoons orange juice
4 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon raspberry jam
1/2 cup chicken broth

Thaw hens if needed. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package and set aside.

In VersaWare™ stoneware, mix butter, brown sugar, lime juice, orange juice, soy sauce and raspberry jam. Cook on stovetop set to low-medium heat until glaze thickens and is smooth (about 10-15 minutes).

Stuff hens with stuffing mix and brush hens with glaze, then place into stoneware upside down. Pous chicken broth into bottom of stoneware around hens and place stoneware in slow cooker heating base.

Cover and cook on Low for 6-7 hours or on High for 2-3 hours and occadionally, about every 1-2 hours, brush hens with glaze from bottom of stoneware if desired. Remove and serve on a bed of wild rice.

Poached Pears

3 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar
10 slices fresh ginger
2 whole cinnamon sticks
6 Bosc or Anjou pears, peeled and cored
1 tablespoon candies ginger for garnish

Combine the water, sugar, fresh ginger and cinnamon sticks in the Crock Pot® slow cooker. Turn to High and place the pears in the sauce. Cover and cook on High for 1 & 1/2 to 2 hours or on Low for 4 to 6 hours.

Remove the pears from the sauce and cool slightly.

Turn the heat to High again, cover and cook the sauce unti; thickened, about 30 minutes.