Is your slow cooker stored away somewhere collecting dust? Break your crock pot out this winter and take advantage of all it has to offer your busy schedule. After a long day of work and running around the last thing any one wants to do is prepare dinner. Be more efficient with your precious time and get the your crock pot to do most of the work for you.

Slow cookers have been around since the 1970's and are designed for moist heat cooking. Slow cookers produce steam which then condenses on the lid and returns to the pot. This makes them great for cooking stews, soups and casseroles. But slow cookers aren't only good in the winter, they can be great in the summer months as well because it won't heat up the kitchen. This time saving appliance could change your life and your diet!

Crock pots are also a great way to save money. Preparing a delicious slow cook meal requires nothing more than a cheap cut of meat such as a chicken, lamb, beef or pork along with some potatoes, carrots, and leeks. All of these are reasonably affordable and good for you at the same time. These simple ingredients will produce a mouth watering meal. The aroma of the cooking food all day will encourage you to dive on in right when you walk through the door. Be creative with your slow cook meals and see what delicious concoctions you can come up with. Try great desserts such as sweet apple cobbler, French onion soups, chilli-cheese dips and more.

The best thing about the crock pot is it cooks at low temperatures throughout the day so you don't have to worry about cooking when you're tired after work. Just throw your ingredients in the pot before you head out for the day. By the time you get back your dinner will be ready and waiting. All that's left to do is set the table and your family will already be there, waiting for the savory slow cooked meal. Your meat will be so tender it will be falling off the bone and your kids will be asking for seconds.

Top 5 Tips for Slow Cook Meals

These Top 5 easy tips will help you with any slow cook meal:

1. Make sure your slow cooker is reaching up to 90 degrees Celsius in order for safe slow cooking.

2. Always use meat that is fully thawed. If you are using a whole chicken or a roast try cutting it into pieces to make sure it is cooked thoroughly.

3. Although it is tempting, try to resist taking the lid off of your crock pot while your meal is cooking. Every time you do this will add about 15-20 minutes to the cooking time.

4. Stirring is usually unnecessary unless the recipe specifies.

5. Your slow cooker will work best if it is between half and two-thirds way full.

So next time you aren't feeling up to cooking dinner when you get home from work, instead of getting fast food use your crock pot! It is a great way to save time, prepare a nutritious and delicious meal, as well as save money at the same time. Get your crock pot off the shelves and start cooking a fabulous meal!

Editor's Slow Cooker Recipe

We have slow cooker meals for lunch here at She Inspires so we thought we'd share the basis of one of the most popular recipes:

• 150 - 200 grams of meat for each person - lamb or beef
• sweet potatoes - 1 medium cut into large chunks
• potatoes - 1 for each person cut into thirds
• 1 carrot
• 1 leek
• 4 - 8 garlic cloves - depends on personal preference
• 1 box of low salt stock
• a dash of red wine
• herbs - fresh from the herb pots is great but dried is fine too. We use Italian herbs often.
• spices - nutmeg and paprika to taste

Put all together in the pot and set it cooking. Check the cooking time instructions for your slow cooker for a good idea of how long is best. For a lunch meal I've had it cooking on low over night and turn it up to high for the last hour or two.

Variations: use any vegetable you like, we've tried taro, parsnip, pumpkin - whatever is in the fridge. Also test out the herbs and spices but remember that the slow cooking process highlights flavours so you don't need a lot to get a great flavour.

We've also used the left over sauce as a soup base that's been delicious.

I must confess to taking direct inspiration from Sally Wise and her book "Slow Cooker: Easy and Delicious Recipes for All Seasons" - a very successful present as mum and I have been delving into it for yummy recipes all season.

More Online

Check out these sites for more great slow cooker recipes!

Slow & Simple

Find tons of delicious recipes to experiment with at this great site. Get everything from breakfast meals to breads and jams. All of these meals can easily be prepared in your slow cooker!

The Fabulous Slow Cooker

Read more about the different kinds of crock pots that are available for you to purchase. Learn more about the different brands and what they have to offer. Do some research on the best slow cookers before purchasing your own.

Visit Penelope's Oasis for more articles

The Finest Crock Pot Recipes For The Holidays

Keep your holiday cooking easy with your crock pot. These great slow cooker recipes for the holiday will have your friends and family in awe and make the hustle and bustle of the holiday season a little less stressful.

Click here to go to No Holiday No Life

The Slow Cooker And Its History

Find out everything you want to know about where the slow cooker came from. Even though the slow cooker isn't extremely old read about how it got its start. Read this interesting article and find a new respect for your slow cooker.

Go to Stubby Coolerz Blog for more articles

5 Ideas for Meals Using a Slow Cooker

These 5 great ideas for meals will inspire you to get your slow cooker out and throw together these delicious meals. If you are cooking on a budget these meals are for you. Save money and cook a meal that will satisfy your taste buds!

Visit Price Pirate for more articles