by Jane Crawford
Librarian, Marysville Library

For those of us who love good food but dont have time to spend all day in our kitchen, a slow cooker can fit perfectly into our busy lifestyle. Whether youre working, gardening, visiting your public library or exercising at the gym, a delicious pot of comfort food can be steaming away, filling your home with delicious aromas.
The first slow cooker was introduced in the early 1970s by Rival, under the trademarked name Crock-Pot. The name has become so well known that it is recognized as the generic name for all slow cookers. In my own kitchen, I still use the crock-pot that my mom used 30 years ago to feed my brothers and I. My family is appreciative of the pot roasts, split pea soup, shredded barbequed pork and other delicacies that simmer forth from the cooker. It still works beautifully, despite a few superficial scratches on its exterior. More modern slow cookers purchased today come in a variety of enticing shapes, sizes and colors.
Some of the greatest advantages of slow cooking include being able to use less expensive cuts of meat that are tenderized through the long cooking process. The extended cooking times allow better distribution of flavors in many recipes and the lower temperatures lessen the chance of scorching. In a smaller kitchen or during festive gatherings a slow cooker frees your oven and stove top for other uses. Many people swear by their slow cooker. Slow cookers are incredibly convenient; you can put recipe ingredients in it before going to work and come home to a meal.
The following books are just a small sampling of cookbooks offering slow cookery recipes to be found at Sno-Isle Libraries. Some of these books focus on specific types of crock-pot recipes such as low carbohydrate cooking, large quantity cooking for crowds, comfort foods and slow cookery that is not like your mothers. Begin your new culinary crockpot adventures by checking out some of these titles at your Sno-Isle Libraries:
The Everyday Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook: Over 120 Delicious Low-Carb Recipes that Cook Themselves, by Kitty Broihier and Kimberly Mayone. Nutritionist and food consultant Broihier and recipe developer and creative chef Mayone offer low carbers a chance to jump on the slow cooker bandwagon with over 120 delectable low carb recipes designed especially for slow cooking.
The Everything Slow Cooking for a Crowd Cookbook: Features 300 Slow-Cooker Recipes to Please Any Crowd, by Katie Thompson. Features 300 crowd pleasing recipes to feed large groups of people.
Not Your Mothers Slow Cooker Cookbook, by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann. An exciting collection of 350 recipes that takes advantage of Americas most popular kitchen appliance in a whole new way.
Slow-Cooked Comfort: Soul-Satisfying Stews, Casseroles and Braises for Every Occasion, by Lydie Marshall. Celebrated cookbook author and beloved teacher Lydie Marshall presents 120 comforting, simple and delicious recipes for succulent one-dish meals in this natural follow-up to her acclaimed Soup of the Day. In this latest collection, Lydie focuses on fish, poultry, meat and vegetables that have been simmered in aromatic broths and sauces. Unparalleled in flavor, these dishes resonate with the coziness of family suppers, hearth, and home. Featuring Provencal Beef Stew, which will warm you on the coldest winter day, or a light and satisfying Zucchini and Tomato Custard, featuring the flavors of late summer, Slow-Cooked Comfort is a year-round source of delight.
Biggest Book of Slow cooker recipes, Volume 2, from the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen. This all-new sequel to the No. 1 national bestseller is bigger and better with more than 400 sensational recipes for every part of the meal, including appetizers, beverages, sides, and desserts. Every recipe comes with nutrition facts and accommodations for multiple sizes of slow cookers.