| Slow cookers used to come in one design but today | | | | For four or five people, a four and a half to five and a |
| there are all kinds of crockpots you can choose from, | | | | half quart sized slow cooker is ideal. |
| including programmable smartpots and old fashioned | | | | For six people or more, go for the biggest, which |
| crockpots. Crock pot cooking is becoming very | | | | would be a six, seven or even eight quart size |
| fashionable again and there are crockpots for every | | | | crockpot. If you like to make roasts, you might want to |
| size of household and thousands of great crockpot | | | | get the biggest size anyway, since a roast will not fit in |
| recipes to choose from as well. | | | | a very small slow cooker. You can also double up |
| Crockpots use about the same amount of electricity | | | | recipes and freeze half for a simple future meal. |
| as light bulbs, making them really cheap to run. A | | | | Recipe for Crockpot Sloppy Joes |
| crockpot does not heat up the kitchen like an oven | | | | This is just one example of a delicious meal that you |
| does, so you will be grateful for your slow cooker in | | | | can cook in a slow cooker. Sloppy Joes are usually |
| the hot summer months when you want to stay cool. | | | | cooked on the stove but using a slow cooker means |
| Versatile Crockpot Varieties | | | | the Sloppy Joe mixture will be tasty and this is also a |
| You might want to think about a versaware crockpot | | | | very easy way to make this classic dish. |
| because this can be used as a slow cooker, in the | | | | What you will need: |
| oven or on the stove. You can also refrigerate or | | | | - 3 lbs ground beef |
| freeze it, making it the most versatile slow cooker | | | | - 4 tablespoons brown sugar |
| ever. Think about an oblong or oval shaped crockpot. | | | | - 4 tablespoons vinegar |
| Fitting a cut of meat or a whole chicken into a round | | | | - 4 tablespoons mustard |
| crockpot is like fitting a square peg into a round hole. | | | | - 1 chopped onion |
| Another good tip is to choose a removable stoneware | | | | - 2 teaspoons minced garlic |
| crockpot liner, since these are easy to clean. | | | | - 3 teaspoons chili powder |
| A big crockpot is handy if you have a big family or if | | | | - 1 chopped green bell pepper |
| you like to cook in bulk. A one quart crockpot is useful | | | | - 1/2 cup water |
| if you are making a sauce or dip or if you are just | | | | - 1 1/2 cups ketchup |
| cooking for one person. You can also get double | | | | - 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce How to make |
| crockpots which are useful for making two dishes at | | | | it: |
| once. | | | | Saute the ground beef with the garlic and onions, and |
| How to Pick the Right Sized Cooker for Slow Cooking | | | | then drain the fat. Transfer the mixture to the slow |
| If you are cooking for one person, choose a one or | | | | cooker and stir in the other ingredients. Cover the |
| one and a half quart crockpot. If you are cooking for, a | | | | crockpot and cook the Sloppy Joes on low for seven |
| two and a half or three and a half capacity slow | | | | hours or on high for three and a half hours. Serve over |
| cooker will be good. For a family of three or four, pick | | | | hamburger buns. |
| a three and a half to four and a half quart crockpot. | | | | |