One thing I have noticed lately is how different the evenings feel when there is less daylight to be had. Leaving the office when it is nearly dark outside just makes the day feel a bit shorter. And with daylight saving time ending in a few weeks, we are only at the beginning!
I don’t know about you, but I have always cherished the few hours each evening where everyone is at home winding down from their day. These hours look different from year to year, but they are still special. Maybe you have children at home, and these hours play out in dinnertime, homework, and a bedtime routines. Or maybe your children are now grown, and your evenings are quiet and simple. Whatever stage of life, these few hours can hold some of the best memories and conversations, and provide a great deal of comfort and restfulness.
And because I do savor these simple moments so much, any little ways that I can save time making dinner, I am all about! Fall has a second name in my book—slow cooker season! The sight of my slow cooker sitting on the counter with the “8-hour” light glowing makes my heart happy every time. Slow cooker dishes have stood the test of time because they are the standard of all make-ahead dinners. The original “meal-prep,” if you will.
Our time is valuable, and our time with our loved ones is even more valuable. And moments gathered around the dinner table is one of the best places for this. That is one reason we love the book Slow Cooker Everything and why we are so thrilled to be able to give a slow cooker away to one winner!
Hopefully, this make-ahead marvel will equip the winner with extra time to enjoy in the evenings, their loved ones, and of course, lots of yummy dishes! Click below to enter now until October 31!
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When our first child was born, someone gave us a slow cooker as a shower gift! How thankful I was. I used that crock pot for nearly 30 years–and then one day, it just would not heat up one more time. I spent several days comparing, asking advice as I searched for a replacement. I made a purchase but the one I have will never last 30 years. I’m ready for this Hamilton Beach model.
Dear Phyllis, last night I was on the phone with my brother and he was telling me how much he loves his slow cooker. I’ve never used one, and mentioned that I would be uncomfortable leaving the appliance on all day, but he assured me that they are safe. He convinced me how great the slow cooker is and I would like to try one. Please add my name to the contest, would love to win this! Thank you.
Hi, Susan!
They really are the best! To enter the contest, click the ‘Enter Here’ button in this post above.
Crock pots are life savers when you are a care giver and not much time to prep in the kitchen. Pot roast, soups, chili’s or what ever is easy and quick.
To have one is a blessing, worn out a few.
Hi Phyllis,
Love to make Cincinnati Chili, Broccoli Soup, Pot Roast, and BBQ this time of year! Enjoy trying new recipes as well. Thank you for the giveaway.
All the best,
My Beef Stew is a favorite here at our home … and to take to friends! We love its fragrance when we walk in the door!
Soups, stew, roasts, chili. I love using my crockpot for the convenience.
The crockpot is my go to for Sunday dinner – usually chuck roast, carrots, potatoes, onions and mushroom soup. Fool proof and the aroma is so welcoming to family and guests. Chili and beef stew are favorites too.
I make my spaghetti sauce in my crock pot. It’s the only recipe I have that you leave the lid off while cooking! I love the smell as the sauce simmers and thickens. Before I retired, I could smell the sauce when I opened the door after work. It was so “welcoming”!
Just made one of our favorites – cube steaks with gravy. Add mushroom soup, dry onion soup mix and a whole fresh onion. Cook at least six hours on low or shorter on high. Usually add a bag of fresh carrots. Serve over rice! Yummy and easy! Crockpots are wonderful tools to have. Love your blog!
Apple sauce, and just about any kind of soup !
My Mom used to make the most delicious apple butter in her crockpot that we would enjoy all through fall and winter — especially good on cardamom bread at Christmas! Yum!
Thanks for this opportunity and for the Ribbons you write to give us something positive these days — appreciate all that you do!
Throughout the year, I rely on my crockpot to cook beef, pork loin or chicken. Then I add sides to bring a meal together. But in autumn and winter, we love crockpot chili and beef stew the best.
Homemade applesauce in the crockpot is wonderful, too!
Thanks 🙂
My husband loves good ole fashion Beef Stew….I’m guaranteed a compliment
at dinner! te he…
California Carmel
We are a chili family! The smell is so homey! We just made chili while at a beach rental and invited a few other fishermen to join us for dinner. Served with a baked potato, apple dumplings with ice cream to end the meal, and baked cheese dip for a start- it was an awesome meal. I could use another crock pot and I read a cook book just like a novel!
These slow cookers are wonderful time savers. Each Summer in the past we would take the motor home to the family reunion down by the Missouri River in South Dakota. Because the stove was small I used the slow cooker to make many meals, even dessert. You didn’t need to baby sit the cooking of the dessert and it would be hot when ready to serve it. Great invention. Can’t haven’t to many. Haven’t bought one for 15 years and the new ones are fantastic. Wishing and hoping to be a winner.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win the crock pot. Although my crock pot is old, I have enjoyed using it for many years. There is nothing like coming home to the wonderful cooking scents that have been simmering all day not to mention that dinner is ready and waiting.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to win that great looking crock pot. Mine is the old fashioned kind which is so hard to wash inside. It seems to get heavier every time I have to
clean it out holding the whole thing in the sink. Any kind of roast meat is improved by slow cooking and beef chili is one of my favorites.
God bless you as you continue your work while grieving the loss of your father.
Use a crock pit liner found in the grocery store. They are life savers.
That’s crock pot liner.
Crockpots are such a wonderful convenience, especially for those of us who work.
I love to make Chili in the slow cooker, but the book in your giveaway looks beautiful to learn new recipes. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Tracey
I have a chuck roast, potatoes and carrots cooking in my crockpot right now! LOVE my crock pot!
I love a “slow cooker”. My favorite memory is cooking corn beef and cabbage dinner for friends and family. My office was invited after work to join us… for Saint Patrick’s Day.
Eventually, I had to have two going.
Even though we are retired, the tradition and fun continues.
I love to cook a pork roast in our crockpot. We are able to use it in so many ways. I layer onions and fresh garlic on the bottom and add a well seasoned pork roast. Crockpot cooked equals no other. I would love a new crockpot!
My crock pot has been acting up for ages and I STILL have not replaced it. I just returned from two weeks on the east coast and have wonderful recipes I look forward to trying. This is a fantastic giveaway … and a cookbook too! It is fall and there are so many recipes needing this item. French Onion Soup is the first recipe I will put in this. Maybe I’ll be fortunate … thanks for the chance to enter this contest.
After a long rainy day, Beef short ribs are nice welcome to coming home.
For a person living alone coming home to an empty house is not much fun. But if when you step into the house and the smell of something wonderful cooking greets you it makes you feel all warm and comfy. Plus a meal or part of a meal is already cooked!
Years ago when my sister didn’t have enough oven space to cook all the Thanksgiving meal I cooked the cornbread dressing in the crockpot. It was good!
Crock Pot Dressing is so delicious! A friend gave me the recipe years ago. Thank you for this opportunity.
I recently enjoyed a slow cooker beef stew recipe from a friend. Everyone enjoyed it so much as it was served at a women’s progressive dinner.
Sending you my condolences on the loss of your father.
Ruth
Smothered pork chops in the crockpot. My new favorite way to cook pork chops! Never dry or tough! Easy to make and simple ingredients that are probably in your pantry anyway.
Have cooked these for family and friends and always successful.
Coming home from a long day at work to a pot of beef stew is a Winter’s dream. I wish my Mother who passed away many, many years ago could have had some of the luxuries we have now in the kitchen. She did not even have a microwave. I enjoy your vlogs very much.
thank you so much for this! have a blessed weekend – Janet
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!
wonderful, thanks for a chance!
whole poultry with veg, smells are delightful!