by Jeanni Ritchie
Break out those crockpots!
National Slow Cooking Month is celebrated in January. It’s a time to celebrate the convenience and versatility of slow cookers, or Crockpots, which can save time while cooking delicious meals.
I love to get a good Crockpot meal going in the morning and have the aroma permeate the house throughout the day. Or throw it all in a slow cooker before the mad dash out the door and come home to a hearty, home cooked meal.
Slow cookers are good for soups, stews, and roasts. A great potluck side dish in the South is barbecue baked beans. Grab 7-8 cans of pork and beans, drain the liquid, and add to the crockpot with your favorite bottle of barbecue sauce. To go from side to one-pot meal, add 1-2 lbs. of cooked ground beef. Delicious!
While Irving Naxon invented the slow cooker and applied for its patent in 1936, it was Rival, who he sold the patent to, who produced the Crock-Pot in 1971. It sold $2 million in its first year!
There are now all shapes and sizes of crock pots. While I cook traditional meals in a standard size oval crockpot, I break out the triple slow cooker for parties. There’s my son’s favorite Chicken Crack dip in one bowl, my daughters’ favorite Crawfish Queso dip in another, and my dad’s favorite Rotel cheese dip in the other. Everyone’s happy!
Happy #nationalslowcookingmonth!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
