I Heart My Crock Pot

That's right people. Call it what you like. I will defend it to the end.

Ok, maybe that's a bit dramatic.

But, I do love my crock pot.

Many people will tell you that I become infatuated with new things very easily...cute new towns I find, cute old men who I want to be my grandpas, cute little gadgets. I'm big on cuteness. My boyfriend calls it being "focused". I have no shame in it. Not everyone can focus as well as I can.

My crock pot isn't so much cute (though it is a nice red color and has a handy handle) as it is just plain awesome. It is my new focus...just like my Cuisanart was. For about a week. (Note: there are some cool ass videos on YouTube demo-ing what you can do with a Cuisanart).

I fretted for a while about using it. You have to plan in advance. You have to get up earlier in the morning. I was also a little suspicious about leaving an appliance on all day and coming back to a house that wasn't burnt down. And, let's admit, I don't exactly make roasts for Sunday dinner.


But, I took the leap this morning. The recipe: beer braised pork and black bean soup. Daring, you might think. Why yes, thank you. I thought so too. It's not exactly your traditional crock pot recipe.

I dumped all the ingredients in at about 8:45 a.m. (yes, I got to work late). Cumin. Chiles in adobo sauce (I don't know what that means either). Sam Adams lager. Onions. Salt. Water. Beans. That was it. I turned it on and...

presto changeo 10 hours later...scrumptious black bean soup and mouth watering pork.

It's like magic. And I'm fascinated.

Mind you, I know people have been using these for years. But, per the above: I'm like a kid in a candy store when I discover something new. And, just like that kid, I will likely toss away the new toy within a few weeks.

But for now, I am seriously hearting the crock pot.