Ok, so "tragedy" is a bit melodramatic...but HofPapa managed last night to set the Crockpot on fire. He had put it on the stove and accidentally turned on the burner underneath (counterspace is kind of at a premium). The crock and lid are okay, but the actual heating element melted, burned and twisted. This is a tragedy for us because our Crockpot has been with us since before we were married and has cooked more meals than either of us; it was a hand-me-down from a friend who moved.
For those who haven't been initiated, the Crockpot (generic name: Slow Cooker) is the greatest invention ever for preserving the food budget of a working family. Our Crockpot has kept us fed on many a night, especially on those crazy occasions when I have trial, since HofPapa is usually my second chair. Crockpot cooking need not be some great mystery: meat plus liquid plus veggies = food. If you want a carb, you can throw that on when you get home (we have a rice cooker, too, so dinner is often ready 20 minutes after we get home). It's very imprecise around here. Whatever we have is what gets thrown in the Crockpot. Last night, that was a chicken, some salad dressing, some onions and carrots, and enough water to make it all come out tender. Thrown on top of some boxed potatoes au gratin (freakin' $.33/box with coupons at Walgreens!), it was delicious, and today it became sandwiches.
Lest I miss some of the more incredible aspects of Crockpots: they're extremely energy-efficient (you can fix a whole chicken without heating up the whole kitchen), they don't require constant baby-sitting, and they turn the cheapest cuts of meat into a moist, delicious meal. We've made everything, from your more traditional soups, chilis, and stews, to a pot roast, to cobbler in our Crockpot. If you're a working family (heck, even if you're just a busy SAHP), dust off that old Crockpot and let it start making dinner for you. And try not to cry *too* much if it catches fire.
