Delicious Reading: 'Crock-Pot: The Original Slow Cooker Recipe Collection'

There was just one thing I wanted for Christmas this past year. I told my husband the specifications of a Garmin, a certain type of watch I could use when running, that I would like. A few days before the holiday, he encouraged me to pick it up for myself. While it was nice that he wanted me to have it, I didn't relish the idea of buying my own present. However, I added it to my list of errands for the day.

As I was accomplishing my listed tasks, he sent me a message asking if there was anything he could do to help. I was running a little behind, so I admitted if he could do that bit of shopping at Missouri Running Co. for me, I would really appreciate it.

To my surprise, when I got home, there were five gifts for me under the tree! He told me he asked the kids to make a list of my favorite things, and they shopped together accordingly. On Christmas Eve, I discovered the aforementioned watch, four pairs of running socks, a package of Ghirardelli chocolate, a bag of Starbucks coffee and a Crock-Pot cookbook. Yes, my children told their father one of my favorite things was my Crock-Pot.

I use my Crock-Pot much as it was marketed it in the 1970s, according to The Washington Post: "Cooks all day while the cook's away," promised the ads, appealing to women entering the workforce. My kids often see me adding frozen chicken breasts or other meal makings to my Crock-Pot shortly after I pour their breakfast cereal in the morning. They know how frequently I ladle something out of it at supper. They know I pack it when we go on vacation to the beach. So while it seemed a little funny they thought it was one of my favorite things, I guess I really do love it!

The cookbook features recipes for every kind of meat, and focuses in on soup, stew and chili. A section is devoted to appetizers, which explains why my youngest daughter thought the Super Bowl was so named because everyone brings their Crock-Pots to the parties where we watch that football game.

While we often think of traditional hearty American fare coming out of our Crock-Pots, the authors have included quite a few ethnic dishes, though none for Cholent, the bean stew that inspired the invention. The inventor's daughter told NPR that her father wanted Jewish families to be able to enjoy the dish for Sabbath, even though they were not supposed to cook after sundown. (Also, remember that not all slow cookers are Crock-Pots, just like not all tissues are Kleenex and all markers aren't Magic. Thus, brace yourself for the continual use of CROCK-POT® in all caps throughout every recipe. )

There also are recipes for sweet treats and bread that can be made in the Crock-Pot. I look forward to trying them, but I started off with one I knew my husband would like: chili. As we approach Valentine's Day, Crock-Pots and chili might not seem very romantic, but remembering each other other's favorite things and going a little out of our way to provide them after 16 years of marriage is what keeps our love ... simmering.

__Three-Bean Turkey Chili__

__Ingredients:__

1 pound ground turkey

1 small onion, chopped

1 can (15-ounce) chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (15-ounce) kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (15-ounce) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (8-ounce) tomato sauce

1 or 2 tablespoons chili powder

1 can (28-ounce) diced tomatoes*

1 can (4-ounce) diced mild green chiles*

* I substituted a 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes and a 10-ounce can of Ro-Tel for the 28-ounce can of tomatoes and the 4-ouce can of chiles. I also added a 10.75-ounce can of tomato soup because my children are sensitive about things being spicy.

__Directions:__

1. Place turkey and onion in a medium skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir until turkey is browned. Remove to Crock-Pot using slotted spoon.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker and mix well.

3. Cover and cook on high for 6 to 8 hours.

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About Brooke

Brooke Clubbs is a Jackson mom of three, a freelance writer and a communications instructor.