The complete slow cooker From appetizers to desserts-400 must-have recipes that cook while you play (or work)

Of all kitchen appliances, one of the most beloved is the slow cooker. It makes life easy for the family cook with its set-it-and-forget-it ease of operation. In these hundreds of recipes, America's Test Kitchen addresses just about every use of a slow cooker. Notable among them is an easy way of making superior chicken stock, which can always serve the cook well for soups or for enriching all manner of other dishes. Stews and braises abound, the slow cooker's strongest point. But the cooker also readily comes into service for soups and pasta sauces. (The authors advise against cooking pasta itself in the slow cooker to avoid mushiness.) Some recipes call for some stove-top sautéing of meats to develop full, rich flavors before finishing in the slow cooker. There are even some desserts here, including some unexpected offerings, like rice pudding and crème brûlée.--Knoblauch, Mark Copyright 2017 Booklist