Book Review: The Great American Slow Cooker Book

I was able review this cookbook, The Great American Slow Cooker Book by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough. 

I almost didn't because I read a review that said about using strange ingredients, but I haven't found that to be true.  It has everyday basic ingredients and the cool thing about this book, is that they have written and tested the recipes for  three different sizes of slow cookers!  I love this!  So if I want to try a new breakfast recipe like Pecan Pie Porridge, but I'm not sure if anyone will eat it but me, I can give it a whirl with the 2 quart size recipe!  Things I know we'll love and want leftovers of, I can jump right into the 6 quart recipe!  Each recipe offers the options for 2, 4, and 6 quart slow cookers and also gives basic information like how long to cook and also extra cool tips like how much effort and time the prep takes or (my favorite) how long it will keep on warm!  My current crockpot doesn't have a timer (it does have the three sizes of crocks like the recipes which is super handy though!)  but I hope to get one again with the timer and love that they switch to warm as needed. This is such great information to include on the recipes so you don't wake up to a dried out, disgusting breakfast or come home to a similarly icky supper.  There were lots of yummy sounding breakfast recipes (which aren't always a common addition to slow cooker cookbooks) and a GREAT soup section. Sloppy Joe Soup? Steak and Potato Soup? Yum!  There are quite a few seafood soups that sound tasty as well, and I don't even like seafood all that much...Categories for the book are broken into Breakfast, Soups, Meat, Poultry, Fish & Shellfish, Vegetables & Side Dishes, and Desserts and Party Drinks. And each of those is broken up into sub groups as well. The center of the book holds a section of colored photos, a page or two of recipes from each category. I didn't really think about missing pictures in the book, until I saw these!  They are lovely pictures and really help you realize what you would be making. The Trail Mix Porridge looks so tasty! I like that recipes don't seem to have a lot of bottled sauces and such... the Orange Ginger Barbecued Wings, for example, don't include a barbecue sauce but instead give the ingredients to make your own!  And there are still only 11 ingredients in the recipe. Obviously, I don't see myself trying every recipe in the book, but there are definitely tons of new and delicious sounding recipes that we'll be trying. I love using my crockpot, and am thrilled to have some new recipes to try out in it!  I'd recommend this book to all cooks, from experienced to inexperienced, large families to those cooking for one or two (thanks to the different size options!). The ingredients in most recipes are basic enough to satistfy those who like simple foods, though I think even die hard foodies will find some recipes to try!  Great cookbook, I'm so glad I got a copy!  

I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.