Hi Gipsy! Your cooker should have a few "starter" recipes in the user manual, but it's really very easy to use a slow cooker (aka "crock pot"), plus this is a great time of year for soups and stews. Basically toss in what you like and set it on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours!

The key is layering the ingredients so that the flavors drip down into the meat, using just a pinch of herbs/spices, and about 1/4 cup of liquid (broth, wine, water, etc.) for simple all-day cooking. Meat/poultry and many vegetables can stand up to all-day cooking. Fish and seafood won't stand up to all-day cooking. Pasta, rice, and dairy do not fare well until closer to serving time (I wouldn't these for the cooker anyway!).

Here's a very easy Chicken Dinner:

1 Small Chicken (2-3 pounds, cut up is easiest), rinsed & patted dry w/ kitchen paper towels
1 Small Onion, cut in quarters
2 Carrots and 2 Celery stalks, rinsed & cut into chunks
a pinch of each Salt & Pepper and Parsley
1 Bay Laurel Leaf
1/4 cup of liquid (you choose: chicken broth, white wine or water)

Pour liquid into the crock. Add 1/2 of the carrots, celery, and onion to the bottom of the crock. Place chicken on top of these veggies, top the chicken with salt, pepper, parsley & bay leaf, then add the rest of the veggies on top of the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

You can substitute beef (use beef broth or red wine) or pork roast (use white wine or apple cider) for the chicken. If you'd like, I will look up some other recipes for you....

Bon appetit!

Keeli in Long Beach, California USA
(I'm the one on the left wearing the turquoise shirt)