Crock Pot Versaware and Slow Cooking Thursday!

This past week I got a new toy in the mail, if you don't know what it is, go check out this post.

So here's my new baby:

A Crock Pot Versa ware. But before I tell you about it here's a little history on the brand name that was passed on by Merideth from Crock-Pot.

Like many great product brand names, Kleenex for example, the Crock-Pot brand name has become so well known that many people think it is synonymous with slow cooker and they refer to all slow cookers as “crockpots”. Crock-Pot is actually the original brand of slow cookers, they introduced the first slow cooker in 1971, and are the most trusted brand with the longest history of expertise and quality products.

My first impression when I took it out of the box was that it was surprisingly light and very sleek, it wasn't one of those bulky huge slow cookers, which is a huge plus for me. I want something that I can move with ease. Then the next thing was the color...it's this really pretty metalic light green which goes really well with the dark chocolate brown of the stoneware.

The biggest pro has to be the versatility of this slow cooker. You know how sometimes you get those slow cooking recipes that require you to brown the meat on the stovetop and THEN transfer it? Well no more, because I can just set the stoneware on the large burners and cook it in there. (In case you have an electric stove top, it brings a heat Diffuser grill to use.) then lift it off the stove and set it into my heating base. Holy Mackerel, you won't believe how nice that is. It's just a really really pretty slow cooker but it's not just looks because it stands by what it can do.

One of the nicest features for me is definitely the timer. You turn the knob to low or high and then turn the other knob in increments of 30 minutes all the way up to 20 hours. 20 HOURS?!?!?!
And once it's done, it automatically sets itself to warm.


This beautiful stoneware looks good on the table to serve your dinner, it works as a Dutch-Oven if you need to cook something in the oven, it holds the leftovers in the refrigerator. I mean, what else could you ask for?

I'm beyond thrilled with it and even more excited that Merideth and the wonderful people at Crock-Pot would allow me to try their product.

One of my favorite things about it is the crock pot word embossed on the stoneware, I just love that :)

I tell you, if I could I would do a contest and offer one of these to a lucky winner, that's how much I love mine and just how highly I recommend it. If you're looking for a new slow cooker, I think this one is the perfect buy.

Now onto Slow Cooking Thursday......I tried out two recipes this past week and they turned out pretty good. Chicken Nachos from the Crockpot Lady and Triple Chocolate Mess from Betsy. Thank you ladies!


All my slow cooking recipes are now online and starting today, I will add all the recipes shared weekly to my online del.icio.us site too. So if you're wanting to find ALL the slow cooked recipes that have been shared since the first SLOW COOKING THURSDAY, here is the link for you.

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

EASY AND ELEGANT HAM

Credit: Taste of Home Slow Cooker Classics

2 cans (20 ounces each) sliced pineapple
1 fully cooked boneless ham (about 6 pounds), halved
1 jar (6 ounces) maraschino cherries, well drained
1 jar (12 ounces) orange marmalade

Drain pineapple, reserving juice; set juice aside. Place half of the pineapple in an ungreased 5-qt. slow cooker. Top with the ham. Add cherries, remaining pineapple and reserved pineapple juice. Spoon marmalade over ham.

Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until heated through. Remove to a warm serving platter. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Serve pineapple and cherries with sliced ham.

Yield: 18-20 servings.