Because so many soups, stews, and chilis benefit from long simmering, they are ideal choices for preparation in a slow-cooker or Crock Pot. In general, any recipe that calls for simmering on the stove can be made in a slow cooker. The caveat to using a slow cooker, however, is to use it only for recipes that benefit from long cooking - soups, baked beans, a cassoulet, etc. Most meats left all day in a slow cooker will be overdone by the time you get home, although Shirley Corriher swears her recipe for a pork roast works wonderfully in a slow cooker.

There are scores of relevant recipes available online. If you want to venture into the broad world of cookbooks, there are quite a few slow-cooker cookbooks on the market, including: