Slow cooker beans with vegetables, served with bread, is the perfect hearty and healthy meal to sit down to on a cold winter day. It is easy to prepare and satisfying.

Dec 14, 2008 - Stella Walsh

Try to stretch the meal and grocery budget can make for difficult meal planning. Using stock from previous meals, and dried kidney beans makes a healthy, economical dish.

Nov 5, 2009 - Sarabeth Asaff

Many crock-pot recipes call for canned legumes but dried beans and peas can easily be substituted to save money. Use these tips to get perfect beans every time.

Jan 20, 2010 - Jennifer Mueller

At as little as 6 cents a serving, dried beans are easily the least expensive protein food in the supermarket. Use this method to cook legumes at home in a slow cooker.

Jan 20, 2010 - Jennifer Mueller

If you want to get some real mileage from your crock pot or slow cooker, then pick up a copy of 300 Slow Cooker Favorites by Donna-Maria Pye.

Sep 8, 2007 - Cyndi Allison

This cookbook, with 200 recipes, offers conveniently-healthy meals designed for vegetarians, all cooked in a slow cooker.

Jun 25, 2008 - Trevy Thomas

Just 5 Minutes Hands-On Time, a Few Hours in the Slow Cooker, and You Have a Delicious Southern Side Dish.

Jan 11, 2008 - Karen Hancock

Black turtle beans are slow-cooked with garlic and onions for unmatched taste and texture. They're the perfect filling for vegetarian enchiladas.

Jan 19, 2010 - Jill Harris

Sometimes the cold temperatures of wintry days and nights make a person long for something soothing and warm. Salmon Chowder with Quick Beer Bread satisfies the hunger.

Nov 8, 2007 - Melissa Howard

French onion soup is a special and warming dish that is very simple to make in the slow cooker. Get gourmet results with little prep time and effort!

Jan 20, 2008 - Carrie Grosvenor

Adapting cooking times, adjusting liquid, and adding ingredients in the right order are vital to making conventional stove-top recipes work in a slow cooker.

Sep 10, 2009 - Luke Arnott

Book review and recipe excerpt for a slow cooker cookbook filled with delicious recipes that make cooking easy.

Jan 9, 2010 - Trevy Thomas

Whether busy with work, kids or just life, slow cookers can be a great asset to the time-crunched cooked. All of these recipes have a prep time of under 15 minutes.

Nov 23, 2009 - Elvira Nieto

This simple Ham and Bean Soup recipe is quick to prepare and simmers in the slow cooker, so you can come home to the savory smells of a ready-to-eat dinner.

Jan 26, 2011 - Lisa Hughes

Maybe you'd like to spice up that leftover chicken or turkey. Or maybe you're trying to be healthy and cut out red meat. No need to deny yourself the pleasure of chili.

Dec 7, 2008 - Larry Ervin

Simple gluten-free slow cooker recipes are excellent ideas for convenient healthy menus when a family is faced with planning meals around hectic schedules.

Sep 16, 2008 - Stella Walsh

Use your slow cooker to make healthy vegetable stock while you get busy doing other things.

Feb 12, 2010 - Alyson Hill

A Slow Cooker is the answer to healthy cooking for one. The crockpot method can produce sofisticated dishes such as French Onion Soup and Beef Stroganoff.

Jul 14, 2010 - Zara Mohammed

This vegetarian chili is hearty and filling. The best part is it cooks up in about 5 hours in the crock pot with no hassle.

Sep 2, 2011 - Jennifer Tanner-Jordan