Get the latest recipes from Modelsmom http://www.grouprecipes.com/people/modelsmom Grapes in a sweet, winey syrup - this is easy gourmet at its best. You can find these as Dean & Deluca & other gourmet shops at prices no sane person would pay. This is a simple version. Serve with poultry, game, or meats as a condiment. Store these in fancy jars and give them as gifts this holiday! Be sure to use the largest seedless red grapes you can find - Red Flames work really well. And yes, you do have to cut them in half. http://www.grouprecipes.com/106891/sweet-and-spicy-red-grapes-in-the-slow-cooker.html This is one of those old-fashioned, "church supper" kind of meals. It appeared in the recipe booklet that came with the first slow cookers. It's very rich, so serve with simple sidedishes, like coleslaw, bread, or a salad. We also like this one served over a baked potato! http://www.grouprecipes.com/106888/old-fashioned-one-pot-bean-dinner.html This bean and pork stew is made with canned black beans - easy! It makes a great, simple meal when served with a salad and focaccia or flour tortillas. http://www.grouprecipes.com/106887/slow-cooker-mexican-black-beans-and-pork.html I have to admit I have not tried this one yet, but I intend to as soon as possible. Sounds easy and delicious. And just right, now that we have snow on the ground! http://www.grouprecipes.com/106886/slow-cooker-rough-mashed-potatoes-with-garlic.html This is an easy weekend meal. I love braising, since it lets me use an inexpensive cut of meat, and comes out fork-tender. This is SO flavorful, too. The leftovers are good rough-chopped and made into crescent roll bundles. http://www.grouprecipes.com/106884/melissa-darabians-braised-pork.html It never crossed my mind to make my own ketchup - now I'm really looking forward to trying it! Be sure to make a meatloaf for dinner the night you make this; it's great served warm. http://www.grouprecipes.com/101787/slow-cooker-easy-tomato-ketchup.html This is a simplified version of Bananas Foster (but this one is not flambéed). Use light brown sugar, with its lighter flavor, to complement the bananas. Serve hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. http://www.grouprecipes.com/101786/slow-cooker-rum-butterscotch-bananas.html So good - storebought applesauce doesn't even come close. And it's so easy. This is a good sauce for winter (serve it hot over my slow cooker applesauce cake, also posted). You can use any firm, ripe pear, like Bosc, Winter Nellis, or Anjou. It pairs best with tart apples like Granny Smith. http://www.grouprecipes.com/101785/slow-cooker-apple-and-pear-sauce-with-ginger.html This is another slow cooker dessert, and another one from Colonial times. To tell the truth, I had never heard of a bethy before coming across it in this cookbook. Be sure to use pears that are ripe but still firm, or they'll disintegrate during cooking. It can also be made with apples. It's important to use a good bread, such as a brioche or a challah, for a good flavor when it's finished. Serve this with a pitcher of heavy cream. http://www.grouprecipes.com/101784/slow-cooker-pear-brown-bethy.html I don't know if you ever see a grunt anywhere but here in New England. This one is *seriously* old-fashioned; now we're talking Colonial times. It is stewed fruit topped with a drop biscuit dough that steams like a dumpling. Even in its traditional form, the topping never browns, so the slow cooker is perfect for this recipe. "Grunt" refers to the sound the fruit makes while cooking (I know, not very elegant!). This is also good made with blackberries or a combination of berries and nectarines. If you use half blackberries and half blueberries, call it black and blue grunt. http://www.grouprecipes.com/101725/slow-cooker-blueberry-grunt.html