Step #1 Put the first 10 ingredients in the slow cooker (aka crockpot) with the next 4 spices.
Step #2 Cover up & cook on high.
Step #3 Meanwhile, melt the butter in a sauce pan over med-heat/flame, slowly whisking in the cornstarch & milk.
Step #4 Transfer milk to slow cooker (aka crockpot).
Step #5 Cover up & cook for 4 hrs, stirring every once in awhile.
Step #6 Add the crabmeat & cheese & turn the cooker down to low.
Step #7 **For thicker broth, using broth from the slow cooker (aka crockpot) instead of more milk (melt butter & stir in the corn starch, repeat step #3-4, then adding broth from the cooker).