Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I agree with many others that there are often numerous steps. However, the end results have generally been worth it. I've been cooking from this book for several years now and I reach for it again and again. My favorites: 1. Moroccan Beef Chili with Chickpeas - I make this at least once a month 2. Weeknight Meat Sauce - worth the price of the book 3. Easy Barbecued Ribs - very easy and good for weeknights 4. Sticky Wings - so good and I don't typically enjoy wings 5. Tuscan White Bean Soup - soaked beans overnight in fridge 6. Beef Goulash - easy and very good 7. Braised Brisket and Onions - quick prep and a good end result 8. Chicken in a Pot - my husband said this was the best thing I've ever made. Delicious and very juicy 9. Sloppy Joes - a big favorite of my husband 10. Mashed potatoes - very good and has been helpful at the holidays. Opens up a burner and keeps them warm as the meal comes together. 11. Irish Oatmeal - so the cooking time is ridiculous. We actually eat the oatmeal as part of "breakfast for dinner" on weekend nights. It's inconvenient but very, very good. And it seems like less bother to me because it isn't boiling over every 5 minutes. Recipes that didn't work: 1. 15-Bean Soup - it never quite came together although I tried it a few times 2. Chicken Curry in a Hurry - just ok, nothing special 3. Beef Stroganoff was good but the listed cooking time is off and I burned it 4. Big-Batch Bolognese Sauce - bland and makes about 4 pounds of food. This was the biggest disappointment simply because of the sheer amount of meat that I felt like I wasted. For some background, I prefer to cook with fresh ingredients. I have a well-stocked pantry and enjoy cuisine from all over the world. The "unusual" ingredients in many of the recipes are something I enjoy and consider a positive. I also have figured out what I can simplify in the recipes I cook frequently. I will microwave ingredients rather than cooking on the stove to save time. I skip the panade (bread mixed into meat) to save the bother or need for bread and I haven't noticed a difference. I also have a cooker with a timer which switches over to warm. This has helped me use the book while I'm at work or away longer than the specified cooking time. I also appreciate other aspects of slow cooking in addition to convenience such as keeping the kitchen cool in the summer or freeing up space while making a large meal. I also appreciate the added moisture and stable cooking temperature as I live at high altitude. I find most recipes to make a huge amount of food so I often cut recipes in half. Every cooker is different but mine runs hot. I cook at the minimum of the time range listed.