Dear Crock-Pot

Dear Crock-Pot,

I just wanted to take a few minutes to express my great appreciation for all that you do.

I’m pretty sure you were a wedding shower present, given to me just under twelve years ago.  At that time, I was a bride to be, with all sorts of home-cooking hopes and dreams.  Actually, I wouldn’t really say that I had lots of cooking hopes and dreams because even then, I wasn’t much of a cook and hadn’t really put much thought into who would do the cooking in general.  Obviously that all changed, when I got married, and suddenly had a husband to feed.  Crock-Pot, you were there in those early years.  Shiny and new and somehow taking all sorts of raw and random meats and cooking them into something delicious.

You’ve been a faithful friend over all these years.  The best meals I’ve made in you involved random beef type meats, chosen from the grocery store meat department.  To this day, I simply list “Crock-pot meat” on my shopping lists and still stand clueless in front of the cooler, looking for something that looks beefy and has a good price.  Adding ranch dressing, onions, plain and sweet potatoes and carrots somehow turns into delicious meal magic, when cooked for a good 6 hours or so.

I think I’m most thankful for you, because you make dinner time so easy.  Sure it takes a mid-morning prep to get everything peeled and ready.  But it’s always oh-so-sweet to come home to a fabulously already cooked and steaming hot meal, especially after a busy and cold winters day.  You always make our house smell like sheer deliciousness.  And paired with a good loaf of french bread, you are always one of my most favorite meals.  Also, since you’re taken care of dinner, it gives me time to empty out the sink that has been artistically crammed full of dishes (which I did, right after I took this picture… in case anyone cares).

And so, in conclusion, I just want to say, thanks.  Sure, after twelve years of wear and tear, your’ve been reduced to “Crock-Po” but it’s kind of a badge of honor for many meals well served.  And today, I was just reminded to be thankful for the many little things that I’ve been blessed with in life, and you are one of them.

Sincerely,

Laura Herr