My sources teach me how to make almost anything in a crock pot.

Before I start, I should probably let you in on my little secret. I'm not going to pretend that I'm some amazing chef who seemingly randomly throws a bunch of ingredients into a pot and *poof* it tastes like The. Best. Thing. Ever. I'm just really great at following directions.

Nearly every recipe I've used in the last month has come from one of these 4 cookbooks:

~101 Things To Do With A Slow Cooker

~101 More Things To Do With A Slow Cooker

~3 Books In 1: Rival Crock Pot (Slow Cooker Favorites; Winning Slow Cooker Recipes; Slow Cooker Recipes for All Occasions)

~Fix-It And Forget-It Cookbook: 700 Great Slow Cooker Recipes 

If I've learned anything this month, it's that you can make almost anything in a crock pot. From go-to crock pot favorites like Hearty Beef Stew to desserts like Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.

Hey! Guess what I made for dinner tonight? Hearty Beef Stew and Pineapple Upside-Down Cake!

Hearty Beef Stew (6 quart pot)

~2 pounds of cubed beef,  still somewhat frozen.
~an entire package of celery, cut into inch long pieces.  (The whole package didn't end up in the pot...it was getting old, so I cut out what was usable and still somewhat crunchy. )
~about 5 or 6 carrots, peeled and cut into inch long pieces.
~2 large white potatoes, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces.
~1 package of McCormick's slow cooker beef stew mix (I usually use my own spices, but I cheated this time because it was on sale.)
~1 cup water.
~the remaining dregs of a bottle of wine that had been taking up space in the kitchen.

Cover and cook on low for 9 hours.

6 servings.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (3.5 quart pot)

~grease crock pot.
~line bottom of pot with pineapple slices w/juice, halved maraschino cherries, 1/4 cup melted butter and 1/8 cup brown sugar.
~mix Betty Crocker's super moist yellow cake mix as directed on package. (3 eggs, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 1 1/4 cup water.)
~pour mix into pot.

Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

8-10 servings.