I have to agree on the fondue posts. Takes a while to do, can do by soft lighting (if you're careful). Start with a luscious cheese fondue and a crisp wine, followed by a meat and veggie orgie, and follow up with sinful strawberries dipped in warm chocolate with kirsch. Then, put in the movie "Chocolat" and you're all set! Don't forget the tawny port with the chocolate course.

You can find lots of variations on this red kidney bean curry online at Indian cooking sites, etc. This is the only recipe I can vouch for. Mixing up just the right balance for a curry I'm finding is very difficult. Also, for some reason I am just much more in love with the flavors of the Mediterranean. Here's another recipe I make in the crockpot. It is a soup, but pretty thick. Black Bean Soup with Red Paprika Sauce 1 lb. dried black beans, soaked overnight and drained. 8 cups water or broth (I always use mild veggie broth) 2 chopped med. onions 2 ribs celery 2 cups chopped tomatoes 2 TBLSP paprika 2 tsp. ground cumin 2 bay leaves 1/2 cup cilantro 1 cup corn Simmer beans and veggies until beans are soft. Then add tomatoes and spices and cook a couple hours more. Add the red paprika "sofrito" after the soup is done, just before serving. Do not add peppers to the dish while it's slow cooking, because peppers get bitter made in a slow cooker. I basically throw in everything except the tomato into the crockpot, add the tomatoes towards the end, and then when it's finished I stir in the Red Paprika Sauce. Yummo! Part of the charm of this soup comes from having good paprika on hand. If you miss a smokey taste in your black bean soup you can throw in some chorizo or ham or something. Being vegetarian, I sometimes add a tiny dash of fake bacon bits. Or fake sausage. But this soup I like plain. Red Paprika Sauce 2 TBLSP olive oil 1 large red pepper, diced 3 scallions, minced 2 tsp. paprika, or less, to taste 2 tsp. salt 2 TBLSP lime juice Sautee the peppers and onions in the olive oil and add the paprika, salt and lime juice at the end. Stir into the black bean soup. That's what gives this soup its yumminess, the addition of this fresh herb sofrito at the end. Here's another one that is easy and hearty, but I don't make it because it takes me so long to eat it up. Bean Cornbread Crockpot Casserole from vegetarian.about.com Serves 6 1 med. onion, chopped 1 med. green pepper, chopped (add at the end to the crockpot) 2 cloves garlic or 1/4 tsp. minced garlic powder 1 16 oz. can of kidney beans 1 16 oz. can of pinto beans (I'm not a pinto bean fan so I probably would use black beans) 1 16 oz. can chopped tomatoes 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce 1 tsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard 1/8 tsp. hot sauce or chopped jalepeno to taste Cornbread topping to be added at the last 1.5 hours of cooking. 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1 cup all purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1 TBLSP sugar 1 1/2 cups milk 2 eggs 3 TBLSP veg. oil 1 can cream style corn (8 oz. can) Lightly grease crockpot. Add bean chili ingredients except peppers. Cook 8 hours on low. Add peppers and cornbread topping for the last 1.5 hours. Cook on high for the last 1.5 hours. (Directons sound kind of confusing but I think this is one of those "throw it in the crockpot and go to work and have dinner ready when you get home" recipes. So basically cook the bean chili all day on low in the crockpot, and when you get home make the cornbread topping and add the peppers. I'd sautee the peppers.) But I don't cook at all on the weekdays, so I made this on the weekend and adjusted the times accordingly. I cook the chili for 5-6 hours on low, then add the cornbread crust and the sauteed peppers, finish it off, and have it for Sunday dinner. And Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday. Which is why I don't make this often!

Made this to go with dinner last night. ~~Easy Irish Soda Bread~~ 4 c. all-purpose flour 4 tbsp. white sugar 1 tSP. baking soda 1 tbsp. baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 c. butter, softened 1 c. buttermilk 1 egg 1/4 c. butter, melted 1/4 c. buttermilk 1 Preheat oven to 375*. Lightly grease a large baking sheet. 2 In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf. 3 Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 30 to 50 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes. Makes 1 1 1/2 pound loaf

Here are a few of my family's favorites: LEIGH'S BAKED BEANS FOR CROCKPOT 1 lb. ground beef 1/2 lb. bacon (diced) 1 medium sweet onion (diced) 1 red bell pepper (diced) 1/3 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 3/4 cup ketchup 1/2 cup barbeque sauce 1 tsp. each: salt, pepper, chili powder 1 Tblsp. mustard 1 can each: pork and beans, pinto beans, navy beans, and white butter beans. Brown ground beef, bacon, onion, and pepper, drain. Put this in crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients. Cook all day on low heat. SLOW-COOKER ADOBO PORK SANDWICHES WITH ROSEMARY-GARLIC MAYONNAISE 2 cups canned chopped tomatoes, drained 1 Tblsp. brown sugar 1 Tblsp. chili powder 3 Tblsp. red wine vinegar 3 Tblsp. adobo sauce 1 Tblsp. honey 2 garlic cloves, chopped 4-1/2 lbs. pork shoulder 6 sandwich buns Rosemary-Garlic mayonnaise (recipe follows) Toppings: lettuce leaves, tomato slices Process first 7 ingredients in a blender or food processor until mixture is smooth. Cut pork in half, and place in a 5-quart slow cooker. Pour tomato mixture over pork. Cook on HIGH for 8 hours; remove from slow cooker. Cool slightly; shred and serve on buns with Rosemary-Garlic mayonnaise and desired toppings. Yield: 6 servings. Rosemary-Garlic Mayonnaise 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 Tblsp. chopped fresh or dried rosemary 1 Tblsp. lemon juice 1/8 tsp. salt Stir together all ingredients. Chill. Yield: 1/2 cup. Recipe from Southern Living magazine, Sept. 2001 issue. CROCKPOT MACARONI AND CHEESE 8 oz. elbow macaroni, cooked and drained 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk 1-1/2 cups milk 2 eggs 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper Place cooked macaroni in slow cooker that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Reserve 1 cup cheese; add rest of cheese and the other ingredients to the macaroni. Mix well. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Cook on HIGH at least 2-1/2 hours. Do not remove cover or stir until ready to serve. Recipe courtesy of Mr. Food. CROCKPOT CHINESE PEPPER STEAK 1-1/2 lbs. steak (any cheap cut) 2 Tblsp. vegetable oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce 1 tsp. sugar 1 cup bean sprouts 1 cup tomatoes, diced 2 green peppers, sliced in strips 1 Tblsp. cornstarch 2 Tblsp. water 1 large onion, cut in chunks Cut steak in strips. Brown steak in oil. Mix garlic, salt, soy sauce, and sugar; pour over steak. Cook 6 hours on low in crockpot. Turn to high and add sprouts, tomatoes, green peppers, and onion. Dissolve cornstarch in water and add for thickening. Cover and cook an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour. Serve over hot cooked rice.