Think of savory soups or stews, cooked long and slow at home. Then casseroles, big pots of baked beans, chili and cabbage rolls. These are often made on the stove top or in the oven. Then in 1971, the Crock Pot by Rival came onto the marketplace and expanded the possibilities in home cooking. Today, the generic term slow cooker is used alongside the brand name Crock Pot. The various modern models are the busy home cook’s friend. Many classic comfort foods are also slow cooker classics, easy to make and easy to serve in bowls to warm family and friends snowy winter evenings. The original Crock Pot was an innovation at that time. I remember when these came out, and they were as hot as any modern, small kitchen appliances you see advertised now.