Fast foods may have been the meal of choice for many busy families through the last couple of decades. But now the slow cooked, home-prepared meals are gaining in popularity! Crock pots, with their wafting aromas and 'ready to eat' meals, entice health-conscious, busy people.

And it doesn't take super human talent, skill, or effort to make a delicious meal in a crockpot - in fact there are quite a few crockpot recipes that require 5 or less ingredients! And crockpot cooking can be as simple as tossing a few ingredients into the pot before everyone leaves for the day. In the evening, the smell of slow cooked food fills the house and whets the appetite. There's no more last minute trip to the grocery store, or the endless 'what's for dinner' questions.

Rising food costs and shrinking household budgets have helped bring many nostalgic foods back to the forefront. Time stressed families, tired of eating prepackaged foods, have begun to crave the aroma of savory nutritious meals.

Pot roast, beef stew, chicken and noodles can utilize less expensive cuts of meat, which taste tender and moist after slow cooking.

Our grandmothers knew how to manage a frugal, yet efficient and productive home -- and they didn't need expensive gadgets either! Many slow cookers sell in the range of $20 to $35, and the cost is soon made up by the thriftiness of eating at home.

On the market now are the programmable crockpot slow cooker. No stirring or supervision is necessary, and once cook time has expired the smart-pot automatically shifts to a warm setting. Want a side dish with your stew? Try the dual cooker. It allows cooking of two different dishes at the same time. Worried about little hands reaching up to the counter? Try the 'cool touch' slow cooker. These can be up to 25% cooler than other slow cookers.

Although crockpots are a relatively new invention, making hearty foods that simmer all day has been around for quite a while. Whether you're cooking for just two people or a large family, make your own convenience food! Dig out some old recipes or find a new one, and enjoy flavorful foods without the hardship.

Opening the front door on a cold evening evening and being greeted by the inviting smells of a beef stew or chicken noodle soup wafting from a slow cooker - ahhh - it is truly a diner's dream come true!