Slow cookers aren't just for grandmothers. On a busy day, who doesn't love to come home in the evening to a hot already-prepared meal? Whether it's a succulent pot roast, savory tender chicken or a simple casserole, slow cookers create amazing aromas beef and vegetable stew red wine even better meals - and many slow cooker recipes make enough food to feed your entire family (and then some).Crock it up - There are tons of recipes online for crock addicts like me. Chicken, beef, pork ribs - the possibilities are endless! Sure, slow cooker slow cooked beef and veg stew take long to cook, but once you have all the ingredients in that crock pot, you are good to go. Leave it and forget about it. After you put on the timer, that is.Most Boston area markets are offering a variety of beef cuts this week (12/ 24-12/30/2010), many of which would work nicely in this beef stew. Try a local Hannaford market offer for boneless strip steak at $5.99/lb.When I don't have the time (or energy) to dig through all of my cookbooks looking for a particular recipe, I turn to the internet. It's the best place to search for recipes of any type. Sometimes I look to the internet just to find a recipe or dish I remember but can't seem to locate. I always manage to find it online thanks to all the other cooks out there who have posted it somewhere. Just like I have my go-to cookbooks for recipes I make over and over again, I have my go-to recipe websites where I know I can do a recipe search and come up with exactly what I'm looking for. Here are my favorite online recipe databases.Don't turn down favors. There are some items that you will want to buy brand new for your baby. Not all items need to be new to be useful, however. If friends or family members offer to let you borrow items, think about it before saying "no." Large pieces such as a rocking chair or glider or an infant swing are useful items that could easily be borrowed for the short amount of time you will need them for. And when you no longer need them, you can just give them back rather than having to find storage!Try to get rid of as much fat as possible before cooking the foods. Chances are, your crock pot recipes don't require the fat anyway. The reason to do this is because fat tends to melt after hours of cooking. Trust slow cooker beef and vegetable stew me. You'll be able to taste the difference.Turn the ringer off on the phone for a few hours unless you can screen your calls without allowing them to completely take you away from your assignment or project.Pour the cooked beef stew into the lined baking dish. Cover with the other sheet of pie crust. Make slits at the top to allow steam to penetrate during baking. Cut or tear off the excess crust that hangs over the baking pan.