What To Cook

• Crockpot cooking allows you to buy foods in bulk and cook them all at once. Often vegetables that are just starting to become over-ripe will be discounted at your grocery store. If you use these vegetables right away they are well worth the purchase. Pick up discounted tomatoes and cook them down to sauce. Potatoes, squash, beans and many other vegetables can be cooked and then frozen. Or, combine several different vegetables and make a good pot of soup to be enjoyed now and later. If there is a big sale on kidney beans, use them for a big pot of chili.
  
  

How It Saves You Money

• Professional chef Ming Tsai says that cooking with a Crockpot can definitely help stretch your budget. The slow cooker allows you to cook enough food for several meals. Whether you make a big pot of chili, soup or meatballs, you are able to enjoy some now and put some away. Keep freezer containers handy. Buying food in bulk or at discounted prices saves you money in the long run, and using a Crockpot means the food won't go to waste. Put your food in the pot in the morning, turn it on low and you can have a healthy, economical meal ready when you get home in the evening.