Hello, Loverrrrr

I am in love.  No really.  I mean it.  Is it ridiculous to say that a Slow Cooker (aka the crock pot) may very well have changed my life?  Launching me from frazzled FT employed-out-of-the-home single Mom who would like to remembered as calm and lovely Domestic Goddess to ... PT frazzled Mom who can now calmly provide a decent hot meal to starving children as soon as I get home from work, without even soiling a cutting board or an extra pan!  This guy is amazing.  He does all the hard work while I'm at the office, with a slow and even temperament that says "Relax, I got it, Honey.  You go out and watch the kids ride bikes while I finish up dinner".  Sigh.  And did I mention clean-up is a breeze?  It's almost too much to bear.  I love him so much I'm going to get another, smaller one for things like morning oatmeal or desserts.  Crock Pot Polygamy, j'adore!

Last night's dinner was divine ... adapted from the fantastic Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann.

Roast Pork with Apples

1  3 - 4 lb boned pork loin roast (I think mine was around 3 lbs)

salt and freshly ground pepper

6 - 7 tart cooking apples (I used Pink Lady, but Granny Smith or Macintosh would work well too)

1/4 C. apple juice, fruity white wine or champagne (I used last but of Birthday rose champagne)

1/4 C. firmly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

The night before cooking:  I peeled, cored and quartered my apples.  Put them in fridge overnight.

Next morning:  I took my plump and rosy pork loin roast, liberally salted and peppered it and browned it all over, even the ends for good measure.  While it was browning, I mixed together the ground ginger, champagne and brown sugar to make a glaze.  

Dump the peeled apples sections in the slow cooker.  When the pork is finished browning, place on bed of apples.  Spoon over glaze and try and cover all pork, rubbing in with back of spoon.  Put the lid on and cook on the HIGH setting for one hour.  Then turn the Slow Cooker to low, praise him for being such a lovely, lovely helper and ... Go To Work.  It's that easy!  I got home at 5 and made some mashed potatoes and peas to go with it, and a watercress salad with carrots and a sherry vinaigrette for good measure and feasted!  It was amazing.  The pork melted, just melted under the fork and the apples retained their shape but melted in your mouth too.  I cannot say enough about this amazing invention called the Slow Cooker, really, it's crazy.  A simple device that can improve your parenting and costs less than $40?  A miracle.

Slow Cooker, I love you.