Today dinner is ready - already! Due to a very under appreciated appliance of mine called The Slow Cooker.

I often forget that I have it there - in the back of the cabinet. But when I put the slow cooker to use - I always think that I should use it more often. What could be better than making dinner in the morning when I have a little uninterrupted time. And having food ready to feed the crowd that arrives home in the afternoon.

Surprisingly, a lot of regular recipes can be adapted to the slow cooker. Soups, stews, chilli, curries, roasts, chicken, beans - you name it. I have even found some fantastic vegetarian slow cooker recipes and vegetarian soup recipes, which can be hard to find.

The slow cooker is a must have for busy families and one of the most simple and best parenting tips around.