31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 23: My Slow Cooker

Don't get me wrong, I actually do like to cook.

Some days, though, just aren't suitable for making full meals. Enter: my Crock-Pot.

This baby is a true vintage piece. It's a Rival CrockPot with a hunter green crock and a chic vegetable motif on the metal heater surround (similar to the one above).

Last night, it was filled with yummy homemade chili. That wasn't a miracle...I put it there. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised when I returned home from a meeting to the sweet smell of a cooked dinner.

The real lesson? It's nice to have dinner prepared for you, even if you are the you who prepared it (did you get all that?).

Do you love your slow cooker? What's your favorite recipe?

"Show me another pleasure like dinner which comes every day and lasts an hour."
 -Charles Maurice de Talleyrand

31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 13: Leftovers

Is this one too simple? Sorry...it's true. Few things bring as much joy as finding some delicious leftovers when it's time for me to begin my dinner preparations.

It's not just the joy of food that does not need to be prepared: it's the memory of what was most likely an enjoyable visit with a friend or loved one (at least, for me it is). When I open my fridge and I see that little silver or foam box, I am reminded of the precious time spent enjoying the company of another. Sure, it's fantastic that I don't have to cook, but the memory of laughs shared brings a smile to my face all the same.

At the basic level, though, I'm just really glad I don't have to cook for at least another day. Thanks friends!

What do YOU do with your leftovers?

"Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart." -Thomas Fuller