•  1 small fennel bulb
• 6 cups water or chicken broth
• 6 ounces smoked sausage of your choice cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 1 1/4 cups dry brown or green lentils rinsed and drained
• 2 large carrots cut into 1" pieces
• 1 medium to large onion chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced or 4 teaspoons ready chopped garlic
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Remove fennel tops and reserve for garnish. Chop enough of the fennel bulb to equal one cup. In a slow cooker, combine fennel, water or chicken broth, sausage, lentils, carrots, onion, garlic, salt and pepper.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours or until lentils are done. Season to taste, garnish with reserved fennel tops and sour cream if desired.

•  1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons paprika
• 2 Tablespoons dried minced onion
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
• 4 to 5 pounds bone in pork shoulder roast
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup green onions or scallions
• 24 small dinner rolls, cut in half

Mix 1 Tablespoon of the brown sugar, paprika, minced onions, cumin, onion salt, garlic powder and allspice. Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon into bottom of slow cooker. Rub remaining mixture over pork. Add vinegar and remaining brown sugar to slow cooker, stir to mix, add pork.

Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours until pork is fork tender. Remove pork to a cutting board and pull apart. Return to slow cooker and add green onions or scallions and toss to mix.

Put about 1/4 to a 1/3 cup onto each bun bottom, top with bun tops.

Serve with hot sauce and coleslaw if desired.

• 4 to 6 cubed steaks cut into 4 pieces each
• 14 to 16 ounce jar of your favorite pizza sauce or pasta sauce
• 1 envelope beefy onion soup mix
• 2 Tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 4 to 6 potatoes washed, peeled or unpeeled it depends on your likes

Place cubed steak in bottom of a slow cooker. In a bowl combine all other ingredients except potatoes. Pour mixture over cubed steak.

Place whole potatoes over top. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or until meat is tender and potatoes are done.

Note: You can also add a can of plain or stewed tomatoes

• 4 to 6 pork chops bone in or boneless, your choice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup or your favorite bar-b-q sauce
• 1/2 Tablespoon pre minced garlic or 2 to 3 cloves minced
• 14 to 16 ounce can stewed tomatoes, undrained
• salt and pepper to your taste
• Desired number of washed and scrubbed potatoes left whole, peeled or unpeeled it just depends on how you like them

Place pork chops in crock pot or slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients except potatoes in a bowl and mix well, pour over pork chops. Place whole potatoes over top. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. No need to stir, you'll want to be sure you keep potatoes on top.