Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

Whether you're a Workerette juggling a job outside the home, an at-home mom, a work-at-home mom or all of the above *yikes!*, you've probably wondered if a slow cooker would be useful for you.  I'm personally learning that the answer is a resounding YES!

Even if you aren't a mom (or perhaps, are a gramma or great-gramma), planning ahead can only be a good thing.  It makes the budget a little less likely to break, the days a little more efficient, and with recipes like the ones these ladies are sharing, it can make dinner healthier and/or tastier!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood (sing it, Mr. Rogers), and I have the worst urge to start baking so I can justify leaving the kitchen door wide open.  I think this dessert would fit the bill and create a lot less heat.  Mmmm, cherries.... 

Cherry Crumble, adapted from Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Slow Cooker Recipes:

What You Need:

• 1 - 16 oz bag of frozen cherries (preferably organic)
• 1 C sugar
• 3/4 C water
• 1/2 C dried cherries
• 1/4 C cherry brandy
• 2 T quick-cooking tapioca
• 3/4 C low-fat granola (try Cascadian Farm if you're looking for organics)
• 1/2 C baking mix (like Bisquick)
• 10 gingersnaps, crushed (I like Trader Joe's, personally)
• 2 T butter, melted
• Vanilla ice cream - or whatever else you think would go well....

What To Do:

• Start with the cherries: Stir together frozen cherries, sugar, water, dried cherries, tapioca, and brandy in a 4-quart slow cooker.  Cover and cook on high heat for 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, make your crumble topping, about 30 minutes before the cherries are up.  To prep:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
• Stir together the granola, baking mix, gingersnaps and melted butter.  Spread evenly on the baking sheet.  Bake for around 15 minutes (or until crisp and golden).
• To serve, place about half the cherries into your serving dishes.  Sprinkle with half of the baked topping.  Put a scoop of ice cream in each dish, then top with more cherries and baked topping.  OHHHH MY!  (I say if you want to get really daring you could garnish with a little sprig of mint and some semi-sweet chocolate morsels.  Can you say RIIIIICH???)