While looking for a new slow cooker, I found some units that came with mini slow cookers. Heating up dips for entertaining immediately sprung to my mind. This is a handy appliance to have if you are cooking for one or two people. The $25 price tag leaves much to be desired. For this price, you can by a 4-qt. unit. I think I’ll wait until my Rival dies.

I tried the original recipe in the Fix-It and Forget-It cookbook, found it very bland, and spiced it up with garlic. That helped make it edible for my family and I. If I were to make this meal again, I would experiment with sun-dried tomatoes and substitute the cream cheese with ricotta or another soft Italian cheese.

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 envelope dry Italian dressing mix
1/4 cup water
8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
14.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced (optional)
3-cheese Parmesan blend

Directions

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
2. Combine salad dressing mix and water. Then pour over chicken and cook on Low for 3 hours.
3. Combine the cheese and soup until well blended. Add the mushrooms before pouring over chicken.
4. Cook on Low for one hour, or until chicken juices run clear.
5. Serve with egg noodles fettucine. Garnish with 3-cheese blend.

I’ve had my 5-quart Rival slow cooker for over ten years and have enjoyed cooking with it. However, it is beginning to show its age. Last month, I set something to cook before I went to work. When I arrived home, I found my meal slightly scorched and a bit watery. I’ve since shelved my slow cooker and use it only for weekend cooking, when I know that I can be there to monitor the food.

The first brand I looked at was Rival, since I’d had good luck with my model up to this point. I was disappointed when I read many reviews from people who’d experienced the same thing with newer models. This made me look at other models.

At Christmas time, I was drooling over the KitchenAid mixer stand, which I never did buy due to limited counter space. Now, I have my sights on their 7-quart slow cooker. It has an oblong shape, which is perfect for slow cooking ribs, pot roasts or whole chickens. Even better, it has a computerized temperature sensor that will force the appliance to shut off. You can also program it to cook on a low or high setting for up to 10 hours.

As my boys grow older, I’ll need a bigger pot to accommodate their appetites. Amazon reviewers said that this slow cooker is huge.

The only downside is the price. Then again, if the KitchenAid slow cooker lasts as long as my Rival, I’ll consider it a great investment. You can get it on Amazon for $130 right now, or hunt for a better bargain elsewhere.