Terrified of that crock pot your mother bought you? Don’t panic. It’s easier than you think…

The negative double-digit weather makes me think twice before leaving the house nowadays. Even though staying in, drinking spiked hot chocolate, and watching re-runs of Sex and the City sounds heavenly, I have to admit I am feeling the blues of cabin fever.

As I think of ways to snap out of this winter time rut, l look over at my shiny new crock pot and come to the conclusion that hosting a gourmet dinner party will yank me out of my Seasonal Affective Disorder. No mistake here, I did say gourmet and crock pot in the same sentence. Most of us may have childhood memories of mom making her weekly meatloaf in a crock pot, but it’s time we help you see this appliance in a new light. This is no longer a domestic appliance used to feed a family larger than an army.

The crock pots of today can be the hero appliance for the busy millennials that we are. If you think about it, you throw a bunch of ingredients in a pot and let it cook for a few hours, leaving you time to pick up the wine and get your nails done for the party. It doesn’t get more perfect than that. To make things even sweeter, it’s a great way to stay in, save a dollar or two, and still have a good ol’ time with friends.

If you were wondering, there is not much of a difference between crock pots and slow cookers. Slow cookers have different warming technology and require a heating plate to work. With that said, I would recommend a crock pot. With less clean-up and a better heating system, they are more efficient and simpler to use. Also, crock pots have had a complete makeover, so no need to hide them under your bed when guests come over. They have become an accessory for your kitchen and come in stylish finishes like black chrome, stainless steel, and fun colours and patterns. The best part is that you can get a high quality, good looking crock pot for around $50.00.

A suggestion to make this experience more inclusive is to encourage your friends to jump on board and get one too. Start a new group trend and introduce crock-pot pot lucks amongst your crew. Here at Vv Magazine, we know that even with a crock pot, throwing a dinner party is a song and dance. That is why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to put together our favourite crock pot recipes –along with suggestions for wine pairings– so your party goes smoothly from start to finish.