I had my first crockpot for more years than I can remember. I always used it to make a big batch of soup. Especially the vegetable loaded with potatoes, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, onions, celery, carrots, peas and beef from a soup bone. Soup bones were a whole lot cheaper those years.
Anyway I would start the soup about 10 PM and let it cook all night. Started it on high for a couple of hours and then down to low. It would smell so good when I woke up during the night and I would go out and give it a stir and taste to check the seasonings. I about wore that crockpot out. Well, the plastic cover got a big crack in it and being an intelligent housewife I patched it up good with duct tape and it lasted many more years. It finally gave up the ghost and I got a new crockpot and it doesn't make good soup. Don't ask me why. I still do it the same but it is like that old crock pot absorbed the seasoning in the crockery just like a grill in a restaurant retains the flavors of years of frying.
I miss the cooking for the family out on the farm. The big batches of chili and spaghetti. I used to make a big roaster of cut up potatoes, carrots with browned pork steak. The pork steak has more fat and is really tasty..and fattening. I would layer all this (onions too) with sliced apples, sauerkraut and some brown sugar. That was so good and was even better the next day. That was back in the day when I could eat a whole lot more and not pack on so many pounds.
Making me hungry and I am supposed to be nothing by mouth in an hour. Time to head for bed. Take care. meirish