M. Elizabeth your comment of cooking for 3 growing boys made me smile. My DH & I had 2 daughters, then one year we were asked to take in a 17 yr. old male exchange student (he was 6'4" when he arrived), and my nephew was in the Navy and stationed in San Diego that same year (he was 19 and 6'3'). That year we never threw out any left-overs and the crockpot was my best friend. Now with just my DH and I we use it sparingly and I have to freeze left overs.