Baked Potatoes

These are another crowd favorite, and not only do they cook up nicely in the slow cooker, but they can be kept warm there, too, giving you some leeway in the timing of your meal.

Cooks 4 to 8 potatoes.

4 to 8 russet potatoes (quantity will vary depending on the size of the potatoes and your slow cooker)

Aluminum foil

1. Wash and dry the potatoes. Wrap each potato in foil. Place the potatoes in the slow cooker.

2. Cook on Low for about 8 hours until tender when pierced with a knife.

Classic accompaniments to baked potatoes include butter (of course!), salt and pepper (definitely!), sour cream, and chives. You could do a baked potato toppings bar, though, and make the potatoes a really fun part of a buffet. Additional toppings include crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, blue cheese, sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms, or steamed broccoli bits. You can even include caviar if you want to get really fancy.