When the summer sun is blazing, the mere idea of turning on the oven — even for the most wonderful dish — is revolting. Sure, you may have air conditioning, but why heat up the kitchen if you don’t ...

For some home cooks, the slow cooker is the fairy godmother of kitchen appliances. Toss a few ingredients into the crock (maybe sear the meat or sauté some veg, if you like), set the timer, go about ...