[LuxLiving]

Syracusa - it can be used as you describe, however, most folks who use one start it in the morning and leave it on and come home to a warm supper in the evening.

I've been known to put my stuff in the crock portion the night before and then refrigerate it uncooked overnight, take the crock out of the frig in the morning and set it inside the heating element and turn it on and leave for the day to return at nightfall to a pot of hot food.

Good luck!! There are lots of cookbooks available with crockpot recipes - check your local library or used bookstore - or even online just google 'crockpot recipe'.