Slow cooker recipes

I always make chicken stock in my slow cooker: just add chopped veg, chicken bones, bay leaf, some peppercorns, and water and cook it on low over night. I also cook beans in the slow cooker: dried beans (I soak them if I remember, otherwise I don't stress about it), perhaps an onion and garlic depending on what kind of flavor I want, water, and salt. If you want spicy beans, it's nice to add a chili or two. If your toddler is into mashed potatoes (and really, who isn't into mashed potatoes), I often make mashed potatoes ahead of dinner and keep them warm in the slow cooker (just add some milk/cream to the bottom of the pot before adding the mash to keep it moist).

For spring/summer recipes: roasts with lots of fresh veg is lovely. You can find a lot of other nice ideas here: http://eatathomecooks.com/2013/05/75-days-of-summer-slow-cooker-recipes.html