Using a slow cooker to keep the heat out of the kitchen

In my house the slow cooker isn't something I use only in the fall or winter. Although it's great for making comfort foods on a cold day, it's also wonderful to use in the summer when I'm too busy enjoying the outdoors to cook or don't want to heat up the kitchen by using the oven. A recipe like this Lemon Chicken entree fits the season as well.

Many lemon chicken recipes call for white wine and a lot of lemon juice. I've made this kid-friendly by substituting chicken broth for the white wine and going easy on the lemon juice. Taking the time to brown the chicken will yield an attractive chicken dish that won't even look like it has been cooked in a slow cooker. Although the recipe calls for chicken breasts, boneless-skinless chicken thighs work just as well.

• Crystal Maleski, is a mom of four from Long Grove who shares family favorite recipes, dinner ideas and a printable grocery shopping list each week at www.makedinnereasy.com.