My slow cooker and I have been pretty good friends for a long time, but I’m head-over-heals in love with it now, thanks to Kathy Hester’s newest book, Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just for You.

As a fan for many years of larger size slow cookers, I’ve always appreciated being able to prepare family-size batches of soups and stews. So I had my doubts about a small one. Would I use it?  The answer is yes…an emphatic yes, and way more than I could have dreamed.

After just beginning to thumb through Kathy’s new book, I was so inspired that I jumped in the car and screeched right over to Target. I bought not one, but two little 2-quart crock-pots.

This was about three weeks ago. Since bringing home my new little bundles of joy, I have used one – or both – crock-pots almost daily. I never used a slow cooker this much before in my life. Can’t seem to get enough. And every recipe I’ve tried from her book has been a winner.

Hester’s new book is a one-of-a-kind resource, with tons of unique ways to prepare things I never tried to slow cook before. Plus, Kathy helps you adapt each of them to your own preferences.

It’s just hard to overstate how very nice it is to come down to a piping hot breakfast on a cold day, ready and waiting for all of us as our fuzzy slippers meet the kitchen floor.

Kathy’s recipe for Breakfast Tofu and Bean Burritos is my latest favorite. It’s already inspired my own variation below, with extra vegetables, extra seasonings, and crushed tomatoes. It’s out of this world.

Incredibly good for breakfast or brunch with grilled corn tortillas, this makes a fabulous burrito for dinner too, garnished with salsa, avocados, or the toppings of your choice.