Use a slow cooker? This recipe book’s for you

Whether you are busy getting ready for the holidays or just trying to get a school-night meal on the table, it’s always nice to have a recipe like sloppy joes on hand for an easy dinner.

It’s even easier when they can be made in the slow cooker, like the recipes from the new book “365 Slow Cooker Suppers” by Stephanie O’Dea, creator of the food blog www.crockpot365.blogspot.com.

The book offers recipes for a year’s worth of slow cooker suppers, including the sloppy joes below, which get a little sweetness from the addition of a cup of Dr. Pepper soda. O’Dea includes instructions on how to convert the recipe to gluten-free.

The softcover book lists for $24.99.

Dr. Pepper sloppy joes

• 1 pound extra-lean ground turkey
• 1 onion, grated
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (or gluten-free rice flour)
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (or gluten-free)
• 1 cup Dr. Pepper soda
• 6 hamburger buns (or gluten-free buns)

Use a 4-quart slow cooker.

Put the turkey into the insert and add the onion, bell pepper, celery and flour.

Stir in the ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce until all the ingredients are well mixed. Pour the Dr. Pepper over the top.

Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.

Stir well and serve in the hamburger buns.

Makes six servings.

“365 Slow Cooker Suppers” by Stephanie O’Dea