This is Emerald Isle penicillin: a rich stew that'll cure whatever ails you. In traditional fashion, nothing here is browned first, just all stewed together.

Makes 8 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 8 1/2 hours

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

2 pounds boneless leg of lamb, trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 3/4 pounds white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
3 large leeks, white part only, halved, washed and thinly sliced
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup packed parsley leaves, chopped

Combine lamb, potatoes, carrots, celery, leeks, broth, thyme, salt and pepper in a 6-quart slow cooker; stir to combine. Put the lid on and cook on low until the lamb is fork-tender, about 8 hours. Stir in parsley before serving.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 244 calories; 5 g fat (2 g sat, 2 g mono); 58 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrate; 21 g protein; 4 g fiber; 414 mg sodium.

Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (110% daily value), Vitamin C (30% dv), Potassium (27% dv), Folate (20% dv), Iron (15% dv).

1 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings

Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 vegetables, 2 lean meat

TIP: Programmable Slow Cooker:

When you spend every day cooking at work it's a relief to get home to a fully cooked, ready-to-serve meal once in a while. For many of us, the slow cooker has long been a secret weapon in the effort to have a relaxing evening. And while most slow cookers have basically the same cooking mechanism—a ceramic liner that sits in a heating unit—we discovered during testing that certain optional bells and whistles really are worth the extra money.

A perfectly adequate five- or six-quart slow cooker, which is big enough to cook meals for a family of four with leftovers, can be purchased for as little as $30. The primary drawback with the basic cooker is that you need to manually time your cooking and then be there to turn it off. We found that the programmable six-quart Smart-Pot Slow Cooker from Crock Pot (above, $70) offers several features that justify the extra cost. A digital touchpad allows the user to control the heat settings and time the cooking in increments of 30 minutes up to 20 hours (it's not unheard of, for instance, for a brisket to cook for more than 12 hours).

But perhaps our favorite feature is the automatic shift-to-warm setting, which allows your meal to cook for its predetermined time and then switch to a setting that keeps the food at a safe temperature until you're ready to eat. Put out the plates, pour a glass of wine and you're ready for dinner. Now if they only had one that cleaned itself...J.R.

MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

I used this recipe, but instead of white potatoes, I used sweet potatoes and it was wonderful. I'm trying to stay away from white foods (breads, potatoes, rice, etc.)

, West Palm Beach, Fl

This was a little bland for me but my husband really enjoyed it as his Christmas dinner. One important aspect to making this stew is to make sure one trims as much of the fat away from the lamb or else it may taste a bit greasy which is the reason I was not crazy about it. Maybe a bottle of Guiness might also help with the blandness and it certainly cannot hurt!

blossomgirl114, NC

It was good but bland... Adding some lemon to your taste will add a ving to it for you... And tastes great.

FPH, New Ipswich, NH

Add barley & you have my Scottish Grandmother's recipe!

Ann E. O'Rourke, New Richmond, WI