Before adding sugar or acidic ingredients, the beans should be softened first, either in the slow cooker or on the stove top. If your recipe includes tomatoes, salt, or other acidic ingredients, the beans should be tender before beginning. In the morning, she drains the beans, adds the ingredients with fresh liquid, then cooks per recipe directions. Cooking times might be shorter using this method. Herbs and Spices Ground herbs and spices tend to dissipate over long cooking times, so it's best to add them near the end of cooking.
Whole herbs release flavors over time, so are a good choice for crockpot cooking.
You should taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary, before serving. Condensed cream soups are good substitutions for milk and can be cooked for extended times. Cheeses don't generally hold up over extended periods of cooking, so should be added near the end of cooking, or use processed cheeses and spreads. Soups Add water only to cover ingredients in soup, and add more after cooking if necessary for a thinner soup. For milk based soups, add 1 or 2 cups of water and during the last hour, stir in milk, evaporated milk, or cream as called for.