The U.S. government even sent troops to Nicaragua to protect U.S. interests as U.S. was considering building a canal there to connect Atlantic and Pacific oceans. However, after securing rights for canal in Panama, U.S. was not as eager to provide support and as a result coffee industry stagnated compared to other Central American nations.

Most of political unrest in Nicaragua was centered around coffee industry and government corruption that involved catering to businessmen that wanted prime highlands for growing coffee. The unrest continued well into twentieth century and in 1979 Sandinista resistance fighters led a revolt against longtime president Anastasio Somaza Jr. The entire country rallied behind Sandinistas and Somaza fled Nicaragua.

The Sandinistas took over and promised a better life for all including coffee growers and Indian laborers. Although they knew very little about coffee business they did manage to turn country, and Nicaragua coffee industry around.

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These drawbacks are relatively minor compared to positives which I will list now.

- The slow cooker needs virtually no tending while it cooks, freeing you up to do other chores or recipes.

- The slow cooker will tenderize less expensive, tough cuts of meat and make great stews out of them.

- The slow cooker allows you to be out of kitchen for extended periods of time -sometimes even all day.

- Burning your food is rarely a problem. The slow cooker will make many dishes for you better than any other appliance -especially those that tend to stick to bottom of a pan.

In my opinion slow cooker is one of most under-utilized and yet superior of kitchen appliances. When used for what it does best, you will find that you are able to prepare great dishes in less time than you though possible!

Tony has been working diligently to provide free cooking related resources for the 'chef' in all of us. His website www.my-crockpot-recipes.com is a 'labor of love' which provides delicious and easy to make crockpot recipes and related tips and advice.