Inspired by the flavors of North Africa, this vegetarian stew replaces the tagine with the crock pot. The combination of saffron, ginger and cinnamon give of a wonderful aroma and flavor. It would tempting to substitute canned chickpeas here but you will get a different result. In this dish the chickpeas while tender have greater firmness than the canned type. Time saving tip: Prepare the ingredients the night before, placing the cubed squash, carrots, onions, tomato paste, garlic and ginger in one sealable bag or covered container, the lentils and dried spices in another. In the morning add the contents of both bags/containers, the soaked chickpeas and broth to your crock pot, turn it on and go.