Make It Fast, Cook It Slow

Customer Reviews

• The Crock-Pot is Back With A Vengance Thanks To Stephanie O'Dea  Oct 13, 2009 (39 of 40 found this helpful)

  I've never been a "crock-pot" person, although I've always liked the idea of crock-pots - leaving a whole meal in the crock in the morning and returning to a complete meal in the evening - so easy, so good, so convenient. The problem, though, was that my family is not big on stews, which is what I thought crock-pots were for, so I left my crock-pot in a drawer and that is as far as the relationship has gone. Those days are over.
  
  Stphanie O'Dea has taught me that my crockpot is not my mother's crock-pot anymore. The crock-pot can be used used to make a traditional beef stew, yes, as described on page 211, but the crock-pot can also be used to make delicious soups, meats, side dishes, appetizers, dips, and desserts. The woman has a recipe for making banana bread in the crock-pot for goodness sake! All kinds of ideas are whirling around in my head. I can use the crockpot to prepare a new, sexy appetizer for the holidays, like the buffalo chicken dip described on page 25, instead of the same old stuff. I can use the crockpot to impress my friends with the delicious and fragrant chai tea latte like the one described on page 8 at the next Bunco meeting. I can also use the crockpot to help my children create caramel apples and look like the coolest mom ever! The sky is the limit with this book. It even has a recipe for recycling old candles to make new ones. Yes, I said candles, in the crock-pot!
  
  Excited, yet? There's more. There are 454 pages of easy to understand recipes with easy ingredients in this book and they all look delicious. There is also a description on most recipes that the author calls "the verdict" where she tell us how each recipe went over with her family, including the specific verdict of her young children - invaluable information for a mom who who can not afford to waste time or money on a recipe her family won't eat.
  
  This book was so well put together it inspired me immediately to put it to use. I've been through every page and while I started to dog-ear the pages of recipes I found interesting, I quickly stopped because I would have dog-eared the whole book! Last night, I made my first crock-pot dish in 15 years. I prepared Horseradish Scalloped Potatoes, p.95. They were delicious, just like the author's verdict said. Amazing. Cooking this fall/winter is going to be a lot more fun and a lot more satisfying!

• You won't be disappointed!!!!  Oct 15, 2009 (15 of 17 found this helpful)

  I've been following Stephanie's blog for longer than I can remember and have had this book pre-ordered for longer than I can remember. :-)
  
  I have made the Pumpkin Spice Latte, more than one fondue, and the Moroccan Lentil Soup, just to name a few. They were all extremely tasty, and I have been waiting so long for this cookbook to come out so I can browse through the recipes in print rather than online.
  
  Stephanie's wit and her willingness to try anything are what initially drew me in, and I was concerned that maybe the book wouldn't replicate her recipes and style completely. However, I am happy to say that everything in the book lives up to my highest expectations. I am now going to order multiple copies to give as Christmas gifts because out of the several slow cooker cookbooks I have, this one outshines them all. It's honestly the only one you'll ever need.
  
  Plus, you've really gotta try the Lentil Soup. My husband and I love it so much I've made it several times and have been waiting on the fall weather to make it again. It's time! :-)
  
  Buy this book, and I promise, you really won't regret it!

• A must buy for any cook!  Oct 14, 2009 (11 of 13 found this helpful)

  I have been waiting for this book and now it is finally here. Amazing recipes and healthy, trust me you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Stephanie, I am now obsessed with my slow cooker, I use it so much I even when out and bought a new programable one. The recipes are great, directions easy to follow. I first found out about her threw her blog which is equally helpful. I plan on buying more books for my sisters for Christmas. Using a slow cooker just makes home cooking easy for anyone. Thanks again Stephanie for putting this book together and being a slow cooker pioneer.

• Amazing  Oct 15, 2009 (6 of 7 found this helpful)

  I am not the cooking type, but since finding Stephanie and her wonderful website I have impressed many people with my new abilities. Stephanie's recipes are easy, healthy, and delicious! I'm so excited to have so many of her great recipes in one book!

• Love it  Nov 11, 2009 (2 of 2 found this helpful)

  I have a very small bookshelf in my kitchen for cookbooks, and this book happily occupies valuable real estate on that shelf. I've already used it many times in the month that I've owned it. My family has enjoyed the "Takeout Fakeout" dishes while I have loved controlling the ingredients and the budget. The Mongolian Beef is next on my list of recipes to try.
  
  Apparently there isn't much (if anything) that cannot be cooked in a slow cooker. This would be a great book for someone who has limited access to other cooking methods (I'm thinking dorm or studio apartment dwellers).
  
  I've also recommended this to friends who have Celiac Disease since all the recipes are written to be gluten free (GF) with notes about non-GF substitutions.
  
  While it's not quite as important as recipes that work, Mrs. O'Dea's writing is funny and helpful. Feels like you're reading a recipe from a good friends who annotated it for your enjoyment.
  
  All in all, a great cookbook!