More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow Review and Giveaway | Cook It Allergy Free

Get Convenient Updates!

Jan

12

2011

More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow Review and Giveaway.

posted in ~ Giveaways, ~ Gluten-free recipes

For the First Order of Business, it is time to announce the winner for last week’s giveaway of The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook, by Elana Amsterdam of Elana’s Pantry.

The Winner (using random.org) IS: #8 Hallie Klecker

Hallie, I will contact you to arrange delivery of your exciting prize: A signed copy of Elana’s Book! Congratulations!

And now onto this week’s treat!

Update: This contest has ended. To find out who the winner is, please go here.

Did you see Stephanie O’Dea on Good Morning America yesterday? If not, you must watch her. She (and that adorable outfit) rocked it.

She was making chili and talking about her newest cookbook, More Make it Fast, Cook It Slow: 200 Brand-New, Budget Friendly, Slow-Cooker Recipes, which is the follow up to her first cookbook, Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking.

Stephanie O’Dea is tiny in size. I know this because when I met her at BlogHer Food last fall, she was the same height as me – I love a fellow squirt. But, that personality of hers is larger than life. She has this bubbly sense of humor that will keep you in stitches. She also likes reality television. I will not name which shows she watches. This is only because they are the same ones that I watch. I am not always proud of the train-wrecks that I get sucked into.

A few years ago, Stephanie got the wonderful idea to tackle the challenge of using her Slow-Cooker every day of the year of 2008. She chronicled it all on her hysterical blog, A Year of Slow Cooking. As a busy mom of then 2 (and now 3) children, she wanted to find the best way to get an easy, healthy (GLUTEN-FREE) meal on the table for her family, without the hours of prep time in the kitchen. She met that challenge. She actually blew it out of the water. And in the process, she gained the distinction of being an award-winning blogger AND a New York Times Best selling author.

I adore her first book. I have used it endlessly and have shared it with so many of my friends. And her latest cookbook takes her first one step farther. While she again shares tips and ideas for time-saving strategies that will make working with your slow cooker even easier, she also actually divides the book into three main sections: $7 and under, $10 and under, and $15 and under. Each of these sections is then further broken down by recipe category. Perfect for anyone trying to keep their family on a budget.

I also love how she includes “The Verdict” at the end of each recipe. She tells us, in her own easy way of writing, what she and her family thought of the recipe.

I have actually made quite a few of the recipes from her book. They have all turned out great! My husband loves when I pull out the slow-cooker. I think it reminds him of his childhood. And he has not been disappointed yet with any of the recipes we have made. To date, I have made the Honey Garlic Chicken, the Taco Lasagna, the Herb Garden Chicken , and the Chicken Cacciatore. Each has received the thumbs up distinction from my crew here.

The picture below is of the Chicken Cacciatore. It was a HUGE hit. I had planned on eating the leftovers for lunch the next day while my crew was off at school and work. I was sorely disappointed when there was not a bite left to stash away for the following day. Bad for me. Great for a rave review of the meal.

Okay. On with the giveaway.

I am giving away a copy of Stephanie’s latest book: More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow.

You can enter to win by leaving a comment here telling me how frequently you use your slow-cooker.

If you leave a separate comment telling me you have followed Cook It Allergy Free on Facebook, I will even give you a second chance to win.

If you want, you can leave another comment telling me you followed Stephanie O’Dea on Twitter (if you have an account) for a third chance.

This contest will end on Thursday, January 20th at 10 am. I will announce the winner that day.

Good Luck!

103 Comments

On January 13, 2011 Anne B. said

We use our slow cooker a couple times a month.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Anne B. said

I follow Stephanie O’Dea on twitter

Reply
On January 13, 2011 PreppyPinkCrocodile said

I would LOVE to win her new cookbook!! I use my slow cooker at least once a week in the cold months and a few times a month in the warm months. And I tell all my friends who claim they don’t know how to cook to start with Stephanie’s crockpot recipes.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 PreppyPinkCrocodile said

Oh and follow her on twitter too (Preppy Crocodile). I am a huge HUGE fan!!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Amy said

We use our slow cooker about once a week but wish it was more! I have just started to dive into the world of slow cooked breakfast and lunch. I would love recipes that accommodate our gluten free lifestyle!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Amy said

I also (just now) follow Stephanie O’Dea on twitter.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Amy said

I also follow and ‘like’ cook IT allergy free on facebook. So glad for resources like yours!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Jill Griffis said

I use my slow cooker very little; I’m thinking once every 6 weeks. But I would LIKE to use it more. Maybe then my family would get a decent meal instead of our constant roasted vegetables, (which is fine except for the lack of variety).

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Jill Griffis said

I follow Cook It Allergy Free on Facebook.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Deanna said

How often do I use my slow cooker? Not nearly often enough – so I need an excuse to use it!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Carrie Nichols said

I love using the crock pot but need new recipes.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Nancy @ TSP said

I rarely used my slow cooker until the whole fiasco with my stove (you know, where I didn’t have one for weeks). Out came the slow cooker and now I’ve been using it about once a week. We’re all loving it and I’m always looking for new recipes.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Tracy said

I use my slow cooker at least weekly…it now has been almost twice a week. I use her first cookbook and it’s well used. I would love to win her new cookbook.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Tracy said

I follow cook it allergy free on facebook…it brought me here this morning

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Johanna B said

I use my slow cooker a couple of times a month. Have you tried Shirley’s (gluten free easily) Pumpkin Butter slow cooker recipe. It’s WONDERFUL and EASY.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Johanna B said

I follow Cook it Allergy Free on FB.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Dawn said

I don’t use my slow cooker very much because I just don’t have recipes for it. Mostly use it for roast or chili.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Dawn said

I follow ‘Cook It Allergy Free’ on FB!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Aileen said

I don’t use my slow-cooker often enough, lol. But DH bought me a new one for Christmas and now I have two, one bigger than the other. I foresee many more slow-cooker meals in our future!!! I hope to do at least one a week.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Aileen said

I follow Cook it Allergy Free on FB, too.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Colette said

I use my slow cooker about once a week during the winter months.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Neveen said

i only use my slow cooker when i can find a recipe or recipes that sound fantastic. i would love to use my slow cooker a lot more. i have at least 4 slow cooker books, but more times than not, when i make on of their recipes i think, meh. i would love to play around with this book.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Penny said

Use of my slow cooker varies; sometimes a couple of times a month, sometimes once a week. I like to use it more in the summer so that I don’ t have to use my oven. Please enter me!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Penny said

I like Cook It Allergy free on facebook.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Ashlie said

I, gasp, do not own a slow cooker! But, if I had a recipe book for how to put one to good use I would likely be inspired to splurge on one!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Traci said

I’m a huge crockpot fan!! I use mine 4-5 times a week and love that it frees up my evenings for playing with the kids. Between the crock pot and rice cooker all I usually have to do is make a salad.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Traci said

I am a fan of yours on facebook…love the recipes and tips! Keep them coming!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Traci said

I follow Stephanie and love her blog! She’s fabulous and very creative in the kitchen. Her mongolian beef is AMAZING if you haven’t tried it.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Trista said

I use the slow-cooker at least once a week. Some days I just don’t feel like coming home from work and then cooking dinner. So it’s nice to have something like a slow-cooker. You just toss your food stuff in there and then come dinner time you have a yummy meal with nearly no work.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Valerie said

I dont use my crock pot often enough, but I use it a couple times a month

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Valerie said

I follow Cook it Allergy Free on FB

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Valerie said

I follow Stephanie O’Dea on twitter

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Kristin said

Sadly, I am somewhat of a slowcooker rookie… all the more reason for a gf slowcooker cookbook! My mom only ever used her little slow cooker for making spaghetti sauce (which was always amazing) so I really didn’t have much to go on when my grandma gave me one for christmas a few years back. In the 2 years (atleast) since acquiring it, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve used it. I know tons of people who rave about theirs, and I would LOVE to be one of them!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Kristin said

I too follow you on facebook

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Laura Villanueva said

I use my slow cooker a few times a month.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Suzanne Eddleman said

Thanks to Stephanie O’Dea, I use my crockpot several times a week. I love using it and I am so thankful for Stephanie’s GF recipes.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Suzanne Eddleman said

I follow & “liked” Cook it Allergy Free on Facebook.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Marsha A. said

I use my slow cooker at least once a week. Sometmes more especially during the winter months.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 nosogirl said

i would say i use my slow cooker a couple times a month

julie_reuter92 at yahoo dot com

Reply
On January 13, 2011 nosogirl said

i follow cook it allergy free on fb – julie.reuter1

julie_reuter92 at yahoo dot com

Reply
On January 13, 2011 nosogirl said

i follow stephanie o’dea on twitter – @nosogirl

julie_reuter92 at yahoo dot com

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Beth E said

At least twice a week – and I’m always looking for new recipes!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Neva said

I use my slow cooker at least once a week. If I am having the whole family out for a meal, I will often have 2 of them going at once. Easy for making ahead giving me time to visit instead of cooking.
Great giveaway.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Neva said

I follow Cook it Allergy Free on Facebook

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Maria said

We use our slow cooker at least 3 times a week- (SCD diet) ….. even use it to make yogurt!.

also a fav for church potlucks

Reply
On January 13, 2011 InTolerantChef said

Slow cookers are actually great to use in the cafe for breakfasts. Just set it up the night before and when you walk in it’s ready to go out to the customers!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Maggie said

Thanks for a great write-up Kim. I didn’t know Stephanie until this post! I had heard about her cookbook, but your post made her a person! Know what I mean? And I loved the clip! I am now following her on twitter even I’m late to the crock pot game. We got one for our wedding 9 years ago and I’ve NEVER used it. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. I’ll pull it out, I promise. xo

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Melanie said

I love Stephanie O’dea’s recipes! I also love my crockpot and use at least once a week in the colder months and few times a month during the summer months.

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Jen said

I love Stephanie’s blog! Saw her on GMA as well. she’s adorable. We use our slow cooker
about 3 or 4 times a week. We ski every Sunday and it’s always there w/ us!

Reply
On January 13, 2011 Heather said

I use my slow cooker about once a month, only because I need more recipes!

Reply

On January 14, 2011 Tweets that mention More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow Review and Giveaway | Cook It Allergy Free -- Topsy.com said

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nancy, Kim and others. Kim said: Go win your copy of @stephanieodea 's new cookbook. Giving one away this week!! You'll love this one… http://goo.gl/fb/WiXsL [...]
On January 18, 2011 Easy Cinnamon Bun Muffins from Elana's Pantry Plus Giveaway! | Cook It Allergy Free said

[...] Update: Contest has ended and winner has been announced here! [...]
On February 23, 2011 More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow-Gluten-Free Slow Cooking | Celiacs in the House More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow-Gluten-Free Slow Cooking | The Care and Feeding of a Gluten-Free Family said

[...] more reviews of Stephanie’s book visit Kim at Cook It Allergy Free who tried the Chicken Cacciatore and Diane from The W.H.O.L.E. Gang who tried the Sloppy Lentils. [...]