ENJOY OUR "SNAX"--SHORT BYTES--IN BETWEEN ISSUES OF FEAST!

For FALL 2010's delicious offerings of books, art, food, film, and unique travel--check out the NEW ISSUE of our online magazine FEAST--you will not go away hungry-- http://www.feastofbooks.com/

Between issues, read our blog posts as we and our special guests share thoughts, ideas, and recommendations about books, art, food, film, and travel. We love to hear from our readers, so please post a comment! Thanks-- Rosemary Carstens, editor

SNAX ONLINE is moving during the first quarter of 2011 -- stay tuned!

Snax Online is undergoing a redesign and will be moving to a new location. Check back from time to time for a link. In its new format, this blog will cover a wider range of topics but also its usual five. In the meantime, keep up with what's happening in the world of books, art, food, film, and travel at http://www.FEASTofBooks.com --

See you in 2011!!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Stuff You Never Knew About Slow Cooking . . .


I recently sat down to look over a copy of MAKE IT FAST, COOK IT SLOW: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking by Stephanie O’Dea (Hyperion 2009). This is not a book about gourmet cooking with tiny, cleverly arranged dabs of food on a big plate, often sprayed or drizzled with swirls of some sort of exotic liquid for artful effect. This is a great book for us regular cooks who want quality meals with less fuss that can be eaten and enjoyed by all, from kids to the fussiest of palates.

In 2008 Stephanie O’Dea vowed to use her slow cooker every single day for a year, reporting highlights and disasters on her blog at http://crockpot365.blogspot.com. Amidst her spectacular discoveries: crème brûlée! Have you ever imagined you create anything beyond a good stew or roast, or maybe a soup, in a slow cooker? This success led to a guest spot on The Rachael Ray show. Stephanie was inspired to expand her efforts even more imaginatively and, with the input of a growing following and many experiments (both duds and delights), this cookbook was born. Visit her blog for a sneak preview of what’s in store.

I’m amazed at the range of offerings, from beverages, breakfast, baked goods, casseroles, seafood, and meatless mains to snacks and fondue, desserts, and nonfood fun stuff. All recipes are gluten free and have been tested on her own family and friends.

If you constantly wake each morning wondering, “What am I going to fix for dinner,” this cookbook may be the answer. It’s timesaving without resorting to fast food takeout; you just throw a bunch of ingredients in the pot, then walk away to tend to your day’s bigger challenges, sitting down at meal time to something guaranteed to appeal. I can’t wait to try it!

Happy eating and cooking in 2010!

-- Rosemary Carstens
http://www.FEASTofBooks.com

10 comments:

Jerrie Hurd said...

I need this book. I'm all about comfort food anyway. Crockpots rule.

Anonymous said...

I use my crock pot a lot (though I'm a bit more in love with my pressure cooker)..but crème brûlée! Oh my! I’d have to try it to believe it. Great review! Karen Lin

Audrey RL Wyatt said...

I definitely need to find this book. I love the idea of my crock pot, but I have limited recipes. Definitely going to check this out. Thanks for putting it out there.

Gail Storey said...

Thanks, Rosemary. I haven't thought of crockpot cooking in years, but maybe it's an idea whose time has come around again!

ClaireWalter said...

There is a crockpot in my pantry(purchased by my husband) and I think I've used it once or twice. The dishes I've made are done just as well (or better)in a cast-iron pot or big soup pot over a gas flame, but there's some inspiration here for other dishes.

BTW, the author also baked her "bun in the oven" and recently had a baby. Her cryptic blog entry is at http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2010/01/weve-got-new-baby.html .

sibylle said...

I use my crockpot a lot in winter, making stews; and could use more recipes for it.

Laurel Kallenbach said...

Hmm...I got rid of my crockpot a decade ago. Now I wish I had it back and were cooking up something warm and nourishing.

Rosemary Carstens said...

Well there are a ton of crockpots in new designs and sizes out there and they are pretty inexpensive. It's so comforting on a cold winter's day to have something slow cooking away, filling the house with enticing aromas, and knowing a ready meal awaits at the end of the day.

Andrea Meyer said...

How wonderful that the recipes are gluten-free, that's a boon for my neighbor!

Manny said...

With a cupboard full f recipe books, some never used, I'd vowed off buying anymore but this one appeals. I love using my crockpot - you make the meal early in the day and by the time you come to eat it, you've forgotten the preparation work. I like that's it's gluten free also.