Stephanie ODea - Make It Fast, Cook It Slow

This book is a group effort. I would not have been able to do it without all of the help, support, and recipes sent in daily by thousands of readers around the world. Thank you. Thank you for your interest, dedication, and help. Adam, Amanda, and Molly ODea Bunny and Ken Gillespie Bill, Perky, Andrew, and Karen Ramroth Bill and Anna Ramroth John and Maureen ODea Murielle Rose The Pellissier Family The Zocca Family The Teresi Family The Lewis Family The Morrison Family The Beal Family The Skyriotis Family Jenny Lauck Danielle Tribble Jennifer Bloom-Smith Lisa Stone Jory Des Jardins Elisa Camahort Thank you to the following people who helped bring Make It Fast, Cook It Slow to life: Alison Picard Barbara A. Jones Leslie Wells Shubhani Sarkar Betsy Wilson David Lott Nina Shield Leah Stewart Allison McGeehon Ed and Allison OKeefe Alison St.

Sure Maria Cohen, Good Morning America Stefanie Javorsky, The Rachael Ray Show Thank you to the following Web sites, which helped put crockpot365.blogspot.com on the map, and for your inspiration: 5dollardinners.com amiedanny.blogspot.com blog.fatfreevegan.com blogher.com citymama.typepad.com cookiemadness.net dinnerwithjulie.com fridayplaydate.com glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com headlessfamily5.blogspot.com hedonia.seantimberlake.com kalynskitchen.blogspot.com kitchenparade.com ninecooks.typepad.com noappropriatebehavior.blogspot.com notcalmdotcom.typepad.com notesfromthetrenches.com parentdish.com ravelry.com rocksinmydryer.typepad.com simplyrecipes.com sundaynitedinner.com surefoodsliving.com thepioneerwoman.com threekidcircus.com todayscreativeblog.blogspot.com wantnot.net workitmom.com wouldashoulda.com

S erving hot beverages during a party, play group, or meeting is such a fun use for the slow cooker. Visitors will love lining up for their drinks, and the house smells marvelous while the beverage stays hot. When serving guests, provide a ladle and keep the slow cooker lid off with the pot turned to low. When the lid is off, the drink will not remain hot enough if on the warm setting. CHAI TEA LATTE HOLIDAY PUNCH (NONALCOHOLIC) HOT BUTTERED RUM GINGERBREAD LATTE MULLED WINE PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE/ PEPPERMINT MOCHA PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE WASSAIL CHAI TEA LATTE serves 2 to 4 The Ingredients 4 cups milk teaspoon ground cloves teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon sugar (I like bakers sugar because it dissolves nicely) 4 cinnamon sticks (or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon) 4 cardamom pods 4 tea bags (black tea) The Directions Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Put milk into the stoneware, and stir in the spices, vanilla, and sugar.

Float the cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and tea bags on top. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or until heated through. The Verdict Of the different hot beverages Ive made in the slow cooker, this is my least favorite, but its because Im just not a fan of tea. My husband, Adam, and I joked that a shot of espresso would really liven it up. But! If you like tea, and are spending $4 for store-bought lattes a few times a week, you should give this a try. Ive gotten quite a few nice e-mails about this tea.

Apparently it tastes just like the real thing. HOLIDAY PUNCH (NONALCOHOLIC) serves 6 The Ingredients 4 cups cranberry juice 4 cups pineapple juice 1/3 cup hot tamales candy 6 cinnamon sticks The Directions Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Combine the juices in the stoneware, and add the hot tamales. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for 4 to 5 hours. Stir. The candy will pretty much dissolve, leaving just a hint of cinnamony flavor.

Ladle the punch into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired. The Verdict This is the easiest hot drink I have made in the slow cooker, and the kids liked it the most. They drank two mugs each after school, and another after dinner. I really liked it a lot, too, and had two servings while watching Oprah . Adam only got a taste; he should have come home earlier! HOT BUTTERED RUM serves 5 The Ingredients 4 cups warm water 1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed 4 tablespoons ( stick) butter pinch of salt (even if your butter is salted, go ahead and add it) 2 cinnamon sticks 3 whole cloves teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus more for garnish (optional) TO ADD LATER shot or two of rum splash of eggnog ground cinnamon (optional) The Directions Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Add the water, brown sugar, butter, salt, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg to the crock.

Cover and cook on high for 1 to 2 hours, or until the butter has melted and the mixture is quite hot. Ladle into a mug with a shot or two of rum, and add a splash of eggnog. Garnish with a sprinkle more nutmeg and cinnamon, if you like. The Verdict We had this on Christmas Day, and it was delicious. My mother-in-law even liked this, and she usually doesnt drink alcohol. Keep in mind that if your eggnog is right from the fridge, it will make the butter harden in the mug if you add too much (ask me how I know this).

It would be better to take a bit out of the fridge and let it warm to room temperature while the butter and sugar cook in the crock. My sister-in-law was pregnant, and she enjoyed plain eggnog with the butter and brown sugar. GINGERBREAD LATTE serves 2 to 4 The Ingredients 4 cups milk 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoon ground cloves teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 teaspoons ground ginger cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract cup strong black coffee, or 1 freshly brewed shot of espresso, per serving Cinnamon sticks, whipped cream (garnish) The Directions Use a 2-quart slow cooker. Put the milk into the stoneware, and whisk in the dried spices, sugar, and vanilla. Dont add the coffee. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, or high for 1 to 2 hours.

The milk should be quite hot, but if your slow cooker tends to get hot enough to boil, keep an eye on it. Dont let the milk boil. Pour into hot coffee or espresso. Garnish with whipped cream, a sprinkle of nutmeg, and a cinnamon stick. The Verdict I think this might be my favorite coffee drink Ive made. when I really, really wanted to climb into bed for a nap, but didnt have the time. when I really, really wanted to climb into bed for a nap, but didnt have the time.

After four or five sugar cookies and a latte, I was wide awake until 1:00 a.m. With any luck, you can have the same experience. The kids both had a cup of the warm milk mixture with whipped cream and were delighted. Adam didnt get to try any, but I did save my mug for him to smellIm thoughtful that way. MULLED WINE serves 10 The Ingredients 2 (750 ml) bottles dry red wine (I used Cabernet Sauvignon) 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 3 oranges) cup sugar teaspoon ground allspice teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 cinnamon sticks 4 whole cloves 2 more oranges (one to float on top, and one for garnish wedges) The Directions Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour the wine into the stoneware, and squeeze the oranges to get 1 cup of juice.

Im sure you could get away with using store-bought juice, but the pulp floating around is whats kind of neat about mulled wine; its more rustic this way. Stir in the sugar and ground spices. Float the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves on top. Slice one of the oranges in rings and float on top. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for 4 hours. You want the wine to get as hot as a traditional hot beverage.