More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: 200 Brand-New, Budget-Friendly, Slow-Cooker Recipes Book

I love to read Stephanie O'Dea's cookbooks. She knows how to create a fun atmosphere as she takes you along with her on her journey to create a new crock pot meal for each day of the year(first book) or how to cook creative meals with ingredients you probably have in your pantry (second book). She makes me chuckle when she says things like this, "Skin the bird (assuming you are using a whole chicken) and toss out the neck and the stuff from inside. (Shudder a few times.)" Her "verdicts" on each recipe are also amusing. "My six-year-old reported that it was the very best pasta she has ever had. I let her skip bath time."

I have both of O'Dea's cookbooks, Make It Fast,Cook It Slow and More Make it Fast, Cook It Slow and just finished this second one with quite a few recipes earmarked for the near future. What I love about these books is that they open up fresh new ways to use your crock pot. From her first book I learned how to make yogurt, and do it quite often, and also how to make tapioca pudding.

This second book has recipes such as Ginger Almond Chicken, Eggplant Parmesan, Easy Peanut Butter Chicken, General Tso's Chicken, and Moroccan Chicken with Lentils. She also has dessert recipes such as Peanut Butter Cup Cake, which is high on my to-try-soon list. She has a Crème Brulee (from her first book) that she did on Rachel Ray's show. I have yet to try it but may be brave soon.

If you love to use your crock pot and want to break out of the ordinary fare these are great books to get you on your way.