Gluten-Free Slow Cookin' with Stephanie O'Dea

Stephanie O'Dea

For her New Year's Resolution in 2008, Stephanie decided she would use her slow cooker every single day for the whole year! Yes, 365 days! And guess what, she did! No really, she did! She wrote a blog about it, called crockpot365.blogspot.com. The best part about it - every dish she made was GLUTEN-FREE!

I had an opportunity to meet Stephanie O'Dea in Chicago at the Gluten-Free Allergen Expo in 2011. I was sitting in on one of her cooking classes where she presented one of her yummy gluten-free slow cooker recipes.  I had a chance to talk with her over lunch and found out we had more in common. Stephanie's middle daughter was diagnosed just before her 2nd birthday with celiac disease (Jack was diagnosed just after his 2nd birthday). It was nice to talk to someone who could relate with having a small child with celiac disease.

1st Book

It was great to hear about how the gluten-free dishes evolved and I knew I needed to try them for myself.

Stephanie's 1st book, "Make It Fast, Cook It Slow", became a New York Time's Bestseller! With 337 gluten-free recipes, this book has so much to offer for those wanting to try new gluten-free dishes for their family.  

2nd Book

The book that I have is the one Stephanie was promoting at the GFAF Expo, which is her 2nd slow cooker book called, "More Make It Fast , Cook It Slow" - it's a book filled with 200 gluten-free slow cooker recipes that are budget-friendly!  It has great meal planning tips and provides a list of "staples" that are good to have in your pantry when it's time for some slow cookin'.  Some recipes that this book has to offer - Maple Glazed Pork Chops, Orange and Honey Tilapia, and this one that sounds absolutely amazing, Chocolate Pot de Creme with Ganache!

Being a busy mom of three, I'm so thankful for these wonderful cookbooks that are filled with GLUTEN-FREE recipes that I can start in the slow cooker in the morning and walk away from until dinner.

3rd Book

Stephanie understands the busy life of a mamma, having three kiddos herself, she also wrote a book to help keep our crazy lives organized!! "Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life" is filled with helpful tips to keeping the house clean with daily, weekly, and monthly chores, motivational quotes, little reminders to set appointments, etc.

I think she wrote all of these books for me... ;)

Stephanie is busy working on her 3rd cookbook, which will be filled with slow cooker recipes geared towards supper time! This book will be released later this year, so stay tuned!

Thank you Stephanie for all your hard work! All this talk of slow cooking, is making me hungry!

I hope our paths cross again some day - meeting you in Chicago was a highlight of my first GF Expo - thank you for being so sweet and offering your helpful advice.  

Until next time, HAPPY GLUTEN-FREE SLOW COOKIN'!