Wrapping It Up


Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Even though I didn't post daily in 2009 the way I did in 2008, this year has continued to be all slow cooker all the time in our house. It's been a glorious, energetic, nutty and somewhat surreal year.

I can't even imagine what 2010 has in store, yet I'm ready. Bring it on!

Although she has been teasing me for weeks and weeks, I do think the newest addition to our family will NOT be making her presence before Christmas. She may arrive before New Year's---I just can't tell. Whoever said every pregnancy/delivery is different is right, although truth be told, I'm getting a little annoyed by that saying.

But I feel good, the kids are happy, family is close by, and we're all healthy. There is nothing left to ask for. I feel super lucky.

I'm going to take a bit of a break for the holidays, and am going to step away from the computer. If you need help with recipes/your slow cooker, hopefully your answer is provided in the
Frequently Asked Questions part 1
Frequently Asked Questions part 2

also, there are reader comments and suggestions underneath each recipe that you might find helpful. This is exceptionally true in the case of the Slow Cooker Yogurt Recipe.

If you are cooking for the holidays, the list of Slow Cooker Holiday food has you covered.



I plan on hosting more reviews and giveaways in the New Year, and I also plan on getting on the ball with posting over at Totally Together Journal. I've really slacked at posting, but am feeling motivated to get that site more active. My thought is to go through the manuscript that I have and post a simple chore or family activity daily. I certainly look forward to getting our house back in shape this upcoming year, especially once I can bend again!

And lastly, I'd like to thank each and every single one of you for the overwhelming support, love, and kindness you've shared with me through the Make it Fast, Cook it Slow book launch. I am completely blown away by the touching emails I wake to each morning, and for all of your sweet words.
Not a day has passed in months, where I'm not moved to tears. Thank you so so much for being so wonderful.

The cookbook seems to be doing well, and I have all of you to thank. Your buzz to friends, family, and over the internet, has helped so very much. I am so beyond amazed that in the December 27 issue of the New York Times, Make it Fast has made the best seller's list at lucky #13.

Wow.

(updated. well, darn. That link worked yesterday, and now they are asking people to register in order to see it. I hate stuff like that. Here's a scanned image, although I think you'll have to click on it to make it bigger.)

Like last year, I promise that the website isn't going to vanish into thin air. It will still be here, and I'll continue to add to it when I can, because quite frankly, slow cooking is the only way I get dinner on the table! I think I'll continue with budget-friendly slow cooker meals for 2010. I've got quite a few I'm itching to try out, and would love any and all suggestions. I have always thought of this website as a group project.

Have an absolutely joyous Holiday Season and a fantastic 2010. It'll be a good one.

xoxoxo

Do you love this article?

Please share it with your friends!


Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at December 23, 2009

Sign up for the A Year of Slow Cooking newsletter and get the Top Ten Reader Favorite Recipes sent directly to your inbox!

What they say about this article

  1. Good luck with your new addition to your family, my daughter was supposed to be born before Christmas and she decided to put in an appearance on New Years Day!! That was 26 years ago, and she always loved it because Daddy was always home all day on her Birthday!! Enjoy, God Bless all of you and can't wait till you are back posting again!! Cathy in Upstate NY

    ReplyDelete
  2. :-) I ordered one copy as a present to myself, and one copy as a gift for a friend! Happy holidays & good luck with the baby!

    ReplyDelete
  3. May you have the most joyous of holidays and a lovely new year with your lovely new girl! You've brought so much to my life and I cannot thank you enough for that!

    ReplyDelete
  4. God Bless you - Stephanie. You are right about your blessings especially the new baby. C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S- on the bestseller Make It Fast, Cook It Slow cookbook. Please start a facebook pagefor yourself. Then you can make a facebook group for your Make It Fast, Cook It Slow. Then you can add to your blog w/ the theme of Budget Slow Cookery and start a facebook group for that. The fb groups will get the network going. Check out singer LIvingston's Taylor group page. Hugs- Daithi

    ReplyDelete
  5. I ordered two copies of Make it Fast, Cook it Slow for two of my nieces for Christmas. I just know they're going to love it!
    Much happiness to you and yours!
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  6. I find it absolutely amazing that it's already been a year since your last challenge ended. Seriously? That year went like *snap* that!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congratulations in advance on your new little one. Merry Christmas!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Girl, my copy of Make It Fast, Cook It Slow arrived on my doorstep tonight - a Christmas miracle! I spent nearly an hour salivating over the delicious sounding recipes and my husband looked at me like I was nuts to be so excited over a cookbook (until I started mentioning words such as "Brisket" and then he was all ears) Can't wait to try it out, especially since we are expecting our little girl to arrive any day now too! Jan. 4th is her due date but I am like you, VERY anxious to get her here! We are gonna need some easy recipes soon! Blessings to you and your family this Christmas and best of luck with your new addition!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think the fact that you are annoyed by people saying "every pregnancy and delivery is different is a good sign. Your baby may come sooner than you think! I was very snippy right before I went into labour and wanted to "wrap" things up as well. I also insisted on mopping all the floors. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  10. i have your challenge for 2010 - a year of pressure cooking !!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. thanks to you for wishing us Christmas. i am going to wish you a very happy New year...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you so much for your hard work over the years (now it really is more than one year). Your family's reactions to the recipes, your dedication to every detail and ingredient, and most of all your love of all things slow-cooking has made your site an invaluable resource for me and my fam. We've truly enjoyed the fruits of your labor (no pun intended!) Thanks so much.
    And to that end, may you have a very safe, healthy, and relatively quick delivery. Happy 2010 to you and your growing family!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Stephanie... I'm thrilled by your success, but not surprised in the least. Years ago when I first "met" you online, I knew you'd make it big. Congratulations!
    And I'm super excited for you expecting your third daughter any minute. I can't wait to hear the news. Have a wonderful holiday.
    *mwah*
    aka Cookie

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are going to have a baby the same time as my daughter! I would really like to send you a gift if that is okay. Just contact me through my ID if you want one. I make cool stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Steph, well dear friend ~ this past year has been a very special one for you in many ways. I feel privileged to have followed your rise and success. May you have many more of the same.

    Sending you, new 'lil one and family my sincere best wishes for 2010.

    Sincerely, Sue in Rochester, NY

    http://stitchinsweetsue.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. After discovering your site and discovering a slow cooker for the first time (I'm an avid cook, and 37 years old!), I couldn't stop telling friends and family about the wonderful food I'd made in that foreign appliance. My husband and kids actually gobbled the stuff up and I was ecstatic that we didn't have to grab carry out after all those evening sports practices. I had always complained to friends that, when practice starts at 5:30pm, dinner wouldn't cook itself while we were away. But, now it does!! I gave several copies of your cookbook as holiday gifts, after I went through and put stars next to my favorite recipes. Best to you and your family--and thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I was so happy I received your cookbook for Christmas, with a Fagor mulitcooker! I happened across your blog when you finished up your resolution, and your blog and recipes have given me so much more confidence in the kitchen--so thank you! (and my boyfriend's full belly thanks you, too!)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Merry Christmas and May 2010 be filled with wonders and blessings.

    Elise :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you for your blog!!! My husband just fixed my oven after 6 months of not working. We came to rely on your blog and all of the recipes. Before we made sure the oven was working, he made me promise that I would continue cooking with the crock because the house smells so good during the day and the food is so good once he gets to eat it.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy New Family Member on the way!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I got your Make it fast, cook it slow cookbook today for Christms!! I can not wait to cook out of it!! The recipes look great!! Thanks for sharing through this book!! Good luck with the baby!!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Steph, best of luck with your new baby. Your cookbook was a big hit under the tree this year! xo, suzy

    ReplyDelete
  23. hi, i've been following your blog since towards the end of 2008, and have used your recipes about twice a week since. and thanks to you, i got two new slow cookers for christmas this year! a big one and a small one, to go with my medium one. :) just want to say thanks for all your great recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your cookbook was a *very* strongly hinted Christmas gift that I was thrilled to receive! I love your style, your wit, and your recipes. I have been stealing moments reading it from cover to cover. I am so excited to begin my own slow-cooker challenge for 2010. Happy New Year and congratulations on your new addition!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I just read a little blurb about you in Parents Magazine. I haven't been here in a while and boy have you been busy!! I really need to use my crockpot more often and it looks like you have lots more really yummy recipes. Congrats on your upcoming addition!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. My family just left after being here for 10 days. I always turn to your blog for recipes, and again you did not fail me. EVERY day I made one of your recipes. Very rarely did I change much. They loved all the yummy food, and I was able to use the rest of my time to spend with them. And I saved a ton of money!
    Thank you so much! Congrats on your little one due soon.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Merry Christmas and thanks for another great year of recipes! Wishing you a safe and speedy delivery and a baby who loves sleep :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you for all of the great ideas. I am glad your book is doing so well. Have a wonderful 2010!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi - I got your cookbook for Christmas along with a fancy new crockpot with a self timer and I'm soooo excited. I've already made a lot of stuff from your website but now I don't have to run back and forth between the kitchen and living room, checking the recipes. Also a bonus for my Mom, she gets her crockpot back that has been on "loan" to me for the past few years. Anyway good luck with the new addition to your family!

    Katie

    PS - did you see the episode of Kendra where she and Hank have their families over for dinner and coincidentally has her baby? She contemplates whether she can cook a turkey in the crockpot to save herself the trouble and I wanted to shout "yes, yes you can!!" Apparently even former playmates love a crockpot!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wishing you the best on the delivery of your little one! I hope she has arrived for you. My boys really messed with me, but stayed in until my scheduled c-section.

    Happy New YEar!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Just a quick comment to tell you I LOVE the cookbook. My SIL ordered it for me for Christmas (at my request, LOL!) and I spent a while on Christmas reading the book and thinking about which recipes to try first.

    I also got a larger crockpot from my SIL. Now I can make the main dish and side dish for dinner!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks so much for creating this site! My husband and I have fallen in love with our crock pot, largely because of all of the great recipes you've shared. Best wishes to you as you begin a new year with a new baby! -Brit

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous12/31/2009

    happened upon you blog by accident..my three sisters and I now own your book.
    Almost as good as Julia and Me !
    Good luck in the New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Just picked up your new book from the library today! I'm taking it to carpool line b/c I can't wait to check it out. I have become reaquainted with my slowcooker again for the last month because of a mini-kitchen renovation gone awry (ok, that sounds worse than it is). Today, we're having traditional pot roast on this record-low-temperature kind of day. Can't wait to explore your site some more.

    And good luck with the baby--you will be loving your slowcooker even more now with a new little one to look after!

    ReplyDelete