Slow Cooking = Slow Living?

Published: Fri, 01/03/25

Updated: Sat, 01/04/25

January 3, 2025

Happy New Year, Slow Cookerers!! I missed you!

I hope you enjoyed your New Year festivities ---- I most certainly did.

Adam and I stayed home, bunkered down, and binge-watched Madam Secretary upstairs while my teen took over downstairs with two super giggly friends.

❤️

Since I've been a bit off the grid and unplugged for the past few weeks, I've had plenty of time to journal and reflect --

and I just want you to know how wonderful I think you are and how honored I am that you are here.

2025 marks the 17th Year Anniversary of the Year of Slow Cooking website.

and that is nuts.

;-)

A lot can happen when you stick to your New Year's Resolution!

;-)

If you haven't ever read my very first post from way back in December 2007 leading into the Year, here it is.

A lot has happened since I wrote those words.

I've gotten to do some pretty amazing things, and have:

🟣 written 11 books (4 cookbooks, an organizing planner for moms, an Intermittent Fasting book, a Housekeeping book, a Mommy Blogging book, a book on Slowing Down, and a 30 Day Journal and the BRAND NEW Slow Living book!!
🏆

🟣 created digital meal plans -- 14 different ones that sell for only $5. Buy once and use forever and ever. You can use the coupon code "newbie" for a heavy discount on the bundle pack.

🟣 written quite a few crockpot recipe e-cookbooks (scroll down to see them all -- the Dump and Go cookbook and the All Day Long cookbook are top sellers)

🟣 became a NYT best-selling author

🟣 gone on Rachael Ray 4 times

🟣 been on Good Morning America 3 times

🟣 appeared on Home & Family

🟣 had another baby who turns 14!!! on Saturday

🟣 moved houses

🟣 started the Slow Living Podcast

🟣 got certified as a life coach and lead the Simple Shortcuts to Peace course

🟣 Became 200-hour yoga certified with Social Emotional Learning and Trauma-informed emphasis

And all in all, I have loved every bitty bit of the past 16 years and being able to write to you.

Here are some of the top questions I get asked pretty often:

Why did you pivot to Slow Living and not just stick to Slow Cooking?

In about 2016 I began to feel really uncomfortable with the way recipe writing and the internet worked -- the idea that all that was needed to create a "new recipe" was change an ingredient or two and slap on a new name felt phony baloney to me.

Also, does the world REALLY need another pot roast recipe?

;-)

I share my exact thought process about this pivot in the first few episodes of the podcast.

Do I still use my slow cooker every day?

No. My kids are older and can fend for themselves and aren't always home because of college-ing, sports-practicing, and just the way our life is now.

BUT. I still think it's the absolute best way to entertain and cook in bulk and save money.

I have 11 or so crockpots in the house right now and while I do own an Instant Pot I just, personally, never saw the appeal because I like meal planning and getting on with my day early in the morning so I can stay out of the kitchen.

Our family's favorite recipe continues to be Taco Soup and I'll be making that this weekend along with baked potatoes for my teen's 15th birthday.

I also really and truly believe that when you take the time to plan, and to Slow Down, amazing and wonderful things can happen in your life.

What does Slow Living mean?

To me, Slow Living means that you are here, and in the present moment.

We live in such a fast-paced world where we all seem to be trying to do MORE and achieve MORE but really we just want to be happy.

Content.

At Peace.

That's what Slowing Down is all about. Unplug from the noise and the nonsense and go within and really think about what you are trying to get out of life.

I'm a huge fan of acronyms and the one that I use for SLOW is:

Simply
Look

Only

Within

When you take the time to slow down and listen to your gut and intuition I think you'll find that you don't actually want MORE.

You probably simply want to feel calm, content, and less frantic.

That's what Slow Living is all about.

lots and lots of love to you and Happy Slow Cooking, which absolutely leads to Slow Living!!

cheers to the best year ever!!!
steph

store ~ podcast ~ coaching

thank you!!

Stephanie O'Dea

1534 Plaza Lane #256, Burlingame California, 94010-3204

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