Instant Pot Mac n Cheese

If you are anyone but my children, you would probably like this Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.

The bottom photo is mac and cheese with a splosh of my very favorite hot sauce.
 Even better!

How to cook dried beans in the instant pot

Last Sunday I was going to make a soup for Sunday Dinner.  It had mild Italian sausage in it, but "some" people in my family find that can be too spicy sometimes, so I was second guessing myself.  Should I figure out a different meal to make?  Or add some side dishes so if the soup doesn't appeal, there are other things to eat?  Or!  Should I make a second soup????

The Mister was all down with that idea of course, and suggested ham and bean, since we have bags and bags of ham in the freezer from Thanksgiving.  The problem was that we didn't have any canned beans, only dried, and I was trying to make this dinner happen without having to go back to the store.

I had the instant pot out as I'd make some hard boiled eggs that morning, and I couldn't help but wonder, could you cook dried beans in the instant pot?

You can, and I did, using this recipe!

Toss your beans into the pot,

Add some water, salt, olive oil, and optional garlic and bay leaf.

Close it up and cook for 25-30 minutes.  Let the pressure release naturally for as long as you can, 

et voila!  You have perfectly cooked beans!  

Sunday Dinner - Instant Pot Beef Ribs

(We did have more than just ribs and taters.......there was some bbq corn and....carrots?  Cauliflower?  Something else for sure.)

On a trip to Costco I got to talking to this lady in front of a cooler of beef ribs.  She was telling me that she buys them and cooks them in coconut milk with lots of onions and garlic and hot peppers.  It sounded so good that The Grandpa picked up a package, even though I insisted that I didn't know how you would cook ribs in coconut milk.  Boil?  Bake?  

So in the end I went on a hunt for a beef rib recipe that would make delicious ribs (of course) but wouldn't take up too much time because we had plans that Sunday too.

I found some instant pot recipes, but The Grandpa was skeptical.  I can't blame him since the first recipe we made him with our IP was truly hideous, a dish not mentioned and best forgotten immediately.  But he left the choosing in my hands and with much prodding from The Mister I chose this recipe for Instant Pot Beef Ribs.

It was super easy, and took less than 2 hours, and we had gorgeous fall off the bone ribs.

A few things I did differently that I liked for me:

I browned the ribs in a frying pan so I could do them all at once rather than in batches, but while I was frying them, I added the broth and rosemary to the IP on saute.  By the time the ribs were browned and I had cooked the onions and garlic, the sauce was simmering which cut down on the amount of time it took the IP to get to pressure (about 20 minutes).

I also didn't thicken the sauce because I am ok with a thin sauce.

I got impatient waiting for the IP to release all the pressure naturally, so after 20 minutes of "natural release" (ew) I vented it out.

These were so good - so flavorful and tender.  Beef ribs and the instant pot go together well.

A blast from the past - the first and last time I cooked beef ribs - so long ago!

The easiest - hardboiled eggs in the Instant Pot

I think I've mentioned before that I am terrible - truly terrible! at peeling hard boiled eggs.

No matter what method I try I always gouge half the white off with the shell.  I can't help it; it's a gift.

Before we got our instant pot I'd read that making hardboiled eggs in it was not only easy, but they were super easy to peel too.  

It's a true damn miracle guys.

And it's also true that hardboiling the eggs in the IP is super easy as well.

Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the IP.  Place the steam rack in the pot, and lay on as many eggs as you'd like.

Put the lid on and set the pressure cook setting for 5 minutes.

When it beeps, let it sit for 5 more minutes, then vent to release the pressure.

Remove the eggs to an ice bath and let cool.

Not only is it fast and foolproof, but THE EGGS POP RIGHT OUT OF THE SHELLS.

It's a beautiful thing.

We've been making a batch every couple of weeks and I sometimes make a couple of deviled eggs for breakfast - and this weekend I've been eyeing this muffuletta deviled eggs recipe.

Happy Sunday!

We got an Instant Pot

Our crock pot is super old and is starting to show it - taking longer to warm up and cook things.  It isn't a huge deal at this point as it does still work, but I was keeping my eye out for a replacement before it did completely conk out.

My most lovely Boo (eternal BFF) gave me a generous gift card for my birthday this year with a note suggesting I buy a new crock pot.  She's the best!

I started investigating what kind of crock pot I wanted and quickly switched gears to heavily considering an Instant Pot.

I have a super duper (unfounded) fear of pressure cookers but my cousin was singing the praises of hers earlier this year and there are so many food websites that talk about it now it's hard to get away from.  We went to the store to do a little preliminary research on them and walked out with a 6 quart Instant Pot.

I was so excited to get started that as soon as we got home I opened it all up and started reading about it.  Steaming and venting and pressure and seals all brought back my (very unfounded) fears of pressure cookers and I stuffed everything back in the box and put the box in the corner of my room with my dusty yoga stuff.

A week (or maybe 2, who remembers such details) later I told myself to suck it up, get over it and try it out.  After reading some soup recipes I made a truly delicious turkey soup and bam!  It was on.

I've steamed countless squashes, "roasted" sweet potatos, made more soups, a couple of curries,  plain chicken and a mu shu-ish pork.  Everything has been terrific and easy.  I am a IP fan.

I made this IP Butter Chicken for a work potluck.  Not too shabby.

Above - IP squash.  They come out perfectly every time.

Below the most delicious Red Lentil and Kale Curry

This was one of our first recipes we made - Egg Roll Bowls. So tasty.