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Hoppin’ John (New Year’s Black-eyed Peas with Bacon)

January 2, 2019 by //  by Holly Leave a Comment

Last updated on January 1st, 2022 at 03:17 pm

These southern black-eyed peas are so yummy—warm and hearty for New Year’s or delicious any day of the year!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. bacon, diced
  • 1 cup onion, diced (about 1 medium onion)
  • 6 cups (4 15 oz. cans) cooked black-eyed peas, not drained (1 pound of dried black-eyed peas, cooking instructions follow)
  • 10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Ro-tel tomatoes)
  • 1/2 t. Garlic powder
  • 1/2 t. Onion powder
  • 1/4 t. Salt
  • 1/4 t. Pepper
  • 4 cups cooked rice

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, sauté bacon pieces until browned.
  2. Turn off heat. Remove from pan to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.
  3. Pour off all but 2-3 tablespoons bacon grease into a heat-proof glass container (pyrex or canning jar).
  4. Return skillet to heat. Add onion and sauté until onion is clear.
  5. Pour in black-eyed peas with their liquid, tomatoes, and seasonings. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
  6. Add cooked rice. Stir well. Heat through.
  7. Taste and correct seasoning. Add a little water if it gets too thick.

Black-Eyed Peas in the Instant Pot

To cook one pound (16 ounces) dried black-eyed peas in the Instant Pot, sort and rinse dried peas. Place them in the insert. Cover with water level 2 inches above peas. Add a few tablespoons of diced onion, bay leaf, a tablespoon of olive oil, and a teaspoon of salt. Cook on High Pressure for 25 minutes and allow to natural release. Proceed with recipe.

If you have time to soak the peas, sort and rinse them. Cover with water by about an inch. Even if you only have 20 to 30 minutes to let these soak, they will turn out better and cook more evenly in the end. After soaking, add a few tablespoons of diced onion, a bay leaf or two, a tablespoon of olive oil, and a teaspoon of salt. Then cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes and allow to natural release. The cook time goes down the longer you can soak. If these were soaked fully, you could decrease the cook time to 15 minutes at High pressure.

Kids in the Kitchen

Little Ones (2-5)

  • Can help carry cans from the pantry to the kitchen counter.
  • Can help sort black-eyed peas, if you cook from dried beans.

Medium Kiddos (6-10)

  • Can open cans with a can opener.
  • Can measure spices with adult help.
  • Can help put on a pot of rice.

Older Children and Teens (11-15)

  • Dice onion.
  • Dice bacon.
  • Sauté bacon and onion.
  • Follow recipe and put entire dish together.
  • *Note: An adult should help remove excess bacon grease, as hot grease can be very dangerous.
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Hoppin’ John

These southern black-eyed peas are a fabulous dish—warm and hearty for New Year’s or delicious any day of the year!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Beans & Rice, Southern
Keyword: Budget-friendly, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Kid-Approved, Kid-Friendly
Servings: 6
Calories: 665254kcal
Author: Holly

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. bacon diced
  • 1 cup onion diced (about 1 medium onion)
  • 6 cups cooked black-eyed peas, not drained about 4 (15oz.) cans or 1 lb. cooked dried black-eyed peas
  • 10 oz. diced tomatoes with green chilies Ro-tel tomatoes
  • 1/2 t. Garlic powder
  • 1/2 t. Onion powder
  • 1/4 t. Salt
  • 1/4 t. Pepper
  • 4 cups cooked rice
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, sauté bacon pieces until browned. Turn off heat. Remove bacon from pan to a paper towel-lined plate. Set aside.  
  • Pour off all but 2-3 tablespoons bacon grease into a heat-proof glass container (pyrex or canning jar). 
  • Return skillet to heat. Add onion and sauté until onion is clear.
  • Pour in black-eyed peas with their liquid, tomatoes, and seasonings. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. 
  • Add cooked rice. Stir well. Heat through. Taste and correct seasoning. Add a little water if it gets too thick.

Notes

To cook one pound (16 ounces) dried black-eyed peas in the Instant Pot, sort and rinse dried peas. Place them in the insert. Cover with water level 2 inches above peas. Add a few tablespoons of diced onion, bay leaf, a tablespoon of olive oil, and a teaspoon of salt. Cook on High Pressure for 25 minutes and allow to natural release. Proceed with recipe.
If you have time to soak the peas, sort and rinse them. Cover with water by about an inch. Even if you only have 20 to 30 minutes to let these soak, they will turn out better and cook more evenly in the end. After soaking, add a few tablespoons of diced onion, a bay leaf or two, a tablespoon of olive oil, and a teaspoon of salt. Then cook on High Pressure for 20 minutes and allow to natural release. The cook time goes down the longer you can soak. If these were soaked fully, you could decrease the cook time to 15 minutes at High pressure.

Nutrition

Calories: 665254kcal | Carbohydrates: 153258g | Protein: 26822g | Fat: 2865g | Saturated Fat: 980g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 16268848mg | Potassium: 2372876mg | Fiber: 30721g | Sugar: 7825g | Vitamin A: 228026IU | Vitamin C: 20507mg | Calcium: 580493mg | Iron: 12147mg

Hoppin’ John (New Year’s Black-eyed Peas with Bacon)Read More

Filed Under: Dairy Free, Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized

New Year’s Cabbage (with Apples and Sausage)

January 2, 2019 by //  by Holly 2 Comments

If you look at my photo library for all photos from January 1, a pic of this dish in a red dutch oven will appear every year. The photo for this post came from New Years 2012!

The recipe comes from my late grandma Vera, who had German ancestry. It’s super simple to prepare, and tastes like a New Year to me!

Tools Used

Wüsthof 7” Santoku Knife
Cutting Board
Enamel-Coated Cast-Iron Dutch Oven
My Favorite Wooden Spoon

Ingredients

  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1/4 tsp. Salt
  • 1-2 apples, diced
  • 1 head of cabbage, diced into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 lb. Smoked Sausage of your preference

Instructions

  1. Place butter in large dutch oven over medium high heat.
  2. When butter stops foaming, add onion and salt.
  3. After about 2 minutes, add diced apples and sauté together until onion is clear, about 2 more minutes.
  4. Add diced cabbage and 1/2 cup water. Stir, cover and let steam for 5 minutes.
  5. Stir occasionally as cabbage steams for about 10 more minutes.
  6. Add smoked sausage and let sauté with the cabbage until sausage is heated through and cabbage is done to your liking, about 5 to 10 minutes.
  7. Enjoy!

Print Recipe
No ratings yet

New Year's Cabbage (with Apples and Sausage)

This is a family recipe from Germany that many generations have enjoyed. It is super simple, nutritious and delicious. My son calls it "Glorious Cabbage!"
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: German
Keyword: Budget-friendly, Dinner, Gluten-free, Paleo, THM-S, Whole 30
Servings: 6
Calories: 427kcal
Author: Holly

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter 1 stick or 4 oz.
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1-2 apples diced
  • 1 head of cabbage diced into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 lb. smoked sausage of your preference diced
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Place butter in large dutch oven over medium high heat. When butter stops foaming, add onion and salt.    
  • After about 2 minutes, add diced apples and sauté together until onion is clear, about 2 more minutes.
  • Add diced cabbage and 1/2 cup water, 1/4 tsp. more salt. Stir, cover and let steam for 5 minutes.
  • Stir occasionally as cabbage steams for about 10 more minutes.
  • Add smoked sausage and let sauté with the cabbage until sausage is heated through and cabbage is done to your liking, about 5 to 10 minutes. Taste and add salt, if needed. Enjoy!

Instant Pot Instructions

  • Turn Instant Pot [Sauté] function [On].
  • Place butter in stainless steel insert and melt.
  • Add diced onion and a small amount (1/4 tsp.) of the salt. Lightly sauté onion for about 2 minutes.
  • Add diced apple, diced cabbage, and diced smoked sausage.
  • Add one cup of water.
  • Place lid on Instant Pot.
  • Make sure release valve is set to [Sealing].
  • Set cooking program to [Pressure Cook] or [Manual].
  • If your Instant Pot has High and Low Pressure options, press [Pressure Level] or [Pressure] button to change to LOW pressure. If not, High pressure will do fine, but your cabbage will be just a little more cooked.
  • Set the pressure cooking time to 0 (zero) minutes by pressing the [+] or [-] buttons. Some pressure cookers allow a minimum time of 1 minute, so if that is the case, set for one minute only.
  • Wait 10 seconds for Instant Pot to start or press [Start] if your machine has a Start button.
  • Instant Pot will heat up, come to pressure and then beep immediately once the 0 comes up on the screen. Immediately Quick Release the pressure. Stir well and taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper if desired. Serve and enjoy! Goes great with mashed potatoes!

Notes

Red Cabbage and Green Cabbage both work perfectly in this recipe. Same goes for any type of onion and any type of apple.
I prefer this on the good ol' fashioned stovetop, but Instant Pot does fine if you need to use it for some reason. It's easy to overcook cabbage, so try to minimize cooking time by pressure cooking for zero minutes (or 1 minute) on LOW pressure, and immediately Quick Releasing the pressure.

Nutrition

Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 964mg | Potassium: 472mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 637IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 2mg

New Year’s Cabbage (with Apples and Sausage)Read More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Gluten Free, Keto, Kids in the Kitchen, Recipes

How Many Eggs Can You Make in the Instant Pot?

March 29, 2018 by //  by Holly 40 Comments

Last updated on November 25th, 2021 at 10:49 am

Who among us has never asked this timeless question?

You know, you’re getting ready to make another batch of Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs in your Instant Pot, and you look at your dozen eggs neatly arranged on the trivet at the bottom.

Then you notice ALL that extra space, just sitting there, going to waste.

And you ponder…”I wonder…exactly just how many eggs I can do at one time???”


So we decided to find an answer. You know, for posterity.

Here’s what we found out:

…

How Many Eggs Can You Make in the Instant Pot?Read More

Filed Under: Instant Pot, Keto, Kitchen Tools Tagged With: 5 Minutes, Cooking, eggs, Food And Drink, Hard Boiled Eggs, hard cooked eggs, Instant Pot, pressure cooker

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot

March 26, 2018 by //  by Holly 11 Comments

Last updated on July 28th, 2019 at 09:33 pm

What is the perfect recipe for hard boiled eggs in an Instant Pot? Many friends have become mortal enemies debating this issue, so we’re going to clear it up for you right now.

I’m going to give you…The Perfect…recipe for hard boiled eggs. Are you ready? Do you have something to write this down?

Here it is: …

Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs in the Instant PotRead More

Filed Under: Instant Pot, Keto, Kitchen Tools, Recipes Tagged With: 5 Minutes, Cooking, eggs, Food And Drink, Gluten Free, Hard Boiled Eggs, Instant Pot, Kitchen Tools, pressure cooker, real food, recipe, Super Easy

Instant Pot Minestrone…Instastrone?

January 23, 2018 by //  by Holly 3 Comments

Last updated on January 23rd, 2019 at 08:20 am

If Instastrone isn’t a real word, it will be after you try this amazing dish! Minestrone is a wonderful Italian vegetable soup, thick and hearty. In restaurants it’s often served with pasta, but it’s not a necessity. We prefer ours with only yummy veggies!

This recipe requires a bit of chopping, but then you just throw the ingredients in and wait for some delicious soup! But you’ll only have to wait for 4 minutes of cook time! That’s why it’s Instastrone!

And it really is very delicious!

Ingredients

…

Instant Pot Minestrone…Instastrone?Read More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival, Recipes, Soup Tagged With: 5 Minutes, beans, Cooking, Dinner, family dinner, Food And Drink, Instant Pot, Kids, Meal, pressure cooker, real food, Soup, tabasco, vegetables, Vegetarian, veggies

Instant Pot Texas Chili

January 17, 2018 by //  by Holly 12 Comments

Last updated on January 1st, 2019 at 11:18 pm

This is the second best chili recipe I’ve ever made.

The best pot of chili I’ve ever made was 20 years ago. Read to the end if you want to see a really sweet story about that special pot of chili.

Note: There’s lots of debate about different types of chili. The conventional wisdom is that Texas Chili has no beans. But we really like the beans in ours. And we’re from Texas. So it’s still Texas Chili. 🤠

On a more practical note, adding beans makes it about $3 cheaper per batch (depending on ground beef prices in your area.) That amount adds up over a few meals. …

Instant Pot Texas ChiliRead More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Keto, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival, Kitchen Tools, Recipes, Soup Tagged With: Cooking, Dinner, family, family dinner, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids, Kitchen Tools, Meal, pressure cooker, recipe, Soup, Super Easy

The Cooking Family Kids Gift Guide 2019

December 20, 2017 by //  by Holly Leave a Comment

Last updated on December 19th, 2019 at 08:26 am

The holidays are a perfect time to spend time with your kids in the kitchen. And Christmas is the perfect time to use gifts to equip them to join you there all year long!

Use this guide to help you pick some great (non-electronic) gifts for your kids. I don’t know about you, but we definitely don’t need any more things in our house that bleep, blurb, or glow!

I’ve included some of my own favorites for mom, so you may want to forward it to your significant other if you want to hint at some gifts for yourself. 😉

…

The Cooking Family Kids Gift Guide 2019Read More

Filed Under: Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival, Kitchen Tools Tagged With: Cooking, Dinner, family dinner, Kids, Kitchen Tools

Which Instant Pot is Right For My Family? (Updated with Max)

November 27, 2017 by //  by Holly 44 Comments

Last updated on December 26th, 2018 at 12:56 pm

The Instant Pot is more than a “craze” now. Everywhere you turn, you see talk-show hosts and news anchors doing segments on this “new device” that’s “sweeping the nation!” And with good reason.

People are just now starting to hear about the benefits of pressure-cooking as a way to cook delicious and healthy meals without having to stand over a stove. You’ve probably heard from more than one friend about how much they love their “Instapot.”

But the truth is, the Instant Pot has been around a few years, and pressure cooking for ages. But this ain’t your grandma’s pressure cooker! The Instant Pot is a safe, easy cooking method, and the company is constantly refining and improving the technology and releasing new models.

But that’s creating confusion for new customers shopping for an Instant Pot, and probably why you’re here to read this article!

There are several sizes and lots of variations in features among the different models, and even non-pressure cooker products now. So the question I see most often right now is, “I have a family of ____, which Instant Pot should I get?”

The answer really comes down to two simple questions.
…

Which Instant Pot is Right For My Family? (Updated with Max)Read More

Filed Under: Instant Pot, Kitchen Survival, Kitchen Tools Tagged With: Cooking, family dinner, Freezer Meal, Instant Pot, Kitchen Tools, pressure cooker

Creamy Ginger Butternut Squash Soup in the Instant Pot

November 19, 2017 by //  by Holly 6 Comments

Last updated on October 1st, 2020 at 01:49 pm

This is such a yummy comfort food, perfect for the fall season.  The combination of apples and squash, ginger and cream, makes a delicious blend of sweet and tart, warm spice and cool cream. You just have to try it!

Now, there are lots of ways to prepare your ingredients, but for me, when I see a recipe call for sliced, peeled butternut squash, it literally makes me cringe. That chore is one of my kitchen nightmares! Cutting up a butternut squash is hard!

So I don’t do it. Let me show you an easier way to “skin that cat” with an Instant Pot!

This is an involved recipe, so it’s lots of fun if the family joins in. Children can do lots of things to help in this recipe! …

Creamy Ginger Butternut Squash Soup in the Instant PotRead More

Filed Under: Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Recipes, Soup Tagged With: Butternut Squash, Cooking, Cream, Dinner, family dinner, Freezer Meal, Ginger, Gluten Free, pressure cooker, recipe, side dish, Soup, Thanksgiving

Homemade Chicken Bone Broth in the Instant Pot

November 6, 2017 by //  by Holly 2 Comments

Last updated on July 28th, 2019 at 09:50 pm

Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Under Pressure: 120 Minutes
Quick Release or Natural Pressure Release, your call!
If you’ve got 5 minutes, old chicken bones, leftover veggies, and an Instant Pot, you can have homemade bone broth all the time! Sometimes called Chicken Stock, this commonly used ingredient is the basis for so many recipes! We use it for soups, casseroles, sauces, and gravies. We even sometimes use it for making rice and pasta, instead of water. Here are a few of our recipes that use this delicious broth as a base ingredient:
One Pot Pasta
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Italian Sausage Lentil Soup
Jambalaya
Creamy Ginger Butternut Squash Soup in the Instant Pot
 
Using store-bought chicken broth is easy, but it isn’t necessarily cheap, and the truth is, you don’t actually know what’s in that can or box or jar.
When I went gluten free and was forced to begin reading every label, I was shocked at the ingredient lists right in front of my face that I had been ignoring! Ingredients such as:

…

Homemade Chicken Bone Broth in the Instant PotRead More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival, Kitchen Tools, Recipes, Soup Tagged With: 5 Minutes, Cooking, Dinner, family dinner, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, pressure cooker, recipe, Soup

Instant Pot Ham ‘n’ Beans

October 13, 2017 by //  by Holly 35 Comments

Last updated on April 9th, 2020 at 10:10 am

The only thing I love more than the taste of this recipe is how simple it is to throw together. It’s so easy, it feels like cheating to even call this a “recipe.”

Here’s all you need for this super easy recipe:

Tools Used

  • Instant Pot 6qt duo
  • Instant Pot 6qt Ultra
  • Instant Pot 8qt duo
  • Large 18 x 14 Bamboo Cutting Board
  • Wüsthof 7” Santoku Knife
  • Cut Glove
  • My Favorite Wooden Spoon

Ingredients

  • a spiral-sliced ham or leftover ham bone
  • a bag of dried beans. A two-pound bag of Great Northern beans is what I used to make this in an 8qt., but any kind of beans would be great cooked this way–pintos, navy, black beans–use whatever you have and whatever you like.
  • An onion

…

Instant Pot Ham ‘n’ BeansRead More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival, Recipes, Soup Tagged With: beans, Cooking, Dinner, family dinner, ham, ham and beans, Instant Pot, Meal, pressure cooker, recipe, Soup

Instant Pot Italian Sausage Lentil Soup

October 3, 2017 by //  by Holly 4 Comments

Last updated on November 4th, 2022 at 04:49 pm

Several years ago, we were at Carrabba’s and I had their Sausage Lentil Soup. It was so good! I’ve spent the last few years trying to re-create it, and I think we’ve finally got it really close! I love working up recipes because I get to eat the results. 😉

This is a hearty and nutritious dinner for the whole family. Lentils provide lots of protein, fiber, iron, and B vitamins!  And it’s delicious! Everyone in our family gobbles up the first bowl and wants seconds, including the toddler! In the Old Testament of the Bible, Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of Lentil stew—so you know it must be good!

…

Instant Pot Italian Sausage Lentil SoupRead More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival, Kitchen Tools, Recipes, Soup Tagged With: 30 Minutes, carrabbas, Cooking, Dinner, family dinner, Food And Drink, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids, Meal, Soup, Super Easy

Instant Pot Jambalaya

July 6, 2017 by //  by Holly 2 Comments

Last updated on May 7th, 2020 at 09:11 am

My husband’s family has a long and rich heritage in south Louisiana, so cajun dishes are frequently enjoyed at family gatherings. Now, authentic cajun fare is usually a bit too spicy for my younger kids, so I adapted this recipe to give us all the yummy ingredients without the kick.

Traditional Jambalaya is typically cooked with rice combined with all the ingredients. I like to cook my rice separately for a couple of reasons:

…

Instant Pot JambalayaRead More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival, Recipes Tagged With: cajun, Cooking, Dinner, family, family dinner, Food And Drink, hot sauce, Instant Pot, Kids, Meal, south louisiana, tabasco

Tom’s Super Potato Salad

July 3, 2017 by //  by Holly Leave a Comment

Last updated on September 4th, 2020 at 09:03 pm

TCF Tom's Salad FB

This is a special family recipe to me. That’s because it comes from a special man.

Tom.

IMG_1645-2

Tom is my dad, and I think he’s just about the best guy ever. I got my kitchen improvisational spirit from him, and this recipe is a perfect example. He spent years analyzing and tweaking the proportions to arrive at this delicious recipe. We’ve made it for years, arriving at parties and BBQ’s with a giant bowl and leaving with it licked clean. We hope you like it as much as we (and our friends) do.

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Tom’s Super Potato SaladRead More

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Tools, Recipes Tagged With: 30 Minutes, Cooking Potatoes, Dill, Food And Drink, Instant Pot, Potato, Potato Salads, Reds Potatoes

Santa Fe Chicken – A Perfect Freezer-Stuffer!

June 28, 2017 by //  by Holly 2 Comments

Last updated on September 21st, 2018 at 05:48 pm

Giant batch of Santa Fe Chicken!
Giant batch of Santa Fe Chicken!

Earlier this week we made a huge batch of Santa Fe Chicken to stock our freezer. We use this for lots of different meals. It can be eaten as an entree by itself, or it can be a very versatile dinner base for other recipes. And it freezes perfectly!

 

We use it in tacos, taco salads, burrito bowls, tostadas, quesadillas, or nachos. So, even though this recipe makes enough to feed an army, it doesn’t seem like the family is eating the same thing over and over.

 

This is a fabulous recipe to make with your kids! Even very little ones can sort and rinse dry beans and go to the pantry to get cans. Medium kiddos can open cans and bigger ones can pick chickens and measure spices. Everyone can dump or pour things into the mixing bowl. And we had several sets of {clean-ish} hands in there stirring and tasting.

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Santa Fe Chicken – A Perfect Freezer-Stuffer!Read More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Recipes

One-Pot Pasta in the Instant Pot

May 2, 2017 by //  by Holly 9 Comments

Last updated on January 23rd, 2019 at 09:32 am

This is a family favorite that has lots of options for different dietary needs. It’s fast, delicious, and it’s so easy, the kids can make it!

One Pot Pasta in the Instant Pot

You have two options with this dish:

  1. Easy
  2. Extra-super-duper-come-on-this-is-way-too-simple-give-me-a-break easy

Which version you make depends on what ingredients and time you have on hand. If you choose the super easy version, you only need three things (well, four if you count water.) If you have a little extra time (like, literally 3 minutes) you can make your own sauce, and I’ve included my go-to recipe. It’s super-quick and tasty. And if you want to really jazz it up, there are all sorts of things you could add-in to take this up another notch!

We cooked this live on our Facebook page, so you can watch this video to see us prepare it from start to finish in about 20 minutes, and see which jobs kids of all ages can help with.

Kitchen Tools used:

6 quart Instant Pot
OXO Wooden Spatula
Cut Glove
Knife
Chopper

3 Easy Ingredients:

  1. Italian sausage or any other ground meat
  2. Spaghetti Sauce (jarred or follow recipe below)
  3. Pasta (16 oz.), any type

Spaghetti Sauce:

Let’s talk about this. That jar of spaghetti sauce in your pantry is really convenient. Just dump it in and move on. There are definitely times when I need that simplicity. And personally, even if I have a jar of sauce I want to use, I’ll add …

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Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Recipes Tagged With: 3 Minutes, Cooking, Cooking Pasta, Dinner, Food And Drink, Instant Pot, Kids, One Pot Pasta, Pasta, Spaghetti, Super Easy, Tomato Sauce

Instant Pot 6-Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup

March 20, 2017 by //  by Holly 6 Comments

Last updated on July 31st, 2019 at 11:07 am

This is a family favorite that turns out delicious every time!  We use our favorite kitchen tool, the Instant Pot, to make a tasty Chicken Tortilla Soup.  The Instant Pot really does give second-day soup flavor in only a few minutes! One of the things I love about this recipe is that there is something for each of my children to do to help prepare it. Watch the video to see how everyone pitches in. The recipe and instructions we used are down below.

Tools we used:

6 Qt Instant Pot

Cut Glove I make sure the kids are always wearing one of these when using the knife. …

Instant Pot 6-Minute Chicken Tortilla SoupRead More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Freezer Meal, Gluten Free, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Tools, Recipes, Soup Tagged With: Chicken, Cooking, Dinner, Instant Pot, Kids, Meal, Soup

What’s So Great About the Instant Pot?

March 16, 2017 by //  by Holly 8 Comments

Last updated on September 21st, 2018 at 05:53 pm

What's so great about the Instant Pot?

For years, I was a slow-cooker fan. I remember the day when I got my big All-Clad model with the insert that you could put right on the stove to brown meat. I coveted and longed for that tool for months before buying it on sale.
And I still like to pull it out every now and then, if for no other reason than to justify keeping it, because it is beautiful. But ever since I got my Instant Pot, the poor slow-cooker has been more of no-cooker.

 

Poor, Lonely Slow Cooker
My Poor, Lonely Slow Cooker

Here at The Cooking Family, one of our foundational principles is that you only need a small set of the right tools to enjoy great meals together. You don’t always need the “next big thing,” and you especially don’t need uni-taskers.

 

But even though the Instant Pot is the current “latest gadget,” it is one I would say is a must-have tool. Seriously. If you told me I could only keep 2 things in my kitchen, I’d keep my Wüsthof knife and my Instant Pot. As a mom of 7, I oversee 189 meals per week! But the Instant Pot ensures I don’t spend all day in the kitchen (unless I want to 😉.)

Even though it seems everyone is talking about the Instant Pot, I know many people don’t understand the hype. And I get it. I didn’t understand at first. At least once a week, someone will ask me, “What’s so great about the Instant Pot? I’m afraid I’ll blow my kitchen up!”

You won’t. Today’s electric pressure cookers are so much different than the tank-like pots that graced our grandmothers’ stoves.  I’ve compiled a list of things I love about mine. This list is certain to grow, and I’ll update it as I discover new things. There are many features I haven’t even explored yet. (Like ribs or lasagna!) (Updated 7/11/18)

Here’s why you need an Instant Pot

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What’s So Great About the Instant Pot?Read More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Instant Pot, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival, Kitchen Tools

Is this the one thing keeping dinner off the table?

March 12, 2017 by //  by Holly Leave a Comment

Last updated on September 21st, 2018 at 05:55 pm

We live in the golden age of cooking. If your Facebook feed is anything like mine, you see it filled with dozens of short recipe videos every day. And like me, you’ve possibly saved a bunch of them, planning to get back to it someday. Then there’s Pinterest, an endless supply of food and recipe ideas. Yet even with all of these resources available, I still struggled to get dinner on the table every night.

The 4:30 Panic

Inevitably, the afternoon would roll on, and next thing I knew, it was almost dinner time. Not only had I not started dinner, I had no idea what I would make. Not to fear, right? I could just go check my trusty saved links and whip something together. Raise your hand if that’s ever worked for you.

It never worked for me.

The truth is:
…

Is this the one thing keeping dinner off the table?Read More

Filed Under: Dinner Accomplished, Kids in the Kitchen, Kitchen Survival

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