Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

Here is where I should confess: I don't do any part of the process of getting potatoes baked in our house. They are scrubbed, washed, and cooked by the 16yo. But the Instant Pot is used, even if not by me, so I'll share.

This would be another good "starter project," like boiled eggs, because it's just.so.simple.

Follow the method here and enjoy.

We like ours with ground beef heated with BBQ sauce, "yogurt sour cream" (thick Greek yogurt made in the Instant Pot, of course), more BBQ sauce to pour on top, butter, and grated cheddar cheese. It's one of my favorite meals to serve to company, because everyone can customize it to his/her liking.

Instant Pot Boiled Eggs

Do you need convincing that you should keep your Instant Pot that you bought for yourself/got as a gift and haven't used, because it's a whole new learning curve, or you're not convinced it's any better than what you're already doing, and/or you're afraid it's going to explode (on that note, the post that you've seen about the little girl? it has morphed over time in a fishy way; don't believe everything you read on the internet; except here, of course)?

Try boiled (actually steamed, but we're going with the colloquial) eggs. Yes, boiled eggs. Simplest thing ever. I recommend people doing boiled eggs instead of the water test, because it's basically a water test that you get something out of.

Now, I tried the 5/5/5 method that everyone pumps. (Google it yourself. It's not worth my trouble. The method, that is. Googling, I can handle.) I much prefer the 2-and-walk-away method found here.

What's so great about boiled eggs from the Instant Pot? They practically slip out of the shells. Sometimes, they actually do. You know, how you're supposed to use older eggs to boil, so they come out of the shell more easily? No need. Farm fresh (according to what I read . . . on the internet), even, fall right out of the shell.

And if you want to get egg-stra fancy (sorry, couldn't resist), buy these and shape the eggs while they're still warm. After they fall out of the shells (have I mentioned that they fall out of the shells?)

Instant Pot Spinach Tortellini

The simplest Instant Pot meal (unless you're going to eat plain boiled eggs or baked  potatoes) is one box of pasta (~13 oz), one jar of pasta sauce, and one jar's worth of water, cooked at 1/2 the time listed on the pasta box and quick-released. I will sometimes include browned ground beef and/or mushrooms and/or pepperonis. The recipe below is just fancified. 

Simple, quick, throw-in-the-pot-and-set meal. i didn't even stir it before it cooked. :-P

Spinach Tortellini Pasta

INGREDIENTS

1 box pasta (13.25 oz, wheat)

2 lb frozen tortellini (1/2 large bag)

2 jars pasta sauce (24 oz)

2 pasta sauce jars of water

1 bag frozen chopped spinach (16 oz)

DIRECTIONS

Combine ingredients in Instant Pot. (Not necessary to stir.)

Cook on manual high for 5 mins. 

NPR 10 mins. 

QR

Stir and serve.

Instant Pot Virus Killing Soup

My emaginary friend, Chloe, invented a virus-killing soup. She's a nurse, so it's like medicine. Okay, while she is a nurse, I don't recommend you use this exclusively for protection from viruses, but there's lots of anecdotal evidence that it tastes good, if nothing else, and quite a few of the ingredients are high in elements that will help your system.

Previously, I made this in a large stock pot (recipe here). A. That pot didn't make the cut when we shipped our things back to the US. And B. Instant Pot. So, here's the IP version I devised.

It's more concentrated than the stovetop version, but it's just as, if not more, delicious. And presumably just as healthy.

Chloe's Virus-Killing Chicken Soup in the InstantPot

INGREDIENTS
1 whole chicken
1 bulb garlic crushed (yes, bulb)
3-4 fresh thyme sprigs
or 1/2 t dried thyme
fresh rosemary
or oregano
or 1/2 t dried of either
1/4-1/2 t cayenne pepper
1/4-1/2 t curry powder
1/4-1/2 t crushed red peppers
1/2 t ground black pepper
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 fennel bulb, sliced thin
3 stalks celery, sliced thin
2-3 bell peppers (preferably red/yellow/orange), chopped
3-4 carrots, sliced
any other stout veggies prefered by your family
2 boxes chicken broth
or 8 C bone broth
or 8 C water + 8 bullion cubes/t

several handfuls of spinach and/or kale

optional:
sour cream
tortillas
avocados
grated cheese

DIRECTIONS

Place first group of ingredients in IP, being careful not to fill above Max line. 

Cook on Manual High for 25 minutes. 

NPR

Remove chicken. 

Add spinach and/or kale and close pot, but do not start. 

Debone chicken and return meat to pot. Stirring to incorporate chicken and wilted greens. 

Serve with optional ingredients, like tortilla soup, if desired.

Instant Pot Split Pea with Ham Soup

I keep digging up forgotten favorite recipes in the process of finding things to post here. Tonight, we had Chicken & Dumplings, and soon (before it's balmy temperatures again), we'll be having this again.

Instant Pot Split Pea with Ham Soup

INGREDIENTS
2-3 T butter
1/2 onion, chopped
Or 1 t onion powder
2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 C dried peas
5 C water or chicken stock or bone broth
1/2-1 C diced ham
1 - 1 1/2 t salt

DIRECTIONS

Melt butter on medium saute and then add onion and carrot until onion is transluscent. 

Add remaining ingredients. 

Cook for 17 minutes on “Manual”.

Instant Pot Lemon Curd

Combined with my Instant Pot yogurt, lemon curd made with this method is even better than the beloved Yoplait lemon yogurt of my childhood. Trust me, you need to make some.

Instant Pot Honey Bourbon Chicken

There were several Honey Bourbon Chicken recipes floating around the official Instant Pot Facebook group. I ended up using an amalgamation of them all.

I use legs, but it would make good wings, if you're patient enough to eat tiny amounts of chicken. 

Instant Pot Honey Bourbon Chicken

INGREDIENTS
1/2-3/4 C ketchup
1/4 C bourbon
1/4 C soy sauce
1/4 C brown sugar
2 T honey
1 T onion flakes (or 1/2 onion, chopped)
1 T apple cider vinegar
2 t liquid smoke
1/2 t pepper flakes
1/2 t season salt
1/4 t paprika
1/8-1/4 t cayenne
2-3 lbs chicken legs or wings

DIRECTIONS

Mix sauce ingredients in a bowl or large measuring cup. 

Place chicken in IP. 

Pour sauce over chicken. 

Cook on manual for 18 mins. 

Allow at least 15 mins of NPR.