12 February, 2018

Which Came First?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? As you well know we can go around and around on this one and not come up with an answer that everyone can agree on. One thing that we can agree on, though, is that my life has become a lot easier since the arrival of the Instant Pot at Chez Goodneedle. Our son and daughter-in-law have had one for quite some time. I heard all the great success stories of their wonderful, healthy meals prepared in a fraction of the time. Who couldn't use more time? I was intrigued but not convinced that I needed one. After all, it was an electric pressure cooker! I had never used a pressure cooker. My childhood memories of a pressure cooker were of a mysterious cast-metal locked bomb pot with a bobbing, sputtering valve on the top, sitting on the stove's front burner on Sundays; ours always contained a pot roast. I recall my mother warning us to "stay back" when the pressure was released as if this whole procedure was dangerous to the point of being life-threatening. Because of that healthy fear, I was never interested in pursuing the art of pressure cooking as an adult. I felt lucky to have survived those weekly threats. Then our daughter requested one for Christmas. Soon after she began extolling the virtues of Instant Pot cooking and I saw her dedicated Pinterest board grow with pinned recipes. She would happily report about her yogurt making and the delicious soups and meals she was turning out in the limited amount of time she has after work, to the raves of her family. Okay, I did some research. Maybe this would be something that could earn its space in our kitchen. I remember that same back-and-forth in my mind that I went through before we ever got our first microwave. Did we need this? Could we get along without one? Hadn't life been okay in our Instant Pot-free home up until now? I also remember that a week after getting that first microwave I couldn't imagine life without one! Our Instant Pot arrived last week. So, which came first, the chicken or the egg? The chicken. I cooked a whole one for dinner, start to finish, in 45 minutes; it was moist, flavorful and delicious! Next came hard boiled eggs. In the pressure cooker they were done in the same amount of time as if I had done them on the stove top-- but, the difference is, these peeled perfectly! Never again will I have a mutilated egg. And then, on Saturday afternoon, I whipped up a positively wonderful homemade Tomato Basil Parmesan soup to enjoy on a rainy, cold evening; employing both the pot's saute and pressure cooking functions, leaving only one pot to clean up afterward. Score! Stay tuned, the Instant Pot adventure continues, my own Pinterest recipe board is growing every day.

Life is Good!
 

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh my, you are tempting me!! Glad you are enjoying it so much!

Sherrill said...

Yes I've had mine a few months and LOVE it though I wind up with WAAYY too many leftovers since it's just me. Cooked a rack of ribs a few nights ago, taco soup AND my yogurt (several times). I did make spaghetti but think that'll be stovetop from now on (pasta was mushy). Lots of things I still want to try but it is nice.

Janet O. said...

I had to laugh when you described your fear instilled from childhood. You could have been describing me! But, like you, the younger generation convinced me--even my single adult sons own them! Mine arrived for Christmas 2016 (from my children). I have to admit that I haven't been dedicated to cooking with it regularly, but what I have tried has been great--and quick!
I need to check out the Pinterest board link, and that yummy sounding soup! Thanks for the links!

NanaNor's said...

I've heard about these pots and also intrigued. WE do have a pressure cooker which we use a lot-especially for Artichokes.
How exciting for you. Enjoy.
Hugs,
Noreen

Carolyn said...

I have an instant pot. Clearly I'm missing the boat.

cityquilter grace said...

lol....i didn't even know what it was...but then i have a lot of free time and feed only myself...and i don't have a microwave either....so far i haven't starved....and your soup looks delish...and more free time is always good!

Tanya said...

How neat! I've been sort of wanting a crockpot for SLOW cooking but there is no such thing in Japan. But I did see an instant pot! I haven't made stew or a whole chicken in years... I wonder what sort of Japanese foods might work in it...