Healthy Beef Cabbage Stew

beef-stew

beef-stewWhat You Need:

1 lb. lean stew beef, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, sliced thin
5 C of water
1 leek, white part only, chopped
1 head of cabbage, cleaned and chopped
1/4 C of pearl barley
4 vegetable bouillon cubes
4 potatoes, peeled and boiled

How to Make It:

Spray the cooker
with cooking spray.
Add the beef, onion and carrots and bring the cooker to medium heat.
Cook until the beef is evenly browned.
Add the water to the cooker.
Stir in the leek, cabbage, barley and bouillon cubes.
Quickly bring the cooker to high pressure and cook 15 minutes.
Allow the pressure to drop naturally.
Place the potatoes into a large bowl and break them up with a fork.
Ladle the stew over the potatoes and serve.

Beef bouillon cubes may be used in place of the vegetable cubes to give you a hearty beef flavor.

Makes 4 servings

Pressure Cooking Tender, Juicy and Delicious Beef

roast_potatoe_carrots

roast_potatoe_carrotsPressure cooking doesn’t mean using just beans. Using a pressure cooker saves time and money over slow cooked methods or baking. A pressure cooker will make any beef entree juicy and tender. Here are some quick and easy recipes you can use with beef. The recipe times are based using a 15 psi pressure cooker. Add 12 to 15 percent more time if using a pressure cooker with a lower psi.

Yummy Pot Roast – Serves 4

Ingredients:
• 3 tbsp. canola oil
• 1.5 lb. pot roast
• Salt and pepper
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 bay leaf
• 1-1/2 cups water or beef stock

Preparation:

Place canola oil and roast in pressure cooker and brown on all sides. Place roast on trivet in cooker. Season roast with salt and pepper, then add chopped onion, bay leaf and water or broth. Lock the lid in place and bring cooker to pressure. Lower heat and cook for 35 minutes at 15 psi. Release the pressure naturally.

An Old Favorite Meat Loaf – Serves 4

Ingredients:
• 1-1/2 lb. chopped or ground beef
• 1 tsp. salt
• Ground black pepper
• 2 slices bread, soaked in water and squeezed dry
• 2 tbsp. parsley
• 1 med. onion, minced
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp. chicken stock
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup water

Preparation:

In a bowl, combine the meat, salt, pepper, bread, parsley, onion, garlic, egg, chicken stock and Worcestershire sauce. Shape into two small loaves. Wrap each in wax paper and chill several hours to firm. Heat the oil in the pressure cooker and brown the loaves well on all sides. Transfer to the cooker basket. Discard the oil and combine the tomato sauce and water and season with salt and pepper and spread over the loaves. Lower the basket into the pressure cooker, lock lid and bring to pressure. Lower heat and cook for 15 minutes on high pressure or 15 psi. Allow the pressure to drop by quick release method or automatic release method, slice and serve.

Tasty Beef Stroganoff – Serves 4

Ingredients:
• 2 lb beef stew meat or round steak cut into 1” cubes
• 3 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp. flour
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. garlic
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup sour cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pkg. egg noodles cooked

Preparation:

Brown the meat in a little in the pressure cooker. Add flour and mix well. Stir in onion, garlic, beef broth, mushrooms, tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce, blend thoroughly. Lock the lid and bring to pressure. Lower heat and cook for 25 minutes on high pressure or 15 psi. Allow the pressure to drop naturally then remove lid. Stir in the sour cream blending well. Serve over hot egg noodles or stir the cooked noodles into the meat mixture before serving.

Allspice Oranges with Honey

oranges

orangesWhat You Need:

3 1/2 C of water, divided
4 large oranges
1/2 C of honey
1/4 t of allspice
1 t of rum extract

How to Make It:

Pour 3 C of the water into the bottom of the pressure cooker.
Place the unpeeled oranges into the water.
Bring the pressure to high and poach the oranges for 3 minutes.
Release the pressure quickly under cold water then remove the oranges and drain off the water.
Peel the oranges and place them back into the pressure cooker.
Add the remaining water, honey, allspice and extract to the pressure cooker.
Bring the pressure back up to high and cook for 2 minutes.
Allow the pressure to release on its own then remove the oranges to a serving bowl.
Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick.
Pour the sauce over the oranges just before serving.

This is a very versatile dish it can be used as a side dish or dessert or even for breakfast. If you prefer you may use grapefruit instead of the oranges. When cooking fruit make sure it doesn’t touch the sides of the cooker or it will burn.

Makes 4 servings

Brown Rice with Green Beans and Corn

brown-rice

brown-riceWhat You Need:

1 C long grain brown rice
1 C of chicken broth
2 C of water, divided
1/4 C green onions, chopped
1/4 C red bell pepper, diced
1/4 C French style green beans
1/2 C frozen corn

How to Make It:

Place the rice into an ovenproof casserole dish.
Pour the chicken broth and 1/2 C of the water over the rice
Place a trivet into the pressure cooker then pour in the remaining water.
Place the casserole dish on top of the trivet.
Bring the cooker pressure to high and cook 30 minutes then allow the pressure to fall on its own.
Add the green onions, bell pepper, green beans and corn to the casserole.
Place the lid on the cooker and leave it unlocked.
Allow the casserole to steam for an additional 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and fluffy.

If you use short grain rice it will take a little longer to cook. Allow an additional 7 minutes of cooking time. Always allow the pressure to fall on its own when cooking rice. This way the rice will be soft but not overcooked.

Makes 4 servings

Brown Sugar Bananas for Kids

bananas

bananasWhat You Need:

4 large ripe bananas, peeled
2 T of brown sugar
1/8 t of nutmeg
1 C of water

How to Make It:

Lay the bananas in a single layer into a casserole dish.
Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the bananas then add the nutmeg.
Tightly seal the dish with heavy duty aluminum foil.
Place the trivet into the bottom of the cooker.
Pour the water over the trivet.
Set the casserole dish onto the trivet.
Bring the pressure up to high and cook the bananas for 6 minutes.
Slowly release the pressure.

This casserole is best served warm. This may be served as a side dish or as a dessert with any meal. This is a great way to get kids to eat fruit as they love this dish. Fresh fruit cooks very quickly in a pressure cooker so be sure to keep a timer handy.

Makes 4 servings

Pressure Cook Old Favorites

potato_salad

potato_saladFamily favorites are hard to put by the way side even when trying new styles of cooking. These old favorites taste just as great when cooked in a pressure cooker and it takes a fraction of the time.

Country Potatoes

Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced, stems trimmed
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or water
• 4 cups potatoes in 1/2” slices
• 2 tbsp. minced parsley

Preparation:

In the pressure cooker, heat the oil and sauté the mushrooms and onions until the onions are wilted. Mix in all the remaining ingredients. Lock the lid and bring to pressure. Lower the heat and cook for 3 minutes at 15psi. Allow pressure to drop by quick release or auto release method and remove lid.

Serves 4

Potato Salad

Ingredients:
• 4 slices of bacon
• 4 tsp. sugar
• 3 tbsp. vinegar
• 1 tsp. mustard
• 4 med.-large potatoes, cut in 1/4” slices
• 1 med. Onion thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp. celery seed

Preparation:

Fry bacon in the pressure cooker until crisp, then remove and drain on paper towel and crumble. Reserve 1 tbsp. of the drippings and wipe out the pressure cooker. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, vinegar, mustard and bacon drippings. Pour 1-3/4 cups water into the pressure cooker. Layer the potatoes, onions, all of the seasonings above, the sugar and vinegar mixture, and the crumbled bacon in the pressure cooker basket. Lower the basket into the pressure cooker. Lock the lid into place and cook for 2 minutes at 15psi. Release pressure using the natural release method or the auto release method, remove the lid and serve.

Serves 4

Sesame Broccoli

Ingredients:
• 2 tbsp. sesame oil
• 1 large garlic clove peeled and crushed
• 1 slice of fresh ginger, quarter size and peeled
• 1 bunch of broccoli, cut into flowerets
• 6 tbsp. chicken or vegetable stock or water
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

In the pressure cooker, heat the oil until very hot. Stir fry the garlic and ginger until the garlic is golden. Add the broccoli and stir fry until it’s bright green. Sprinkle with salt and transfer the broccoli to the pressure cooker steamer basket. Pour the stock and soy sauce into the bottom of the pressure cooker and lower the basket into it. Lock the lid in place, bring to pressure, then lower the heat and cook for 2 minutes. Release pressure using the quick release method or the auto release method and remove lid. Remove the basket and serve using some of the soy sauce liquid.

Serves 4

Other vegetables such as green beans, asparagus and bell peppers can be used in place of or added to the broccoli.

Mixed Herb Vegetable Casserole

mixed-veggies

mixed-veggiesWhat You Need:

2 C of water
1 C frozen corn
1/2 C frozen peas
1/2 C red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 C frozen pearl onions
1 t of mixed herbs

How to Make It:

Place the trivet into the cooker then add the water.
Spray a casserole dish with a non stick cooking spray.
Layer the corn, peas, bell pepper and onion into the casserole dish.
Evenly sprinkle the herbs over the vegetables and stir to combine.
Tightly cover and place on the trivet.
Bring the pressure to high and cook the casserole for 5 minutes.
Quickly reduce the pressure by running under cold water.

This dish is great tasting and pretty to place on your table. Use this as a complimenting side dish for any meal. You may substitute frozen vegetables for the fresh is you prefer.

Makes 4 servings

Minted Bean and Chick Pea Soup

minted-bean-soup

minted-bean-soupWhat You Need:

1 lb. very lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped fine
6 C of beef broth
1 C canned small white beans, drained
1 C of lentils
1 can chick peas, drained
1/4 C of tomato puree
1 t cloves
1 t hot red pepper flakes
1 t dried mint, crumbled
1 t salt
1 t pepper

How to Make It:

Generously spray the cooker with cooking spray.
Break the ground beef into the cooker and stir in the onion.
Cook the mixture until the beef is cooked through and no longer pink.
Pour the broth over the beef then add the beans, lentils and chick peas.
Stir in the tomato puree, cloves, red pepper, mint, salt and pepper.
Place the cooker on medium heat and bring to high pressure.
Cook 20 minutes then allow the pressure to drop naturally.

You don’t need to soak the lentils as they will soften and cook during the pressure cooking time. To keep the fat down use the leanest ground beef you can find.

Makes 10 serving

Pressure Cooking Dry Beans and More

pressurecookersteam1

pressurecookersteam1Pressure cooked dry beans and lentils are so much better than canned beans. There are many variables in why this is true. Dry beans cost much less than canned beans, they taste better than canned beans and contain no preservatives. Dry beans are healthier than canned beans and more environmentally safe because they don’t require any metal packaging or salt water and preservatives that canned beans are soaked in. Besides the fact that using a new generation pressure cooker is the fastest way to cook beans and rice.

These two recipes are a great place to start.

Old Fashioned Baked Beans

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dry navy beans (aka white beans)
• 3 tbsp. Canola oil
• 1 large onion diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1-3/4 cups water
• 1 can (2 fl. Oz) tomato paste
• 3 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. molasses
• 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard
• 1/4 tsp. cumin
• 1/8 tsp. chili powder

Preparation:

Rinse and soak navy beans for at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse the beans. Add all ingredients except the beans to the pressure cooker and stir thoroughly. Then add the beans. Bring to a boil, then stir and lock the lid in place and bring to pressure. Lower heat and cook for 40 minutes at 15 psi. Release pressure using the quick release method or auto release and remove lid.

Makes 4 servings

Hummus

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup dried chickpeas
• 1/3 cup Canola oil
• 1/3 cup EVOO
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 1/3 cup water
• 4 tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

Soak chickpeas for at least 4 hours. You can put them in water before you head for work to prepare in the evening. Dispose soaking water and rinse. Place chickpeas in pressure cooker with 3-1/2 cups water. Lock the lid and bring to pressure, then lower heat and cook for 9 to 14 minutes on high or 15 psi. Use the natural release method to allow the pressure to drop. Blend cooked chickpeas and all other ingredients until creamy.

Makes 4 servings

Making family favorites is quick and easy when using a pressure cooker. With a pressure cooker you can have low-cost, healthy meals in the fraction of the time it would take to bake, boil or use a slow cooker.

Light and Creamy Clams

creamy-clams

creamy-clamsWhat You Need:

1 C of water
1 C dry white wine
2 t of minced garlic
8 lbs. clams
4 T of cream

How to Make It:

Place the water, wine and garlic into the pressure cook and stir to blend.
Add the clams carefully and bring the cooker to high pressure over medium heat.
Cook for 3 minutes then reduce the pressure quickly under running cold water.
Remove the claims with a slotted spoon to a serving dish.
Boil the remaining broth until it is reduced to half the amount.
Gently stir the cream into the remaining broth.
Pour the sauce over the claims before serving.

Pressure cooking saves a lot of time. Foods cooked in a pressure cooker retain more vitamins than when cooked on top of the stove or in the oven. Steam removes more of the oxygen from the food than most normal cooking methods.

Makes 8 servings