Tag Archives: quick meals

December 31, 2021 · 2:51 pm

Hammy New Year!

At our house, we celebrate New Year’s Day with ham, cabbage (or greens), black eye peas, and cornbread—tradition for good luck in the coming year.

Ham doesn’t have to be a laborious undertaking. I use a pressure cooker. This year I pulled out my oldest electric cooker, my trusty Power Pressure Cooker XL, because it still works great and its 8-quart capacity is perfect for my 6 pound, semi-boneless ham. (Unfortunately, Tristar stopped selling this model)

I borrowed a trivet from my Instant Pot 6 quart, added two cups water, and placed the ham on the trivet. That’s all that’s necessary, but I wanted to jazz it up a bit since, you know, it’s New Year’s Eve and I feel festive. So I inserted a few whole cloves and added some dried mango for a bit of sweetness to complement the savory pork. Any fruit works, especially pineapple and dried apples. Use what’s convenient for you.

Mangoes and cloves add interesting flavor notes.

Forty minutes later, the ham is hot and ready to serve (after the pot depressurizes, of course.) Plus the pot has a delicious broth* perfect for flavoring vegetables or soaking dried black eye peas.

I always use this method for cooking ham, and without any fancy additions. A good ham and a couple of cups of water for forty minutes in the pressure cooker is delicious on its own.

Happy New Year!

Slice and serve.

*Caution: don’t add salt until you taste the ham. It can be salty enough as is. Then season as desired.

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October 27, 2021 · 2:33 pm

Instant Pot Sausages, Cabbage, and Carrots

Autumn brings out the comfort foods, it seems. Here in the Hasty Tasty Kitchen, I’m always experimenting with easier, one–pot versions. After discovering delicious chicken apple sausages at my big warehouse store, I developed this one. It’s a healthy, hearty meal for two that’s a delicious blend of sweet and savory flavors.

NOTE: I used my six quart Instant Pot, but the recipe works in any multi cooker or stovetop pressure cooker. Add cooking time for other methods.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces water for Instant Pot
  • 2 sausage links (3-4 oz each) cut into 1/2” slices
  • 1/2 head green cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 12 baby cut carrots
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • (Optional) 1/2 tsp bacon drippings

Directions

  • Pour water into the inner pot to the Instant Pot.
  • (optional) toss cabbage with bacon drippings.
  • Place all remaining ingredients in a steamer basket and place inside the Instant Pot above the water.
  • Seal pot, set at high pressure for 4 minutes.
  • After cook time, cancel. Allow pressure to drop on its own one minute before release. Carefully open pot.
  • Check seasoning and add salt/pepper as desired.
  • Using tongs, toss and serve.

This dish pairs well with a slice of cornbread. Enjoy.

Cabbage, sausage, and carrots.

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July 13, 2020 · 9:20 am

Hasty Tasty Breakfast Burrito

This breakfast qualifies as hasty and tasty! It’s also low carb and low fat. All you need to make two are:

  • 1 cup Egg Beaters Southwestern
  • 2 Olé Tortillas (Extreme Wellness)
  • 2 ounces Kraft 2% Milk Mexican Cheese
  • Cooking spray
  • (Optional) chopped cooked turkey sausage
  • Preheat 8” skillet over medium heat.
  • Warm each tortilla in dry skillet then transfer tortilla to plate.
  • Spray skillet with cooking spray.
  • Pour Egg Beaters into skillet and cover. Reduce heat.
  • When Egg Beaters apprear cooked, top with cheese.
  • Cover skillet and remove from heat. Allow cheese 2-3 minutes to melt.
Pictured Egg Beaters and Kraft 2% Milk Cheese with 1 chopped Jimmy Dean fully cooked turkey sausage patty.
  • Divide cooked Egg Beaters and serve half on each tortilla.
  • Fold or roll into a burrito and enjoy!

One serving is approximately 212 calories, yet provides a filling satisfying breakfast. 😋

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April 23, 2020 · 12:55 pm

Quarantine Cuisine Day #23 – Salmon Croquettes

I previously posted about salmon croquettes made from canned salmon. Today I took advantage of this pantry favorite and made enough patties for dinner today and again tomorrow (with different vegetables as sides).

Equipment used: While the croquettes browned in my large cast iron skillet, I steamed the squash and onions over low heat in my 1 quart stainless steel saucepan. The fresh green beans cooked in my pressure cooker for two minutes. Leftover salmon croquettes will be reheated a couple of minutes in my air fryer oven.

Salmon croquettes make a quick and satisfying meal. The salmon mixture can be prepared up to a day ahead. A 14 3/4 oz. can of salmon yields four servings.

Salmon croquettes

Revisit my original post Here.

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