Friday, February 28, 2020

Pressure Cooker Beef Pot Pie and Tutorial


For years, my husband has asked that I come up with a beef pot pie recipe that would surpass any that you could get at a restaurant or buy at a grocery store.  Once I got my pressure cooker, I knew the perfect filling was possible and in less time than preparing it in a Dutch oven.  After many, many tries, I finally succeeded.  I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!


 Pressure Cooker Beef Pot Pie

Yield:  6 servings
Approximate Total Time:  2 hours, 45 minutes
Electric Pressure Cooker Size:  6 quarts

3/4 cup frozen peas
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat (do not use beef stew meat labeled lean)
3/4 cup chopped onion
3 cloves of garlic, minced or 1 1/2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic
3 cups beef broth, divided
3/4 tsp. dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups diced red potatoes
3/4 cup diced carrots
4 Tbsp. cornstarch
4 Tbsp. milk
Salt and pepper to taste
1 box refrigerated pie crusts

Measure out peas and set aside to thaw.  Cut any large stew meat pieces into bite-size chunks and remove any fat.  Add stew meat to the pressure cooker pot along with the onion, garlic, 1 1/2 cups beef broth, thyme, and bay leaf.  Stir.  Lock the pressure cooker lid in place and set steam vent to Sealing.  Select PRESSURE COOK (Manual) and cook for 30 minutes on High pressure.
 

While it's cooking, cut up the potatoes (with or without the skin--I prefer with) and carrots into 1/2-inch pieces.
 
When the 30-minute cook time ends, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, and then open the steam vent to release any remaining pressure (Quick Release).  When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid.  Remove bay leaf.

Add the potatoes, carrots, and peas.  (You can stir them in or just add them on top.) Lock the pressure cooker lid in place and set steam vent to Sealing.  Select PRESSURE COOK (Manual) and cook for 3 minutes on High pressure.  After the 3 minutes have passed, open the steam vent to release pressure (Quick Release).  Carefully remove the lid.  Select CANCEL.

Place a large colander over a large bowl.  Remove the pressure cooker pot from the unit and pour the filling into the colander to separate the broth from the meat/vegetable mixture.  Once drained, place the colander of meat and vegetables on top of a plate to catch any remaining drippings.  Set aside.  Pour pot pie broth from bowl into a 4-cup measuring cup.  Add enough of the remaining 1 1/2 cups beef broth to the pot pie broth to equal 3 cups.

Place the pressure cooker pot back into the unit.  Pour the 3 cups of pot pie broth into the pressure cooker pot.  Select SAUTE.  Stir together the cornstarch and the milk until smooth.  Slowly add to the pot pie broth stirring constantly until the pot pie broth is like gravy--about 4-5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Select CANCEL.  Remove the pressure cooker pot from the unit and set on a cooling rack to cool.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Remove refrigerated pie crusts from box and allow to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.  This time is important to allow the gravy to cool.  Gently unroll one crust, and place it in an ungreased 9-inch pie plate.  Press crust firmly against side and bottom.  If the pie plate is a traditional glass or aluminum pie plate, trim the crust along the pan edge.  If the pie plate is a deeper pie plate like Fiesta pie plates, press the crust against the side and bottom but do not trim--allow the crust to stand up along the rim of the pie plate.

Pour the desired amount of meat/vegetables onto the bottom crust.  If your pie plate is shallow, you may not use it all.  Pour the desired amount of pot pie gravy on top of the meat/vegetables.  My pie plate is deep, so I use all of the meat/vegetables and all of the gravy.  Place second crust over filling.  Wrap excess top crust under bottom crust edge.  Press edges together to seal; flute.  Cut slits in top crust.  Bake at 425 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes; serve.

Click here for printable format


Pressure Cooker Beef Pot Pie 101:

Place a large colander over a large bowl.  Remove the pressure cooker pot from the unit and pour the filling into the colander to separate the broth from the meat/vegetable mixture.  Once drained, place the colander of meat and vegetables on top of a plate to catch any remaining drippings:



Pour pot pie broth from bowl into a 4-cup measuring cup.  Add enough of the remaining 1 1/2 cups beef broth to the pot pie broth to equal 3 cups.

Place the pressure cooker pot back into the unit.  Pour the 3 cups of pot pie broth into the pressure cooker pot.  Select SAUTE.  Stir together the cornstarch and the milk until smooth.  Slowly add to the pot pie broth stirring constantly until the pot pie broth is like gravy--about 4-5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Select CANCEL.  Remove the pressure cooker pot from the unit and set on a cooling rack to cool:



Gently unroll one crust, and place it in an ungreased 9-inch pie plate.  Press crust firmly against side and bottom.  If the pie plate is a traditional glass or aluminum pie plate, trim the crust along the pan edge.  If the pie plate is a deeper pie plate like Fiesta pie plates, press the crust against the side and bottom but do not trim--allow the crust to stand up along the rim of the pie plate.

Pour the desired amount of meat/vegetables onto the bottom crust.  If your pie plate is shallow, you may not use it all.  Pour the desired amount of pot pie gravy on top of the meat/vegetables.  My pie plate is deep, so I use all of the meat/vegetables and all of the gravy:


   
Place second crust over filling.  Wrap excess top crust under bottom crust edge:



Press edges together to seal; flute.  (To see photos of how I flute pie crust, see this post:  http://www.easyaspiecanbe.com/2013/12/perfect-pie-crust-recipe-and-tutorial.html) Cut slits in top crust.  Bake at 425 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes.  Enjoy!



Friday, February 21, 2020

Pressure Cooker White Chicken Chili



This recipe for white chicken chili is our favorite by far. Besides tasty, it is so fast and easy and tastes like it's been simmering on the stove for hours.


Pressure Cooker White Chicken Chili


Yield:  4 generous servings
Approximate Total Time:  1 hour
Electric Pressure Cooker Size:  6 quarts

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 medium or 2 large), cut into bite-sized cubes
2 (15.5 oz.) cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)
2 (4 oz.) cans mild or hot diced green chilies
2 medium garlic cloves, peeled and minced or 1 tsp. jarred minced garlic
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 cup heavy cream or half and half
2 tbsp. yellow cornmeal
Salt to taste
Shredded Monterey Jack, Colby, or white Cheddar cheese (about 1/4 cup per serving)
Sour cream (optional)


Mix the chicken, beans, broth, onion, chilies, garlic, oregano, and cumin in the pot.  Lock pressure cooker lid in place and set steam vent to Sealing. Select PRESSURE COOK (Manual) and cook for 7 minutes on High pressure.


After the 7 minutes have passed, open the steam vent to release pressure (Quick Release).  Carefully remove lid. Select SAUTE and bring chili to a simmer. Stir in the cream and cornmeal.  Cook, stirring constantly, until the chili thickens somewhat, about 3 minutes. Select CANCEL, and then select KEEP WARM.  Salt to taste and serve with shredded cheese and sour cream if desired.

Click here for printable format

*Recipe posted with permission from author Bruce Weinstein.

Recipe from Weinstein, Bruce and Mark Scarbrough.  The Instant Pot Bible. New York, New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2018:  p. 126





Friday, February 14, 2020

Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills' Banana Nut Bread


Banana Nut Bread made in a pressure cooker?  Yes!  This recipe produces a delicious, moist bread with a tender crumb through and through.  No heating up the kitchen and perfect results every time!


Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills' Banana Nut Bread

Yield:  8 servings
Approximate Total Time:  1 hour, 50 minutes 
Electric Pressure Cooker Size:  6 quarts

Jill Selkowitz is a well-respected blogger and cookbook author.  Her website, This Old Gal, has tried and true recipes including this one for Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills' Banana Nut Bread found here:  https://thisoldgal.com/pressure-cooker-grandma-mills-banana-nut-bread/

Notes:

*I use 1/2 tsp. regular table salt instead of sea salt.

*Spray the 6-cup bundt pan with a baking spray that contains flour like Baker's Joy.  

*I lightly cover my pan with a piece of foil sprayed with cooking spray like Pam.  Place the sprayed side down over the pan.  The bread will rise so don't crimp the edges of the foil down tightly over the pan.

*For the 6-cup bundt pan, cook at high pressure for 55 minutes.  After the pressure is released from the pot, remove the bundt pan.  Carefully remove foil and let banana bread rest for 15 minutes.  To unmold, place a large plate on top of the bundt pan, and invert the pan in one fluid motion, holding the plate tightly to the pan.

Click here to print!

Friday, February 7, 2020

Chocolate Fudge Mug Cake


Fudgy, chocolatey, delicious cake for one or two in less than 10 minutes!


Water and whipped topping not shown.


Chocolate Fudge Mug Cake

4 Tbsp. flour
4 Tbsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. cocoa
2 Tbsp. vegetable or canola oil
1 Tbsp. water
3 Tbsp. milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Ice cream, whipped cream, or whipped topping (opt)

In a 12- to 16-oz. microwave-safe mug, combine the first five ingredients.  Add the liquid ingredients and stir with a spatula making sure to scrape the bottom of the mug to combine all ingredients.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Microwave for 1 minute, 45 seconds on high.  Let cake rest for a couple of minutes before serving with the topping of your choice.  Serves 1 or 2.