Spicy Cashew's

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 I had a request last night, so here it is Sarah! Just in time for New Years eve!

I made 2 lbs of these delicious Rosemary spicy cashews for Christmas and for a 1 week holiday trip in the snowy mountains with family. You will find these have just the right amount of rosemary, sweetness and a little kick!

Brussels Sproats and Cranberry Salad

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One of my favorite salads contains brussels sprouts. This brussels sprouts salad can be made ahead because the brussels stand up so well to being dressed. It can be made for a first course, side or add a protein and make it a main course.

Instant Pot Turkey Breast

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I made this turkey breast a few days after Thanksgiving, because, we didn't cook on Thanksgiving! WHAT! Yep! I turned the reins over to my children a few years ago and they are doing a great job with planning and executing a perfect holiday! However......no left over turkey! So, I made a turkey breast in my Instant Pot. Juicy and delicious! 

I served with my JJ's favorite Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes link will give you timing for potatoes in the IP, you can choose to peel the russets or not peel the red potatoes. Rice the potatoes or smash with a potato masher; add cream, butter, salt and pepper.

Melting Snowman cookies

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Winter cookies! These cookies are sure to delight anytime during the Winter! Fun for the holidays!

Brussels Sprouts, Chestnuts and Blue Cheese

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If you are looking for a delicious new side, I did some experimenting for you and came up with a winner! Very fast in the instant pot! Just a bit longer on the stove top, both instructions are below!

Cranberry, Apple and Pear Galette

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Perfect for the holidays or any day!

Galette is a term used in French cuisine to designate various types of flat round or freeform crusty cakes or, in the case of a Breton galette, a pancake made with buckwheat flour usually with a savoury filling. Of the cake type of galette, one notable variety is the galette des Rois (king cake) eaten on the day of epiphany. In French Canada the term galette is usually applied to pastries best described as large cookies.

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

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Baking cookies at Christmas is a tradition for many people. It brings families and friends together with the warm goodness of cookies fresh from the oven. As you bake this holiday season, take a minute to learn the origins of some of the foods we enjoy each Christmas. The "Food Timeline" is an interesting resource for all things food. According to their research, Christmas cookies as we know them today were created from Medieval European recipes. Dutch and German settlers brought cookie cutters, decorative molds, and festive holiday decorations to America. Christmas cookie recipes produce more than just a tasty sweet; they are a baking tradition steeped in history.

Instant Pot Cake with a Peppermint Candy Fondant

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So easy!

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

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I love baked potatoes with just about anything, but, hate waiting a hour or more for them to cook in the oven. I used to cook them in the microwave and finish them in the oven, however I think the IP way produces a fluffier potato. I have been making potatoes in the pressure cooker for 50 plus years, usually mashing them or lately I like to make  "Smash Hot Potatoes",  "Cheddar Hot Smash Potatoes" or "Rosemary Smash Hot Potatoes" . (pictures below)!

Thanksgiving left over recipes!

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It's Black Friday!

 We all know that the Friday after Thanksgiving means a mad dash to the mall/or computer for ridiculous sales, even though we now know some Black Friday deals are not as good as they seem. But how did this bargain shopping chaos get its start? And why does it sound like it should be a day of mourning?The first Black Friday actually had nothing to do with Thanksgiving or shopping. It was the day the U.S. gold market crashed. Financiers Jay Gould and Jim Fisk wanted to cheat Wall Street investors. They bought as much gold as they could, driving up gold prices by more than $30 an ounce. On Friday, September 24, 1869, the government put millions of dollars worth of gold onto the market. The price plummeted, investors went bankrupt instantly, and Gould and Fisk came out on top.

Instant Pot Pumpkin Soup

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I love this pumpkin soup, it is simple clean with fresh flavors that will please everyone at your Thanksgiving Table!!

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce- JJ's favorite

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Thanksgiving! That time of year when we give thanks. I have such wonderful memories of Thanksgiving, the cousins coming out to the country to ride horses, jump around in the hay barn and swing on a big rope swing hung in a large Maple Tree by the creek.

Instant Pot Hamburger Stroganoff

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I have fond memories of a delicious "Hamburger Stroganoff" that was served at school lunch time when I was growing up. My neighbor, Dee Merlini, mother to two of my best friends was head cook at the school and gave me the recipe when I got older. I used to cook this for a quick dinner when I was working in my twenties.....delish! Then.....somehow that recipe went by the wayside and I started using sliced steak in my stroganoff.  The other day, I was thinking and remembered that delicious stroganoff of long ago.....I decided to revamp the recipe for the "Instant Pot" and for my grandchildren's dinner! Delish!

Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast

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Mississippi resident Robin Chapman is the star behind the Mississippi Roast, a slow-cooking dish with surprisingly simple ingredients that was one of the most popular recipes on the Internet a couple years ago.

Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff

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Glamping and the Instant Pot! I love this IP!

I made this delicious Beef Stroganoff in the IP the other night, and guess what ......Instead of two pots (one for the beef/sauce and one for the noodles) I used one pot. I would say timing for actual cooking is about the same, but, clean up much faster!

Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

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I revised an old family favorite for the Instant Pot and cut 2 hours off the time to deliciousness!

Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Quick Bread

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When the crisp Fall air descends upon us and the Autumnal days of September make their grand entrance, so does my loaf pans and pumpkin spices. The fireplace is burning and the pups are huddled in front of it. Moist and delicious with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and drizzled with JJ's delicious Penuche Frosting. And using my favorite new small appliance, my instant pot! 

Cheese and Potato Soup in the Instant Pot

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 Fall and Winter I bring on the soup and stews! Nothing beats a crackling fire and a bowl of hot soup with a crusty piece of bread!

Farmer's Breakfast Casserole

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I made this Farmer's Breakfast Casserole the other morning for two of our children and their families, 10 people total! We met our family at a home we rented on the Oregon coast for a long week end. This Farmer's breakfast was so easy and scrumptious! It is perfect for the holiday brunch, a family get together or a brunch for the soccer team! You can do all the preparation the night before and pop it in the oven in the morning or just make it all in the morning, either way, it is perfectly delicious!

Instant Pot Saurkraut and Kielbasa

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 One of my favorite times of the year is Fall. The weather is perfect and all the colors I love are everywhere! Fall brings out the foods that warm our hearts and souls.

Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

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I turned the page and "POW" it's Fall!  It is time for Pumpkin Spice everything! It is time for Pumpkin Spice lattes, Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Muffins, Pumpkin Pancakes, Pumpkin Ravioli's and Pumpkin Bread....which is what prompted me to make this delicious Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal.  I have a can of pumpkin puree and a carton of almond milk and a grandson who I am constantly trying out a new recipe on!

Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese

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This Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese is perfect if you have busy weeknights where you come home late and find a hungry mate and kiddo's! 

Mixed Berry Cobbler

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 My friend and golfing bud, Cindy made the most delicious cobbler for our annual Seafair Party in August. Everyone raved about it... begging for the recipe. I was able to get it to share with the world. This is 15 minutes prep time and 40 minutes of baking.

Instant Pot Manilla Clams with Bacon

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One of my favorite things about the cuisine in the Pacific Northwest is Manilla clams.....everyone who knows me, knows I love Manilla clams! Did you know you don’t have to go to Manila to get manila clams? We have them right here!!

Shellfish are a very healthy choice. Clams are low in fat, high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also a rich source of potassium, and a very good source of Protein, and if you are watching the waistline, pretty low in calories. Mussels are much the same and very high in iron, but, have a different flavor than Manilla clams.

Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs

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These ribs are so tender and juicy....you don't even need teeth to eat these!! The "Instant Pot" ribs are the game changer! I thought my boiling them for 2 hours was awesome, however, I often wondered if I was boiling the nutrition right out of them! I was a bit skeptical that these IP ribs would be as tender..... no worries folks, these are fall off the bone tender!!

Instant Pot Strawberry Rhubarb Compote

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Today I am giving you a easy recipe for homemade strawberry rhubarb sauce or compote made with strawberries, rhubarb, lemon juice, sugar and water. I had some strawberries and rhubarb leftover from some delicious Strawberry Rhubarb pies in a mason jar I recently made, and decided that the best way to use them was to make a quick and delicious Instant Pot strawberry rhubarb sauce that could be used as a topping for pancakes, crepes, or waffles. Fresh fruit sauces or compotes are so easy to make in the Instant Pot, and as I’ve probably mentioned before, since you make it yourself you can control how much sugar is added to the sauce – and trust me, you need a lot less than is usually included in the store bought fruit sauces or jams. You can also substitute the sugar with honey or other natural sweeteners. This strawberry rhubarb sauce is also a great topping for desserts like ice cream, custards, pannacotta, and even cakes. The sauce can be served warm or cold.

Instant Pot Basmati Rice

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There seem to be a lot of discussion on how to cook perfect Basmati rice, not mushy, burnt or uncooked rice. This method will give you perfect Basmati rice.

Farm Themed Tuffet

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I started making these adorable tuffet's about 9 years ago, just before my first grandchild turned "1"! Eleven grandchildren later, I have made at least 13 tuffet's (honestly, I have lost count)! I have them surrounding various themes and I add various materials to enhance the theme. Many of my tuffets are pictured on this Link. Instructions and materials used are also on this Link.

Instant Pot Dark Chocolate Lava Cake

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 This cake is so easy to make, preparation time 5 minutes and cook time 8 minutes in the Instant Pot! 

On a recent "Glamping" trip, I made this in our motorcoach for my son and daughter-in-law for their 6th wedding anniversary! My niece and nephew with their kiddo's were all there. They loved it! 

Instant Pot Crispy Carnitas

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Are you ready for some football! I am and look what I made for the first pre season game! Wee Bear nearly ate it all before I could serve it! So quick to make in your IP!

Instant Pot Monkey Bread

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Weekend is here and everyone likes to have something special on a weekend morning! I made this delicious monkey bread for Wee Bear last weekend and shared it with my son and family! Everyone loved it! So quick!

Instant Pot Chorizo Clams

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Everyone that know me, knows I love clams! Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I had the pleasure of eating clams on a regular basis. I considered myself very lucky, and still do! My Aunt Gail would have a annual clam fest every Summer. They would actually go out and dig the clams early in the morning on event day. It was amazing! I have a few recipes for clams, this one is Wee Bear's favorite, that I adjusted for the Instant Pot!

Instant Pot Strawberry Compote

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 By popular demand! I am posting the strawberry compote request for my delicious New York Cheesecake! 

Instant Pot New York Cheesecake

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This delicious cheese cake is paired perfectly with Instant Pot Strawberry Compote! So creamy and delicious! Just 4 minutes cooking in the instant pot and 30 minute natural pressure release!

Instant Pot Water Test

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Have you purchased and used a "Instant Pot" yet?  Have you even heard of the "IP"? Well, let me enlighten you, if you are not part of this craze!

If you have been keeping up with Wee Bear and I, you know we purchased a motorhome, a 34 foot beauty we named "Aria"! We are planning to explore the United States with our son and family, and anyone else that is brave enough to come along! More on that later......and possibly a new blog in the makings....I have purchased and created the domain name "whereRVgoingtoday"! Stay tuned!

Okay, on to the "IP" ......I was outfitting Aria with her dishes, pots, pans, etc. and read about the "Instant Pot". I was interested, and read more. Basically, it is a programmable pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, egg cooker, warmer, saute and steamer all in one! This is perfect, as any RV owner knows, space is limited in the RV, no matter how big you are! I read reviews and ......well, I dove in! Reading about IP users making their favorite recipes and 5000 other delicious things they have been cooking in their Instant Pot. I have joined several IP groups on Facebook and read about their experiences. This weekend I made my first few dishes, New York Cheesecake with strawberry compote, Crispy Carnita's, Monkey Bread, Spanish rice.....and a few more. All this, after doing the "Water Test".

Slider Bar Set Up!

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Summer is in full swing! Wee Bear and I are having so much fun with our new adventure! Aria our new motorhome! She is a majestic beauty and is taking us to some new places on the bucket list!

Home Made Taco Seasoning

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This is a money saving recipe for sure, however, it is a good way to make a taco seasoning that you can adjust to your family's heat preference. 

Mocha Almond Fudge Ice Cream

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Sunday, July 16 is National Ice Cream Day! Yay!

 The day that’s sweeter than basking in fresh summer fruits is coming up on Sunday.

Smash Potato Salad

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With Summer in full swing, I came up with yet another "SMASH" recipe! This one will work in perfect for the Summer BBQ! The flavors are delicious with the fresh herbs from my garden and I cut the calories using buttermilk!

S'mores pudding shots!

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The S'more is known as a Summertime treat. Some of us, learned how to cook our first S'more over a campfire. No one seems to know where the S'more originated, but, I like to think it originated with my Dad, on a camping trip under a starry sky. Other's like to think it originated with the Girl Scouts of America when a recipe was published in a 1927 version of Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. No one is real sure of who or where it originated, but, everyone is sure it is a delicious treat that aligns with great memories!

Strawberry Cream Cupcakes

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If you are on the hunt for a great fourth of July dessert, look no further!
These light fluffy cupcakes are a sweet addition for your 4th of July celebration or any Summertime get together.

Lemonade made with Stevia blends

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There is something about a pitcher full of lemonade that gets me excited!
Nothing shouts Summer more than  LEMONADE! I can remember hauling the table and chairs down the lawn, with my neighborhood friends and out onto the street to sell our lemonade. I'm pretty sure we charged a nickel a cup, which we would get a few takers, mostly neighbors! Hahaha! But, we were entrepreneurs at 8 years old!

Pasta, Pea and Bacon Salad

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I highly recommend this Pasta Salad for your Fourth of July celebration- and any other time you want a quick to make crowd pleaser!

Teriyaki Mushrooms

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 This is the perfect accompaniment for your steak or mushroom burger! Add chicken for a stir fry one pot meal. Very quick to make and flavor packed!

Brussel Sprouts with pancetta

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Brussels Sprouts

They are like the proverbial stepchild of the vegetable world.  Some people run  in horror when you speak their name while others hesitate in the realm of distrust when the words “brussels sprouts” are uttered. I don’t know and haven’t quite determined why or why not some adore and others detest this tiny cabbage-like vegetable, but I know one thing – I love them!

Not so SECRET Sauce!

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Just in time for memorial day weekend! This is the sauce you love at that "World Famous Burger place"!  This ideal secret sauce for burgers is a carefully balanced, creamy blend with just enough acid, spice, smokiness, and sweetness. This was developed especially for a burger, but it works just as well as for fries, onion rings, sandwiches, deviled eggs (instead of mayo), and more. I think this concoction is just right, but it's easy to adjust the proportions according to personal taste to create your own house secret sauce.

Cilantro Margarita!

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Cinco de Mayo-
The commemoration of the Mexican/French battle is not observed as a national holiday in Mexico^. However, all public schools are closed nationwide in Mexico on May 5. The day is an official holiday in the State of Puebla, where the Battle took place, and also a full holiday (no work) in the neighboring State of Veracruz.

Crispy Cheddar Smash Potatoes!

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These Crispy Cheddar Smashed Potatoes are a simple and delicious side dish to any meal!  They're cheesy, buttery and so flavorful!

How to make 'Crispy Smash Potatoes"

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Barbecue season is here in Arizona, however, just around the corner- for those in the northern states. I say this, as this potato is a great side with burgers, steak and chicken! You make these in the oven, so actually even if you are not ready to fire up the "Q", you can make this easy delicious side!