Pressure Cooker GIVEAWAY! Mom’s Best Friend
For the past few weeks, we’ve been experimenting with our new Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker. Like many people, our comfort level with the pressure cooker had been less than cozy. After all, we’re old enough to remember the stories about exploding pressure cookers — though perhaps they were nothing more than urban legends. The new, modern-day pressure cookers are safe to use and turn the dinner hour in to the dinner minutes.
Recently, after speaking with pressure cooker guru, Jill Nussinow, we decided to give this handy kitchen tool a try. We’ve been so impressed with our dinner results that we decidedto give away a fabulous Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker to one randomly selected winner. That’s a $100 value! To enter, all you have to do is post a comment below sharing your favorite pressure cooker recipe or why you want one. The giveaway ends at 5:00 PM on Friday, February 20th.
Now, for more tips on using your pressure cooker, please enjoy the following guest post from Jill Nussinow, MS, RD, The Veggie QueenTM
I began using a pressure cooker when my son was three. I say that it changed my cooking life, and probably the rest of it, too. I felt like the best mom in the world because my then-vegetarian son loved lentil soup. (My omnivore husband will eat just about anything.) I could make the soup in 20 minutes, from start to finish. Thus began my love affair with the pressure cooker.
Shane's Fabulous Lentil Soup
My son had a biweekly play date when he was almost four. His friend would ask me every week, “Do you have any risotto?” I would always answer slyly, “I don’t but I can make you some.” About 12 minutes later, he’d have his “plain” risotto which included only onions or leeks and vegetable broth. It became his favorite risotto. His mom wanted to know my secret so I told her about my pressure cooker. She bought a pressure cooker, and then her risotto became the best in the world. I could go on about why you might want to pressure cook but I will just share five of the many reasons.
Cook Healthier Foods More Easily and Quickly: Legumes, whole grains and vegetables are a snap to cook. Beans become soup or chili, seasoned to your liking, in less than an hour. Barley, brown or wild rice cook in less than 25 minutes. Instead of microwaving, pressure cook fresh vegetables and get flavorful one-minute broccoli or carrots in two. No added fat needed in these triple-ply bottom stainless steel pots.
Boost Nutrition and Cook Big: A Journal of Food Science study revealed more nutrition in pressure-cooked broccoli compared to other cooking methods. Colors stay bright and food stays firm. Batch cooking is easy; freezing leftovers such as 3-minute steel cut oats or lentil soup is a breeze.
Save Money: One hundred dollars or less buys a pot that lasts a lifetime. Home cooking pressure-perfect soup, stew, chili and pot roast is fast and inexpensive. Pressure cooked beans beat the canned version for cost and taste.
Save Energy and Time: Cooking temperature rises to 240 degrees+ versus 212° F, reducing cooking time by 50% to 70% over stovetop cooking. Cook on gas, electric, glass top or induction. Energy saving for you and the planet.
Clean-Up is a Breeze with One Pot Cooking: Start by sautéing or browning, then add the remaining ingredients at once, or in stages, with the modern pressure cooker quick-release feature. Clean the pot, rinse the gasket, and you’re done.
Cooking meat is easy. A whole chicken takes about 25 minutes at pressure and a 3-pound pork roast comes out fork tender in just 45 minutes at pressure (plus release time). I’ve also successfully made meat loaf, beef stew, Asian beef tips with vegetables and fajita chicken and rice. The modern pressure cooker is safe, quiet and efficient, relieving you of the nighttime pressure involved with making dinner.
You may be wondering, though, why you’d want to use this instead of the crockpot. For the answers take a look at my November 24th blog post. For more information about pressure cooking you can check out my website where you can see me in action with the modern pressure cooker.
View All...
I’m all for anything that takes me less time to cook something that tastes better! I’ve never used a pressure cooker, but would definitely be willing to try!
I have an 8 month old and anything that could save me time in the kitchen would be greatly appreciated! I also bet I could make baby food very quickly with one of these since it cooks veggies so quick…and more nutritiously too.
My aunt has a fabulous recipe for tender roast beef, only accomplished through her pressure cooker. I love experimenting with food and this would be a great addition to our kitchen. Not to mention a bonus to feed our family of five in minutes instead of hours!
I’ve never cooked with a pressure cooker before, but am thinking that since I can’t seem to get it together early enough in the day to use my slow cooker, a pressure cooker might be an excellent option for my family.
Like lots of others who were children in the 70s, I still have bad flashbacks to the early days of my mom’s pressure cooker. I feared it then and I still don’t own one now. But I know they’ve come a long way (and so have I), so I’m game!
My mom is an avid pressure cook! Her favorite dishes are soup and stew. She eats vegetarian dishes half the time, so she also cooks beans and lentils in her favorite gadget. I, unfortunately, never learnt any pressure-cooking skills from her
I love cooking with a pressure cooker! It is quick, easy, and convenient. For busy moms and families it is a great way to get a delicious meal on the table in 30 minutes or less. One of my favorite meals is chicken, brown rice, fresh spinach, chicken broth, garlic, onion, and pesto in the pressure cooker. Cook it all together except for the spinach and pesto which are added in the last 5 minutes. Dinner is served!
You couldn’t have started this post off any more convincingly for me! I have an 18 month old voluntary vegetarian (I try to feed him meat, but he spits it out) who loves lentil soup and rice, but I have yet to make him risotto! I’ve never tried nor owned a pressure cooker although I love my crockpot for similar reasons, but sometimes it just is too slow!
I have two little ones: applesauce, babyfood, all sorts of goodies could be made with a pressure cooker!
I would love to try a pressure cooker!!!
Ooh, a pressure cooker is one of those things I’ve thought I should experiment with for years, but I never actually think about buying one. We eat beans pretty much daily, and it would be great to be able to cook them quickly. That speedy risotto sounds delightful, too.
I’d love to have a pressure cooker! It seems like I’m always seeing great recipes that I can’t use because I don’t have one, and the time-saving thing would be a great plus, with Baby #3 due in a few weeks!
I stumbled onto Meal Makeover Moms via a link from CooksRecipes.com and am so happy I did. I had no idea I could use a pressure cooker in lieu of a slow cooker. Though I would dearly love to be able to sit down with my family at supper, we don’t have enough counter space for a slow cooker. Now I realize a pressure cooker would do the trick in a fraction of the time and cost. I’m a big fan of 1-pot cooking (and cleaning) and have already bookmarked 10 recipes from this site. Thanks so much
i’d love to win this – nothing like the taste of mashed potatoes made in a pressure cooker
I need cooking ideas and help! The kids are so busy with 2 instruments eac, science team, Hebrew school, dance math, etc after school, that I find I try to make healthy meals, but they eat in a blink, and I just don’t have the time to do a lot of cooking. I’m bored with my recipe list, and a pressure cooker might be a new thing to help us get out of the rut and enjoy meals together!
I have never used a pressure cooker. I have a vivid childhood memory of my mom cooking rhubarb in a pressure cooker since she was going to make a rhubarb pie. The pressure cooker exploded, and there was rhubarb all over the kitchen ceiling. I have now overcome this childhood trauma, and would be willing to try a pressure cooker.
My grandmother used to use her pressure cooker for beef and pork. I remember her using it but I never really learned. I would love to try it because I watch food shows where they cook the food up fast and the meat is tender. Thanks for the giveaway.
Please enter me! I just came across your blog via Jill’s blog. I have desperately wanted to try her pressure cooking tips and recipes, but don’t have one. Right now I can’t find one in our military PX and shipping overseas adds to the costs, of course.
Thanks for the opportunity and the great blog – I’m looking forward to reading more!
oooh, i so want a pressure cooker. can’t share a recipe cause i’ve never cooked with one but here’s a few reasons i want one (you did ask….hahaha)
-the iron chefs use them to make amazing food in less than an hour
-i can get all day, slow cooked flavor with way less energy than stove top cooking.
-i can have a new meal plan day, “pressure-cooker” night, just as I have crock-pot day
-it will give me an excuse to try new recipes
-it will give me an excuse to buy a new cook book
-big and little boo will think the steam releasing is really cook
-i was jealous of the other moms in my playgroup that have one, and now i can be part of the “i have cool cooking accessories club”
-i can blog about pressure cooking, green cooking, delish food for busy families.
-it will help me use up all the kale, arugula, bok choy, swiss chard and other leafy greens i get in abundance each week in my co-op share
-i need an excuse to use the veggie queen’s recipes
-did i mention the iron chefs use them?
I would love a pressure cooker! I’ve usually just used my pressure canner for pressure cooking, but it’s a huge pot and huge hassle for dinner sized meals, so it doesn’t happen much. My mom’s cooked roast/stewed chicken in hers and it turned out really tender and fast! Thanks for the fantastic giveaway!
I have always wanted a pressure cooker and I’ve never had one. So I’m not sure what my favorite pressure cooker recipe is yet…but, I do like crockpot and my favorite recipe is slow cooked chicken cordon bleu. I’d love to have the chance to try recipes in it.
Please put my name in for the drawing. The only pressure cooker I have is real big that I use for canning. I would love to be able to try cooking some beans in it…I usually cook them all day in the crockpot. I love Jill’s blog. Thank you!
I LOVE my pressure cookers!!!!
I have 2 of them, and they are constantly in use. I use them to make all sorts of things, but my favorite use for them is to cook grains. Grains cook up in no time and you can start them, forget about them and go about your business.
I use the pressure cookers to turn tougher cuts of meat into the most delicious meals.
The fact that the pressure cookers cut cooking time down drastically is the extra added bonus!
Sharon
As a busy mother, everyone knows how hard it is to juggle family, obligations and such. And if there is something out there that can make one of your jobs easier AND maintains the nutrient content better, then we should all go out and get a pressure cooker!
Using a pressure cooker is not only a time saver, but an easier way to make all sort of things I wouldn’t normally tackle during the week.
Yes, I’d love a pressure cooker! One of my favorite pressure cooked foods is “boiled” potatoes. They taste totally different when you cook them in a pressure cooker. They have so much flavor when you pressure cook rather than boil, and it only takes 7 minutes!
I would like a pressure cooker because I like to eat soup, and a pressure cooker would be useful for making soup and other things like that.
As a “hurry up and cook dinner after work” dad, I have become a huge Meal Makeover Moms fan. We have tried many new things (black bean soup and ground flax seed for example). I have never even thought of cooking with a pressure cooker, but after reading that the “Moms” were impressed, I would love to give it a try. It looks as though this could be a big part of the experimental dinner experience every time we try something new
Oh, it would be so great to have two pressure cookers! I have one now and am always wishing I had a second. One of our family favorites is a red lentil soup, made with onion, garlic, potatoes, red lentils, carrots and some curry powder. Ready in minutes, delicious and filling! I often want to make a side dish in my pressure cooker, but it is usually filled with the main dish! Other favorites: split pea soup, black bean chili, Cuban black beans and Tuscan white beans. Yummy!
I love pressure cooking! The cooker I received as a wedding gift 29 years ago wasn’t used much at first. I just tucked it way back in the cupboard; I guess I was afraid of it. But as our family grew, managing my time became more difficult, and I learned to use a pressure cooker out of sheer survival! Pressure cooking helps save time and money, as well as providing easy delicious meals. My all time favorite recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, the basic chuck roast cooked in beef broth with whole baby carrots, chopped sweet onions, red potato wedges, and seasoned with a little fresh garlic and ground black pepper. The meat is so tender; my kids call it “Gram’s fall-apart meat”. I have used the same cooker for all these years… and it is getting tired. Having a new one would be fantastic!
I also would like another. We are full time rvers and the pressure cooker comes in handy for quick meals, soups, beans, rice when I can’t use any of my other appliances. When we boondock, my stuff takes 1500 watts and our inverter is 1000, so i need to be able to come up with easy foods that cook quickly! I am used to using the pressure cooker for one thing and heating up the other things in the microwave, but that can’t happen without power! I do use a solar oven for main dishes on sunny days!
Thank you for the opportunitity to win a pressure cooker! My Grandmother often utilized a pressure cooker and I followed suite and cooked with one for years and loved it. Unfortunately, my pressure cooker was lost during a move and I’ve yet to replace it. As a vegetarian, I have found a pressure cooker to be of great help preparing dried beans in a snap. Thanks again!
I have always heard HORROR stories about pressure cookers in the past … exploding meals on the ceiling … so I have been leery of them. Time crunch coupled with a yearning for old time favorites has revitalized my interests in learning how to use one of these tools!
[...] Meal Makeover Moms is giving away: [...]
I don’t have lots of time to cook when I am working, and I’d love to try a pressure cooker because it cuts back on cook time and makes cleanup easy. Also, my hubby LOVES beans and making them in the pressure cooker would be a plus for him too!
WOW!! I’d love to try using a pressure cooker to save time.
I’ve wanted a pressure cooker for a long time because I keep hearing about how great they are (especially for cooking things like beans that normally take forever). I would love to try one out!
I was a kid in the 70s and the pressure cooker stories back then were scary. I would love to have one of these though. Risotto in 12 minutes?! Heck yeah…I’d love that. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
I’d love to try a pressure cooker. I’ve heard wonderful stories about how the cut the cooking time, but I’ve been afraid to try one before now.
rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(dot)com
Years ago, I had my mother in laws, old, very used cooker…it wad bulging on the bottom, the lid had a crack in it…but because she’s passed on, it meant the worlf to me…we finally had to get rid of it, thinking we’d get a new one because pressure cookers are WONDERFUL!…well, years later and it’s on my ‘wish list’ and has remained at the top of it for a long time now. For 2009, I would absolutely LOVE to have one, and I’d use it constantly with gratitude to her for her wonderful cooking in that beat up, wish I had still pot of hers
My uncle had a pressure cooker and swore by it, he loved it. I’d love to win one for me.
I recently tried pork chops cooked in a pressure cooker – they were actually moist and tender!
I’ve had a lifelong fear of pressure cookers, since the day my grandmother’s old pressure cooker exploded in her kitchen. Lately I’ve discovered the slow cooker, which I love for cooking large batches of beans — but it takes 18 hours! Now I’m reading recipes for beans cooked in the pressure cooker in 30 minutes. Maybe time to get over my fear and get into this new generation of pressure cooker cooking?
Wandering down the path of self sufficiency
and pondering where to go;
How to make things right
for the world and all you know
Growing, caring and providing for your own
with every row you hoe;
You have a daily challenge -
There’s no time to be slow!
Thanks for sharing and helping us! Michele
I haven’t cooked in a pressure cooker before, but it is very common to use one in Brazil, my country of birth. A pressure cooker would be great to use when I forget to put something in the crockpot in time. Or to make cooking quicker during the hot summer days, when our kitchen already registers 80 degrees first thing in the morning.
I have never used a pressure cooker but I have been wanting to try one since I heard an interview with someone about using one on a podcast a while back.
Thank you for everything you do I just discovered your podcast and book through “What really Matters” & I am so happy! Keep up the good work!
I’m a vegetarian and this would be perfect for veggies soups and stews that contain beans and lentils. I would be THRILLED to win and OWN THIS and would use this YEAR year ’round.
Thanks for a GREAT giveaway!
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
I recently heard of a family that had to flee their home (they were evading arrest) and left dinner cooking in the pressure cooker. Check out “American Limbo” on the “This American Life” archives.
Since I try to be on the right side of the law, a pressure cooker would be a fun way for me to feed my family more quickly.
Thanks Moms!
Your cookbook is my #1 go-to, so if you recommend it, I’m in! I’m trying to eliminate most prepared foods from our pantry and cook with whole foods, so I know this would be a great tool to help with that.
I use my pressure cooker a LOT for beans and also for stock,stew, soups, grains (oatmeal!), potatoes, greens — almost anything. If I were to be fortunate to win this cooker I would pass along my older one to my son who really needs one, even if he doesn’t know it yet.
I’d love a pressure cooker as you can prepare meals more quickly than most other cooking processes. Both of my daughters have PC’s and use them frequently.
We just made the butternut squash risotto in the pressure cooker tonight. It was awesome! Both the kids ate it too. I’m a believer!
I need this!!!
just tonight I borrowed my mom’s old pressure cooker and it exploded on us as I attempted to cook beans. Now I’m scared to death.
Amazing! I am a professional chef and I have never used a pressure cooker. I remember my grandmother telling me all sorts of horror stories about the “dangers” of pressure cookers! I would love to be able to try one and develop some new recipes that I could share with you – I have a busy family and anything that takes less time and lets you still cook healthy and fresh sounds great.
I would love a pressure cooker! I have 3 teens that eat a lot and this would be wonderful. Also, I lost my home in the San Diego firestorms last year (2007) and lost all of my cookware from 25 years so I am actually starting over trying to replace cooking items to experiment with recipes and cooking massive amounts of food for my family of 5. thank you for this opportunity! Janice
I have an old (very old) pressure cooker that was my Great Aunts. My 3 year old son thinks it’s a steam train when I cook in it. My favorite is to make a black bean chili.
I have always been afraid of pressure cookers. I guess all the old tales of them exploding really sunk in!!! I would love to win one so I could try it out and escape my childhood fears!!
I would love a pressure cooker!! Something that saves me time would be great, as I work outside the home, have 2 children and a husband, too! If this can save me time, then I would love to have one! I also love to try new recipes!! And, I am so lucky because my kids are usually very willing to try new things! Sounds easy enough that my husband could do it, too!
We have Lorna Sass’s “The Pressured Cook” and love many of the recipes, but we don’t use it as often as we should because I cheaped out on a pressure cooker (and ours kind of sucks). I’m sure we would make great use of a Fagor.
I would love to own a pressure cooker and, as a matter of fact, I have been online researching them for the past few months! I haven’t purchased anything yet because I just have not been able to decide which one I should get. I have bought several pressure cooker cookbooks in anticipation of finally getting one. But you know how the economy is lately, not too good, so I haven’t been able to bring myself to spend the money on one.
I would like a pressure cooker to make my life a little easier. I have four kids whom I am homeschooling. Two of them are mentally challenged, which makes my life a challenge! Anything that could make things easier in getting nutritious meals on the table QUICKLY would be of great help to me! And if I were to win a cooker, my husband would be thrilled that he wouldn’t have to buy me one!
I remember my Mum cooking lovely stews on cold, winter days with her pressure cooker. I’d love to have a Fagor pressure cooker and be able to recreate these delicious, warm memories for my kids!
I love to use a pressure cooker to provide quick and healthy meals for my family, BUT the only way I get to use it is when I borrow it from my mother-in-law!! I really need a pressure cooker of my own because it’s so embarrassing to have to borrow hers! By the way, my favorite thing to cook in it is an Indian dish made with potatoes, spinach, and eggplant.
How did I not know about this wonderful tool? I love to cook healthy meals for my family, but work full time and need things to be quick. I am a vegetarian and have considered a crock pot, but it didn’t seem to fit my needs.
Risotto is my absolute favorite treat: I only eat it at resturants because I never have the time to make it myself. Now I see change in the air. Thanks for the info!
It would be terrific to win a pressure cooker and try it out (I have never used one before), and what fun it will be to use it along with guidance/recipes from your new cook book that is in the works!
Would love a pressure cooker. I make a mean and decently healthy roast beef this would make things a bit easier!
I would love this! I’ve never used a pressure cooker and would have so much fun. I’m a vegan so I would be using this lots for beans and veggies =)
I’ve got two picky eaters and would love to try out a pressure cooker on them. I’m in a rut with foods to try so I’m thinking that a pressure cooker could give me more ideas in less time. There are alot of people who sound in need of one more than myself, but I would very much appreciate the opportunity. Thanks!
Okay, so number one reason why I would like to win a pressure cooker is because I am a homeschooling mother of 3–grades 7, 5, and 3…and I am very busy. So I always like to find different ideas on cooking healthy meals, since we are very conscientious of what we eat. And, since I do not work outside the home, we are on a pretty tight budget!! I would love to have the pressure cooker, along with the corresponding cookbook when it comes along…
Winning a pressure cooker would take the pressure off of daily meal preparation for our family. The photo of the vegetarian lentil recipe looks tasty! It would be wonderful to experiment in the kitchen with new recipes and this new timesaver. Thanks for rhe chance to win.
I’ve been wanting a pressure cooker for quite some time now mainly for “green” reasons…such as saving energy as you mentioned. I’m trying to green up my cooking this year as well as eat healthy. I love cooking artichokes in a pressure cooker. The lentil soup sounds/looks delish
Cooking food in half the time would be an amazing benefit. Thanks for the opportunity.
I have never had a pressure cooker so I have no recipies but I would LOVE to start collecting them. As a single mom of three young ones, time is so precious and easy, healthy meals make ALL the difference.
i have never used a pressure cooker aside from a rice cooker, so i have no recipes to share, but i would love to experiment and learn to use one! i am always open to new ideas for cooking!
I work full time and I am going back to school. I will need all the help I can get to make sure that I to prepare good, healthy meals. This sounds like a great time saver.
I have never used a pressure cooker, but I have a unique reason for wanting one. When I was a child I remember the pressure cooker on my grandmother’s stove: it had the small top that steamed and bounced around, and I loved it! I never even knew what it was, but it would be a wonderful addition to my healthy kitchen. My grandmother’s cooking was such a big part of my childhood, I would love to be able to continue the tradition.
ANYTHING that will make my 6:00 freak-out (omigosh, what on earth am I cooking for dinner?!) easier would be a welcome relief around my house. The kids are tired, I’m tired, and half the time I have no clue what to make … and a half hour isn’t much time to turn out anything decent. Sign me up!
Your recipes have brought so much inspiration to my kitchen that I rarely have clean dishes anymore. I am cooking twice as much as before. I recommend it to everyone I talk to. It is a blessing to be able to make guilt-free meals for the people I love.
I’ve never cooked with a pressure cooker, but would absolutely love to add one to the crazy family of mix-match cookware that is my current ensemble.
I have a 3 year old and 1 one year old who are the pickiest eaters in the world. No matter what I prepare for dinner, the boys eat nothing- unless I give in an make a few chicken nuggets (aka chicken foam). Not the healthiest, but in my mind at least it is something. However, the general rule in the house is eat what is on your plate, or nothing at all. If I really stuck to it, my boys would starve. Having a pressure cooker would help me give my two boys another healthy option for dinner. I am looking forward to making a bit of rissoto! Happy cooking!
I’ve never used a pressure cooker before. I have memories of my mother’s pressure cooker, sputtering and hissing, but she didn’t like using it, so I never bought one. You’re making me rethink it, though–a whole chicken ready in less than half an hour sounds awfully appealing! (Maybe Rachael Ray should start using one!)
I’m also busing drooling over the mashed potatoes and turnips recipe you posted below–yummm!
I would love to try pressure cooking – my biggest challenge in making healthy food for my family is time, and the pressure cooker seems to be the perfect solution!
My Mom never used one — she always talked about them blowing up and such. But I know they’ve come a long way. I’m intrigued and excited by the idea of cooking my favorite foods so quickly!
I grew up with Mom and that thing that jiggled on the stove. As a new mom I got a pressure cooker – it helped me save so much time in the kitchen – and I always felt so good about being able to make fresh nutrient rich veggies for my babies. Alas – the pressure cooker fell apart and stopped working
My favorite recipe was beef stew. It was something I could throw on at the last minute and have a fresh hot meal waiting before Daddy got home. A meal that all would eat.
My babies are not 6&8 and are at that stage where they WILL try new foods (finnnnaalllyyy!!) I have been thinking its time to get a new pressure cooker again
I have never tried using a pressure cooker personally, but have had meals cooked by friends and family in one and they are absolutely delicious! I was always “afraid of them” so to speak, but the new models look so much safer than those from years ago, so I have recently been thinking about getting one. My favorite thing made in a pressure cooker would have to be, without a doubt, Fried Chicken! YUM!
Thanks for the chance to win one! Have a great day!
I would love to have a pressure cooker. I remember my Mom using one and she loved hers. I will do about anything to save time in the kitchen while also being able to make healthy meals for me, my husband and our 3 kids.
Thanks so much!
Martha Anne
My mom always used a pressure cooker in canning. If only I had learned to be that handy. I am potentially going back to work in the near future and would love anything that can make meal time easier! If only it could magically get my kids to eat more vegetables!
I had no idea a pressure cooker was so great! Now I really need one!! Please pick me. I would love to try some recipes.
I can remember many wonderful smells coming from the kitchen when my mom would use her pressure cooker. The delcious meals she created are a wonderful memory of my childhood and I would love to be able to recreate those memories for my daughter.
I’ve always wanted a pressure cooker, but just hadn’t gotten one so this would be great! Thanks
We love risotto and were delighted to find it can be made much more quickly in a pressure cooker. We are in Puerto Rico and there is a pleniful squash here called calabaza, which is similar to pumpkin and would be a wonderful substitute for butternut squash in the risotto recipe in the recent newsletter. Now all we need is a pressure cooker!!
Moroccan Chicken
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
6 boneless chicken breasts
1 TB olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 or more garlic cloves, minced
1 Cup Chicken Stock (homemade is best)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
6 ounces Mediterranean green olives, pitted and chopped, optional
2 TB chopped cilantro
Mix the ground up spices in a small bowl and rub them into the chicken. Set aside for 10 minutes. In a 5 quart of larger pressure cooker, heat the oil over medium high heat. In batches, brown the chicken on both sides turning once, in about 3 minutes, remove and transfer to a plate. Add onion, garlic and cook about 1 minute. Stir in the stock, return the chicken into the pressure cooker, with breast meaty sides up. Lock lid.
Bring pressure up to second red ring and maintain the pressure for 10 minutes. Use the quick-release method to reduce heat, and open the lid carefully (tilt away from yourself so that you block the steam). Remove the chicken and place on a platter and keep warm. Stir in the lemon juice into the cooking liquid, bring up to a boil, and cook over medium heat until sauce is reduced, or slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Serve the chicken over hot brown rice, pour the sauce over the chicken and sprinkle with cilantro.
I’ve never used a pressure cooker but have only heard good things from my siblings who have. At this point in my life (and, due to the state of the economy, ALL our lives), anything that reduces stress is welcome. Healthy meals prepared quickly definitely meets that requirement. Risotto in 12 minutes? A whole chicken entree in 25 minutes? Sign me up!
I used my grandmother’s old pressure cooker until the handle came off and loved how you can cook a perfect meal every time without much work or attention. I miss it and also worry about the exploding old pressure cookers, so I know I should find a new one. I just had no idea where to start and what brands would be good. I am pregnant with my second child and know I need to find ways to cook nutritious meals fast. This seems like the perfect opportunity to give the “new fangled contraptions” a try. Thanks!
My mom always made stuffed peppers in her pressure cooker – I didn’t realize they were so versatile, and healthier than other methods of cooking! I am always looking for new and healthy ways to cook for my family, and would love to have a pressure cooker! Thanks!
I would love the opportunity to win a pressure cooker. I live alone and am really looking to expand my culinary horizons. I’m really sick of always using the microwave to prepare meals. I’m terrified of preparing risotto myself, but would the chance to try out my skills with a pressure cooker! Thanks!!!
I would love to have a pressure cooker! I have a friend that uses her’s to cook beans in no time at all. That would be such a time saver for me!
I have three goals when it comes to cooking for my family, must be quick- I have kids in sports and music lessons and afternoons and evenings are hectic
Must be nutritious- I don’t want to sacrifice the health of my family to our busy schedules
Must be economical- We want to stick to our budget!
I am always on the lookout for recipes and tools that will help me with those goals, mealmakeovermoms website and book have been a WONDERFUL resource. I think the pressure cooker would be an excellent tool to keep in the kitchen to help me stay on target and would increase my range of recipes
I have wanted to try a pressure cooker for so long, but have been a) a bit afraid of it and b)unsure of where to start. After reading this info, I’m anxious to begin!
I’m headed back to work this year after two years home with my youngest and would LOVE a pressure cooker to take some of the (I’m sorry) PRESSURE off at meal times.
I have always wanted a pressure cooker…………As a child my grandmother made the best chicken in her pressure cooker!! It is all we ever wanted for our Sunday Supper at Grandmas:)
Never used a pressure cooker, but would love to give it a try. My daughter just turned one and I feel like I am struggling to find quick, healthy foods to serve her. Don’t want to get stuck in a food rut!
I really love to cook and have been wanting to add this technique to my repertoire. Thank you
I first learned to use a pressure cooker while volunteering in rural Mexico in the late ’80s. The traditional pinto beans served with nearly everything there take nearly a day to soak and cook without one. If you like the idea of reducing packaging and transport costs for groceries, it’s easy and cheap to buy dried legumes rather than canned.
Pot roast is wonderful in the pressure cooker. Can’t wait to try a roast chicken!
I would LOVE to win this! We are healthy eaters, and this would save so much time for our family of 5.
I love my pressure cooker thanks to Jill N. I have 3 kids ages 5-9. I make potatoes in it in 6 minutes. Put in 1/2 cup of water on high, while it’s heating up cut up the potatoes, put them in, put the cover on. It takes almost no time to come up to pressure since the water was already hot, then 6 minutes on high and they are done. Similarly with rice, 6 minutes for white, 20 for brown. Fantastic!! Homemade stocks are so full of flavor.
P.S. When I said 6 minutes on high, I meant the pressure cooker pressure setting is high, not the stove temp. On the stove, once it’s at pressure, I put it all the way to low for all my recipes.
I had no idea you could do so much with pressure cookers. I’ve never used one – after reading this post I am dying to try one. As a working mom of two I am on a constant quest for recipes that can be done on a week night in 30 minutes or less. This sounds like just the ticket!
I would love to experiment with a pressure cooker. My prior experience is from about 35 years ago when my grandma used one and I was scolded to “stay back away from the stove. Grandma’s cooking with the pressure cooker and it might explode and burn you”. Two active elementary school kids (one with Type 1 Diabetes; one ADHD-Inattentive) and each parent with a full-time job ~ anything to assist me in cooking fast, healthy non-processed food needs to be given a chance in my home!
My favorite pressure cooker recipe lately is a split pea stew. I love my split pea soups thick. I take the usual split peas, onions, carrots, broth, and I add in barley and potatoes. Each pressure cooker is going to be slightly different with their amounts and times.
The addition of the starchy potato and moisture sucking barley is a very thick and hearty stew that goes great with my homemade sourdough bread. Plus, if you’re vegetarian, there’s something out there called bacon salt (http://www.baconsalt.com) that is vegan and gives you that hint of smokey goodness. It also freezes and reheats well.
I use an electric pressure cooker, and the clean up is a breeze.
I can always use another pressure cooker! Like the day I wanted to make ratatouille AND brown rice.
My 3 and 4 year olds are huge fans of soup and chili, and my husband will only eat brown rice, but it’s hard to find time to cook these things. A pressure cooker sounds like something that would help me save time in the kitchen.
I remember my mom had a pressure cooker when I was young and she made the best neals with it!!! I would love to learn how to cook with one!
I meant the best Meals, not Neals, sorry.
As a kitchen gadget addict, I feel inadequate that I have never explored the pressure cooker.
I will have to remedy this situation immediately.
I work in healthcare with several 12 hour shifts a week. I often forget to set up a crock pot meal the night before, so we rely on take out…a pressure cooker could help me make some tasty, healthy meals quicker.
I haven’t tried a pressure cook it, but would love it to do my own beans so I could avoid the BPA in the cans!
As a busy mom committed to nutrition and a budget, a pressure cooker has been on my wish-list for the last 6 months! I would love to make huge batches of healthy chicken broth, soups, and other meals for my freezer. To make the meals in less time than it would take to pick up fast food would be even better! Thank you for this opportunity.
I’m a 60 year old vegetarian and have never owned a pressure cooker- my mother had one and I was slightly frightened of it, but, also thought it was very neat to be able to cook something rapidly. Over the past 40 years of cooking for my family I’ve thought about buyting one but always chickened out. So,if I won one, that would be great. I’d hopefully find out that it’s not scary and that I could cook safely and quickly with it.
Healthier cooking that’s fast sounds like a total winner. I’d love to have a pressure cooker and feel like a winner too.
As a working mom with two young children, a pressure cooker would be a godsend. It’s hard to eat healthy when you’re always on the run. I’ve always wanted one, but never been able to justify the expense. The Fagor Duo sounds like a nice one!
I’ve never used a pressure cooker yet, but with kids ages 5, 6, and 7, I’m always looking for ways to save time and serve healthy & delicous meals–would love to give it a try!
I must say. I love cooking with appliances in general. And though I love and use my crock pot, I sometimes just don’t get organized enough or have time on a busy morning (running around after three little ones to actually get something in the crockpot). It’s not so useful at 5 pm or, more scary, even 6 pm and I’m contemplating another meal of grilled cheese. It’d be great to get home from basketball or soccer or what have you and still be able to make a good, delicious meal. I also love to batch cook and freeze so the pressure cooker would save me loads of time. Good luck to all!
As a homeschooling mom, I always wonder where my day went! I would love the chance to experiment with some healthy end-of-the-day meals that don’t take hours to prepare.
Pressure cookers are nothing to be afraid of as long as you can follow directions. I have had one but need a replacement so I can continue to develop new recipes to use with my food storage and also to can. You can make any meat tender and great tasting in a pressure cooker.
Wow, I never knew how handy a pressure cooker could be…..As a SAH,Home-schooling mom of 3, it sounds as if a pressure cooker would be a huge blessing to my dinner routine!!!
The article, posts, and recipes are all a huge eye-opener! I had no idea that I could cook beans and rice and lentils in them. Our family is always trying new ways to eat our favorite vegetables and this sounds like a great avenue to take. We love all sorts of beans, rice and pasta. I wonder if oats would work well in a pressure cooker? I have tried an overnight recipe in a crock-pot that didn’t come out very good and I would love to try it in the pressure cooker!
This sounds more awesome than my slow cooker could ever be!
I am constantly trying to get my two young sons to eat more veggies. This could be the “magic genie” that does the trick. I would love to give it a try!
I love pressure cookers! Growing up every woman I knew had one and with good reason. No woman can cook the time intensive Caribbean meals and raise a family without one. Unfortunately mine died
( Moment of silence please! The family sure is feeling it too. With 4 kids whom I homeschool 9, 7, 4 and 2 and husband who is really home to help, teaching at the homeschool coop. Participating in the homeschool support group, Keepers at Home and volunteering youmay see why oneis a NECESSITY in our lives! I’ll keep looking at the pictures and drooling until I get a replacement LOL!
BTW great site!
Dearest Janice and Liz,
Recently I received a blogging internship from Kelly McCausey of WAHM Talk Radio. The blog she assigned me to post to is familyfoodies.com
I wasn’t really excited about this blog because I really don’t like the time involved with cooking.
I received a comment on the familyfoodies blog about your contest and I thought that perhaps you could “save the day” for me. See if I had a pressure cooker, I would be able to cook quickly and share my new experiences with the blog’s readers.
I appreciate your kind consideration and I’ll be sure and add your contest to my link love next Monday
Sharon Trombly
I have been experimenting with all kinds of recipes and cooking techniques. A pressure cooker would be one more way to serve quick, healthy meals to my family. I will have to look for one…if I don’t win:)!
I love to make all of my Christmas gifts through crafts and/or the kitchen. A pressure cooker would add a wonderful tool to make more goodies!
Anything to help me get dinner on the table for my 3 kids fast sounds like a great idea to me!
Hi. I recently had my 4th baby. With all of my children 6 and under, my time is quite limited. Especially since I am also home schooling my oldest. My husband also just went back to school in the evenings on top of working all day. So I would love to be able to get dinner on the table without having to spend all of my time in the kitchen.
Oh my…I found a pressure cooker on the side of the road (a giveaway pile) here in Berkeley and couldn’t resist it, but those stories of exploding pressure cookers have scared me enough that it sits on the shelf. A newer model – and one that wasn’t sitting roadside for who knows how long – would allay my fears and enable me to cook a fine meal after a long day of graduate seminars. Dreamy!
I have never used a pressure cooker, but with 2 little ones, I’m betting it would make preparing baby food a whole lot faster
I remember one thing my mom made in a pressure cooker: Artichokes. YUM! I steam them, but it takes 45 minutes. With a vegetarian, wheat-free household on a budget, with everyone (me, hubby, and children 6 & 3) walking in the door at 6:15 each evening, I need to learn how to make “fast food” from scratch. I’ve started to look at slow cooking options, but the fact that you’ve been won over makes me think the pressure cooker is the way to go.
I would be so excited to have a pressure cooker. I am always looking for new healthier meals for my kids.
My mother used a pressure cooker throughout my childhood. My favorite would probably be applesauce. Only takes a few minutes for perfect, creamy applesauce. Yum.
My oldest son is dating a young woman of Indian heritage. We all love Indian food and have been cooking more of it lately. She was telling us about her small pressure cooker and how she grew up in a household with several of them–all different sizes. Like others I have bad memories of those scary beasts with their seals and gauges and couldn’t get over how simplified and safe the new cookers are. I’d love one for all our other vegetarian bean cooking we do, too. Thanks for the chance to win one!
Mary
Vermont
I have not used a pressure cooker to cook, only to can. I am gonna check out the recipes and give it a whirl, although mine is huge, so a smaller one would be great for me to use for the fam and not my big pressure cooker/canner. Thanks for some ideas.
A gadget for the kitchen that can help get a healthy dinner on the table quickly sounds perfect for us! I have never used a pressure cooker but love to cook, love to use kitchen gadgets, and am dedicated to tasty and healthy food that is FAST to get to the table in the little time my family has to eat together.
Pressure cooker is my best friend in the world. I never use canned legumes. I used it for legumes, rice, meat dish etc. It’s very fast, efficient and the result will always be very tasty with less fat. You can see lot of recipes in my blog using Pressure cooker, http://exotickitchen.blogspot.com/2008/10/legumes.html. I never used it that’s available in US. I would love to have it one.
I have always been mystified by a pressure cooker – it looks like a pretty “ancient” piece of kitchenware. But your post makes me want to try it out if only for the time saving aspect.
I would love to have a pressure cooker! It would make canning tomatoes during the summer so much faster!
I love eating healthy and love reading your blog! I enjoy cooking, as does my husband and would love a fast, cost-effective and healthy way to feed the family. I’m a bean and soup lover too. A pressure cooker would be great!
I would actually want this for a friend of mine. She is a single mother working two jobs with a five-month-old daughter. I’m sure she would appreciate being able to make her own baby food as her daughter approaches that age, as well as being able to cook good meals fast.
I would use one too (mostly because I am a bean lover and I hate canned beans) but she needs it more than I do.
My favorite thing to do with the slow cooker is to make big batches of dried beans. I put in all types/kind together and make a big batch. I just leave them plain and when they are done I freeze them in meal size bags. It is easy to grab a bag and then add them to any casserole or meat to extend the meal. Beans couldn’t be done more easily.
I have 3 boys and this would save me so much time cooking. I have been trying to cook healthier meals, this would help out a lot.
if i won a pressure cooker i would give it to my daughter-christina-a stay at home mom with 3 childern- and a very tight budget-i myself have a fagor pressure cooker and love it-fonda olson
Love your podcast and website. It has been such a great source of inspiration for new, healthy meals. I would love to be entered to win the pressure cooker. It might make a busy life a little less hectic.
I have been wanting a pressure cooker for a long time, but haven’t mustered up the funds to purchase one. As a college student who shares a kitchen with her entire dorm, I can’t cook things like beans from scratch because I can’t just leave something simmering on the stove for hours on end. Owning a pressure cooker would really help me out and allow me to add so many recipes to my culinary repertoire…beans, stews, chilis. The list is endless!
I would like to win one to cook healthier foods.
Ok I have a fear of them too but know how yummy they create food inside…I still have one of the ancient ones that can be used as a weapon…and the last time I used it..well I guess I was not taught well because I blew a dent in the ceiling – was told it was the seal but still its heavy and ancient and hard as heck to clean. Would like one I can lift , that is up to date and I feel safe that my kids can be around
I’ve never used a pressure cooker but I’m told they are great. I’d love to make stocks and soups.
My mom always had a pressure cooker growing up. She used it for everything, especially corn on the cob in the summertime. I remember it being a staple item in a kitchen, yet I don’t have one! I’d love one to help provide healthy meals to the family, along with the memories of my own mom using it!
I am going to give you a very honest response. – Nothing made me happier my whole childhood than proving my parents wrong. I did give this up years ago, however, every once and a while I like to make a point still. My mother always refused to use one, and told us horrible stories about them. I would so love to be able to show her that they are safe… now… and that might even enjoy it… and of course… with 6 hungry kids all the time.. I wouldn’t mind using it at all
Pressure cookers are great for preparing healthy and tasty foods without using a lot of energy (electric or gas and your own!) You can take a budget cut of meat and turn it into a tender, flavorful masterpiece in less than an hour. Add some vegetables in the last 8 minutes and you have a complete meal. What more could you ask for? Pressure cookers are great for beans, vegetables, making homemade stocks, soups, stews, and even desserts. Chicken Cacciatore is also one of my favorite recipes for the pc.
Living in a warm climate, I am always looking for alternatives to keep the house cooler.
I would love a pressure cooker – I have never cooked with one. My sister-in-law always makes the quickest, tastiest meals with hers and I have always wanted to try one!
I love my crock pot, I use it at least once a week. I think a pressure cooker would be perfect for those rushed last minute meals when I haven’t planned ahead. I have seen some great recipes for the pressure cooker online.
I grew up watching my mom use the pressure cooker…the steaming, the heat,running as far away from the stove as I could get, the works. It was kinda scary. I never have had the desire to use one. From watching your video and reading the blog. It has given me a new appreciation for the Pressure Cooker. With 3 kids 4 and under I don’t have a lot of free time for meals! I would love to get one!!
I have never used a pressure cooker, but my husband says that they make the best roasts ever! I would love to win one so that I can make a juicy roast for my family for dinner.
I would love to win one of these to use at school. I’m always in a rush to get a nice, healthy meal in, and this would be so convenient for me. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would like to win one of these because, the one and only time I ever used one (it was my mom’s and hadn’t been used in at least 15 years) I blew up my mom’s kitchen making a vegetable beef soup that my mother in law makes. There was soup everywhere, inside cabinets, on the ceiling, on the walls 15 feet down the hallway. It knocked her hood that is over the island off and dented her stove. Thankfully no one was hurt and her house insurance covered everything, except the pressure cooker. I have pictures to show, if you’d like.
I am always looking for new ways to cook quick and healthy meals, so I would love to try a pressure cooker. Plus, I may be able to get my husband to help in the kitchen if we have a new gadget
I would just love to have a pressure cooker!! My husband and I are going to be serving as missionaries in Paraguay, South America. We will be living in a remote village there where we will have very limited electricity (through solar panels) and gas so the quicker I can cook healthy meals for my husband and 2 young boys the better!! In Paraguay they also raise cattle and we’ve heard that the only way you can get it tender enough to eat is to cook it in the pressure cooker!!
Love the website!! Keep it up!
I use a pressure cooker all the time. Love it. I have the cheaper end Presto cooker. I cook white rice, lentils, and potatoes. I have use dit to cook barley and steel cut oats in the past.
This winter, I have been using it for all kinds of bean soups. My quick and simple recipe..
Saute onions+garlic in a tbsp of olive oil, add veggies and then throw in a cup of split peas + chili powder and salt and close the lid and forget about it. Delicious soup ready. I fill it in athermos and take it to work.
My combinations this week:
Cut butternut squash ( precut package) + yellow split peas
Sweet potatoes +yellow or green split peas
No need to puree anything. The pressure cooker does a great job.
Right now: I have Bob’s 13-bean soup cooking. I added onions, carrots, peas and a generous pinch of cayenne paper.
I’ve got to try that Moroccan Chicken! That sounds so yummy, as do the others. I’ll have to start saving up for a cooker. I would love to cook such great meals quickly.
I’d love to try a pressure cooker! I’m a first time mom and trying to master cooking with a toddler crawling around the kitchen. Anything to help whip up a healthy and delicious meal for everyone would be a big plus! Thank you for all the wonderful recipes and entertaining podcast!
Some of the best memories I have of my husband’s mother’s cooking is with a pressure cooker. The food was always wonderful. I work outside our home full time, my husband is disabled with several health problems and I am always trying to find more healthy ways to cook for both of us. Your sight has been wonderful. I would love to try a pressure cooker but have not been able to afford the luxury of one yet.
[...] from pressure cooker guru, Jill Nussinow (AKA The Veggie Queen). If you havn’t entered our giveaway yet for a Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker, be sure to scroll down to our January 23rd blog entry to learn [...]
Hi Ladies,
Thanks for all your tips and recipes. I would love to win this pressure cooker becasue my family leads a busy life. we have 2 kids. our oldest is almost 3 and is specail need, so he is developmentally about 9 months on and mentally about 6 months old. but what a joy!!! our second son is 6 months old and just as wonderful…on top of that i have a very busy husband who works two jobs, so have something that can help cut my cooking time down would help tremendously!!!!!
thanks for considering me.Kim Boucher MD.
I love to listen to your podcast. I would love to have a new pressure cooker – they look so easy to use. I have one of my mom’s old pressure cookers and I use it very infrequently because I always wonder when I’m going to blow up dinner. I may have to dig it out and try some of these recipes, but I hope I can try them in a NEW pressure cooker. lol My mom uses cheap cuts of meat to make beef stew – her stew always tastes so good and the meat is soooo tender – all because she browns the meat in the pressure cooker then sticks the lid on and turns up the heat… I have very fond memories of the “chugga, chugga, chugga” sound the rocker makes as the pressure builds. She has never had her pressure cooker explode, but I remember hearing about my aunt’s pressure cooker exploding and the little rocker being stuck in the ceiling. Yikes!! Thanks again for your podcast… I keep my favorites on my ipod for meal planning inspiration.
I have never cooked with a pressure cooker but have always heard how awesome they were. I especially love the fact that it’s easy to put together healthy meals in them…that’s a big benefit in my book!
Not unlike a lot of the other moms who have wrote in, I have a full-time job out of the home, a full-time job inside the home, a dog, a husband and I need to find a way to make life easier when it comes to meal times. I have been told to get a pressure cooker by a few friends, but now I think it is about time that I followed their advice.
Thanks for all of the great recipes and suggestions.
I would love, love, love to win this pressure cooker. My meals (pre-baby), consisted of microwave meals and hamburger helper on the stove. Since my little boy turned one and began eating table foods, I have been putting a big effort into cooking healthy and delicious meals everyday (and no more eating out). I have been trying things I never thought I’d try and cooking with a pressure cooker would just been one more. I never knew I’d enjoy cooking so much. Thanks for all you do!!!
My mom frequently used a pressure cooker when I was growing up. I guess that it was used most often to cook potatoes. I have never used a pressure cooker, but think it would be interesting to use it to learn to prepare different beans and grains.
I would love a new, safe pressure cooker. I have used one for about a year now and I believe it could be the “exploding kind” since it was only $15. It’s been a great help to me since I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I’ve been able to quickly put together nutritional meals and keep my blood glucose levels in control.
If I had a pressure cooker I would use it for beans… black beans and rice is one of my favorite food combos!
Had one in college (before home microwaves were affordable!) and it was fun and fast to use. Biggest time saver is cooking dried beans. Normally you have to soak them overnight, but with a pressure cooker you don’t have to plan ahead.
I remember my mom used to make steak tips in her pressure cooker. However, after reading the notes about vegetarian cooking above, I am eager to try making risotto and other vegetarian treats. I resolved that this year I would spend more time cooking at home in order to make healthier meals for my family and myself, and so far I am keeping the resolution. However, I think a pressure cooker would give me that opportunity to do be even better and faster as a home cook. Thank you!
I don’t have a favorite recipe, as I’ve never owned a pressure cooker. I would like to have one because it seems like out favorite meals are the ones we make on the weekend, when there’s more time to cook, and I’d like to be able to make a pot roast or a chicken on a weeknight. Pressure cooking is a method I haven’t tried, and I like to try new cooking methods and recipes.
I would LOVE a pressure cooker! As a registered dietitian I’m always looking for new cooking gadgets to use to make cooking even easier – and recommend to my clients! And since lentils and beans are a staple in our house, I’d love to have a p.c. around to cook up big batches of dry beans and lentils instead of using all the packaged and canned varieties!
I’ve never had a pressure cooker. My mum did when I was growing up and so did my grandmother. They used them for canning. I’d love to have one to prepare meals. I think it would be awesome to have a whole new way to cook!
My mom always used a pressure cooker for Pork Loin! I have used one to make a Sage crusted pork loin! Rub the pork with sage and a small amount of salt( Optional) then brown the outside in the pan w/ a small amount of Olive Oil. Add water or you could add broth to half way up the meat. Then use the pressure cooker for tender pork that will flake with a fork in around 45 minutes
You are all beginning to convince me! But, hey, I already have enough “pressure” in my life–maybe there is a makeover for the name of this thing that would reduce pressure by cooking a meal faster…a “reduce pressure cooker”!
Hi! I had a pressure cooker for YEARS and absolutely loved it. My pressure cooker passed away about 2 years ago and I haven’t had the extra funds to buy another and I sure do miss it. My mom is German and pressure cooking is very common in Europe. All the pressure cookers have automatic pressure release valves that makes them very safe to use. Growing up, my mom would make every imaginable dish in the pressure cooker… from Chicken in White Wine and Mushroom Sauce to Gulash. She would reheat a whole meal in the pressure cooker in one minute (this is before microwaves were invented).
I can’t tell you my excitement when I heard your podcast on pressure cookers and your excite rekindled mine.
Maybe, I’ll get lucky and win a new one!
Thanks for all your podcasts… I listen to them as I clean.
Barbara
I have only ever used a pressure cooker with my mother for canning. I would love to try one for other things. Getting dinner on the table for 7 of us usually takes a lot of time…if a pressure cooker can reduce the time, I’m all for it!
If I had a pressure cooker I could sleep later in the mornings instead of stubling around at 5 am trying to throw stuff in my crock pot!
I just listened to the podcast about pressure cookers. They sound amazing. I would love to try one. For the lentil soup you posted, how would you cook it using conventional methods?
thanks
I have an old one that my Mother and Grandmother used that I remember from the 70′s and it’s missing pieces and I can’t use it, especially with a 3 year old running around! Not exactly safe ! But, I have great memories of meals made in this pressure cooker and would love to have one that was new and worked. Not only to save money and time, but maybe to share some of those memories with my daughter! Thanks!
I have never used a pressure cooker before, but my mother just recently purchased one before Thanksgiving 2008. It was one of the newer types of pressure cookers and it looked pretty simple to use. Well she had to make 10 lbs of mashed potatoes and in a matter of b12 minutes they were cooked!! I was shocked–it was very fast and so simple to clean. That is when I thoght that would be a great appliance in my busy household!
Thanks!!
I have used a pressure cooker infrequently in the past. It was my husband’s grandmother’s. I stopped using it because I was afraid of an explosion. I then received a 22 quart pressure canner/cooker from my mother-in-law for Christmas. I don’t have a stove burner big enough for it. Good thing because I fear it might cause a really BIG explosion. Do you think my husband’s family has it out for me?
I’d like to start out smaller (4-8 qt) and newer (from this century).
I would use it to cook beans, soups, vegetables, risottos, whole grains and can summer’s bounty (like green beans and salsa). Yummy!
I have never used a pressure cooker or eaten food from one but would love to try. I am a full-time working mom who uses the crock pot frequently and would love another way to prepare quick and healthy meals.
I was able to use a giant pressure cooker/canner many years ago when I had an assignment to regularly cook for a large group of women at church. I used it to make chili in no time, and it was great! But let me tell you, I want to try that butternut risotto!
Thanks for the great podcast!
Love the podcast. Thanks for all your hard work!
Add me to the I’m scared but if the Meal Makeover Moms say it’s ok, well then I guess it is camp!
Hoping to win! The butternut squash risotto sounds lovely!
I would LOVE to win this pressure cooker! I work full time but still love to cook and try to produce a healthy, tasteful meal for my husband and 2 teenagers every night. I’ve never used a pressure cooker, but my mother always did and I’ve regretted never learning how to use one!
I’m hoping to win – my family would LOVE the butternut squash risotto!
I have 5 pressure cookers and surely would not mind having another one! i know it sounds crazy, but it’s my principle cooking method. all of my beans, meats, and some rice dishes are made in one of my pressure cookers. I don’t have a Fagor one, but would love to try one!
Great post.
here are two posts i’ve done on pressure cooking, if you’re interested.
http://www.flanboyanteats.com/cooking_recipes/a-lesson-in-pressure-cooking-some-food-too/
http://www.flanboyanteats.com/cooking_recipes/dinner-party-carne-con-papa-follow-up/
I, too, would love to win one. In all my years of cooking, I never used one. Early in my cooking, I had heard horror stories of them blowing up, and so I never tried using one. Now, with teens running everywhere, a full-time career and running my husband’s home business, I can use all the help I can get in cooking fast, healthy meals. I would love to give pressure cooking a try.
I do like the makeover meals for my grandkids,it’s some yummy great idea’s! I would love to try the pressure cooker,I know my Mother used it all the time,fast and less time in the kitchen. Meats are tender and veggies would get done faster.
I would love to have the opportunity to try the presser cooker. Thank’s for the kid-friendly recipes!
I’ve never used a pressure cooker – but I’m up for anything that gets supper on the table faster. I have memories of my moms pressure cooker with the rattling steam valve at the top. She always made us leave the kitchen when she was going to open it – just in case!
I have been wanting to try a pressure cooker forever!! My daughter has gymnastics from 5-6 pm so dinner is always hard on those days. I would love to make something homemade, quick and nutritious for my family.
I love cooking with a pressure cooker. The meats are always tender. Baby foods are quick and easy. I made vegetables for my children when they were babies and now I’m making it for my grandson.
I know I won’t win this pressure cooker-I have never won anything in my life. Here is what I used to make in my old pressure cooker until it wore out:
cut up 1/2 head cabbage, rinse, put in bottom of pan
put in cubed ham and 6 small potatoes.
Add water–about 3 cups. Pressure cook for 10 minutes.
Salt and pepper to taste. Serves 6.
Great for St. Pat’s day.
I have been wanting a pressure cooker for some time now, but finances have prevented purchasing one. I’m always searching for ways to save time in the kitchen but I’m not willing to save that time with convience foods so a pressure cooker would be a great way to speed things up without compromising nutrition.
I remember eating wonderful porcupine meatballs and cabbage/beef entrees my mom and grandmother made in their pressure cookers. I love pressure cookers and would love to win one to make the wonderful soups you have posted. I got rid of mine many years ago when I became more deliberate about keeping away from aluminum pots/pans. Hope I win:)
After taking one of Jill’s classes where we were given the chance to play around with pressure cookers, I have been saving up to get one. I actually have a pressure cooker, but it’s ancient and has one of those really scary weights, so I’ve avoided using it for fear of injuries… it will be nice to finally get rid of the thing! Beans, especially black beans that take so long to cook… grains, stocks and soups… oh, what you can’t do with a pressure cooker!
As a 67 year old 3 year Vegan I have found that a pressure cooker not only is a time saver but it gives us delicious food. I have an old Susanne Somers pressure cooker and need to upgrade. What really helped me increase my use and results with the pressure cooker was attending Jill’s pressure cooking demonstration at the Summerfest in Johnstown, PA. Her tips, like using less water when cooking beans, has made the cooking experience much better. We never appreciated Quinoa until we saw her recipe for Quinoa Pilaf which we now enjoy making, with a couple of changes, weekly.
I’ve always steered clear of pressure cookers — I guess it was all the “kitchen explosions” and “food on the ceiling” stories I’d heard growing up. It’s hard to imagine that dry beans are really done in about an hour and come out tasty. I’m still a bit chicken, I think. I’m working to get over my fear, so I’ve ordered the Veggie Queen’s DVD to watch before ordering a pressure cooker. Thanks for the contest.
Thanks to Jill N and her great Veggie Queen DVD, I recently gave pressure cooking a try and found that it’s great! I now tend to whip it out fearlessly (OK, with less fear) and just cook for approx. 1/3 of the time I normally would. Everything so far has come out great. I don’t have a Fagor and would LOVE one!
I love to cook, and I make lots of healthy, plant-based meals using whole, natural ingredients. Sometimes this can be very time consuming, though, and with 3 kids and a part-time job it can be difficult to make the time to cook what I want. I had always been afraid of pressure cookers, but since reading about how safe they are now, I’d love to give it a try!
Well, I must admit that I do already own a Cuisinart 6qt pressure cooker (electric) …but I would love to have another cooker. Typically, I use the Cuisinart for entrees, such as beans or meats (primarily for my husband); but there are so many other applications that I would LOVE to have one more for ease & speed of meal preparation.
Additionally, because I am a part-time personal chef, it would also enable me to speed up my cooking times for clients while offering them great tasting vegetables with a whole lot of nutrients left intact.
My old pressure cooking could really use some updating! I would LOVE to have a new one!
Thanks for the chance to win.
For my senior project (I’m a 55-year-old re-entry woman student) I have decided to use my yard to its fullest by gardening in a biointensive organic manner. I know it will be a years’ long process but hope to have burgeoning bounties of vegetables that will need to be cooked. My husband and I already eat a great many legumes each week, and the pressure cooker would save me time and energy. Needless to say, after spending my days gardening, I need a pressure cooker to speed up the cooking of my newly developed vegetarian dishes!
My pressure cooker is so old, it needs to be replaced! This one seems wonderful!
I’ve subscribed to Jill’s blog for years and have always wanted to try this method of cooking. Alas, a pressure cooker hasn’t made it to the family budget. Hopefully I will win this and then can try all your wonderful recipes!
Hi! I’m visting your site for the first time, and it looks great! I have been wanting to try pressure cooking for a long time now. It seems like a great way to prepare foods quickly while retaining optimal nutritional value.
Years ago I took a class from Jill and was surprised to find that most of her recipes were made with a pressure cooker. Everything was yummy (as well as nutritious.) Jill said that she had SIX pressure cookers – so that she could cook several dishes for the same meal. Oh, my! Wouldn’t it be lovely to start collecting several??
I have Jill’s pressure cooking DVD. I would love a pressure cooker to go with it!
Don’t enter me into the drawing because I’ve got a pressure cooker already. I just wanted to say how exciting it is to see so many people interested in pressure cooking. It has totally revolutionized my kitchen and made my delicious vegan food so quick and easy to prepare.
Have been reading more and more about pressure cooking, and now that things have changed from when I was a young bride, think my daughter would benefit from something that would relieve her from the time crunch she is always in with two small children.
I love to make WOW food out of simple healthy ingredients. California has great produce year round and I need ways to make the same old wonderful vegetables new again with a new cooking approach. With two kids and a husband who is, quite frankly, a pig, I need all the help I can get to serve up the chow in a big and healthful way. Never tried a pressure cooker but if helps I would treasure it.
The last pressure cooker I owned was given to me by my mother when I got married. My husband is a popcorn lover (this was before air poppers) He used the pressure cooker pan and put his popcorn in it and would slide it back and forth on the burner to pop the kernals. One day he was heating up the pan and forgot about it and it melted the botton of the pan onto the stove burner coils. That was the last I owned a pressure cooker, that was 32 years ago. I have become keenly interested in purchasing a pressure cooker since reading about them from Jill. I love cooking with beans and grains, and I like the idea of less time involved in cooking.
I have struggled all my life with making good food choices.
When I became a mother, I was determined to prepare & eat healthy foods, to enable my children to develop healthy food choices. This remains a contant, struggling work in progress, one I am sure is shared by countless other parents.
A pressure cooker would definitely enable eveyone in my family to eat more vegetables, prepared quickly enough to warrant home cooked meals daily!
My 15 year old son gave up dairy almost 2 months ago, and he is an inspiration to me, in his quest for health.
I would like to have more time to give back to him more healthy choices in meals, facilitated with the time saving features of the pressure cooker!
Thank you for all the extremely valuable information provided on your site!
Sincerely,
Linda Gabrilo
I am all for cooking faster. After listening to your podcast about pressurer cookers, I would love a chance to try it out. My dad had an old one that had the little rocker on top. Luckily, ours never blew up.
I’d love a pressure cooker so I can quickly cook beans that I eat at least once daily. My mom has been urging me to get one since my med school lifestyle often leaves me with little time to cook from scratch. That doesn’t mean I don’t try, but I’ve drawn the line at beans given their long cooking time.
My favorite pressure cooker recipe.
1 c dry black beans
3 c water
Bring to pressure X 1 minute (this step replaces the old overnight soaking.)
When pressure is down, drain and add 3 c water.
Bring to pressure X 10 minutes. When pressure is down, add salt to taste.
Perfectly cooked beans in a few minutes. Since learning this simple technique I haven’t bought a can of beans!
Why do I want a pressure cooker. Because mine is small. Works for cooking for 2 but would love to have a bigger one (like the one you are giving away) to cook for crowds or to do cooking demos and share the joy of healthy cooking/pressure cooking.
Thanks Meal Moms!
I would love to start canning! And cooking meals that are quick…less time in the kitchen=more time with my 3 1/2 month old son:)
Hello!
I remember my aunt used a pressure cooker to make delicious, quick, and healthy meals for her family in the 1950′s. I heard her talk one time, though, about the pressure cooker exploding and the contents ending up on the ceiling! I was afraid to use a pressure cooker after hearing that story until several years ago when I took a cooking class. The instructor had us prepare something in a pressure cooker. He reassured us that the modern-day pressure cookers were much safer than the older versions.
Also, I read Jill Nussinow’s positive comments about pressure cookers in her wonderful e-mails. I know foods keep more of their nutritious value when made in a pressure cooker. If I win a pressure cooker, then it will encourage me to start using it to make healthier meals for myself. This way, the decision as to which kind to purchase is made for me!!!
I do remember using a pressure cooker when I was a kid. And I do remember a mishap. The whole thing didn’t explode, but the safety valve did blow and sprayed gooey potatoes everywhere-cabinets, ceiling, everywhere! It was like wallpaper paste. But speed of prep is always an issue for us, and we love whole grains and beans, so I’d love to learn how to use one well now.
Like many, I remember the pressure cooker my Mom used with it’s jiggling top and warnings about it exploding (it didn’t). I bought a Fagor a couple of years ago after a friend told me how much she uses hers. I use mine quite a bit for dry beans, etc. and it makes the best chicken stock in 30 minutes!
The pressure cooker is an essential item in my kitchen for a few key recipes that I make on a regular basis: risotto, beef stew, pot pie and BBQ.
For beef stew in 30 minutes:
Combine:
2 lbs. beef stew cubes (chuck roast in 1″ cubes)
1 can condensed tomato soup
1/2 can of liquid (once you dump the soup out of the can, fill it 1/2 way with red wine, beer or water)
1 bay leaf
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1/2 t oregano
1 large onion chopped
Bring to pressure and let rock for 20 minutes. Take off the heat and let the pressure drop for 5 minutes. Release the rest of the pressure and add:
4 carrots cut into 1″ pieces
1 large baking potato cut into bit size pieces
Bring back up to pressure for 3 minutes. then do a quick release and your tender beef stew is ready to serve.
I would so love to have one of these! I am slightly terrified of pressure cookers, but I have heard that the new ones are really safe. I cook beans a lot, and this would help cook them much more quickly. Thank you for offering this. The risotto idea above is also interesting to me.
I’ve never tried or even thought of trying to use a pressure cooker until hearing your podcast about it. It has me very interested. I like making a lot of things from scratch (beans, soups, stews) so a pressure cooker would make my cooking faster- a big benefit with a family of 5! Plus, I DO have lots of cabinets and closets in my house to store all of the fun cooking gadgets I can find when I’m not using them!
I have never, ever tried a pressure cooker, either! It is interesting and something to try to broaden my cooking experience.
I have an EXCELLENT recipe to share. First, I will say that my pressure cooker is 14 YEARS OLD(wedding gift)!!!! It’s the old kind with the “rocking” pressure weight on the top. It makes that familiar “choo…choo” sound that I remember when my mom was canning-a comforting sound actually. My cooker leaks a little steam around the handle so it takes longer to build up pressure-probably not safe so I don’t use it as often as I would like. I would LOVE to have a new one and try some more recipes for my husband & 4 children. I really love to cook!
Here is the VERY FLAVORFUL and versatile pressure cooker recipe that I got off of recipezaar. I serve it over rice. The sauce is wonderful and I pull the leftover chicken off of the bone, add it to the leftover sauce and rice, add broth and it makes a wonderful soup. I’ve also substituted shrimp for the chicken-devine!!!
Pressure Cooker Italian Chicken and Sausage with Peppers
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 4 Italian sausages (about 12 oz total)
* 1 frying chicken(I use bone in chicken breast-easier), skin removed cut into serving pieces
* 1 medium onion (about 4 oz)
* 2 medium green bell peppers (about 10 oz)
* 2 cloves garlic
* 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
* 1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
* 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
* 1/4 teaspoon fennel seed
* crushed red pepper flakes
* salt & freshly ground black pepper
Directions
1.Heat the oil in the pressure cooker.
2.Prick the skin of the sausages in several places with the tines of a fork.
3.Add the sausages and chicken to the oil and cook until well browned on all sides.
4.While the chicken is cooking, dice the onion.
5.Cut the green peppers into 3/4″ thick strips.
6.Mince the garlic.
7.When the chicken and sausages are browned, remove them from the pan and set aside.
8.Add the onion, green peppers and garlic to the cooker to cook, stirring often, until they begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
9.Add the vinegar and stir up the browned bits from the bottom of the cooker.
10.Add the chicken and sausages, tomatoes, basil, fennel, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste.
11.Close pressure cooker and bring up to full pressure.
12.Reduce heat to stabilize pressure and cook for 10 minutes.
13.Release pressure and adjust the seasoning.
ENJOY!!!!!
I also want to add that I was looking for a podcast to listen to today while I was working at home and found yours. I picked to the pressure cooker episode. I really enjoyed it and will be listening to your other shows.
Thanks!!!
As a child I remember my mom making homemade soups every Saturday for our lunch in her pressure cooker. It was always so fast. I’ve never used a pressure cooker but thought I would like to try it to make meats more tender and retain flavors better. Glad I found your website.
I’ve been reading Jill Nussinow’s posts about pressure cooking and she has made a believer out of me. Now all I need is the pressure cooker! Food, mmmmmmm !!
My mom always had a pressure cooker when I was a kid, but my wife has never had one and wants one. Win one for the wife! (Of course, she will consider me the “experienced” pressure chef, so I will no doubt be pressed into service for several weeks worth of “show me how” meals.)
As vegetarians, my boyfriend and I are constantly buying canned beans or lentils, but I’d love a way to cook up a batch fast and healthfully without all that added sodium and at a better cost! If I win, I’ll be sure to post my favorite pressure cooker recipe then
I absolutely LOVE my pressure cooker! Can’t say enough about it! I already bought one for my sister and her husband. But, my daughter is the mother of two young boys and it would be fantastic to win one for her! I actually asked her today if she would be interested in having one and she said, “Yes!” I know she’d love this healthy, time-saving device.
Just learned about Pressure Cooking and am excited to get cooking this way.
[...] from pressure cooker guru, Jill Nussinow (AKA The Veggie Queen). If you havn’t entered our giveaway yet for a Fagor Duo Pressure Cooker, be sure to scroll down to our January 23rd blog entry to learn [...]
The thing I love most about pressure cooking is that it has expanded my “everyday” dinners to recipes that would otherwise only be weekend meals. I would love the versatility that a Duo would add to my cooking. I only have the regular (15 psi) and there are some recipes I have to skip.
[...] are giving away a pressure cooker to one of the people who comments on their blog. Read the post by clicking here. I hope that you win the pressure cooker. If you don't, maybe you aren't aware that I sell pressure [...]