Things get so crazy and hectic around the holidays. My to do list is always three times longer than the amount of hours I have in the day it seems. Does anyone else feel like this? Needless to say whenever I find a way to do something using the easy button I do it! Especially when it comes to dinner. I recently discovered the time savor that is an Insta-pot! I know, I know I am a little late to the game but wow does this thing save serious time. So I thought I would tell those of you who maybe haven’t switched over a little about it and, also I am sharing some fun recipes!
Also this is a great little machine for holiday parties for making a large batch of Hot Coco, mulled wine or Hot Apple Cider! I did a test run with my littles and they approve!
I N S T A P O T
I feel like everybody has used a crock pot at least once in their life. The thing with those is that you have to have everything either ready the night before or in the morning before work. Then you have to leave it home, turned on and unattended all day. I don’t know about you but that kind of makes me nervous. But the answer to that concern is the Insta pot pressure cooker. You can literally make anything in them in a fraction of the time. The higher end models allow for cake, yogurt, stews, eggs, and more which is kind of amazing when you think about it. I have made steamed artichokes in it in 10 minutes! Minimal preparation. It is so fast that dinner is ready in no time and you never have to have it on when you aren’t home. If you are looking for something that makes life a little bit easier I would recommend looking into getting one of these little machines!
O T H E R G A D G E T S
I included a couple other favorite item I have and use all the time. The first is my Breville Citrus Press. It was so great being able to have fresh Orange Juice and Lemonade all summer and it was really fun to make with my littles. Another great kitchen gadget and the MOST necessary one is my Nespresso Machine. Coffee gives me life!
The great thing about eBay is that all of these items can be found there. Usually brand new and for less than you could find them at a department store! eBay is especially great for finding the one that got away! If a store has sold out of something I was really wanting I always check eBay and they usually have it! It’s a great place to find gifts and big ticket items for yourself this year!
**Here are some recipes I have used recently in my Insta Pot and absolutely love. So, I hope that you can enjoy them too!
H O T C H O C O L A T E
4 cups whole milk
2 cups half and half
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or extract of choice)
In the Instant Pot, add all of these ingredients. Mix well. Place the lid on and set the manual timer for 1 minute (milk heats very quickly). Allow a natural release (about 30 minutes) and top with your favorite flavors such as salted caramel, peppermint, or chocolate sauce!
W H I T E C H I CK E N C H I L I
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
1 cup onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons cumin, ground
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
3 cans Great northern beans, drained and rinsed
8 ounces green Chiles, diced
4 cups chicken broth
3 cups cooked chicken, chopped 2 cups monterey jack cheese, shredded sour cream, optional green chili peppers, optional tomatoes, diced
In slow cooker, add onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, red pepper, beans, 2 cans chili peppers, broth, and cooked chicken.
Stir to combine ingredients
Cover and cook on low heat for 7 to 8 hours, or on high heat for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Or in the Insta pot for about a half hour or, Stove top for about an hour.
Stir in cheese until melted. Reserve some cheese as garnish.
Top with sour cream, cheese, cilantro, and tomatoes (or any other favorite garnish)
Serve with cornbread
Garnish with diced onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and sour cream.
I hope this was helpful and that you enjoy these recipes on a cold night this winter!
Have a wonderful week!
xx,
P.s. A big thank you to eBay for partnering on this post! Everything I share, as always, are my own thoughts and opinions.
*The Stylin by Aylin website only links to and recommends products that Aylin truly believes in based on quality, comfort, or other positive traits and may earn advertising fees or other compensation by linking to online retailers.
