Apple-Blueberry Crisp-Under Pressure!

AFTER 8 MINUTES UNDER PRESSURE-PLATED AND READY TO SERVE!

With apples on hand waiting for me to try out a new applesauce recipe, I decided to splurg and make a quick dessert while we were waiting for the brisket to finish cooking on the Traeger smoker.   This apple crisp went together so simply it was amazing!  Here's the scoop: 

Wash, peel and slice 5 pie or applesauce apples of your choice (I used Red Delicious).  I used an apple slicer and then halved the slices so the apples are bite-sized.   Place these in the bottom of the electric pressure cooker.   Add one small clamshell of washed fresh blueberries.

Sprinkle 1 Tbl Siagon Cinnamon, and 1/2 Tsp freshly grated nutmeg over the apples and blueberries.  Pour 1/2 Water, and 1 Tbl maple syrup on top.   (Maple syrup is NOT Pancake syrup. Or use your favorite natural sweetener) 

I use a microplane tool to finely grate 1/2 to 1 tsp off a whole nutmeg seed.

In a seperate bowl, mix 4 Tbl butter (melted), 1 Cup Rolled Oats (not steel -cut), 1/2 Tsp Hymalayan Pink Salt,  1/4 Cup Flour (I have not tried Almond Flour, but consider it a great option) and 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar.   Mix well, until a crumble is formed, and drop spoonfuls over the apple mixture to cover.  

Here I used room temperature butter-nearly melted in this AZ weather!

Secure and lock the pressure cooker lid on the pot, turn the valve to pressure and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.  After the pot sounds the alarm that the time is up, release the pressure by opening the valve. After all the steam has been released open the pot.  Let stand for a few minutes as the liquid will thicken into a nice sauce. Serve by itself warm, or topped with ice-cream or favorite cold dessert.


Enjoy!

Callie

DILLED NEW POTATOES
(Pressure cooker recipe) 
Ingredients: 
2.5 lbs Baby 'Creamers' or New Potatoes
2 Tbl. Chicken Stock/Soup Base
2 Tbl. Fresh Dill Weed
2 Tbl Butter
8 Oz. Sour Cream                                        1 C. Water

In a 6 quart pressure cooker, place washed, unpeeled New Potatoes, (can cut in half) Butter, Chicken Soup Base, and Dill. Pour the cup of water over all. 

Secure and lock the pressure cooker lid on the pot, and turn the pressure valve to 'pressure', set the timer on High Pressure for 7 minutes.    Once the pot reaches high pressure, the timer will count down. After 7 minutes, the pressure cooker alarm will sound. Release the pressure valve. After all the steam is released, open the lid and stir. If desired, stir in up to 1 cup sour cream, or eat without sour cream, the delicious buttery dilled potatoes. 

Enjoy!
Callie

Ketchup-without the sugar and preservatives!

Those who know me understand that I appreciate sauces, dips...and well, condiments in general. Take a look inside your refridgerator and you will know if you are a condiment queen or not!  Here's the thing, not all condiments are created equal, nor are they all healthy for you.  Of all the condiments, I think Catsup, or Ketchup, whatever you want to call it, is a cheap condiment (meaning unsophisticated, and cut-rate).   Am I being to tough on this beloved side kick?

So to put this stalwart standby in it's proper place....enter...... organic ketchup.

Callie's Ketchup

I prefer the Fagor brand pressure cooker, but used an instant-pot recipe (which can easily be found on Pinterest or PressureCooking.com) and adjusted it to my own likes/dislikes.    Here, give it a try!

1 3/4 lbs Roma Tomatoes - cut in half or quarters
1/8 of a fresh Red Onion
1/3-1/2 cup Black Rasins
1 Tablespoon Local Honey

Put the above ingredients in the pressure cooker pot, then add the following Salts (mineral), Seeds and Spices.

1Tablespoon Paprika
1 Teaspoon Salt (Ground Rock, or Pink Himalayan)
1/4 Teaspoon Siagon Cinnamon
1/8 Teaspoon Clove Powder
1/8 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard                                                   5 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar














Awesome Gadgets:  For this recipe, I used a seed and stem remover, and I crushed the tomato halves with a lemon squeezer to keep the maximum amount of liquid before putting under pressure.







Secure (lock)the lid on the pressue cooker, with the valve set to pressure, set the cooker on High for 5 minutes.  After the 5 minute cooking time, release the pressure by turning the valve to steam, and do so until there is no sign of steam escaping the pot.



Open the pot, and allow the ketchup mixture to sit and simmer on warm for about 10 minutes.  Then in a standing blender, or with an emersion blender, blend the mix until smooth.   Place into glass jars with lids, and place in refridgerator until cold.

Your jars of ketchup can last approx 6 months in the refridgerator. . . maybe. . .

. . .  I doubt it, I served some up with my eggs today, and had to have seconds.  It is delicious, and contains NO sugar, or preservatives! _



Enjoy,
Callie

TWENTY MINUTES TO DECADENCE!    

So, I'm a kitchen gadget junkie.  But, I do think I choose quality appliances and accoutrements. Secretly, (not so much now) I have a list of fun cooking tools to add to my kitchen. Yes, I'm that person who has egg separaters, biscuit cutters in 10 sizes, and citrus squeezers the perfect size for a lemon or a lime, whicheveer my new dish calls for.  

Last year, I discovered the Yonana's Healthy Frozen Dessert Maker.  The best part, was I found it locally for about 1/2 the online price.    I'm always looking for the perfect balance between satisfying my appreciation for taste and choosing the best for my health nutritionally.  So.... enter.. an new decadent treat.    

                                        TWENTY MINUTES TO DECADENCE! 

2 peeled and frozen bananas - (I like to freeze these in halves, in ziplock bags.)

Frozen Dark Sweet Cherries  (about 1 cup)      

2 Dark Chocolate bars (miniature size)

Chocolate Dessert Cups 

On a plate, set out bananas, and cherries to begin to thaw (about 10 minutes.) Unwrap the chocolate bars.  After 10 minutes alternate portions of the banana, cherries, and chocolate into the feed tube of the Yonanas machine while it is turned on. Use the food plunger tool to push down and watch the machine begin to produce a soft creamy frozen treat.  Stir to ensure the ingredients are well blended, and then spoon portions into the chocolate dessert cups.  Sometimes, I top it off with a small piece of chocolate or a berry. 

  

This treat tops off a great meal in 2-3 bites, is not heavy, but incredibly refreshing!

Enjoy,

Callie