My grandma is a legend when it comes to jello.
Everyone remembers her for her jello. She didn't learn to cook until she was married. Everything she made was simple and wholesome. She was amazingly organized and clean. A modern lady and an old fashioned mom whose table was always full and always ready for family.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Pressure Cooking Times

I have a hard time finding cooking times for certains items, especially grains, for a pressure cooker.The manual that came with my pressure cooker had times for veg, fruits, meats, and some beans but nothing more. I thought I would start a list and update it as I go. These are estimates because each cooker is different but at least it is a start...

BEANS
Black Beans - 9 to 11 minutes on high (assumes a pre-soak, can be done in cooker)

FRUITS

GRAINS 
*note: it is usually recommended that you use a natural pressure release for grains. This often takes around 20 minutes or more depending on your cooker

Barley - Stovetop use 1:3 grain to water ratio, 40 minutes
Pressure cooker us 1:2 grain to water ration, 20-24 minutes

Quinoa - Stovetop use 1:2 grain to water ratio, 20 minutes
Pressure cooker 1: 1 1/2 grain to water ratio, 7-9 minutes on high

Rice (Brown) - Stovetop (I usually look at the package)
Pressure cooker 1: 1 1/2 grain to water ratio, 20-25 minutes on high
Rice (Brown, Short-grain, Organic) - Pressure cooker 1: 1 1/2 grain to water ratio, 30-35 minutes on high. This is a short grain, brown rice I get at costco and it takes longer than 20-25 minutes to cook.

Steel Cut Oats - Stovetop (check package, there are some quick cooking steel cut oats now)
Pressure cooker 1:3 (maybe 2 1/2) ration grain to liquid (you can use milk for part), 10 minutes on high

Wheat - Stovetop use 1:3 grain to water ratio, 120 minutes
Pressure cooker 1:2 grain to water ratio, 40-60 minutes

VEGETABLES

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Cantaloupe Pops

I lived in South Korea growing up and this is reminiscent of the delicious melon bars they always had there. The flavor is a little different combination that Americans are used to but the milk fruit combo is delicious. They even put milk in their soda, my all time favorite Milkas :)

2-3 lbs shredded cantaloupe
1 can (5oz) evaporated milk
1 C water
1/4 - 1/2 C sugar

Combine ingredients and place in fridge for a few minutes till the sugar dissolves. Place in popsicle molds (you can use anything) and freeze.

Chocolate Yum Yum Cupcakes

1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, soft
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
6 oz chocolate chips (I like the mini ones)
1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
dash of salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 Tbsp vinegar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine the first set of ingredients in a bowl and blend in chips. In another bowl combine ingredients, sift the dry ones first and then add the liquids. Fill muffin cups 1/3 the way full with chocolate mixture. Drop 1 Tbsp of cream cheese mixture on top. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.