The Frugal Kitchen: Chicken, Hominy Soup

Another quick and easy recipe with a big flavor payoff.

INGREDIENTS

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 lime, juiced
2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1-2 tsp. hot sauce
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can hominy, drained
2 cups chicken broth
2 Tbsp. olive oil


In a pot brown the chopped onion in oil, add diced garlic and cumin and continue to brown for one minute.  Add chicken cut up into bite sized pieces and continue to brown for a couple more minutes.  Add the other ingredients and chicken stock to just cover.  Bring to a boil, then lower to simmer.  Cook until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.

You can serve this with lime wedges and hot sauce on the side, so people can spice it up to their taste.  Add a side salad and bread or crackers for a complete meal.

Enjoy!

God bless,
Pam

The Frugal Kitchen: Pressure Cooker Coconut Oatmeal

I love Irish oatmeal, not rolled oats, but the kind in the can that is the oat grain broken into pieces, not smooshed flat.  It's nutty flavored and has a satisfying tooth to it.  The drawback is that it has a fairly long cooking time.  We can remedy that by soaking the oatmeal overnight and/or using a pressure cooker.

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup Irish oatmeal
1 can coconut milk
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

In your electric pressure cooker on sauté or a separate pan melt the oil, then add the oats.  Stir constantly to coat the oats with the oil and lightly toast them.  Dump the rest on the ingredients in the cooker, and set the delay to start cooking 1/2 hour before you want to serve them.  Program the cooker to cook on the Porridge/High setting for 14 minutes with a natural exhaust.

You can make this recipe in a regular pan by following the instructions and cooking covered for about half the time listed on the can/box.  The soaking overnight reduces the cooking time considerably.

Serve with milk, a teaspoon of sweetener of your choice and some fresh fruit.

This recipe made four servings.  It refrigerates well and can be reheated with some liquid in the microwave or stove top.

Enjoy!

God bless,
Pam

The Frugal Kitchen: Electric Pressure Cooker

I've been missing for a few months and I apologize.  I had to have surgery to correct damage to my face from MOHS surgery to remove a deep basal cell carcinoma.  The scar tissue had wrapped around the facial nerve and had to be carefully removed by a plastic surgeon.  Fortunately, I am on the mend.

A few months ago I found a Gourmia (another popular brand is Instant Pot) electric pressure cooker on sale at a very reasonable price.  A couple friends of mine had been raving about theirs and the ease of putting in frozen meat, spices and some broth, then setting it to start cooking a half hour before they are due to arrive home from work.  I decided to give one a try because I am notoriously bad at remembering to defrost meat in time to cook dinner.

My grandmother used to do a great deal of her cooking, particularly wild game, in a pressure cooker.  She had nine children and innumerable grandchildren to cook for and the pressure cooker allowed her to cook quickly and make the tough meat nice and tender.  However, the grandchildren were not allowed in the kitchen while the pressure cooker was in use because when the old pressure cookers blew they did so in a spectacular fashion.  These new pressure cookers are much safer because the pressure is monitored automatically by the cooker.  Also, the nonstick pot is much easier to clean.

So far I love this cooker.  I've made stews, precooked meat for other recipes, and have been exploring the many recipes available on Pinterest.  Tomorrow I am going to make a porridge using coconut milk and Irish oatmeal.  I'll let you know how it works out.

I love to make deviled eggs, but you never know when you'll get a batch of eggs that doesn't peel nicely.  Well, pressure cooking the eggs for a few minutes guarantees easy to peel eggs.  Super easy.

So look around for sales and consider trying these electric pressure cookers.  I'm serious when I say don't pay more than half price for one.  If you can't find them at a reasonable price now, wait until the Christmas sales start.

Take care.

God bless,
Pam