Time, precious time is one commodity that seems to disappear in the blink of an eye.
We, however, can work smart in the kitchen and prepare delicious home-cooked meals and treats in a jiffy, saving a ton of time to spend quality time with our families.
I've worked most of my adult life if one excludes the first couple of months when I took care of my sons until they were old enough for the creche.
Now that I am in 'retirement' - what does that word mean??? - I run our one little BnB, so, time still is precious, in fact even more so!
I do enjoy cooking and making meals from scratch - pre-cooked, boxed meals just ain't for me! A takeaway now and then is ok for the hectic days, but I have learnt how to speed things up.
I need the right tools, so the microwave, the pressure cooker, and my Kenwood food mixer have become my best friends.
I will share a couple of secrets with you.
Hasselback Potatoes
This dish takes at least an hour and a half in the oven, but when in a hurry, I use the microwave and the oven grill and the potatoes are ready for serving in around 30 minutes.
- Slice the potatoes thinly, not all the way through of course, and place them in a covered dish, adding about 4 tablespoons of water and precook in the microwave - approximately 15 minutes for 4 medium/large potatoes. *Check with a fork if they are cooked. Drain the water.
- Approx 100g Melted butter or Olive Oil mixed with about 3 tablespoons Mushroom or Brown Onion soup powder is brushed on top of the potatoes, and placed under the oven grill till a nice golden brown.
Delicious served with Meatballs, mashed Potatoes, and fresh veggies of choice.
Spicy Curry in a Hurry
Of course, the quickest is my Cheat Beans Curry.
- 1 diced onion is sauteed in oil & Jeera seeds, a couple of diced Tomatoes, and all my favourite curry spices and salt are added.
- Now for the big cheat - don't tell anyone ;) - a couple of cans of any, or all of the following is added - Beans, Chick Peas, or Lentils - whatever is in the pantry. Heat through and voila, you have a meal ready in no time. Can be eaten with cooked rice, or with bread.
Pressure Cooker Beef Curry
The method is similar to the beans curry, except cubes of Beef are added after all the spices are in. My pressure cooker has a sautee function, making it really easy, and fewer dishes. Once the meat has been added, I add a small amount of water, seal with the lid, place on the meat setting, and within 45 minutes from start to scratch, your Beef curry will be ready.
Cooking this on the stove will take at least 2 hours, plus you will constantly have to check that it doesn't dry out and burn!
Pressure Cooker Vegetable Soup
Nothing could be easier, nor more comforting during winter, as we are experiencing at present!
- Add approx 1 cup split Peas, dried Lentils, or even Mungh Beans in the pressure cooker, cover with boiling water, and add salt to taste.
- Place the following vegetables into your food processor (or grate it by hand if you don't have one - hubby can do this job!) - 1 Onion, 1-2 Potatoes, 2 Carrots, a Handful of green Beans, or Spinach, Parsley, Leeks, Mushrooms etc, whatever you have in the refrigerator. The first 3 are a must for me though.
- Set your pressure cooker to the Soup function, and again, approx 45 minutes later, you can serve a steaming bowl of soup to your family.
Breakfast French Toast for Him & Her
- Slices of bread dipped in beaten eggs, fried on both sides in Olive Oil. Hubby gets a sprinkling of grated Cheese on top, while my sweet tooth insists on Cinnamon Sugar and Maple Syrup, a gift from my nephew in Minnesota.
Homemade Bread is way easier than many think, although one has to wait for the bread to prove, it really is the best.
Yogurt Bread in a jiffy
So, I make what really is like an Irish Soda bread from time to time when I'm REALLY time-strapped!
- Mix together 500ml Natural Yogurt & 5ml Baking Soda.
- Add 800ml Flour and 5ml Salt
Spoon into sprayed bread tin and bake at 180°C for approx 40 min. I often add grated cheese on top.
To end, we all enjoy a little sweet treat now and then, but baking a cake in the oven takes a long time.
1-minute Chocolate Microwave Cake in a mug
- Beat together 2 eggs, 150ml Sugar, 100ml Oil & a dash of Vanilla Essence till frothy.
- Add 200ml Self-Raising Flour & 3 tablespoons Cocoa, plus a little Milk to get the right consistency.
- Spoon into two tea cups that have been sprayed well with cooking spray and bake on high for 1 minute, check if it springs back when lightly pressing on top with a finger. If not, cook another half a minute, no longer, or the sponge cake will be dry.
Serve with whipped cream.
I hope this has given you some inspiration to experiment in the kitchen and prepare delicious meals in a jiffy!
BON APPETIT FRIENDS!
Original Content by @lizelle
Thank you for stopping by
Copyright @lizelle – All Rights Reserved
JOIN Hive using my referral LINK
Join Hive Thrifted
𝙃𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙨
𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙃𝘽𝘿?
𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩
𝙎𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙-𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨, 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙃𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙙.
(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ ♥
𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩
Join our Silver Bloggers community 
Artwork by @artywink
Just ate. Hungry again.
I really enjoyed your spread. There's nothing there that doesn't make my mouth water, but when I came to the bread I had to stare longingly, imagining my teeth sinking into it. How can yoghurt bread turn out so amazing. I wouldn't even attempt to make something like that. There's a bakery across from work. I think I'll have to pay a visit since I can't have yours right now.
I use canned beans half of the time, because of lack of time. I don't believe there's any shame it that at all. Curry in a hurry is good!
Haha, now I don't feel so bad about those cans, they are real lifesavers!
I'm a sucker for a good bread, thankfully don't overindulge, but simply cannot eat our mass-produced bread!
I hope you're keeping well Carolyn, enjoy your weekend 🤗
A lovely assortment of dishes! The pressure cooker is surely a winner and I cannot think to live without one. Making stocks, soups, and any dish really, in the blink of an eye! (Do you use an old one, or one of the newer models?)
Oh, and to improve those hassle back potatoes, if you like the flavor, add some strips of bacon and cheese between the slots! It can be a main dish in itself.
You are making me hungry with all of these lovely recipes! Thanks for sharing.
Hi @fermentedphil, I was terrified of the older pressure cookers after hearing stories of them exploding and food landing on the ceiling ;)
Hubby bought this one, it has several excellent functions, and I honestly was not happy with him at first, thought it was a waste of money, but what a lifesaver it's been!
Mmmm, bacon & cheese between the potato slices sounds amazing, it definitely could make a nice light meal! As I said to @treefrognada, I still prefer Hasselback oven-baked, but a gal has to make a plan if rushed for time (which often happens to me!)
Thank you for visiting ;)
Oh yes, that is a legitimate fear I have when I use the older ones, but I just love the product! I need to invest in a new one though. One cannot cling too tight to the old.
Do you make stock in the pressure cooker? I should probably make a post on that soon.
Now I am in the mood for bacon and cheese potatoes.
Always a pleasure! Looking forward to the next one. Keep well.
I've never made stock in it, would love to see how you make yours. I'm actually lazy, should really make my own!
Guess what we had for dinner one night after your suggestion?
I really didn't feel like cooking the same old boring fare, did a messy job, but it was really delicious! I only had cubed bacon in the freezer, needed sliced bacon of course but I didn't let that stop me, so pushed sliced onions in between & some garlic. Most of the bacon cubes popped out of course, didn't look elegant but tasted good, so thank you for that!
If you like stock and foods like bredies with stock, you should really make your own (if you can find the time!). I will post something someday! Being in a long-distance relationship, it keeps me away from where my kitchen is.
Oh that looks fantastic! I am a staunch believer in eating food that is yummy and delicious and not merely presentable and ready for a book (or Instagram/FaceBook). You did an amazing job and you are making me crave this as well! I might make it as well in this week. I am so glad that the suggestion worked out.
Thank you for the curation @edwing357 & @creativecuisine!
😊👨🏻🍳🤗
Great time-saving tips! Thanks :)
But as woman from Sweden I have to disagree with your Hasselback potato cheat. Do it the slow way, or don't do it at all. It is worth the extra time. And it's not as if you have to sit there watching them in the oven for a couple of hours - you can do other things while they slowly cook themselves to perfection, so no time wasted. Maybe weed the vegetable plot and pick up what you need for the salad? :)
Haha @treefrognada, I know exactly what you mean. Oven-baking gives the potatoes that extra crunch and flavour, but a gal has to make a plan if she starts cooking too late ;)
Join the foodie fun! We've given you a FOODIE boost. Come check it out at @foodiesunite for the latest community updates. Spread your gastronomic delights on and claim your tokens.
Thank you so much @edwing357 & @foodiesunite, much appreciated :)
🤗🤗🤗
https://leofinance.io/threads/lizelle/re-leothreads-229v6kye2
https://leofinance.io/threads/edwing357/re-leothreads-2e7z9keur
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people ( lizelle, edwing357 ) sharing the post on LeoThreads,LikeTu,dBuzz.
wow this is delicious. Tnks for sharing fren...
Thank you @weone
me like it a foods
Glad you liked it @d4photoshop
Oh my, you just made me drool so hard at the photos of the food that you shared, they all look so amazing!
Sorry I could not give you a taste @afterglow ;)
Right now you make me hungry.🤣
Your recipe is absolutely mouthwatering.
Thank you!
What am I doing looking at food... this platform's supposed to make me better xD Seriously though, all these look amazing. You've certainly given me ideas with the beef curry (not to say the french toast, the brownie thing or the potatoes don't also all look amazing!). :D
Yum, yum, yummy maam, your a smart cook!!!
Thank you ;)