Food for Thought: Cooking During the SIP
By Kathryn Gordon
What did you do to pass the time during the shelter in place order? Maybe you’re still sheltering and have found yourself with extra time. Once the closets and junk drawers are cleaned, silver polished, Netflix series watched, and friends and relatives Zoomed, many of us found ourselves saying, now what? Cooking can be fun, especially if you don’t have to do it. After all, food sustains the body, the right meal can comfort us, and enjoying something we created ourselves that tastes amazing is so satisfying. Creating dishes and delivering them to those who may appreciate a home cooked meal is a great way to connect during this time, taking all necessary precautions. Stocking the freezer can give one a feeling of security, and less reason to visit the market.
Having discovered the latest in cooking gadgets, the Instant Pot, at the start of the SIP, the verdict is in and we have a winner! Never a huge crock pot fan, there was apprehension about getting another kitchen appliance, but this is one purchase that won’t end up at a yard sale. Whether you like to make large batches to freeze or share, or just like the speed of a pressure cooker, with options to slow cook and air fry, you’ll love this dining in made easy device. Here are a few examples of what one can do with an Instant Pot.
Bean soup; keeping it simple, and NO SOAKING. What?! That’s right, NO soaking the beans. Simply throw them in the pot with water or broth, chopped onions, garlic, salt, pepper, herbs, and a ham hock if you like, pop on the cover, set on pressure cook and, get this, 45 minutes to bean soup with tender, falling apart ham, ready to serve with parmesan cheese and perhaps some cornbread. Another example of something that normally takes 6 hours to cook to get the desired outcome of a long slow cook and tender meat: Spaghetti sauce, with pork spareribs. Add crushed tomatoes, paste, onions, garlic (which can be sautéed in the Instant Pot before the lid goes on), salt, pepper, basil… pop the top on, 1 hour later you have a ragout that is plate licking good.
The list goes on: collard greens in 30 minutes; artichokes in 10; chile verde in 1 hour. It’s not just the speed and the lack of pots and pans to clean, but the food this thing turns out is fantastic! The air fried chicken was done in 15 minutes, with just a light spray of olive oil. It was a healthy version of a delicious favorite, and it came out juicy, crunchy and delicious. So, if you’re looking for a fun new way to create amazing meals at home and you’re not afraid of the COVID 19 (the 19 lbs on average each of us has likely gained during the SIP), an Instant Pot might be the thing to get you excited about cooking, in less time, with less mess, during our prolonged period of finding new things to do.
That’s the food, here’s the thought. Even with all the frustrating, inconvenient, and in many cases, downright catastrophic things that have transpired over the past three months, many good things are also emerging. The health concerns from the coronavirus have made us all more aware of personal hygiene, and mothers everywhere are rejoicing at the massive handwashing efforts being made worldwide. People who didn’t know to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze know now that it’s the right thing to do (we can all be thankful for that). Many of us are calling folks we haven’t talked to in ages, writing actual letters, and dropping care packages off to those we care about, with much greater frequency than before. New hobbies and interests are being born and old ones are getting brought down from the shelf, dusted off, and revisited. Never has there been a happier dog population with extra walks and more time spent with their owners. And people are cooking, learning to cook, sharing recipes, and sharing homemade dishes. That’s food for thought!
Have a family recipe to share? The team at the San Lorenzo Valley Post welcomes your Santa Cruz Mountains news, story ideas, photos, and letters. Send us an email.
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