Instant Pot: Spaghetti Marinara

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I hope everyone had a safe and fun filled 4th of July!

We had a big a pool party during the day and grilled all sorts of hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings and side dishes that go along with a typical Americana meal.  It really was a great day filled with good food and lots of fun and laughter.

But, I'll have to tell you I'm really tired after all of the party preparations and cooking.  The last thing I wanted to do the day after is cook another meal!  So I turned to my handy Instant Pot for some help.  This thing really is a life saver when you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  It is virtually hands free cooking, which is perfect on a weeknight or the day after a holiday.

If you haven't jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon yet, I say it's time!  This is one of my most cherished kitchen appliances next to my slow cooker.  It just provides you with the option to get a delicious flavor packed meal on the table in no time and that is a lifesaver when I don't want to cook!

INSTANT POT:  SPAGHETTI MARINARA

When I want a quick meal I usually turn to either a stir fry or a pasta dish. Both cook up in 20 minutes or less.  Today it's all about making a simple yet tasty Spaghetti Marinara.  You know the one, a basic Italian tomato sauce over spaghetti.  One the kids will enjoy as well as the whole family. 

To make this even quicker we are going to use a good jarred marinara.  Use your favorite  so you get the flavors that you like.  The Instant Pot makes cooking this dish simple. It's only one pot to clean and done lickety split to boot all in 8 minutes.  That's a winner in my book!

Yes, I said 8 minutes!  After the Instant Pot comes to pressure the sauce and the pasta cook for just 8 minutes and then dinner is served!

KITCHEN TIPS:  There is a trick to cooking pasta in the pressure cooker so that it doesn't stick together.  You will want to break the spaghetti in half and layer it in the pot in two different overlapping directions.  It will look like and X in the pot.  Then you will add some additional liquid but "DO NOT STIR".  This will ensure the pasta stays intact and will not stick into a big clump. After the cooking is complete remove the lid and then give the pasta and the sauce a good stir.  Dinner is done!

This is a one pot - Instant Pot weeknight meal winner!  Enjoy!





Instant Pot: Spaghetti Marinara

2 cups water, divided
1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
8 oz spaghetti
Parmesan cheese, optional topping

Instructions:

Add 1/2 cup water, then the whole jar of marinara sauce to the pot. Break the spaghetti in half and layer in the pot in two layers, alternating directions like and X, over the sauce.

Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups water over the pasta. Do not stir at this point.  Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the lever to seal.

Press the Manual or Pressure Cook button and set the cook time for 8 minutes.  Once the cooking is complete do a quick release, open the lid once the valve had gone down and stir the spaghetti with the sauce.  Turn off the pressure cooker and remove the insert.  Serve immediately in bowls and top with Parmesan if desired.  

Quick and Easy Watermelon Lemonade

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I just love summertime.  There is nothing like a great summer song, feeling that tingle on your skin from the hot sun, and a cold drink.

I always used to associate summer with Sunkist soda pop.  Do you remember that commercial that played "Good Vibrations"?  To me that' was the epitome of summer when I was growing up.  These days I'm more of a lemonade kinda girl.  I just love the tartness of the lemons, and the thirst quenching flavor on a hot summer day.  

Since the 4th of July is right around the corner I usually serve a pitcher of lemonade to have during our days activities and with whatever items we grill for our All-American dinner.  So let's change up the standard lemonade and give it a little pizzazz by adding some additional fruit infused flavor.

QUICK AND EASY WATERMELON LEMONADE

To make this easier I use a pre-made pink lemonade.  Trader Joe's a wonderful one, but any brand will do.  Just make sure it's one you like.  Next we need to make the fruit puree.  This is where the watermelon comes in.  All you need is a blender to puree the watermelon and a fine mesh strainer to remove any solids so you are left with a nice pure watermelon juice.  Now that you have that, the rest is simple.  The concoction is about a 2/3 lemonade to 1/3 watermelon juice ratio.  Served over ice you will have a frosty piece of heaven in a drink.  One that screams summer!!!

Perfect for the 4th of July or any summer day, this watermelon lemonade will keep you cool on even the hottest of summer days.

Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Watermelon Lemonade


serves 8

8 cups of jarred Pink Lemonade (any brand)
3 cups cubed watermelon
1 tbls sugar (optional for sweetness)

Pour ready made lemonade into a bottle or pitcher. In a blender puree the watermelon. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, discarding the solids.  Pour watermelon puree into the pitcher with the lemonade. Stir to combine.  Fill glasses with ice and lemonade.  Enjoy.   

Steak and Potato Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

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Isn't food on a stick more fun to eat?  Well if you put any kind of meat and vegetable on a skewer we call them kabobs!

Since is grilling season I think it's time to get out there and grill some delicious kabobs!  We love don't eat too much beef at our house although I totally love it.  So when we have it I want a great tasting steak.  So why not take my love for meat and potatoes and turn them into kabobs.

These kabobs scream summer and call for dining alfresco.  Tender pieces of lean sirloin are cut into chunks and threaded on skewers.  Wonderful meaty chunks of beef that pack a lot of flavor and come out juicy and tender.  The potatoes are grilled right along side the beef and turn out tender and flavorful from grilling.  

The kicker to the whole dish is a variation on a chimichurri sauce.  This is a uncooked green sauce from Argentina.  Typically made with parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, and olive oil this version bumps it up a notch with the addition of mint and sumac.   Sumac is found in many Middle Eastern dishes and have a wonderfully tangy lemon flavor.  If you don't have sumac or can't find it you can substitute lemon zest in the sauce and have similar results.  What ever you do don't skip this sauce!!  The flavor is out of this world!!!!  You can make it easily in a food processor and it takes only minutes to pull together.

Tender steak and potato kabobs doused with a refreshing chimichurri sauce is just what the doctor ordered for summertime grilling!  Perfect for a party or the upcoming 4th of July holiday.  

Get outside and grill! This dinner will be on the table in under 30 minutes and is so easy to through together you'll wonder why you haven't made this before.








Steak and Potato Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce

serves 4

FOR THE CHIMICHURRI, PURÉE: 

2 cups fresh mint leaves 
1 cup fresh parsley leaves 
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil 
2 cloves garlic 
2 Tbsp. each red wine vinegar and fresh lemon juice 
1 ½ tsp. ground sumac 
1 shallot 
1 tsp. red pepper flakes 
Salt and black pepper to taste

FOR THE KABOBS: 

6 yellow new potatoes, halved, and sliced into 1/2" disks
4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided 
1 ¼ lb. top sirloin, cut into 2-inch chunks

Preheat grill for two-zone grilling, heating one side to medium and the other to medium-high. Brush grill grate with oil.

For the chimichurri, purée mint, parsley, 1 ⁄2 cup oil, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, sumac, shallot, and pepper flakes in a food processor; season with salt and black pepper. 

For the kebabs, toss potatoes with 2 Tbsp. oil; thread potato slices onto each of four skewers so potatoes lay flat. Toss beef with 2 Tbsp. oil. 

Evenly divide and thread beef onto each of four skewers. Season kebabs with salt and black pepper. 

Grill potatoes over medium heat, covered, until brown and soft, about 7 minutes per side. Add beef kebabs to grill; cook over medium-high heat, covered, to desired doneness (about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare). 

Let kebabs rest 5 minutes. While resting, brush kabobs chimichurri sauce. Serve remaining chimichurri on the side.


source:  Cuisine at home