Two New Toys

SO EXCITED !!

Lots of good things breaking our way this week.

First off, we are cautiously optimistic that we are back working. DH was offered a job with a company about 30 miles south of us. They will send an offer letter out on Monday, if all goes well he will be back working in August. Not as much money as before, but it is a line position rather than a staff one, so there is a much better opportunity for growth and advancement. They've been around a long time also, so we feel the stability is there.

Obtained a four-tray Excalibur dehydrator. Have dehydrated some, will be posting a YouTube video on my dehydrating pork & beans, then preserving them in a Capri Sun (drink) pouch later (which means this post will be edited later with a hyperlink.)

Obtained two books (one of which has arrived) by Lorna Sass. The one I have in hand is called "Cooking Under Pressure" (20th anniversary edition) which has 150 recipes for the pressure cooker. IT'S MARVELOUS !!  I am looking forward to trying them all, and getting rid of most of my cookbooks!

Here's a sample:

PUREED ZUCCHINI SOUP 

2 T olive oil
1 lg onion, coarsely chopped
2 lg garlic cloves, crushed
2 sm potatoes, (1/2 lb) scrubbed, halved, and cut into 1 inch chunks
2 lg carrots, cut into 1/2 inch slices
4 lg zucchini (2 lbs) cut into 1 inch chunks
4 C vegetable broth or boullion
1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 c chopped fresh basil or parsley
salt and pepper

Heat oil in cooker. Saute the onions, garlic for 1 minute. Add potatoes and saute another 2 min. Add carrots, zucchini, broth and crushed red pepper flakes.

Lock lid in place, bring to high pressure. Maintain high pressure for 5 minutes. Let pressure drop naturally.

Stir in basil, reserving a few tablespoons for garnish. Use an immersion blender to puree soup. Adjust seasonings and serve with a sprinkling of basil.