Red Beans and Rice in an Instant Pot

This is my first time to ever use an instant pot...and I have to say "I am in LOVE" 

It's so easy to prep and clean!!! I decided that my first meal that I would prepare in an instant pot would be red beans and rice because it usually takes me over 4 hours on the stove and 8 hours in a crockpot. And to be honest...with this weather in Louisiana...this momma is not standing in front of no stove for 2 hours much less 4!! 

Shopping List: 

1 pound red beans

1 pound of baby pork spareribs (cut into little pieces) 

4 pieces of pig feet 

1 pound pickled pork 

1/2 bell pepper diced 

4 stalks celery chopped 

1 small onion chopped 

3 bay leaf 

1 teaspoon garlic powder 

1 teaspoon onion powder 

1/2 teaspoon Tony Chacheres (Cajun seasoning) 

1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper 

1/2 teaspoon sugar 

1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce 

Pack of spicy sausage (I cook this separately because we don't like our sausage mushy) 

Water 

Tabasco (garlic flavor) 

White rice 

1 stick butter 

****CHEATING METHOD: 1 small can of blue runner red beans (I pour that in after everything is cook and when I am mushing the red beans against the side of the pot. 

Garnish: 

Parsley 

Green onion chopped 

Direction: 

In a little pot I filled it up with water and place my cut spareribs and pig feet in and blanch over to get all the gunk out. Once the pot start boiling I blanch through. Next,  I wash it with just regular tap water and then I place it on top of the red beans that is already in the instant pot. 

*** I pour my bag of red beans on the bottom. Then the blanch meat. Then the pickle pork. Next, I lay all my veggies in top. Cover with just enough water to cover everything. Next I pour all my seasoning on top. 

Close the lid and turn on to the "beans/chilli" setting but I adjust the time to 1 hour. 

Next, I pour in a small can of blue runner red beans into my pot. Taking a small spoon or ladle...I smooch the beans against the pot to make it more creamy. Then I add 1 stick of unsalted butter into the hot red beans. 

Season according to taste. I used a pickle pork so I didn't need to add that much salt or Tony Chacheres 

                 Ready to be turned on 

I added the cubed ham..right before serving because my husband likes the ham intact and not all cook down. 

Season with more Tabasco (because we love spicy) and garnish with chopped parsley. 

Spicy Sausage cooked separately          in a little frying pan 

ENJOY!! 

I think the only thing I would change next time is I might add the ham and butter and then turn it on for another 5-10 minutes so the ham would be a little softer. 

Crawfish Étouffée

Ingredients: 

1stick of unsalted butter

6 cloves of garlic, minced 

1 cup of chopped onion 

1/2 cup of chopped celery

1 lb bag of crawfish tails

1 family size can of cream of mushroom soup

1 can of Rotel, any kind you like (I prefer hot)

1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere's

1/2 teaspoon Black pepper

Chopped scallions, to garnish 

Direction: 

Melt butter. Add garlic, onion, and celery. Saute until tender. Add the crawfish tail and rest of ingredients. Cook and simmer for about 10 - 12 minutes. Serve with rice. Good with angel hair pasta too. 

Spam Fried Rice

Spam Fried Rice 

This is one of the easiest meal that I make ...and my kids would gobble it up in no time. I didn't add any veggies this time because it was one of those last minute lunch that the kids requested. They did eat it with a side of steam broccoli.

Ingredients: 
4 cups of DAY OLD white rice
1 can LITE SPAM--cubed into 1 inch pieces
2 green onion--chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon Tony Chachere
2 TABLESPOON light soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
5 eggs
1/4 teaspoon crack black pepper
**** 1/4 teaspoon fish sauce (depending on if you like it a little salty) I used the lite spam so I added some fish sauce to the fried rice****

INSTRUCTIONS: 
In a bowl...crack the 5 eggs and BEAT....set egg mixture aside.

COOK rice according to package instructions...I usually use 1-2 day old rice that I put in the refrigerator...I find that when its old rice...its not to sticky and it makes the rice more workable. If you don't have old rice...just use less water when cooking the rice.

In a WOK..heat up some olive oil and chopped green onion over medium heat. Next, add the old rice and work it into the green onion...then add the garlic powder, onion powder, Tony, light soy sauce and sesame oil. Stir until the rice gets a nice light brown color....then move the rice to the side of the WOK and add the cubed spam and toss until the spam has a nice golden brown crust...then mix it in with the rice...once the rice and spam is well incorporated...move it to the side of the wok...and add a little more olive oil and add the egg mixture and scramble it ..once it  cooked...start MIXING in the rice and spam... TASTE to see if it is salty enough. If you need more salt...add in the fish sauce.. remove from heat and serve. Garnish with chopped green onions and cracked BLACK PEPPER.

ENJOY!!!

I used the LITE SPAM...it has less sodium so you might need to add a little fish sauce or Tony to the fried rice