Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili

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I recently attended an Instant Pot Cooking Workshop. My eyes were quickly opened to a world of meals without losing flavor or texture. I purchased a pressure cooker soon after. While I love to cook, when the days grow shorter I find solace in the fact of simply preparing a few ingredients and having a meal ready for my husband and me within 30 minutes or less.

When the cold front moved through this past week, I made an easy vegetarian chili in our pressure cooker. It was savory and satisfying.  I adapted this recipe from Dinner at the Zoo.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons of your choice of cooking oil
2 pounds Beyond beef, or protein alternative
1 small onion finely diced
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
28 ounce can diced tomatoes do not drain
3- 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
3/4 cup vegetable broth or miso broth 
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon ground pepper
15-ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed
15-ounce can pinto beans drained and rinsedInstructions
Turn your pressure cooker to “saute.” Add the oil to the pot. Add the protein and cook until browned, breaking up the with a spatula as you stir. Add the onion and cook for 3 more minutes or until softened. Add the garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, spices, seasonings, and beans to the pot. Turn the pressure cooker to the “soup/stew” setting and place the lid on the pot. Cook for 20 minutes. Release the pressure either manually or allow it to release naturally.
Serve with cornbread, chives, cheese, or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt. I even snuck in 1/2 cup of pureed pumpkin 🙂
Enjoy!
KD

From a Dietitian’s Kitchen: Cooking Class

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My oldest daughter wants to be a chef when she grows up.  So when I saw that Uptown Grocery in Edmond has a weekly cooking class for kids I knew we had to try it out.  Every Sunday a new recipe is taught.  Our instructor, Wesley, walked the young participants through hand washing, kitchen safety, prepping ingredients, and presentation.  The children were encouraged to get messy, smell and taste the ingredients and to work as a team.  I know everyone there learned something and had a good time.  Positive experiences centered around healthy food are not only entertaining but also learning opportunities.

Buy For Less grocery stores (buyforlessok.com) and Uptown Grocery (uptowngroceryco.com) also offer cooking classes on Saturdays for adults.  You can check out their websites for times, locations and featured recipes.  If you are interested in learning some cooking skills or you just need some new recipes this is the perfect opportunity.  The classes are free but they do require you to call and register in advance.  Cook, learn and enjoy!   mk