Minestrone Soup Recipe for the Instant Pot

When Bev reviewed the Instant Pot here on Review This Reviews, I knew I had to have one too!  It immediately went on my own Christmas wish list.

Mom and Dad granted my wish and gifted me with an Instant Pot, plus a fabulous Instant Pot Cookbook by Jennifer Smith.  It is listed as a #1 Best Seller on Amazon and there is an excellent reason why.  It truly is packed full of great recipes for the Instant Pot, as well as tips and Instant Pot use instructions.  I was extremely grateful for the use instructions!  The instructions that came with the cooker were not as clear as Jennifer Smith's instructions in her published cookbook.

One great recipe in my new cookbook is the Minestrone Soup recipe.  One of my all time favorite soups is minestrone soup, but before I had my Instant Pot, I had never made it at home.  It was always a specialty that I treated myself to when we dined at our favorite Italian restaurant.  However, I no longer have to dine out to have excellent minestrone soup!  

Minestrone Soup Recipe from the Instant Pot Cookbook
by Jennifer Smith  

I made few changes to Jennifer Smith's minestrone soup recipe, but they were simple changes.  I add more carrots and less onion.  Plus, I leave out the garlic completely.  I've never been a fan of garlic and find that I prefer this soup without it.

I am sharing my version of the Minestrone Soup recipe for the Instant Pot, but you can certainly have Jennifer Smith's original version if you wish to purchase the cookbook.  It really is worth buying.  There are several other great recipes in it that I have already tried and love.  Without it, I might have ended up returning my Instant Pot.  The recipes and instructions that came with it were confusing and unappetizing. 

Minestrone Soup Instant Pot Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1/2 of a White Onion
• 2 Celery Stalks, diced
• 2 large Carrots, diced
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 28 oz can Diced Tomatoes
• 1/2 Cup Fresh Spinach, chopped
• 1 Cup Elbow Pasta or Bow Tie Pasta (bow tie shown, but either is delicious)
• 4 Cups Vegetable Broth (I use Simple Truth Organic)
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 15 oz can White Beans  (I use Great Northern Beans)

 Directions

1. Preheat the Instant Pot by selecting Saute.  Add & heat the oil 
2. Add the onion, celery & carrots.  Saute for 5-6 minutes in the heated oil, stirring constantly
3. Stir in basil, oregano, salt & pepper
4. Stir in diced tomatoes, chopped spinach, pasta, broth & bay leaf
5. Press the Cancel button to stop the Saute function
6. Close and lock the lid.  Select Pressurecook button and cook on high for 6 minutes  (note:  it takes a few minutes to heat to cooking temperate.  The cooker timer will not start counting down until it reaches the high temperature.)
7. When the timer beeps, let the soup sit for 2 minutes, then use the quick release valve on the lid to completely release the very hot steam.  Carefully unlock and left the lid.
8. Add the White Beans and stir
9. Remove the Bay Leaf that was used for seasoning.  They are not very tasty to eat.

Now, it is ready to serve!

Instant Pot Use Tips
Based on My Personal Experience

The Instant Pot has a few things that are totally different than any other cooker that I have ever used. 

First to note is the steam release valve on the top.  There is a lot of hot steam and pressure that builds up inside the pot and that hot steam must be released before you unlock the lid.  The Instant Pot makes that easy with the release value on the lid, but you need to stand back away from the steam.  I also recommend pulling it out and away from the underside of your top kitchen cabinets.  It will cause a moisture buildup on your cabinets if you allow the steam to release under the cabinet.  The steam release takes at least 30 seconds to fully disperse.  There is a secondary pop-up valve indicator on the lid that lets you know when it is safe to open the lid.

Second to note is the timer and recipe cook time.  The recipes tell you the cook time, but that time does not include the heating time.  The Instant Pot temperature must reach the cooking point before the timer will start counting down.  That takes several additional minutes for my Instant Pot.

Third to note is the difference in the recipes cooking selection buttons versus how my Instant Pot buttons are labeled.  For instance, this recipe states to "select Manual", but my Instant Pot button is labeled "Pressurecook".  I am guessing that is based on the age or model of your Instant Pot.  You will need to familiarize yourself with your Instant Pot buttons before you start cooking with these recipes.

Selecting and Setting the Timer is a little confusing at first.  It is like a digital alarm clock or automobile clock.  You turn the knob to make a selection on the display and then press the knob to change the timer numbers.  Perhaps that is just me, but I thought mine was broken the first time I used it.

 Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cookbook: 500 Everyday Recipes for Beginners and Advanced Users. Try Easy and Healthy Instant Pot Recipes.Check Price Instant Pot Ultra, 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, and more, Includes App With Over 800 Recipes, Stainless Steel, 6 QuartCheck Price

 

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More Instant Pot Soup Recipes

Potato Soup Cooked In InstantPot Reviewed

A delicious recipe for potato soup cooked in an InstantPot will delight your taste buds and fill your tummy.

Instant Pot Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
This instant pot easy chicken noodle soup will surely warm you up on those cold winter days. We are just loving our new Instant Pot.

Minestrone Soup Recipe for the Instant Pot Written by:

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Recipes for Real People a Site Review

Recipes for Real People is a recipe and kitchen website that offers recipes and food ideas that are quick, easy, and useful for everyday meals. From Aprons to Vegetables, you will find comfort food recipes, meal ideas, and kitchen gifts for you and your family.

Why I Turn to Recipes for Real People

I can't even begin to guess the number of recipe websites on the internet. So why would I turn to Recipes for Real People?  There are several reasons I look to this site for ideas. Just this morning I woke with many things on my mind. I have household chores to do, reports to write for work, and assorted things I would like to accomplish with my own website. I have to find a way to save some time today.

After unseasonably warm days, a thunderstorm rolled through last night and brought behind it a very cold and cloudy morning. I am craving comfort food and not sure what I have in the kitchen. After having spent the past few days driving around with the Jeep top open and enjoying the warm weather, I had no reason to buy ingredients to make chili or stew. But now it is very cold outside, the furnace is on, I am under the blankets, and I am craving something warm and filling. Something like stew or chili. However, to make either of those things, I'd have to run out to the store.

Thanks to a recipe found on Recipes for Real People, I have found a meal idea and won't have to go to the grocery after all.

I should clarify that I am writing this on Sunday and it will be published on Monday. On Monday I will be back at the office, hard at work - giving my time and energy to others. So I am especially thankful for time-saving ideas that allow me to spend more time on the weekends on myself. 

Hamburger Vegetable Soup Recipe

Susan's Hamburger Vegetable Soup recipe is just the type of thing I am craving.  Her four-ingredient recipe is easy and made from ingredients that are often found in the kitchen at any given time.  I do not currently have any fresh ground beef in the fridge. But I do have ground sausage. So I will substitute the sausage for the ground beef and have a filling, warm, comfort meal and won't have to leave the apartment today!  In fact, come to think of it, I have a few different cans of soup that I could use as substitutes for the vegetable soup in Susan's recipe. Perhaps I'll add the sausage to a can of creamy chicken soup.  I don't know. I will decide later.  But I am relieved that a trip to the grocery is something I can remove from today's full to-do list.  All thanks to Recipes for Real People.

 (photo by Susan)

A few more reasons I turn to Recipes for Real People

• Recipes for Real People is a website owned by one of our Review This! contributors - Susan Deppner
• I trust that Susan is sharing recipes that she cooks in her own home
• these recipes call for few ingredients that are readily available
• quick and easy prep recipes
• leftovers are used in the Recipes for Real People kitchen - I am a firm believer in using leftovers

Susan's kitchen helpers are adorable

Related Recipe Links

The Review This! contributors share some of their favorite recipes on this site. The variety of recipes, meals, kitchen items, and food reviews that the contributors bring is amazing. From slow cooker beans and TexMex lasagna to buttery shrimp pasta and party menus, there is something to suit everyone's tastes. To see those recipes, use the Review This! recipes tab and scroll. Our own Sylvestermouse Cynthia enjoys food, entertaining, and the holidays.  She is the owner of two food-related sites Fun Food and Cooking for the Holidays.

Fun Food focuses on "fabulous fun food". I swear some of the ideas shown are works of art!  From bright and colorful swirls of jello to snake cakes and food castles, these recipes are as fun to look at as they are tasty to eat.

Cooking for the Holidays is exactly as advertised - meals, desserts, and appetizers specific to holidays and entertaining. This website is elegant and offers recipes that will likely never happen in my little kitchen for one but are perfect for those who enjoy celebrations and entertaining. 

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3 Refreshing Pea Recipes for Summer

It is very hot outside and I'm feeling particularly lazy. Yet I'm hungry. It's too hot to eat a full, heavy meal but I'm really hungry. After seeing my gardening friends posting their magazine quality photos of their pea harvests, I'm having a pea craving. I think the following three recipes are the three best pea recipes. 

7 Layer Salad

I love 7 layer salads. I tend to make them only occasionally in the summer and have not yet made one this year. There are a variety of 7 layer salad recipes to be found, but I always use the recipe that uses peas. I love the flavor that peas add to this salad.

While looking for that recipe, so I could give you the amounts of the ingredients, I found this version of a Layered Salad by The Pioneer Woman. I like her version even better! She adds spinach and tomatoes - in addition to the 7 ingredients I add: lettuce, eggs, peas, green onions, bacon, cheese, and mayo. 

Layered Salad by The Pioneer Woman

Her salad is like a beautiful BLT in a bowl, with the added oomph of the peas and other ingredients. What a fresh and beautiful layer salad. YUM! My mouth is watering. 

I need to stop at the farmer's stand and buy some fresh, ripe 'maters - instead of those cardboard flavored tomatoes at the grocery. 

Pea Soup

Pea Soup recipe by Eating Well

Pea soup!  How easy and flavorful can you get?  This Pea Soup recipe by Eating Well is right up my alley - only 12 ingredients; all of which I have in my kitchen right now with the exception of fresh thyme or parsley. The recipe claims that it only takes 35 minutes until ready to eat.

In this heat, I believe I would serve this chilled (as many pea soup recipes are) but I can also imagine this would be a great soup to prepare and serve either warm or chilled - depending on my mood that day.

Smashed Peas with Mint Butter

All my life, I've smashed my peas in my potatoes and made smashed peas. Mom served them separately but they ended up mashed together on my plate. Who knew that would become "a thing" ?!  Well, it is. 

Including the water, this Smashed Pea with Mint Butter recipe by Genius Kitchen has a whopping 7 ingredients! Again, everything I have in my kitchen already with the exception of fresh parsley. No, I don't intentionally boycott parsley, I apparently just don't really use it.

The idea of adding my own fresh mint (from the balcony) to my smashed peas excites me.

Smashed Peas with Mint Butter by Genius Kitchen

*  *  *  *  *  

Whether you prefer using fresh peas for a garden to table cooking or frozen peas (because frozen peas keep their flavor for a garden-fresh taste even when the gardens aren't producing) I hope you find one of these recipes to be useful. 

Summer is a wonderful time for trying new recipes and re-visiting family favorites because the seasonal vegetables are at their freshest and most flavorful. I always feel more adventurous in the kitchen when gardens are in full swing.

Related Link:

Do you think you hate eating peas? For me it was beets. I despised beets for decades. But I changed my mind recently. Here is my article about how I came to love (and crave) beets. Even if you think you don't want to eat peas, one of the above recipes may change your mind.

Looking for vegetable recipes other than peas?  I've included some recommended cookbooks below. And yes, I've included a kid-friendly cookbook (being released in October) because, frankly, kid-friendly recipes are more my style.


Photo Credit: Intro photo courtesy of Pixaby - CC0 creative commons

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Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

After days of cooking in preparation for Thanksgiving, it seems like no matter how well we plan or how many years of experience we have, there are always leftovers.  I hate throwing out leftovers, but I very much enjoy having a recipe on hand that makes good use of leftovers.  After all, few of us really want the exact same meal several days in a roll, so having a recipe for a totally different meal is simply awesome.

Cheeseburger Soup Recipe 

Cheeseburger Soup Recipe by Mbgphoto

I want to start with a recipe that sounds delicious!  Not only will it make good use of our leftovers, but most of us don't need or even want a very heavy meal on the days immediately following Thanksgiving and soup is more than sufficient.   

This Cheeseburger Soup recipe by Mbgphoto is the perfect recipe for leftover turkey!   It gives us a great alternative meal for what is otherwise plain turkey.  I do love turkey, but after a day or two of eating it, I am ready for something different and Cheeseburger soup is most definitely different.

Curry in a Hurry

Susan Deppner offers another fast and easy recipe that uses the leftover turkey.  What I really love about this recipe is just how fast it is to prepare.  I looks like in less than 20 minutes, you could have a delicious meal without having to spend any more money for the meat. 

This also helps you make good use of that leftover apple from the fruit basket!  This recipe makes me doubly happy because it uses double the leftovers.

 

A Variety of Recipes for Leftover Turkey

For a real variety of salad and sandwich recipes for your leftover turkey, please visit AllRecipes.com.  Turkey sandwiches are my husband's favorite creation to make with turkey leftovers.  I have no doubt he will find several suggestions in this group of recipes that he will want to try this year.

A Delicious Fruit Salad with Leftover Fruit
 

I have personally committed several times about how much I have having a fruit basket for the holidays.  It is so easy for guest to grab a healthy snack between meals if I have a fruit basket available.  However, I inevitably have a few pieces of fruit left over, which means it is time for me to make a fruit salad.

Tossing the leftover cut-up pieces of fruit in a bowl together is perfect for leftover fruit.

 

More Recipes for Thanksgiving Leftovers

If you have a published recipe that would be great for Thanksgiving leftovers, we would love to have you share it with us.  Please leave the link to your recipe in the guestbook below.



Recommended by Our Readers!  (Thank you for sharing with us!)

Healthy Vegetable Soup with Cannellini Beans and Optional Chicken Sausage

 

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Easy Recipes by Sylvestermouse Reviewed

I enjoy cooking for my family.  Like most of us, I prefer recipes that are fast and easy.  Fortunately, I am surrounded by people who appreciate my effort, my recipes and seem to sincerely like the meals placed before them. 

I readily admit that I play in the kitchen.  I play with recipes by changing the ingredients to suit my families tastes.  I play with cupcakes, cookies, desserts, etc, because I enjoy decorating the food.  I mess around with it until I get the desired effect.  

I also enjoy the company of other family members in the kitchen. So much so, that I consider us playing in the kitchen. Since I began writing articles online, I have been periodically sharing highlights of our kitchen adventures so you and your family can be encouraged to "play" in the kitchen. In this article, I will provide links to the different easy recipes and fun articles that I have published. 

I consider that my Recipe for Making Memories in the Kitchen. So, without further ado, let the games begin!   

 

My Own Personal Roast Recipe

This recipe is the result of trial and error.  I just kept playing with different ideas until I found a tasty, tender way to cook a roast in the oven. 

It has become a family favorite and I have allowed it to be published in several charity cookbooks over the last 40 years, but it is still my own original recipe.  Although I was very young when I developed this recipe, I still cook my roast the same way today.

Published on Cooking for the Holidays

 

Having Fun in the Kitchen

I started cooking when I was a child and still living at home with my parents. My sister and I both helped in the kitchen and it was not unusual for us to have real, honest to goodness food fights with the leftovers. We frequently made mashed potato balls and hurled them through the air at each other or any unsuspecting individual who entered the kitchen. We flung spaghetti noodles against the wall and said we were testing it to see if it was done. By dinnertime, there would be 10 or 12 noodles hanging from the wall on spaghetti night.

While I still enjoy throwing pasta noodles against the wall, I have found that test does not work with pasta shells. No matter how many pasta shells I have thrown against the wall, none have ever stuck. Perhaps someday one will stick. I'll just have to keep testing them.

This easy pasta recipe is also shared on Cooking for the Holidays and, if you click it, the link will take you to that website. 

Easy Pasta Recipe - A Family Favorite for Dinner or Side Dish

 

More Easy Dinner Recipes featured on CookingForTheHolidays.com

Photos are Linked to Recipes

& 

 Easy Salmon Loaf Patties Recipe How to Bake Potatoes Chicken Enchiladas Recipe How to Bake a Turkey Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Instant Pot Recipe Homemade Barbeque Recipe for the Best BBQ Sandwiches

 

Click Here for More Dinner Recipes

 

Playing with Ingredients

Working in the kitchen with my sister was fun. We occasionally experimented with the food. Sometimes we would put a little extra pepper in one of our brothers' bowls of stew or add a little something extra to spice up their lives and the dinner table. Oddly enough, the boys consumed whatever we fed them and much to our distress, rarely noticed a difference. I only remember one brother gagging on hot barbecue sauce and believe it or not, we were not responsible.

Of course, there are the recipes from my mother and grandmother that I have never played with, never changed and never shared except on websites I own. My motto for this group of recipes is "you can't improve on perfection, so why try!" 

Directions for making the pizza pictured on right, can be found at Halloween Haven

 

Playing with Your Food Recipes 

These are some of my favorite recipes. They are really step by step instructions on decorating, so I call it playing with my food. Sometimes making these special treats can be messy, but they are always fun as you create your own original work of food art. 

Don't just make these treats alone to serve to your family. Grab your child, your husband, your sister, your mother or even your father and make these treats with your family!  

To see some of my favorite fun food articles, simply click the source link below each photo. That will take you directly to the recipe and tutorials for creating your own fun food.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

& 

 How to Decorate Panda Cupcakes How to Decorate a Snake Cake How to Make Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes 4th of July Party Flag Cake Recipe How to Decorate Snowman Cupcakes How to Make a Chocolate Halloween Ghost Castle Cake How to Make a Chocolate Halloween Ghost Train Cake How to Make a Cupcake Pumpkin Cake

 

Teaching an Old Dog, New Tricks

I am happy to say that I married a man who enjoys messing around in the kitchen too! The Breakfast Buddy featured below is his delicious creation and when I wanted to learn how to grill, I asked him to teach me. He has always made the most incredible steaks! In the article below, I share his secrets as I take you step by step through my own "grilling" education.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

& 

 Breakfast "Buddy" Sandwich How to Grill the Perfect Steaks Cooking Hamburgers on an Indoor Grill

 

Special Treat and Finger Food Recipes

My family loves fruit and chocolate so it only seems natural for me to dip fruit in chocolate. Once I started dipping fruit, it was impossible to stop! I think I dipped every type of fruit we had in the house, then ran to the grocery store for more. Of course, then I wrote an article about each one.

Here is my collection of dipped fruit recipes. Be very careful though. Chocolate dipped fruit can be very addictive!

Photo Linked to Recipe

& 

 Chocolate Covered Fruit DIY Recipes

Taking Care of the Cook 

Over the years, I have learned many things about cooking, about family and about fun. The most important thing I have learned, is that the three things go together. Have fun cooking with your family. 

I watched my grandmother and my mother work in the kitchen during every holiday for decades. Too often, they missed out on the fun simply because the party was happening in another room. 

I believe in bringing the party to the kitchen, enlisting help and taking care of the cook. Perhaps, I see it more clearly because now I am the cook, but I love to share ideas with others about how to have more fun with your family, instead of working alone in the kitchen. Believe me, you can create your own load of memories in the kitchen by simply letting others help in the kitchen. 

 

A Lot of Good Food and A Load of Memories 

I think it is because of my experiences and our experiments in the kitchen when I was a child, that I approach the kitchen with humor now. I still cook the old standards passed down from my great grandmother, grandmother and mother, but I enjoy creating new treats for my family too and it is even better when I get "help." 

Over the years, a lot of good food and a load of memories have been made in our kitchen! 

 

Easy Dessert Recipes 

Photos are Linked to Recipes

& 

 Easy Strawberry Trifle Easy Blackberry Cobbler

 

Candy Recipe 

I am not going to tell you this recipe is extremely easy. It seems easy to me because I have been making it for 40+ years, but making candy takes a bit of practice to perfect. 

While I try to walk viewers through the process with photos, I know this is something that is simply learned by trial and error because the outcome when making candy depends so much on the climate of the day, as well as the altitude of a region. 

Here is my mother's Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe. I could never improve on this recipe.  It really is delicious! 

Photo Linked to Recipe

& 

 Peanut Butter Fudge

 

Easy Beverage Recipes

Take time to relax!  While the food is in the oven, or after all of the work is done,  sit back with your loved ones and enjoy a cup of tea, hot chocolate or perhaps a cool glass of lemonade.  These are the moments you will want to capture and hold for as long as you can.

Photos are Linked to Recipes

& 

 Spice Tea Recipe Homemade Lemonade Recipe Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

 Chocolate Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

 

For a Complete List of All of my Published Recipes
 Click Here to Visit the House of Sylvestermouse Recipes

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Easy Recipes by Sylvestermouse Reviewed Written by:

 

 

This recipe article was originally published by me in 2011 on a different site that no longer exists.
Unless otherwise noted with the individual photo, all Photos are mine and should not be used without written permission.
© Sylvestermouse 

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4 Ingredient Beefy Mushroom Roast - EASY Slow Cooker Meal

By the time I have worked an entire day outside of the home, cooking dinner is the last thing on my mind. I am always looking for easy, tasty, and economical meal ideas. This beefy mushroom roast couldn't be easier or more delicious. 

I am a household of one. So it is easy to make large and inexpensive meals. Rice and Pasta dishes are economical and fairly easy to make. If I make a large pot of either of those two meals, I also have an expensive lunch for the next day at work. I like avoiding the expensive (and often calorie-laden) fast food meals that I would resort to if I didn't make these meals for dinner and left-over lunches.

But sometimes I crave a different flavors from the pasta and rice routine. Unfortunately, I require easy meals and that often limits the variety flavors. This is why I was thrilled when I stumbled onto this four (or three if you don't like onions) ingredient recipe that is perfect for a slow cooker.

Beefy Mushroom Roast

One day at the grocery, I just happened to notice the cans of Campbell's Beefy Mushroom soup (condensed). I had been craving a beefy mushroom and rice menu item from a favorite Chinese restaurant in a neighborhood where I previously lived but I don't have access to that now that I'm living in a very rural area. I decided to try this soup with a beef roast to try to take care of the beef and mushroom craving. And I'm so glad I did!

Ingredients:

1 can of Beefy Mushroom soup (10.5 oz)

1 small onion (sliced or chopped)

1 small bag of frozen "soup" vegetables (16 oz)

1 beef roast  (2 - 3 lbs)

Preparation:

• slice (or chop) the onions and place them in the bottom of the slow-cooker
• place the beef roast on top of the onions.
• pour the can of beefy mushroom soup on top of the roast
• set the slow-cooker on "low" (I use this setting because I'll be at work during the day. You could use a high setting and have the meal in half the time)
• approximately 30-60 minutes prior to serving, add the bag of frozen vegetables in the slow-cooker. Turn the setting to high and cook until they are heated. Stir.
• serve
• Freeze or refrigerate leftovers for additional meals

Leftover Beefy Mushroom Roast

I have discovered that I usually end up with a large amount of leftovers with this meal. I often separate it into single serving (freezer) containers, pop them into the freezer, and I can use them for furture meals whenever the mood hits. 

I have made mashed potatoes the next day and spooned some of the Beefy Mushroom Roast leftover mix onto the mashed potatoes. 

I recently discovered the Bisquick "Impossible" Pie recipes. I most often make a chicken-pot-pie meal using the Bisquick recipe. It just requires some filling, pouring a Biquick/milk mix over the top, and baking until heated through and brown on top. It didn't take long for me to realize that the Beefy Mushoom Roast is a perfect filling for the Bisquick Impossible Pie recipes. And so quick and easy to make when using the leftover roast for the filling.

Additional Seasonings?

I am not good in the kitchen. And when I try to venture from exact recipes or be creative with additional herbs, I often end up with flavors that clash. So I haven't added any additional seasonings to my Beefy Mushroom Roast meal.  I occasionally wonder about adding Herbes de Provence, since I am fairly new to that herb mix and have discovered how much I like it in venison stews. But frankly, the onion and condensed beef mushroom soup seem to add sufficient salt and flavors to this easy slow cooker meal. 

There are a variety of frozen mixed vegetables to try. Mixes that include okra, spinach, or potatoes.  All of those have been good but I have preferred the mix with green beans. 

There is a creamy beef mushroom soup option that I have thought about trying but this roast is so good as it is that I haven't attempted to make that particular substitution yet.

Related Links: 

This Beefy Mushroom Roast is a delicious filling for the Bisquick Impossible Pies. I usually use a chicken-pot-pie type of filling but the beef roast is an amazing way to use leftovers with an additional flavor. 

My blog post after learning about Herbes de Provence for stews and  how wonderful those herbs are in a venison stew. 

Do you have a craving for less beef and more veggies? The 4 Ingredient Baby Lima Bean Soup recipe is another of my favorites. 

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Easy Loaded Potato Soup Recipe Reviewed

A Quick Way To Make Potato Soup

I would like to share an easy loaded potato soup recipe with you today. My review of this recipe will show you how to make a great tasting soup in a very short time span. Interested? Follow me down the page for the ingredients and instructions. 

Russet Potatoes for a great soup
image courtesy of pixabay.com

In order to prepare this soup recipe you will need an Insta-pot or any other popular brand of pressure style cooker on the market. Depending on the make you use my directions might be different on your cooker but I think you can figure out how to do it with the features available on your model.

Recipe for Loaded Potato Soup

Ingredients:

1 Tbs butter

1 Shallot minced

3 cloves garlic

3 cups chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

8 Russet potatoes peeled and diced

1 1/2 tsp salt

Black pepper

1 Tbs flour

1 cup milk

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Bacon bits and cheese for garnish

Preparation:

Add butter to your pot and melt on the saute setting. Add shallot to melted butter cooking for 4 minutes. Now, add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. 

Add the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, salt and pepper and the diced potatoes. Stir the contents well. Place your lid securely on your pot and pressure cook for 10 minutes. Do a Quick Release after the 10 minutes are up.

Remove the lid. In a separate container stir the milk and flour together. Add this mixture to the soup in the pot. Cook on the saute setting for 5 minutes. Stir in the cheese until it is melted. 

Your soup is ready to serve! Garnish with bacon bits and shredded cheese and enjoy!

Make this recipe and many others with an Insta-pot

I can't believe how much I use my pressure cooker for meals. One of our favorites is this Loaded Potato Soup recipe but I make all sorts of things in it. It is amazing how little time most recipes take. If you don't have one, you should consider getting one for yourself. I'm pretty sure you will not regret adding it to your kitchen as a handy tool for preparing really good food. Below is the model that I own.

Insta-pot Ultra

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The Protein Advantage Cookbook — A Delicious, Healthy New Cookbook

The Protein Advantage Cookbook is a collection of 100 high-protein, low-carb recipes and tips from bestselling author Carolyn Ketchum, the deservedly popular recipe developer and blogger behind All Day I Dream About Food. Ketchum’s newest cookbook blends quick weeknight meals with make-ahead basics and treats, wrapped in her pragmatic, low-carb approach, this time with a focus on high-protein recipes.

Its official launch date was yesterday, August 12, 2025, but I was lucky enough to get an advance review copy courtesy of the author and the publisher, Fair Winds Press (an imprint of Quarto). It’s a terrific cookbook for anyone interested in increasing their protein intake, and I’m delighted to share my review.

Who It's For

This low carb, high protein cookbook is for anyone looking to improve their health through “weight loss, blood sugar management, building lean muscle mass, or simply having more energy for daily life” while eating delicious, easy to prepare, wholesome food.

Ketchum’s stance of prioritizing protein aligns with the current science: increasing protein intake can improve satiety and support lean mass, especially alongside resistance training. And for adults 40+, adequate protein becomes increasingly important.

What's Inside

Ketchum opens with a concise science and strategy overview, including what “protein-forward, low-carb” means, why prioritizing protein matters from a health perspective, and how to stock a high-protein, low-carb pantry with healthy, tasty ingredients.

True to its name, of course, the majority of The Protein Advantage Cookbook is devoted to the recipes. I was delighted to see Ketchum's signature format: clear, easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, lots of full-color photos (although not every recipe has a photo), and practical tips, such as for swapping ingredients or scaling portions.

The 100 recipes are organized into chapters with straightforward labels:

• Breakfast
• Breads and Muffins
• Appetizers and Snacks
• Soups and Salads
• Main Dishes
• Desserts

The Breakfast chapter includes 22 tasty recipes, such as Loaded Breakfast Casserole (29.5g of protein), Chocolate Protein Pancakes (19.7g of protein), Hot Maple Cereal (29.7g of protein), and Everything Bagel Smoked Salmon Toast (26.5g of protein).

The Breads and Muffins chapter has 10 yummy high-protein recipes including Easy Protein Bagels (13.3g of protein), Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread (11g protein), Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuits (12.9g protein), and even Chocolate-Glazed Donuts (10g protein)!

The Appetizers and Snacks chapter caters to both savory and sweet cravings, including 17 recipes such as Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms (12.8g protein), Taco Bites (18.7g protein), Frozen Hot Chocolate (17.6g protein) and Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (9.8g protein).

The Soups and Salads chapter features 13 simple yet satisfying recipes such as Asian Chicken Noodle Soup (31.1g protein), Chicken Chile Verde (35.3g protein), Turkey Club Salad (29.1g protein) and Old Bay Shrimp Salad (23.3g protein).

The Main Dishes chapter contains 22 terrific recipes to suit a wide range of tastes, such as Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs (33.3g protein), Easy Steak Fajitas (25.2g protein), Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Cream Sauce (33.4g protein), and Teriyaki Salmon (30.2g protein).

If you have a sweet tooth, never fear! Carolyn Ketchum is also the author of The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking, and The Protein Advantage Cookbook includes 16 luscious desserts with a high-protein twist, such as Deep Dish Brownies (16g of protein), Lemon Cheesecake Bars (12.3g of protein), Coconut Candy Bars reminiscent of Mounds bars (10.4g of protein), and Strawberry Lemonade Ice Pops (10.1g of protein).

There's also a chapter called "A Day in the Life" which chronicles what Ketchum ate over the course of a few typical days, along with the workouts she did on those days. As a very active, extremely fit woman, her calorie limits are much higher than mine, but it was still helpful to see how she incorporates the cookbook recipes into her daily meal plans.

Why It Deserves a Place in Your Kitchen

The Protein Advantage Cookbook delivers exactly what it promises: approachable, protein-centric low-carb recipes anchored in sensible nutrition guidance. For those of us who want to feel more satiated, lift heavier weights, or simply be stronger as we age, while eating delicious, nutritious food and without spending all day in the kitchen, this book will be an excellent, much-used addition to our cookbook collections.

The Protein Advantage Cookbook: High-Protein, Low-Carb Recipes That Burn Fat, Build Muscle, and Restore Metabolism

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