Instant Pot Chuck Roast

This was pretty fast, moist, tender and delicious!

Instant Pot Chuck Roast
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 25 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 hour 25 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 25 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 hour 25 minutes
Instant Pot Chuck Roast
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 25 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 hour 25 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 25 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
1 hour 25 minutes
Ingredients
Homemade Dry Onion Soup Mix
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Set Instant Pot to saute. Wait for it to heat up (it will say "hot").
  2. Season meat on both sides with salt and pepper. Add a little oil to the pot and sear meat for 10 minutes per side.
  3. Hit cancel button.
  4. Add 1 1/2 cups water to pot, along with the remaining ingredients. Set to manual pressure for 60 minutes. When time is up, release pressure naturally for 20 minutes. If you have a 3 lb. roast, cook for 75 minutes. You don't need to change anything else.
  5. If you would like, you can make a gravy from the broth. Remove the roast and put on a platter. Set the Instant Pot to saute. Combine a couple tablespoons of cornstarch or potato starch with enough water to make a thin paste. Drizzle it into the broth as you whisk continuously, until thickened.
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Handmade Cavatelli Pasta

I am in love with this recipe for cavatelli.  It is a denser noodle than I normally enjoy, but it is relatively small shapes that are much neater for children to eat than the long strands of spaghetti.   It goes extremely well with a hearty marinara sauce with meat.  It is also fun to make.  I made this the first time with our 3 1/2 year old granddaughter and she loved helping with it!  She also loved how they tasted!

The cavatelli can be made up ahead of time and frozen, before boiling, in a single layer on a cookie sheet.  No need to thaw before cooking.

Handmade Cavatelli Pasta
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 servings 45 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
5 minutes 30 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 servings 45 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
5 minutes 30 minutes
Handmade Cavatelli Pasta
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 servings 45 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
5 minutes 30 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 servings 45 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
5 minutes 30 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a mixer bowl. (I used a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, but probably any heavy duty mixer will do.) Mix until ingredients come together to form a ball. It may be necessary to add a little more water, but start with this and check it after it starts to come together. You don't want it too sticky, but you don't want it too dry either. Wrap in plastic wrap and leave on counter for about 30-60 minutes for the gluten to relax.
  2. Divide dough into 4 portions and keep all unworked portions covered with plastic except what you are working with.
  3. Flour your work surface and roll the first portion of dough into a long rope. Keep working on it until it is about 1/2" thick. Use a pastry scraper or knife, cut into somewhat equal lengths of about 1/3-1/2".
  4. Flour your work surface. You can use a sushi rolling mat, a gnocchi board or just onto a cutting board or other work surface. I prefer the sushi rolling mat. I got mine on Amazon for $5. I can place a few pieces on the mat at a time.
  5. Then using a pastry scraper or the back of a knife or even your thumb, press down on the pieces of dough and pull back. The dough will make a roll back on itself to make a cute tube shape.
  6. Continue working the rest of the dough until all of it has been shaped into cavatelli.
  7. You can go either direction on the sushi mat or the gnocchi board to get the pattern you desire. I like going the long way on the sushi mat.
  8. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil and add sea salt liberally. I also added some olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
  9. Boil the cavatelli for a few minutes, then remove from water.
  10. This is excellent served with a hearty marinara sauce with meat and cheese.
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Chicken & Homemade Noodles

Start with boneless chicken pieces and make a rich, scrumptious, thickened broth to go with it.  Then make some homemade noodles (or buy some fresh or frozen noodles) and cook them right in the broth.  Fantastic!!

For making your own homemade noodles for this recipe, use 3 eggs, 1 T. water, 2 3/4 cups light spelt flour (or all-purpose if no wheat allergy)

Egg Noodles


Chicken & Homemade Noodles
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Chicken & Homemade Noodles
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Heat large (13") cast iron skillet over high heat. Add oil and chicken. Season chicken with pepper. Cook quickly, stirring often, until done. Remove from pan and place in crock pot.
  2. Melt butter in same skillet over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic, and saute until tender, about 10-15 minutes.
  3. Add flour and blend evenly.
  4. Quickly whisk in cream, water, and chicken base until smooth. Add to crock pot and turn onto low until ready to continue.
  5. Before adding noodles, turn crock pot to high heat. We positioned the Kitchen Aid in such a position so the noodles go directly into the crock pot.
  6. Add noodles and stir to separate. Cook until noodles are tender, about 20 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Recipe Notes

I reduced the amount of flour for thickening because I was using homemade noodles.  For making your own homemade noodles for this recipe, use 3 eggs, 1 T. water, and 2 3/4 cups flour.  If you are not using fresh homemade noodles, you may need more thickener.

Although spelt is an ancient form of wheat, most people with wheat allergies can eat it with no problem.  However, it still contains gluten, so avoid spelt if you have a reason to avoid gluten.

Better than Bouillon organic beef and chicken bases are my favorite to use in broths because they are gluten free and soy free.

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