Counting down the days to Christmas with Spicy Jan – Day 3

Oh Instant Pot, Oh Instant Pot … same traditional tune, new catchy jingle! Continue the humming while we get ready for day 2 of cook once, eat twice. This time of year offers gatherings galore and having a nice bowl of home-cooked soup during the day is a wholesome way to keep your good health on track. Here is a simple way to get your soup going without a lot of fuss.  It’s so easy with your new fave kitchen appliance, you will be quite delighted with yourself. I grew up thinking that soup came from a can, I didn’t know about making soup at home. So I understand if you are with me and making soup is a new experience as an adult.  Let’s keep it simple and get it done.

Retrieve the pot of chicken broth you have in your refrigerator or like me, the nice cold December garage.  Open the lid and you will see the fat has solidified on the top. Use a large serving spoon to scrap the fat off discarding into the garbage, not the sink.

You will likely have a good amount of broth and may have also added left-over chicken into the broth, this is perfect.  At this point you can add one cup additional water.  Next, add to the Instant Pot with the cold broth, 2 peeled and diced potatoes, 2 stocks of celery chopped, 2 carrots peeled and diced, 1 handful of green beans (frozen or fresh), 1 diced tomato or 1/3 cup strained tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Allow the inner pot to warm up by sitting on the counter for 15 minutes.  You don’t want to place the very cold pot into the digital vessel just yet.   Give it 15 minu

After 15 – 20 minutes go ahead and place the pot filled with goodness, inside the digital holder and you are set to begin cooking your soup.  Select Manual HP for 14 minutes. All of your vegetables will cook to perfection in the broth creating a flavourful chicken vegetable soup.

Once you hear the 5 beeps, let it stand for 5 minutes.  Once the IP has counted up to 5 minutes on a NR (natural release) then take the valve all the way down venting with a QR and voila, you are set to open the lid, being careful of the steam. At this point you can add two cups of water or broth, stir and your soup is ready to serve.

Find your favourite ladle and spoon your wholesome goodness into your favourite bowl and enjoy.  There is nothing better than a bowl of comfort food on a December day to warm the soul and enjoy with friends and family.  Cooking at home done simple with a cook once, eat twice approach using a new favourite kitchen appliance, the Instant Pot.

Follow the foodie fun with Spicy Jan at 4Brant.com every day in December 2018!  Bon Appetite!

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