Instant Pot Creamy Mushroom Soup [new recipe!!!]

We are HUGE mushroom lovers in this family, so I threw together this soup this morning for lunch today. I tasted a bit, and it is SOOOO  yummy! This is the best mushroom soup I have come up with far. My husband LOVED it!!! This soup is made in the Instant Pot, but you do need a blender, as well. 

SERVES 4

1 onion, chopped small
3-4 cloves of garlic, crushed
24 oz. Baby Bella mushrooms (cheaper to buy at Aldi or in bulk), sliced thinly
2 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 t poultry seasoning (this is NOT an animal-based product)
1 t Better-than-Bouillion No Beef Base
2 t brown rice miso (or you can use yellow or white)
1/4 t black pepper
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup unsweetened soy milk

Place  the chopped onions in the Instant Pot with about 1/4 cup veggie broth  and cook on the sauté function until they begin to brown. Stir  occasionally. Add in all of the rest of the ingredients (EXCEPT the soy  milk), stir everything well, and set the iPot to 4 minutes with QUICK  RELEASE. Stir in the 1 cup of unsweetened soy milk. Remove about 2 cups  of the soup, trying to get ALL of the potatoes (if you can), some  mushrooms, and some broth. Blend in a high-speed blender until smooth  and creamy, then replace into the pot with the rest of the soup. Stir  and serve warm!

REVIEW: COSORI Smart 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo vs. Breville

I thought my world had crumbled when my Breville Smart Oven Air took its last breath. I had a love-hate relationship with this beast...but ultimately, I didn't have a say in whether or not she was allowed to continue working for my family or not. She simply died. Blank screen. Lots of stomping and tears.

A few times during our "relationship," I threatened to kick her to the curb--her door squeaked and sometimes needed finagling to open and shut. Her stainless steel body was blotching. Her glass door could never fully be cleaned. She was a work horse, though. She cooked and air-fried with professional finesse. I put up with her few flaws in order to have perfectly cooked food. But, after laying her to rest at our city recycling dump, I made a leap that I worried was WAY down from "Down Under"... I bought the Cosori Smart 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo.

First off, I decided to buy the black version of this appliance. I have other black appliances, and we thought it would look nice. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of stainless steel...the look or the care required. As it turns out, it looks fantastic in my kitchen!

In addition, The Cosori Smart 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo felt lighter than the Breville SOA, but didn't feel low in quality. That was a relief. 

Also, it came with one regular rack and one air fryer basket, as well as a non-stick roasting pan. Immediately, I added a piece of nonstick grid mat to the air-fryer basket (like I had with my Breville SOA) to prevent sticking since it's not really nonstick. Truth be told, I just used the one from my Breville SOA and trimmed it. 😌 Though the air fryer basket is narrower, it seems to be deeper and allows me to air-fry JUST AS MUCH tofu, potato fries, and other foods that I used to with the Breville SOA. Also, I kept the round, black pizza pan that came with my Breville SOA, and it fits fine in this oven, as well. 

Surprisingly, the Cosori Smart 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo. bakes, toasts, airfries, etc. as well as the Breville SOA as far as I'm concerned. I do think some foods take a TINY bit longer. But, I highly recommend using the pre-heating function whenever possible. And, don't be fooled by the not-as-fancy-looking heating elements (and the fact that there are only 2 instead of 3 at the bottom like you see in the Breville SOA); this oven cooks WELL! Also, I have not noticed the capacity being smaller or less, either. However, I HAVE noticed that is WAY more quiet than the Breville SOA. Even on top-level air-fryer mode, it is VERY quiet!!!

Probably one my FAVORITE features is that I am able to connect this Cosori Smart 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo to my phone through the VeSync app. I have added several of my regular-rotation items (their settings, time, etc.) and can just click once to send all the settings to the oven, then I just have to click START on the oven to get it pre-heated. I believe they don't allow you to start it unattended as a safety measure. But, once it's going, you can monitor the oven from anywhere!

Another feature (that may not seem important, but it is) is the PRE-HEAT feature. Like a true oven, you can pre-heat and it will let you know (by a beep) that it is fully at the temperature you set without the timer running yet. I do love that! You do, however, have the option of skipping the pre-heat and letting the timer start immediately (even though the oven is not up to temp yet).

Overall, I LOVE my new Cosori Smart 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo. It is NEW, though--only 2 weeks old. I may add updates on this page along the way. But for now, I can say I am VERY pleased with this product--especially the fact that I paid $160 LESS than another Breville SOA would have cost me. Please note: Prices change DAILY on Amazon. 

If you have questions, please post below!

Disclosure: Mrs. Plant makes use of Amazon.com affiliate links when they are available. These are products I have personally purchased and recommend based on my experience with them. Your use of these links for product purchases provides me with a commission which pays for the food and supplies I use to keep this website alive. However, your use of these links as a reader is not required.

Eat MORE, Weigh LESS by High Carb Hannah and Plantiful Kiki

 

I know a lot of you have already heard about this, but High Carb Hannah and Plantiful Kiki have just come out with an awesome Online Video Course (called "Eat More, Weigh Less"), eBook (called "Lean for Life," which includes LOTS of recipes), and a PRIVATE support community. I have always liked their way of eating/living because it is sustainable and healthy. And, this new program is REASONABLY priced and the membership is for life!

Check it out at my affiliate link:
https://www.eatmoreweighless.co/a/41741/NbwnYLeF

You know that I NEVER support something I don't believe in or agree with! I am personally already involved and will continue to do so. I love engaging with other plant-based leaders when I feel like they are steering people in the right direction.

REVIEW: Silicone Brownie Bites Pan AND WFPB Recipe [oil-free, dairy-free, vegan]

 

For Christmas this year, my youngest son bought me this awesome silicone brownie bites pan. I wanted to make smaller sweet treats that would be the perfect size for my grandson (and for a bite-sized treat for us from time to time!). This pan is perfect for that purpose! These brownie bites popped right out of the pan, and after a few minutes of soaking in water, most of the remaining bits floated up to the top of each compartment, making clean-up a snap!

I made up this recipe, using healthier ingredients. It's not completely sugar-free, but you could make the recipe without the chocolate chips or use unsweetened Santa Barbara Cacao Chips, if you prefer. This is not a super sweet brownie without the chips, so they give them just the right amount of sweetness to feel like you are eating something very decadent!

9 large Medjool dates, pitted
1/2 cup cacao powder
1/4 cup white whole wheat (or other whole wheat) flour
1/2 cup well-mixed almond butter
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 T ground flaxseed + 3 T water
1 t vanilla extract (alcohol-free, if possible)
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/4 c vegan chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix the ground flaxseed with 3 T of water and set aside while you are adding of the other ingredients to the food processor. Add all ingredient to the processor bowl (don't forget the flax "egg") except the chocolate chips. Process until smooth and combined well. You may need to use a spatula to scrap the batter off the sides. Then, continue processing. Add in the chocolate chips, and process for a few rounds until they are distributed well. This is a sticky batter, so don't try to handle it. In each brownie bite compartment, add a heaping tablespoon of batter with a small cookie scoop. It's OK if the batter is above the pan line. The batter should be the right amount to fill in all of the compartments. Pull out the oven rack. Carefully hold both ends of the pan while placing on the oven rack (because this pan is flexible). Bake for 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven with oven mitts and let the brownie bites cool a bit on a trivet before removing them from the pan. 

Disclosure: Mrs. Plant makes use of Amazon.com affiliate links when they are available. These are products I have personally purchased and recommend based on my experience with them. Your use of these links for product purchases provides me with a commission which pays for the food and supplies I use to keep this website alive. However, your use of these links as a reader is not required.

Instant Pot Southwestern Corn Chowder [oil-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan]

NOTE: The reason for cutting the jalapeno in half and removing before blending is simply because it will turn the soup a brown color if you don't do it this way. Also, it adds a nice fleck of green throughout the soup.

4 cups frozen corn, divided
1 large onion, cut into large chunks
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 red pepper pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno, cored, seeds removed, cut in half lengthwise
1 small can of mild chopped green chiles
1/2 t chili powder
3/4 salt (more or less to taste)
1 t liquid smoke
3-4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
Fresh baby spinach, chopped (optional)
Cilantro, chopped (for garnish)


Place 3 cups of frozen corn, onion, garlic, jalapeno halves, red and yellow bell peppers, green chiles, chili powder, salt, liquid smoke, and 3 cups of broth into the pressure cooker. Cook on HIGH pressure for 4 minutes with QUICK RELEASE. Remove the jalapeno halves; set aside and let them cool. Chop finely when they are cooled. In the meantime, place the soup  (in batches if necessary) into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Return the blended soup to a large pot or back into the pressure cooker pot. Add in the chopped jalapeno and 1 more cup of frozen corn. If desired, add greens in now to wilt. Set the pressure cooker to WARM, and cover the top. Let it simmer for another 10 or so minutes before serving. Add chopped cilantro for garnish.