Monday, March 9, 2020

Instant Pot, Watch, Book,

So, my wonderful Instant Pot kinda let me down Saturday night. I was cooking sirloin steak for supper and had put some broccoli in the Pot. Once done, I turned it off and released the steam but the pressure valve wouldn't drop. If it doesn't drop you can't get the lid off. In the end, we didn't get broccoli for supper. I then went on line and discovered this was not unknown and that once in a while they do stick, possibly improper lid washing I think, and the way to get them to drop is to push on the valve with something like the end of a pen. Worked a treat. The broccoli was a nasty colour by now, so it ended in the garbage and later I washed the lid as thoroughly as possible and pushed the valve up and down to be sure it wasn't sticking. Of course if it happens again I will know what to do.  We enjoyed supper even if we couldn't eat broccoli. I had made a nice sauce which would have gone well with it too.

I'm an idiot. I looked at my smart watch at around 5 in the morning and figured it hadn't changed itself. When I got up, I looked at all kinds of things on how to change the time, and got the watch to show the time quite a number of times. It then occurred to me that the time it was showing me was the correct one after all. It had changed itself. Duuh. Maybe I hadn't woken up enough.

I have been meaning to tell you about my current read, The Elephant Whisperer. Absolutely stunning in its telling and sympathetic understanding of elephants and many other animals. Mainly elephants. The author, Lawrence Anthony, bought an animal reserve and then was given a herd of seven elephants who had been very troublesome in their previous home. There had been 9 of them but two had been shot which traumatised this troupe even more to see their Matriarch and her youngest baby killed in front of them. Once or twice the book has had me in tears because of the dreadful things we do to elephants and other species. Other times I have laughed at the incredible things the elephants do. I cannot recommend this book enough  Anthony was brought up in Africa and his reserve is in Zululand - there is a lot about the people of that area as well and his friendship with the Zulu people.

I enjoy Pho and I like Flank Steak so what more could I ask for here? Mind you, a lot of this could be done in the Instant Pot and take a lot less time. Food and Wine have produced a whole lot of flank steak recipes which I haven't yet studied. But I will.

Mrs. Tran’s Master Pho Broth with Flank Steak

Chef Qui Tran of Nudo House in St. Louis shares his mother’s master recipe for pho broth, simmered
slowly with beef knuckle bones, whole toasted spices, and aromatics. You’ll want to keep a batch of broth in the freezer for an instant, soothing noodle bowl any night of the week.

4 lbs beef knuckle bones, rinsed
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
1 1/2 teapoons whole cloves
1 1/2 tsp allspice berries
1 1/2 tsp coriander seeds
3 whole star anise
1 lb yellow onions, peeled
1 (4-inch) piece ginger, halved lengthwise
3 oz Vietnamese rock candy or
palm sugar
1 (3-pound) flank steak
1/4 cup fine sea salt (not iodized)

1. Place bones in a 12-quart stockpot and add cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat; pour off and discard liquid. Rinse bones under cold running water. Wash pot.

2. Meanwhile, toast cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice, coriander, and star anise in a dry skillet over moderately high heat, shaking pan occasionally, until spices are toasted and aromatic, about 1 minute. Place spices in cheesecloth; secure with butcher’s twine.

3. Return bones to pot and add 2 gallons cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat, skimming impurities as they rise to the

4. surface, 25 to 30 minutes. Reduce heat to maintain a very gentle simmer. Add onions, ginger, and rock candy. Simmer 3 hours. Discard onions and ginger. Add spice pouch, flank steak, and 2 1/2 tablespoons salt; simmer until spices are infused, about 1 hour. Remove and discard pouch. Simmer gently until steak is cooked through and tender but not falling apart, about 1 hour.

5. Remove steak; let rest 15 minutes. Pour broth through a cheesecloth-lined fine wire-mesh strainer. Stir in remaining salt. Thinly slice steak against the grain.

Servings: 6

Source: Food and Wine

Author Notes
Broth and steak can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Place in separate containers; cover and chill.


Have a great day
 

20 comments:

  1. Ack. Very sorry about the broccoli. Glad you were able to get it unstuck though. Have you made any broth in your Instant Pot yet? Oh my yum. So tasty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I was a tad annoyed at the time Ivy, but it way well have been my fault not washing this lid carefully.

      No I haven't, I guess I should. Does it keep? I use a lot of chicken broth pre-made

      Delete
    2. Oh my gosh, I love making broth. I do a deep dark mushroom (video coming) broth. It keeps well and the rest I put in the freezer in my freezer-safe Mason jars. Works like a charm.

      Delete
    3. Guess I should try it rather than using the packet stuff. Bit short on time though Ivy. I will watch for your video.

      Delete
    4. Hey Jo. Video not out but when it does come out, I'll have a blogpost with the ingredients and method. This will serve for folks who don't have time or want for video, and give me a food blog to boot. But yeah, it's lovely. The broth. Just chuck and hands-free pressure cooking does the work.

      Delete
    5. I don't have a heck of a lot of time for anything lately Ivy, but will be interested to see your food blog. Especially the broth one.

      Delete
    6. True. You have a lot going on. If I lived closer, I'd help in whatever way I could.

      Delete
    7. Thanks Ivy, I know you would.

      Delete
  2. I will have to keep an eye out for "The Elephant Whisperer." Sounds like something I would enjoy. Day old broccoli not so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be right up your street David, fabulous story. Think he has written a second book too.

      No, the broccoli wasn't very good.

      Delete
  3. Thank you for the book review. Imight have to see if the library has it. I am a big fan of elephants and like you have frequently wept at the things we do to birds and animals.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You certainly need to get hold of it somewhere Sue, it is excellent reading.

      Delete
  4. My husband was trying to change his smart watch too. Me being naturally lazy never really gave it much thought.

    I over steam broccoli every now and again. I lose track of time easily.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I felt such an idiot once I realised it had changed itself Liz.

      Do you do it in your Instant Pot. You should, Then you can't over steam it, unless your valve gets stuck of course.

      Delete
  5. Sorry about the broccoli.
    I knew your watch would change itself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Ii hate wasting food of any kine Alex.

      Smart watch Smart Alex.

      Delete
  6. For the first time in ever, I have all the clocks at the right time. As I was changing them I found two that hadn't been changed the last go around. LOL I have too many clocks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean Yolanda. Having changed those that needed changing, we had a power outage for a few seconds today so I have to set some of them right again. Yes, definitely too many clocks.

      Delete
  7. We have yet to try our InstaPot, LOL. I'm thinking summer?? That book sounds interesting. I read a fiction story by Jodi Picoult called Leaving Time. One of the characters researched elephants so she wrote a lot about elephants and their behaviors in her book. It was fascinating, so I bet this one would even be better. Will have to put it on my TBR list.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come on Betty, get using it. You will find it a Godsend especially as you are working. I use mine in one way or another nearly every day.

      Yes, this is marvellous because it is true.

      Delete