Cooking under Pressure

Everyone remembers their grandmothers making something in their pressure cooker and it exploding all over the kitchen ceiling. It happened when I was a child, it was applesauce. Well, the reason it happened was because of their pressure cooker, and the pressure inside getting to big and it exploding! The thing about a pressure cooker is, you can make really great, flavorful meals in about 20 minutes. Some things that take hours on the stove are done in minutes.

So....I've been trying something new. I've been cooking with my pressure cooker and trying to make some new meals for the family. I've always cooked artichokes in it and sometimes swiss steak, but that's about it. Last week I made a beef stew. It was so yummy. I got a new cookbook and it had a questionable recipe for meatloaf and chedder smashed potatoes. I was game, so I figured I would do a photo essay of the prep. Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Potatoes and water in pressure cooker:

Meatloaf is placed on steamer rack and put on top of potatoes.
Put on lid and bring up the pressure. Cook for ten minutes, yes that's TEN minutes for a meatloaf and mashed potatoes!
Open cooker, remove meatloaf and let sit for 5 minutes. Drain potatoes and add some milk and cheddar cheese. MASH!

Enjoy!