Instant Pot: Zucchini & Basil Soup

zucchini & basil soup

I have zucchini and basil in my garden now, and I am trying to find new ways to eat it.  I know hot soup may not be too appealing for those of us who are living in the heat of summer, but this soup is so yummy AND so quick to make.  (Especially if you have an INSTANT POT). It’s a no brainer when it comes to a quick, healthy and soothing dinner or lunch entree.

zucchini & basil soup garden basil

zucchini & basil, what a great combination!

This is such a soothing, mild tasting soup. It must be pretty good, because my son asked for seconds AND asked if he could take some home for his lunch the next day. Hmmmmm! This would be a good soup to make a double batch of and freeze for another quick meal. For those of you who eat dairy products, a little shredded Parmesan cheese added just before serving, is quite yummy!

zucchini & basil soup

Ingredients (serves 6)

  • 4 cups of chicken broth, stock or bone broth
  • 3 medium zucchinis, roughly chopped (if the zucchinis are young, organic and the skin is not tough, leave the skin on) Otherwise, peel.
  • 1 large leek, chopped and rinsed well
  • 1 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • Juice of 1/4 lemon
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • Shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)
zucchini & basil soup

Instructions

  • Choose the “saute” button on the Instant Pot
  • Add the olive oil to the pan and saute for 4-5 minutes. Stir frequently
  • Add leeks and only 1/4 cup of the basil. Cook for an additional 2 minutes
  • Turn off “saute”
  • Add the broth, salt and lemon juice.
  • Stir well
  • Place the lid on the pot and close the pressure valve
  • Press the “manual” button and set the time for 8 minutes.
  • Use a “natural pressure release”, unless you are in a hurry, you can do a “quick release”.
  • Using an immersion blender, puree the soup while still in the pot. You can also transfer soup to a blender in little batches and blend.
  • This can also be made without the Instant Pot if you don’t have one. Just follow the instructions and adjust cooking time to 20-25 minutes or until zucchini is tender.
  • Serve with a sprinkle of fresh chopped basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese is optional.

 

zucchini & basil soup

There you have it, another Instant Pot soup recipe and a way to use up those yummy zucchinis growing in your garden.

Enjoy!

Instant Pot: Zucchini & Basil Soup

zucchini & basil soup

This soup is so yummy AND so quick to make.  (Especially if you have an INSTANT POT). It’s a no brainer when it comes to a quick, healthy and soothing dinner or lunch entrée.

 

  • Prep Time5 min
  • Cook Time10 min
  • Total Time15 min
  • Yield6 Servings
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Ingredients

    • 4 cups of chicken broth, stock or bone broth
    • 3 medium zucchinis, roughly chopped (if the zucchinis are young, organic and the skin is not tough, leave the skin on) Otherwise, peel.
    • 1 large leek, chopped and rinsed well
    • 1 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
    • 3 tbsp olive oil
    • Juice of 1/4 lemon
    • 2 tsp sea salt
    • Shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)
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INSTUCTIONS

1

Choose the “saute” button on the Instant Pot

 
2

Add the olive oil to the pan and saute for 4-5 minutes. Stir frequently

3

Add leeks and only 1/4 cup of the basil. Cook for an additional 2 minutes

4

Turn off “saute”

5

Add the broth, salt and lemon juice.

6

Stir well

7

Place the lid on the pot and close the pressure valve

8

Press the “manual” button and set the time for 8 minutes.

9

Use a “natural pressure release”, unless you are in a hurry, you can do a “quick release”.

10

Using an immersion blender, puree the soup while still in the pot. You can also transfer soup to a blender in little batches and blend.

11

This can also be made without the Instant Pot if you don’t have one. Just follow the instructions and adjust cooking time to 20-25 minutes or until zucchini is tender.

12

Serve with a sprinkle of fresh chopped basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese is optional.

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DIY: Carabiner Keychain Tutorial

carabiner keychain
carabiner keychain

Lost your keys AGAIN? If you are one who can not keep track of your keys, this DIY tutorial is for YOU! I am going to show you how easy it is to make a carabiner keychain. It really is a snap!

DIY carabiner keychain

Seriously, why is it so hard to find your dang keys? You know the drill. You get to the car and the fumbling begins. Reaching your hand in the endless pit of STUFF in your purse, there are no keys to be found.  You try one pocket, then another, not there. Oh the FRUSTRATION!.  Now you are all worked up and stressed. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way!

DIY carabiner keychain

I have found something that WORKS! My husband has been using a carabiner keychain for a long time and he always knows where his keys are. So I decided to make my own. I know it’s not the most feminine thing, but the purses I enjoy are a little playful and whimsy anyway, so it works for me. In fact, it has been working quite well. I LOVE IT!

Right when I get out of the car, I simply clip my keys to the side loop of my purse and let the keys fall inside. When I am ready to get in the car, I EASILY unclip the carabiner, and viola, keys in hand I am ready to roll. Works like a charm.

Are you ready to simplify your life a little? I am telling you, this is a game-changer.

To make your own carabiner keychain you will need

DIY carabiner keychain

1″- 1 1/4 ” Split Key Ring

I like to buy a variety of sizes like is in this set. They do come in handy for other things. You can find them at most stores, often at the checkout aisle.

2 1/2 – 3 ” Carabiner

You can get these at Home Depot, Amazon, or other hardware stores. This one from Amazon comes with the split keyring.

DIY carabiner keychain
DIY carabiner keychain

I am a recycler! This is my box of random webbing pieces that I have salvaged from different things that I no longer want or use. (bags, backpacks, coats, etc.) I save the hardware as well. They really do come in handy for a lot of things. So if you don’t have a stash yet of random webbing, something you may want to consider. (Keep it to a minimum, remember) I don’t want to promote a hoarding scenario here.

Sewing Machine

Scissors

1- Cut 6 1/2 inches of webbing

DIY carabiner keychain

2- Thread the webbing into the ring

Fold the top piece up 2 “

DIY carabiner keychain

3- Sew the top webbing to the bottom 1/2 ” from the fold

You can use a zigzag stitch or two straight stitches.

DIY carabiner keychain

4- Fold the bottom webbing piece under 1/2″

DIY carabiner keychain

5- Fold the top piece so it overlaps the bottom piece

It should measure 2 1/2 “.

DIY carabiner keychain

6- Topstitch the upper loop

Using a zigzag or straight stitch, to secure the top folded webbing in place.

DIY carabiner keychain

7- Slip the carabiner onto the top loop

Add your keys and you are ready to ROLL!

DIY carabiner keychain

This is how my husband hooks his keys to his backpack. They can also be attached to a belt buckle.

DIY carabiner keychain

If you have any questions while sewing these up, shoot me a note.

Get ready for hassle-free key accessibility!

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN MY TUTORIAL ON HOW TO MAKE AN EARPHONE CORD HOLDER. 

DIY carabiner keychain

Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Read More

How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries

Who loves raspberries? I sure do! The berries in our garden are coming on strong right now. There have been so many that we can’t eat them all before it’s time to pick again. I have been sharing them with my neighbors and we have been eating them by the handfuls. It finally dawned on me, “I should be freezing these red gems!” I am going to show you how simple it is to clean and freeze any kind of berry.

Raspberries are always included in my smoothie every morning, but I have been using the frozen berry blend from Costco. I figure I will get at least 2 quarts of frozen berries per week until fall hits. This will save us a bunch of money, and knowing where they came from is even better (organic) and grown with love!

Picking Raspberries

Harvesting berries can be quite a chore, but oh so worth it! You have to put on long sleeves, so they don’t scratch up your arms and they have to be picked every other day. I swear that they multiply while you are picking. You can pick an area and by the time you come back to it, there are more ripe berries. That is why I like to have two people picking at the same time. It gets done faster, you have someone to talk to and you seem to do a more thorough job.

I have found that if you pick the raspberries regularly and don’t let them get all dried and shriveled up, they produce better. It’s like the raspberry bush feels appreciated if you pick them regularly therefore they produce more full, plump, and juicy berries. I know there is probably a more scientific explanation for the benefit of frequent picking, but I like this one.

raspberries

Raspberries are chuck full of goodness! Raspberries are not just yummy; they are also rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber.

One cup of raspberries will provide you with

  • 54% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C
  • 41% of your recommended daily intake of manganese,
  • 32% of your recommended daily intake of fiber (8 grams)
  • 12% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin K.

Here are some of the benefits :

  • Cancer-Fighting Properties
  • Maintains cardiovascular health
  • Improves fertility
  • Mood and Memory Boosting
  • Healthy Tissues and Blood Vessels
  • Boosts Immunity
  • Maintains Eye Health
  • Good for Diabetics
  • Aids in Weight Loss

Not bad for something so sweet tasting and beautiful.

If you don’t have a raspberry patch in your garden, try to find them somewhere! Hopefully, you have access to a local farmers’ market or grocery store that sells them fresh. If you can’t find them fresh anywhere, stores sell them already frozen.

On that note, let’s talk about freezing your berries. This is not difficult at all. Raspberries seem so fragile to wash, but this method will keep the berries together and it doesn’t’ mash them. This method works great for all berries and blueberries.

How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
Fill the sink with cold water.
Place berries in a strainer/colander and gently lower the colander into the sink.
Swish the berries around a little and let them sit for 3-5 minutes.
How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
Run cold water over the berries and pick out any stems or grass.
How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
Let the berries drain for a few minutes.

I love this strainer. You can adjust the width so it fits on top of the sink edge for hands free draining. Works really nicely for washing veggies as well.

How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
While the berries are draining, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
Dump the berries onto a clean dish towel. (Preferably one that you won’t mind if it gets stains on it).

Allow them to sit for a few minutes to absorb some of the moisture.

How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
Carefully dump the berries onto the parchment lined cookie sheet.

Evenly spread around so there is a SINGLE layer of berries.

How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
Place the pan of berries into the freezer for 1-2 hours or until frozen.
How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
Take the berries out of the freezer and break apart any clumps.
How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries
Place the frozen berries into a zip bag and label the date.

Work quickly so berries don’t thaw out. If they start to thaw, they will clump together when freezing.

There you have it! Raspberries whenever you want them.

How to Clean And Freeze Raspberries

What do you do with frozen berries?

  • add them to smoothies
  • they make a great snack, especially in the hot summer
  • add to a cup of yogurt, cereal and ice cream!
  • make jam, sauces and berry syrup
  • add to salads
  • make a berry shake
  • of course, a yummy pie! (my husbands favorite way to use raspberries).

So, if you have berries coming out your ears, or just want to preserve them for a later date, this is how easy it is.

Enjoy!

Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Read More