Freeze Your Own Homemade TV Dinner

NESCO/American Harvest Vacuum Sealers are ideal for storing all types of food items. Vacuum sealing locks in freshness and flavor. Ordinary storage methods trap air in with your food causing it to loose nutrition and taste.

NESCO/American Harvest Vacuum Sealers are great for frozen plan-ahead meals and single serving meals, or, as we like to call them TV Dinners. Unlike prepackaged store dinners you get to decide the food items and amounts in each meal. At the same time you can avoid unwanted ingredients often found in premade processed foods. And, you'll be saving money!

Try making up your own TV Dinners with a Vacuum Sealer from NESCO/American Harvest. Let us know some of your favorites.

Holliday Hot Wings

Using your NESCO 11 Quart Pressure Cooker this recipe for Chicken Wings is simple and fast. Adding honey to your favorite Smokey BBQ sauce gives the wings that right touch of sweetness.

Ingredients:

12-14 chicken wings cut into pieces

1 cup of water

1 3/4 cups of smoky BBQ sauce divided

4 tablespoons of honey divided

Cut 12-14 chicken wings into 3 pieces - the drumettes, wingettes (often called flats) and the tips. For this recipe we'll use just the drummettes and wingettes. Save and freeze the tips for next time you make homemade chicken stock.

Add wing pieces to you NESCO Pressure Cooker with ¾ cup of your favorite smoky BBQ sauce, 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of honey. Lock lid and set regulator knob to SEAL. Set for ten minutes on High Pressure and cook.

When wings are finished after 10 minutes of cooking remove to lightly greased cookie sheet. Place under broiler for 5 minutes or until crispy brown. Remove from broiler. Combine remaining BBQ sauce and honey and brush wings lightly. Enjoy.

NOTE: Wings may vary in size when purchased. Larger wings may require extra cooking time to be fully cooked. If so reset your pressure cooker and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Repeat if needed.

Try this recipe and let us know what you think. Also, let us know some of your favorite NESCO Pressure Cooker recipes.

Healthy Avocado Toast with Eggs

Hard cooked eggs have never been easier with the NESCO deluxe Egg Cooker. Add the eggs to avocado toast for a healthy way to start your day.  

Healthy Avocado Toast with Hard Boiled Eggs

8 eggs

2 avocados

chia seeds

sunflower seeds

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Wholegrain bread

fresh basil leaves

Measure the amount of water for hard boiled marked on the measuring cup and pour water into base.   

Use the pin on the measuring cup and prick each egg before placing on the tray (reduces cracking egg shells).

Remove the eggs and peel the egg shells under cool running water. Slice the eggs in half lengthwise. Toast the bread and spread mashed avocado over the toast. Garnish with basil, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, salt to taste.

Place the halved hard boiled eggs on top. Sprinkle with fresh pepper and serve. Makes 8 slices.

White Chicken Chili

When it comes to making great White Chicken Chili NESCO makes it simple with their line of versatile Pressure Cookers. This recipe is hearty and healthy, one the whole family will love. 

White Chicken Chili - Pressure Cooker

1 lb cooked chicken

1 packet of McCormick White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix

1 cup water

1 cup fresh chopped tomatoes

1 can of corn drained

1 can white beans un-drained

Sour cream and chives

Put chicken, water, beans, corn, tomatoes and seasoning in pressure cooker and cook for three minutes on HIGH pressure. Set regulator knob to SEAL. 

When complete, gently stir and serve with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of fresh chives.

Cooking Tips Using Bacon Fat

Almost anyone you talk with will tell you they love the taste of bacon. Here are a few bacon flavor tips when cooking with your NESCO 12” Electric Skillet.

§  Next time you make fried or scrambled eggs try substituting bacon fat in place of butter or oil.

§  After you fry bacon in you NESCO Electric Skillet use the drippings to make hot bacon dressing. It generally is served over spinach however other greens can work just as well.

§  Bacon drippings are also great for cooking greens such as kale and Brussels sprouts.

§  Next time you sauté shrimp or scallops try using a bit if bacon fat.

§  People often like to use bacon fat when making pancakes for a light smoky flavor.  And the perfect side to those pancakes – crispy bacon of course.

§  Bacon drippings also add a nice flavor to homemade skillet corn bread.

Try some of these bacon fat tips and let us know what you think. Also, let us know some of your favorite ways to cook with bacon drippings.

Toast Topping Tips

We all know of our traditional toast toppings such as our favorite butter, PB&J, cream cheese and so on. However it's fun to venture out.  Next time you make perfectly done toast in your NESCO Two Slice Toaster try one or more of the following. Let us know what you think, or some of your favorite or unusual toppings.

1. Peanut butter and mayo

2. Cold meatloaf and ketchup

3. Cheddar cheese and apple butter

4. Fried Spam and sliced pineapple

5. Peanut butter with a few drizzles of chocolate syrup

6. Cake frosting and crushed dried fruit

7. Cream cheese, cinnamon and thin sliced apple

8. Chocolate frosting, kiwi and pomegranate seeds

9. Chocolate frosting, marshmallows and pomegranate seeds

Chicken Roasting Tips

There are many great tips when roasting chickens in your NESCO 18 Quart Roaster oven. Here are a few to try.

1. Cook more than one chicken at a time. Your 18 Quart Roaster Oven can hold up to the chickens at a time. You can have one now and save the others for various recipes that call for cooked chicken, like chicken tacos or tasty chicken salad.

2. Some people like to tie the wings and legs down then cook their whole chicken breast side down for about twenty minutes. Then they turn it breast side up and finish cooking until done. It helps make for juicer white meat.

3. Try rubbing dried herbs under the breast and leg skin for a wonderful flavor. To do so take your fingers and very carefully separate the skin from the meat leaving skin attached in the back. Then sprinkle in and lightly spread your favorite dried herb over meat. Dried tarragon is great. Press skin back over meat. Tie legs together, roast and enjoy.

Try some of these tips and let us know what you think. Also let us know some of your favorite tips.

Candied Sweet Potatoes

If you like yams you’ll love this recipe for Orange-Flavored Candied Yams made simple in your NESCO 11 Quart Pressure Cooker. Grated orange zest really adds to the overall orange flavor. Brown sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness everyone will love.

Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think. Also let us know what are some or your favorite NESCO Pressure Cooker Recipes.

1 cup orange juice

2 large sweet potatoes (yams) 

salt, to taste

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp grated orange zest

2 Tbsp butter

Pour the orange juice into the NESCO® 6 Qt. 3-in-1 Digital Pressure Cooker. 

Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them in half lengthwise. Arrange in a steamer basket (if available) and sprinkle with salt, brown sugar and orange zest. Dot with butter. Lower the steamer basket into the pressure cooker. Lock the lid in place and turn regulator knob to SEAL. Program for HIGH pressure and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.

When cooking is complete, use the Quick or Natural release method and open the lid. Lift out the sweet potatoes boil down the sauce until thickened and pour over the sweet potatoes.

Tips for Whipping Egg Whites

Whipping egg whites can be quick and simple with your NESCO Digital Hand Mixer. 

When whipping egg whites it's best to use a metal bowl such as stainless steel or copper. Avoid an aluminum bowl as it can alter the color of your eggs. 

Adding a half teaspoon of cream of tarter for two or more eggs will help keep the whipped egg whites firm.

When making meringue add 2 tablespoons of white sugar for each egg. Add sugar slowly while beating eggs. Whip until stiff peaks form.

Try some of these tips and let us know what you think. Also, let us know some of the recipes you make with your NESCO Hand Mixer.

Stir Fried Vegetable Delight

This vegetable packed dish is quick and simple with your NESCO 12 inch Electric Skillet. You'll love the depth of flavor and the freshness of all the vegetables. A touch of lemon juice adds just the right amount of brightness. For seafood lovers simply add the optional precooked shrimp.

Try and let know what you think. Also, let us know what other recipes you like to make in your NESCO Electric Skillet. 

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/3 lb green beans, sliced diagonally in 1 inch lengths

2 green or red peppers, seeded and sliced

1 carrot, coarsely grated

3/4 lb (30 medium) mushrooms, sliced

1 small bunch bok choy or chard

1-3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp fresh ginger root, grated

1 small red onion, sliced

1 zucchini, sliced

1/4 lb tofu, cubed

1½ tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp thyme

3 Tbsp minced parsley

1 tsp lemon juice

3 Tbsp soy sauce or to taste

6-8 Medium pre-cooked or fresh shrimp (optional)

Combine oil, garlic, ginger root, onion, peppers, beans and carrot and place in the preheated NESCO 12 inch Electric Skillet for 3 minutes.

Add mushrooms, bok choy, zucchini, tofu, herbs and shrimp. Pour lemon juice and soy sauce over vegetables and cook 3-5 minutes. 

Serve over rice. Serves 1-3.

Heating Up Your Holiday Drinks

The NESCO 1.8 Liter Glass Water Kettle is ideal for making delicious hot holiday drinks. It boils water faster than a microwave and uses half the energy of a stovetop. 1500 watts of power quickly heats water for all your drinks like Tom & Jerry’s, hot toddies, spiced teas and hot instant cocoas.

For great Tom & Jerry’s the Internet offers dozens of delicious recipes. The base of hot water, whipped eggs and liquor makes the perfect foundation for a rich creamy drink. From there the added flavor combinations are almost endless. Grated nutmeg and cinnamon are a favorite. Try a few and let us know what you think. Also let us know what are some of your favorite uses for your NESCO Glass Water Kettle.