About Peggy & Me

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I brought home a digital electric pressure cooker sometime in 2009.  And I’ve been obsessed with it since.  Come on, I even gave it a name!  I named her Peggy!!!  Yes, it’s a she!!!

I don’t know what the heck I was doing before a pressure cooker came into my life.  Cooking before a pressure cooker was just uneventful.  But cooking after a pressure cooker came into my life has just been mouth-watering and tasty!!!

I’ve always been afraid of pressure cookers.  I thought people were crazy to want to use one and risk the chance of having food blow up in their kitchen, sending red staining sauces onto their ceilings.  I’ve heard loads of horror stories from friends, relatives and neighbors.  But that was back in the dark ages, when people used old-fashioned stove-top pressure cookers that had an annoying rattling valve on the lid.  And these old-fashioned models always had gauges that you had to constantly mess with.  No sir, I don’t like it!

My electric pressure cooker is 100% digital and automatic.  I pretty much set it and forget it.  Except for the part where I turn the valve to exhaust the hot pressure, that’s my favorite part!  Choo-choo!!!  I decided that since I was so in love with my digital electric pressure cooker, I just had to share the love with other cooks as well.  I mean, it made cooking just so much easier, quicker and tastier!  Who wouldn’t want to bask in all the lovely goodness?

So I decided to start a blog.  A blog about cooking with my pressure cooker, including recipes and my oh-so-fabulously-amateur photos!  Enjoy!!!

Featured Product Stats:
Elite Platinum by Maxi-Matic
8 Qt. Digital Electric Pressure Cooker

Model EPC-807

 

42 Replies to “About Peggy & Me”

  1. Sonia says:

    Hi,
    I am waiting for my pressure cooker to arrive today.I found this great website and will keep connected.This will be an exciting new venture.I have read so many good things about this appliance.Good luck everyone….a great new cooking adventure on the way.
    Sonia

  2. Martha Fair says:

    Just received my new 6Qt. digital pressure cooker a couple days ago. It was a Christmas gift to me. Like you, I have always been afraid to use a pressure cooker; but, after seeing this one demonstrated on QVC, I decided to try it because I’m all about quick, delicious, cooking. I just retired and and want to spend my time doing other things; however, I don’t like eating out all the time. I have a gluten allergy and cook healthy, gluten free foods.

    We have 8″ of snow and we live on the top of a live mountain near the Smokies in TN; so, we will be at home for 2 or 3 days. I just put on a pot of white beans with some left over Christmas ham. I just heard the beeper go off so I’m excited to see how they turned out.

    I found your web site in the instruction manual that came with my cooker and was glad to find this blog.

    1. Welcome to the pressure cooker club Martha!!! Let me know if you need any help with your machine.

      And yes, Elite is officially backing up my blog and the recipes. But I didn’t think the printed manuals were going to be out until Feb-Mar. Odd how you got one already. Hmmm….

    2. Brenda says:

      Hey Martha & Patty! I also just got my 8 qt “Peggy”! I ordered mine off HSN and it came in on 1/13/2012. I found this site in the back of my Elite recipe book also. I am going to try your recipe for the Beef Rump Roast today. I live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and our weather is cold right now and calling for snow tonight! Looking forward to trying new recipes with my new helper! Thanks for the website…it sure came in handy today!
      Brenda

      1. Brenda says:

        Just an update….I cook your recipe for a whole chicken w/frozen veggies tonight! The chicken was falling off the bone tender and the frozen veggies gave it a good flavor. My only problem was the veggies were cooked to nearly mush. We still ate them, but had to use a spoon. Next time, I will add all of them in the last 5 minutes. Tomorrow night, trying out the Beef Pot Roast!! My husband came home from work and yelled “I smell groceries cooking!” He loved it!! Thanks for the recipes!

  3. peggy says:

    just trying mine out now. I am doing a pot roast with onions, potatoes, & carrots. By the way, my name is Peggy, so I think I’ll call my cooker after my husband, Mike (because he’s hot!)

    1. Haha, that’s funny. So how did the pot roast turn out? If you have any questions about how to use it, feel free to send me a message.

      1. Brenda says:

        Oh My Goodness…the pot roast was to die for!!! Sooo good, quick to fix, etc. The next day, I actually set the “pre-set timer” for pork ribs, went to song practice at church, came home and the house smelled sooo good, ribs were done…just sat down and pigged out!! Can you tell I love my PC? 🙂

    2. Mari says:

      Just got the machine. I am afraid of it and hate reading instructions. I have a roast in the ready to try it. I have carrots and onions, too. What did you do. Help please! I would love to surprise my honey tonight.
      Thanks,
      Mari

      1. Hi Mari,
        Don’t worry. If your roast is about 3lbs or so, I would program it to cook for about 40-minutes w/o the carrots and onions first. Make sure you add liquid with it, like water, chicken stock, etc.
        When that’s done, release pressure and open lid, then add the veggies and program to cook for another 10-minutes. And that’s it. I hope that helps.

  4. Stella says:

    Thank you Thank you Thank you
    I just received my Elite 8 quart PC and I have been scared to use it – I got it as a gift and the manual was damaged – looked as if it was wet, I downloaded the one from website, reading the manual made me more confused. I have never used an Electric PC and it can be a little intimidating.
    I am going to make Chicken Parm in mine tonight – and I like the idea of naming “him” – my man is very hot but does not cook, heck he is the only one I know who can burn boiling water,,,,hahaha
    So my PC’s name is Antonio.
    Thank you againa dn I will let you know how it turns out.

    1. Do let me know how it turns out. If you need any help using the PC, just let me know.
      I love the name Antonio!!

  5. Kate says:

    What a great blog! I wasn’t sure I was going to take my PC out of the box until I found this site. Thank you for all the great advice and recipes. Maybe I’ll take mine out this weekend and try one of these yummy recipes.

  6. Lydia says:

    Just received my pc, took it out of the box, now just walking around looking at it (it looks big, but after watching qvc I feel I can handle ) glad I found this site , will actually try a receipe soon. Thanks

  7. Juli P says:

    Having never used a pressure cooker before, but deciding to give it a try, I was thrilled to see the Peggy Under Pressure Blog site in the manual for my new Elite 8qt. cooker. I cooked pinto beans in it and could not believe how easy it was and how good they came out. The texture, the flavor and being able to season, after pressure released, with lid up, for a few minutes more to get a creamier texture was so simple. I am going to try the Leek & Asparagus Risotto tonight. Being new to this type of cooking, I’m curious about appropriate cookware that will fit inside in order to make, say a cheesecake, or ? Any info on that, if known, would be much appreciated. Again, so thrilled that this site is here to get great ideas from like the 1/4 time in place of slow cooker recipe times by Amber J, not to mention all the recipes to try! Thanks!

  8. Larry says:

    Hey, give some pointers for starting out with this cooker of mine. JoAnn, my wife is into weight watchers to better us and our girls. I’m into home made meats, smoking, etc. Any off the wall things for me or health delicious recipes for her would be appreciated. As for me, have 10 lbs. of bacon to smoke then its fresh home made pork and beans in “Miss Twister”. ha ha! Will let you know the turn out in a day or two, depends on if I get a chance to get out of the Kitchen. Thanks

  9. Albert B says:

    Hi Everyone,

    Just got my 8qt cooker today! Never used one before, So hope this site gives a lot recipes for use in it.

    If by change does anyone have a good one for chicken noodle soup, Pot Roast?

    one i am temped on trying is Pork & Sauerkraut, I have done this in the slow cooker. But not sure on the timing for the pressure cooker.

    Thanks!

  10. Dolores says:

    Just found your site…. I am trying to find a manuel for the 8 qt cooker… Does any one have an extra one….Thanks

  11. Cathy says:

    I have you done any canning with this cooker. It says you can but does not recommend canning meat or seafood. Do you know why.

    1. No I don’t. Sorry. And I haven’t done canning in it. I have heard of people canning in it without any problems, but I just haven’t tried it myself.

  12. Frances says:

    Hi, I love to watch your blog, full of information and the picture is pretty. Will you consider adding videos?

    1. I actually have considered it but I really don’t know how to edit videos at all.

  13. Lauri says:

    Hi~
    Glad I found your blog. VERY well done and intertaining, on top of the fab easy to follow recipes!
    My Elite 8qt should arrive any day now. The pressure cooker does not (unfortunately) come with a rack or trivet.
    What is your suggestion on where to buy them, or what from home to use as a substitute?
    Thanks for the help & the blog!
    (I’m just naming mine “P.C.”, since I already think of it as that.)
    Lauri

  14. Leah says:

    Love the newer model ELITE EPC- 808. Have your reworked the manual’s Old Fashion Rice Pudding? Something is wrong, esp between steps #3, #4 and #5. It says “When cooking is complete, use the Quick or Natural release method and remove the lid.” No mention of what temp, time etc. It is confusing. TIA

  15. Wendy Bowers says:

    Just discovered this site and I think it’s great. I just received my new electric PC a few days ago. I haven’t used it yet but now that I have some place to turn for help if I need it I’m looking forward to experimenting. I’ll have to think of a name for mine, I think that’s a great idea. It sort of makes you partners in the adventure.

    I do have one question, my new PC is 7 quart, do you think I’ll need to make adjustments in your recipes for the slightly smaller size?

    Thanks in advance for your help!

    1. Patty says:

      Nah. I never make a full 8Qt. of anything unless it’s a soup. And you pretty much just don’t overfill and you’ll be fine. Have fun!!!

  16. I just bought my PC COOKER WEEK AGO I tried to make the brown rice I used to cups of brown rice and 1 1/2 of water push the start botton that says brown rice but my rice came out little raw and sticky I tried agian and I put Teaspoon of oil same thing whast am I doing wrong. Please Help by the way I cook baby back ribs and my Hubby love them THNK YOU

    1. Patty says:

      Two cups of Brown rice is bit of a small quantity for an 8Qt. pot. So I recommend that you cook at least enough rice that it fills up the pot by about an inch. And the tip that I always learned from my mom about cooking rice, was to add enough water that the water overlaps the rice by 1/2 an inch to an inch. Since you’re cooking brown rice, it needs more water than white rice. So put enough water in that it rises above the rice by 1-inch. Give that a try and see if it helps. Cooking time should also be around 15-minutes. I’m not sure what the cook time is in the pre-programmed function for the newer model.

    2. Leah says:

      I made rice today.
      One cup brown rice
      One cup white rice.
      3.5 cups water

      Used brown rice button (23 minutes, I think). Perfect rice.

  17. Rick Dickenson says:

    I find browning time too short.It is telling me to use the brown rice setting to brown but it is not long enough and I have to wait for it to cool enough to use it again. Is there a way around this? Other than the browning I am really liking the results.

    1. Rick Dickenson says:

      Hi Peggy, Ihave the Elite 8Qt. I am using the brown rice setting to brown but the time is never long enough. I have to shut it off and wait to finish browning. I sometimes have to do this three times to do what I want. How do I get around this?

  18. ANN says:

    I got my Cruisinart electric pressure cooker for Christmas .I have been just looking at it .I want to try beef stew tonight .It’s cold here in Alabama .Any suggestions ? I have a recipe that came with it .i just don’t want to blow it up lol

  19. Kate says:

    My new PC just arrived and this is my new favorite site.

    1. Ann says:

      Hi Kate ! I have cooked two times in my pc and we loved it .I cooked roasted chicken and vegetablesAlso a beef roast and vegetables .Myhubby said it was the best roast I have ever cooked .

  20. giacat says:

    cooking for the second time with my new PC tonight and used the insert to brown but did it on my gas stove. went faster than using the PC setting. Hope it’s ok to do that with the pot…any one else do it that way?

  21. Nathaleen says:

    Love my PC. Love your recipes!

  22. Ann says:

    I cooked pinto beans and ground beef .It was wonderful kind of like a soup .We ate cornbread and cheese in it .

    1. Brenda says:

      Hey Ann….where did you get the recipe for the pinto beans and hamburger? My husband loves pinto beans (I have to eat them with a little chow chow on top) If you can, share your recipe with me.

  23. ANN says:

    http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2009/02/pressure-cooker-recipe-for-pinto-bean.html
    ——————————–SHARING WEBSITE FOR PINTO BEANS AND GROUND BEEF SOUP .THIS IS WONDERFUL !

    1. Brenda says:

      Ann…this sounds sooo good….I am going to cook it for our Singspiration at church! Thanks for sharing!

      1. 14591850945026022212 says:

        Brenda
        I changed the recipe some for us .thought you might like my version .
        I used rotel tomatoes and peppers ( 1can ). Chopped tomatoes 1/2 can .I also had to simmer a few minutes with the lid off .My beans needed to cook a little more and also this made the sauce thicker .Enjoy Ann!

  24. Gloria says:

    I have used a stove top pressure cooker for years (yes, I blew something up one time), but had never seen an electric PC until recently. My husband ordered one. It is his new toy, and he’s certainly made the most of it, but my turn to play with comes today. I am going to make the corned beef recipe. We like our new PC so much, we have ordered a smaller one for our son. He recently moved away to attend med school and is cooking for himself!

    Oh, and I’m going to have to come up with a name for my PC, too.

    Love the blog. Thanks so much!

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