Go Go Gadgets

     I certainly like my Instant Pot. As I blogged earlier the hard boiled eggs I made in it were the easiest I have ever peeled. And after posting about them I had a couple of people say they liked to make baked potatoes in their pots. My friend Chris said he makes them in his pressure cooker then crisps the outside in the oven. I decided to try that.
     My menu was to be Chuck Roast, Baked Potatoes, and a Corn Casserole. Wanting more flavor on the roast I looked for something new. I found a recipe on a site called "I Heart Eating" for a "Crock Pot Roast" . It was a slow cooker recipe that called for beef broth and 20 cloves of garlic. I pulled out the first gadget, my trusty "Crock Pot" slow cooker. Peeled 20 cloves of garlic, seasoned the beef with salt, pepper and dried time, browned the roast, put a couple cups of beef broth in the slow cooker along with the browned meat and garlic. What is it they say? Set it and forget it. I some times feel like a slow cooker is cheating. It set on the counter and did the work. But that  gave me time to cut and split some wood and watch the twins!                                                                                                I used a recipe for the corn casserole credited to Paula Deen. Her recipe differed from my wife Donna's in that it uses sour cream. My mother used to put sour cream in hers. And unlike my mothers it also called for cheddar cheese on the top. Of course the sour cream and cheese really kicks up the calories. It was made in the oven of course and was scheduled to take more time than the Instant Pot baked potatoes.
    So on to the potatoes. They couldn't have been easier. A little water in the bottom of the cooker and place the potatoes above the water on the rack. I set it for 20 minutes but they weren't quite done so I ran them for 5 extra minutes. I believe that is just getting used to using the gadget. I'll set it for 25 minutes the next time if I have similar sized potatoes. But they tasted just as you would expect baked potatoes to taste. I ate them with a little gravy made from the juices in the slow cooker. The girls used butter and sour cream on theirs.
    Well both of my gadgets performed well today. I wasn't disappointed with anything that I served. Truly comfort food! Donna likes her version of the corn casserole better, but  granddaughter Lily said the roast was the best she has ever had. I do like my gadgets! I wonder, I have seen an Air Fryer advertised on television! What do you think?