Miller Family Recipes

Who doesn't love mashed potatoes.  I cook for Beth's family and they are bonkers over mashed potatoes.  I only use Idaho potatoes when making mashed potatoes.  This is so much faster and cleaner than boiling on top of the stove. If I'm in a hurry, I have the pot heating up on saute and put the water in first and then the potatoes. 5-8 lb. peeled and cut up potatoes (I cut a medium potato into quarters) 1 c. water  2 cubes butter milk  salt and pepper   Pour the water into the Instapot. Pour the water in. Cook for 8 min. with a fast release. Mash the potatoes a little at a time in a separate bowl.  

 I love this recipe only I usually use Spam...really, I do.  I don't eat Spam any other way, but in this, it's yummy.  This also makes up really fast. 2 Tblsp. toasted sesame oil (or veg. oil, even though it's bad for you unless it's olive or avocado) 1/2 c. diced onion (I really like sliced green onion instead) 1  frozen bag carrots and peas 4 eggs, scrambled 3 c. cooked rice 2 c. cooked chicken shredded or 1 can Spam 2 Tblsp. butter salt and pepper   Heat a large frying pan or wok over medium heat. Add the sesame oil, onions, and carrots; saute until the carrots and onions are starting to become tender. Add the peas to the pan and stir well. Scramble eggs  Add the soy sauce to the onion, carrots, peas, chicken (Spam), rice, butter, salt and pepper. Serve with Yum Yum sauce if desired

I LOVE homemade refried beans.  This is a recipe I've tweeked a few times, but I think I've got a version I'm happy with.  It's super easy and super good. I use anywhere from 2-4 c. pinto beans (usually 4c. cause I love them so much) 2-4 lbs. picked over and washed pintos chopped onion 1 32 oz. box chicken broth 1 1/2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. oregano 1 tsp. garlic power 6-8 Tblsp. bacon fat or butter (bacon fat is yum)  3 c. water Salt to taste after cooking   Place pintos, water, broth, onions, in the instant pot. Move the vent to "seal". Press MANUAL and cook on HIGH for 45 minutes Once the 45 minutes are up, let the pressure release naturally for 25 minutes.  Then, move the vent to "venting" and let the remaining steam release. Open the lid. Ladle 2-3 c. of the cooking liquid into a bowl or measuring cup. Drain the beans into a large colander. Return the beans to the pot and use an immersion blender (or potato masher) to puree the beans.  Add in some of ...

Nathan needed some valentine cookies so I found this on Pinterest from Two Sisters.  I like to use one of the smaller scoopers because this is a cookie that's a bit thinner if it's bigger but great if it's smaller. I didn't make this frosting but just made a buttercream with raspberry flavoring instead of vanilla. **This raspberry frosting gets a stronger taste after several hours.  Consider making it the day before.  

I went looking for a recipe for Asian cucumbers when Genevieve told me that a mother of a friend of her's made the most amazing Asian cucumbers.  Challenge taken...I've found the most amazing Asian cucumbers....I'm not to be outdone ;) Vieves will sit and eat an entire container of these. For 1 English cucumber: 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 Tblsp. sesame oil 3/4 Tblsp. soy sauce 1 Tblsp. sugar 3/4 Tblsp. rice vinegar 1 Tblsp. chili oil (I don't use that much) 1/2 Tblsp. sesame seeds (just use however much you like)   I make this in a mason jar...it's like 10 recipes all put together.  If you're going to the effort to make the small batch, you might as well just make the big batch and keep it in the fridge. I keep adding more cucumbers to the liquid in the container...I don't pour all of this big batch all at once onto a batch of cucumbers.  I just like having more in the fridge when I need more.   1 tsp. salt 1/4 c. sesame oil 1/3 c. light soy sauce 6 Tblsp. sugar 1/3 ...