Monday, July 17, 2017

Favorite New Quilting Tool and Blue Sky Fabric


She had high hopes.  She had high hopes.  She had high apple pie, in Blue Sky hopes.  Okay, maybe that's not quite how that song goes, but that was me this weekend.


About a month and a half ago, David, scored us a deal on yard cuts from a LQS of every print (but one, she sold out) in Andover's Blue Sky fabric line.  We were in love with the blues and creams.  But what good is a truck load of fabric if you don't do something with it.  So for the past few weeks, we have been working on possible design ideas to use these babies in.  The sky was the limit (yup gonna be a punny post, look out)  So this weekend, rotary cutter sharp and machine threaded I was ready to embark on a piece-athon and put together two of the three quilts we came up with.

Let's pause there for just a second (or two).  That brings me to my new favorite quilting tool...


The Instant Pot.  I know, I know.  This is technically not a "quilting tool," but I swear it is.  Some of the best quilting tools are technically not quilting related at all.  Instant Pot is turning out to be a time saver, there for, time saved means more time for quilting.  That's like finding time in a bottle!  Or rather a pot.

I discovered this magical kitchen device, during my trip to Julie's house (Pink Doxies) over the 4th of July.  She made us some of the best BBQ ribs I've eaten for dinner one evening.  While chopping some broccoli, she began telling me about the wonders of Instant Pot and how easy it is to use.  Basically, it is an electric pressure cooker.

Now, if you are like me, I instantly had flash backs to my mom, yelling at me to stop running through the house, because if you bounce the giggly thing off the pressure cooker on the stove by running, the pot will cause the house to explode!  Causing my fear of pressure cookers and a twitch in my eye just hearing the word.

But the tale that Julie spun, slowly relaxed the twitch in my eye and replaced it with a curious gleam, like a child in wonder.  A device that could cook food in a fraction of the time of an oven or crock pot.  I was in!

Quilting Life confession, and it pains me to admit this, but my family eats out/fast food way way more than we should.  Why?  I could makes excuses until the cows come home, but honestly, after working all day, running back out to the store after I get home and just poor planning on my part, most nights it's easier to just pick something up on the way home.  Who wants to eat a home cooked meal at 9PM??  I hate talking about it because it makes me feel bad.  I know we could be eating healthier.

So on Amazon Prime Day, I noticed the 8 quart Instant Pot was on sale for $40 off.  This was just enough to make me order it; a promise of home cooked meals and time saved.  So this weekend started my new cooking adventures and no eating out.

On Saturday, for a quick lunch between mowing and power washing the house, in less than 15 minuets, my family was snaking away on spinach artichoke dip.


Then a few hours later, after a 50 minute pressurized stay in the pot, we were enjoying wonderful pulled pork sandwiches (sorry no pics).  Sunday, brought about a few left overs from Saturday's cooking and chicken fettuccini alfredo cooked in less than 20 minutes.  And the sauce didn't come from a jar!


And when I was finished cooking, really all the clean up required was the dishes we ate on, and the Instant Pot itself.  I promise I'm not a paid spokes person for Instant Pot, but I'm a huge fan of anything that can help speed things along and give my family more healthy eating options.

With all the time saved this weekend, I was able to piece two quilt tops using the Blue Sky fabrics, but I think we will talk about those tomorrow.  I promise they will be worth the wait.  For now, I just want to give my new "quilting tool" time saver its own little day.

Do you have any favorite non-quilting quilting tools?  A favorite little gizmo that saves you time and allows you to do more of what you want to do...quilt.


Today I'm linking up with Main Crush Monday.

13 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

How awesome! I like my crock pot for that same reason; set it and forget it. My husband and I tend to cook a big meal on Sunday to use as lunch leftovers for the week and that along with meal planning on Sunday night (so I actually know what to buy at the grocery store on Monday) are huge helps for us sticking with healthier eating. The past month we've been so distracted by other things that our planning hasn't been happening and we've been eating out more... but we pulled it off this weekend. So, fingers crossed, we have a healthier eat at home week ourselves this week. Man, I got distracted. Favorite tools? I am going to go in a different direction: automatic / scheduled computer backups and Dropbox. I recommend you remember to backup your files (especially those patterns you are writing) and keep them online in a "cloud" somewhere should even the external backups have an issue. <3

Jayne said...

I do love my crock pot and if it makes a meal that lasts for days...count me in! I hate cooking! I only do it because a girls gotta eat, actually a husband does. I'd be happy with a can of soup and call it good!

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Tish,
Well, isn't that just the coolest thing?! I have been using a crock pot for years, but never heard of the Instant Pot. I agree with the eye tick and the word pressure cooker . . . hmm. I will investigate this! Thanks, and looking forward to seeing the new quilt tops. ~smile~ Roseanne

Goofin' Off Around the Block said...

I think you've hooked me on the Instant Pot. Love my crock pot, but this sounds even better. I do believe you can call it a quilting took when it helps you find more time for quilting...because there is never enough time for quilting. Have a great day! --Andrea

Nancy J said...

Lamb shanks, they are a whizz in a slow cooker, corned silverside, and a hearty casserole, I cut the topside in larger chunks, add carrots, onions, kumara, some seasoning and leave it to do its own magic. My best non-quilty tool??It has to be an automatic washing machine. My Mum had a copper, two tubs and a hand wringer, I began married life with a wringer machine and one tub, now it does it all by itself, well, I do have to dial the program!!! Your blues, they are a dream.

Tu-Na Quilts said...

Super cute post!!! My favorite little gizmo isn't new or little but I sure appreciate my husband doing the dishes. I've had to relax a bit as he has no control for "super clean" but he does get the job done.

Stitchin At Home said...

I LOVE my Instant Pot!!!! It sure makes life easier and cooking a meal in only one pot is great.

JanineMarie said...

Hmm, right now my favorite non-quilty tool if we're talking dinner is the grill. Why? Because my husband's the griller. (He's the dish washer, too, so double good.) All I have to do is throw a salad together. When I do the cooking, I love my electric skillet for stir fry. My food motto is, "If it takes longer to make it than eat it, it's too long." But for some reason I don't mind the time it takes to cut up the veggies. I love your Blue Skies bundle. Looking forward to seeing what you are up to with it.

KaHolly said...

I use a crock pot/slow cooker for a couple of things.....I'm not very good in the kitchen. Perhaps this contraption would be a good addition to my poor cooking. While we don't eat out (there really isn't anyplace to go), I keep meals pretty simple. Thanks for the heads up!

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

A slow cooker and a dishwasher - saves me a ton of time. I've never heard of the Instant Pot but it sounds like a good piece of equipment to have. I did buy an air fryer and find that I don't use it nearly as much as I thought I would. Hoping my Mom takes it off my hands so I don't have to find room to store it! :)

Janice Holton said...

My husband (the cook in this family) LOVES his pressure cooker! He makes it look so easy, I might have to learn how to cook! :)

But the thing in this post that REALLY interests me the most is your Blue Sky. As you know, I bought this line for one of my daughter's friends to make a quilt. I am going to LOVE seeing what you do with this scrumptious fabric!

Susan said...

I was in a local department store this past weekend, and a lady in front of us was getting one. And I, just like you, had the same reaction - eek! a pressure cooker! those things explode!
So I'm reading with interest your experience with it, and hope you share more on later posts. Maybe you'll convince me to give it a try, though not sure where to store another kitchen gadget!

Emily said...

I love my slow cooker, but we have been thinking of replacing it with an Instant Pot. I'm not quite ready to make the plunge, but you have inched me a little closer!

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