Creamy garlic parmesan chicken orzo with peas "dump meal"

 Another meal where I just dumped stuff (even frozen) into the pressure cooker and it came out so good!  And it was fast and easy.  

Hit Saute button, allow to heat fully. Then add:

1/4 c butter
1 box whole wheat orzo

Toast the orzo for about 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn off pot. 
Add:

1 onion, chopped
6-8 cloves garlic (2 tablespoons minced, can use frozen or adjust for taste) 
1 bag (16 oz) frozen peas
4 cups cooked, chopped chicken
1 tablespoon Bouquet Garni (Penzey's) or Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon garlic and herb seasoning
1 tsp salt
5 cups water

Stir. Close lid and lock seal.  Cook on high for 4 minutes.  After cooking time is over, slowly release the pressure. 

Add:
4 oz shredded or chopped parmesan cheese
4 oz of cream cheese, cut into little cubes.  

Stir well.  If it seems too thick, thin down with a bit of milk.  

Makes 8 servings.  

Meal Plan Lists - Soups

Beef/Lamb	Chicken/Turkey
Chili* Beef Stew Irish (Lamb) Stew Beef & barley Mexican beef & rice* Chili mac* Stuffed pepper Cabbage roll Pasta e fagioli*	Chicken noodle Chicken & wild rice Chicken tortilla* Chicken pot pie Greek lemon chicken Asian chicken noodle Golden chicken curry
Pork/Ham/Sausage	Vegetarian/Seafood
Ham and bean* Sausage, kale & white bean* Sausage, kale & orzo Zuppa Toscana (creamy sausage, kale & potato) Creamy tortellini and sausage Creamy ham and potato Bean and Bacon* Cabbage roll	Vegetable barley Minestrone* Black bean* Corn Chowder Clam Chowder Tomato Tortellini Creamy potato leek Lentil (can be made with sausage or without)* Loaded baked potato Fasolatha (Greek bean & tomato soup)*

*includes beans

Meal Plan Lists - Main Dishes

Main Dish/Meals

Beef/Lamb	Chicken/Turkey
Meatloaf Pasta w/ meat sauce* Tacos Mexican rice (can also be made w/ chorizo) Burgers Fajitas Korean BBQ tacos* Shepherd’s Pie Lamb & lentils* Sicilian rice ball casserole Philly cheesesteak pasta  Cheesy Taco Shells*	Roast chicken  Cacciatore Tikka Masala Marsala Pot pie or Pot Pie noodles Maple mustard thighs Chicken & white bean enchiladas BBQ chicken/pulled chicken* Salsa chicken* Chicken Florentine pasta* Chicken taco bake Greek chicken & veg (sheet pan meal)
Pork/Ham/Sausage	Vegetarian/Seafood
Cajun red beans and rice* Stuffed cabbage rolls (or "unstuffed" CR casserole*)  Roast pork Bubble & Squeak (ham, potatoes, cabbage) Pork loin w/ Island salsa* Pork loin w/ apple salsa* Pork and pinto enchiladas Ham, scalloped potatoes, peas casserole Pulled pork* Sausage, wild rice and squash casserole Asian pork w/ broccoli & ramen style noodles Mango habanero pork tacos*	Fish tacos Shrimp & roasted green beans Vegetable lasagna (or lasagna rolls) Chana masala* (chickpea curry) Baked fish Salmon patties Pasta primavera* Veggie/black bean burgers Sweet potato & black bean enchiladas Ravioli or tortellini Shrimp Creole Garlic Parmesan shrimp w/ veg & angel hair

Sides Rice Potatoes  Bread/Biscuits Calabacitas Roasted veggies Vegetable fritters Potato salad Pasta salad Coleslaw Salad

“Too tired to cook/too broke for takeout” Meals Frozen fish/chicken, tots/fries and steam in the bag veg Chicken drumsticks, sides Frozen ravioli w/ sauce Frozen pierogies w/ sauteed onion & coleslaw mix Hot dogs & salad Pizza  Mac and cheese*

*Can be made in Multi/Pressure cooker (Instant Pot, Crock Pot Express, Ninja Foodi, etc) 

Pressure Cooker Greek Harvest Grain Bowls

This is a super easy and fairly healthy meal, ready in less than 30 minutes! If you use steam in the bag spinach, it's even one pot.

1 lb ground lamb
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic (adjust to your tastes)
16 oz chopped frozen spinach
16 oz bag of Harvest Grain blend from Trader Joe's
Lamb stock if you can find it, beef stock or water.
Salt, Greek seasoning

1. Turn on pot, hit saute and start.
2. Add chopped onion, garlic and ground lamb to pot once hot.  Break up lamb and stir well.  Cook until lamb is brown and onion is translucent. Turn off pot.
3. Add grain blend to pot. Add stock or water.  Add 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp Greek seasoning.  Add additional tsp salt if you are using water or unsalted stock.  Stir well.
4. Put on lid, lock and seal.
5. Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes.*
6. While pot is going, cook the spinach.  Drain and squeeze water out.
7. Let pot sit 5 minutes before releasing the pressure.  Then open pot, add cooked spinach and stir well.

*When I made this I cooked it for 5 minutes and waited 5 minutes more before release. It was cooked well except the garbanzo beans which were a bit hard for my tastes but edible.  So I increased the time a bit.  There are a few recipes online using the product in a pressure cooker.  Time varies from 3 minutes with a 10 minute NPR time, to 10 minutes.  You may want to adjust accordingly. 

Unstuffed cabbage casserole (Crock Pot)

Love stuffed cabbage but don't want to take the time or turn on the oven?  This gives you the flavor without all the work!

1/2 medium head of cabbage, chopped (1 bag of coleslaw mix will work if you are short on time!)
1 medium onion, diced
1 cup minute rice (I use minute brown rice)
1 lb ground beef, pork or turkey
28 oz can crushed tomatoes, tomato puree or sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons lemon juice 
1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 tsp each:  Salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, thyme (If you are using no salt added tomatoes, you might want to increase the salt a bit)

Mix sugar, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, and seasonings into the tomatoes in a separate bowl.

Put about 1 cup of tomatoes on the bottom of the pot.  Add 1/2 the cabbage, 1/2 the onion, 1/2 cup rice, crumble half the raw meat on top, then cover with 1 cup of the tomato mixture. 
Repeat the layers, topping with what's left of the tomatoes. 

Cook on high 3-4 hours. Stir well before serving.