Want fast food that tastes great and is also nutritious? Forget about Jack, Carl, Mac and those other guys trying to lure you in.

The Veggie Queen™ shows you how to make the “new fast food” at home, using seasonal vegetables and other whole food ingredients, in less time than it takes to drive to and from one of those other places. Watch this video on how to make vegetable stock in just 5 minutes!

Today’s modern pressure cookers are so easy to use! They are convenient, use less energy, lock in flavor and nutrition and you only have to clean up one pot!

Below are a few guidelines to remember when using your pressure cooker. You may also want to check out the Q & A section, as new information will be added regularly.

If you’re interested in shopping for some pressure cookers, click here.

If you need Pressure Cooker Timing Charts you can purchase it here.

Simple Guidelines to Follow

• Always follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding the minimum amount of liquid to add to your cooker.

• Never fill your cooker more than one-half to two-thirds full, depending upon what you are cooking.

• When adapting traditional recipes to the pressure cooker, usually you will need to add more spices and herbs and less liquid.

• Decrease the cooking time compared to standard recipes by 75 percent and see how things turn out. It is easy to get the pot back up to high pressure and continue cooking but once you have overcooked certain foods they are not especially appealing. Follow charts in pressure cooking books such as The New Fast Food or online websites. If you purchase the ebook version of the book, you get a link to downloadable cooking charts which you can keep in your kitchen for handy reference.

• Be careful when sautéing ingredients containing natural sugars such as onions, leeks, carrots and tomatoes as anything that sticks to the bottom of the cooker will burn when the heat is turned up to high. To prevent this problem, add some water or other liquid and give a good stir on the bottom of the pot to loosen any stuck on bits of food.

• Be sure to set your timer when the cooker reaches desired pressure, and do not walk away, take a shower or leave the house.

• When opening the cooker, be sure to tilt the lid away from you so that the extremely hot steam does not burn you.

• Remember that food coming out of the cooker will be hotter than food cooked by other methods so warn people accordingly.

Enjoy using your cooker and spend your “extra time” (isn’t that an oxymoron?) doing something that you like.