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NellieBellie: Community-Tested Family Recipes

Nobody's turning on an oven this week.

Published 8 days ago • 1 min read

Hey friend,

If you're anywhere near Minnesota right now, you already know. We are on heat wave number two of the month, and this weekend's heat index is supposed to hit somewhere around 105-108°F. My oven and I are on time-out.

So, this week, three things that get dinner and dessert done without heating up the kitchen (or touching a bag of lettuce).

Easy No-Bake Banana Cream Pie

I'll just say it: this is one of the best pies you'll ever have, full stop, doesn't matter how many pies and cakes show up at the potluck next to it. It's a forever favorite in our house. I've actually been wanting to try a gluten-free/dairy-free version so I can eat it again myself, and this is the week I finally do it. I'll report back.

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti

Everyone loves this one, and it's really easy. My recipe tester Lisa ran it start to finish in 26 minutes: Her verdict: "Much less pots and pans and mess than on the stovetop... this recipe will be in our dinner rotation." Her 9-year-old helped cook and gave it a "really good." Her husband, a man of few words, said "it was good," which from him is basically a standing ovation.

The Best Cauliflower Potato Salad

This one went viral for a reason. You genuinely cannot tell its cauliflower, and frozen cauliflower works great, so no chopping in a hot kitchen.

Bonus tip: if you're making that cauliflower salad with frozen cauliflower, here's the trick. Toss your frozen cauliflower into the Instant Pot, whatever amount you're making, then add whatever minimum amount of water your Instant Pot needs to come to pressure without a burn notice (mine is 1/2 cup, but some models want closer to 1 cup... use what you know works for yours, the amount doesn't change based on how much cauliflower you're doing). Set it to 0 minutes, and instant release the second it hits pressure. You're just letting it come to pressure, nothing more. Drain it and get it out of the pot right away (I give mine a quick rinse with cold water) so it stops cooking and doesn't turn mushy. So easy.

That's dinner, dessert, and a side, and the stove didn't even get turned on. Although if you'll want to make that cauliflower potato salad earlier in the day to free up that IP (AND let it all meld)

What's on your no-cook rotation when it's this hot? Hit reply, I'd love to steal your ideas.

XO, Nellie (& Newton)

1st. Street S., Stillwater, MN 55082
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