Susan
@cookingandcalm.bsky.social
‣ Often found cooking & finding ways to keep it calm in the kitchen. Instant Pot 💚
‣ Getting older, hoping to be wiser, building a new life in Northumberland 🇬🇧
‣ Reader, learner, explorer
‣ My cooking stuff is on YouTube: https://youtube.com/CookingandCalm
‣ Getting older, hoping to be wiser, building a new life in Northumberland 🇬🇧
‣ Reader, learner, explorer
‣ My cooking stuff is on YouTube: https://youtube.com/CookingandCalm
Pinned
Susan
@cookingandcalm.bsky.social
· Jan 28
I started making YouTube vids in my 50s.Why? I believe everyone deserves good food and cooking fun, especially when life gets hard, and I wanted to share what I'd learned from some real tough times. 6 years on, I've learned the best part isn't the cooking at all. It's the community. It always is
The Instant Pot makes quick work of beets, but can’t do anything about these Lady Macbeth hands 🙃 #InstantPot
June 28, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The Instant Pot makes quick work of beets, but can’t do anything about these Lady Macbeth hands 🙃 #InstantPot
Reposted by Susan
Gratitude for the helpful.
I'm thankful for how many people want to help others.
It's easy to be cynical and think everyone is out for themselves, but when you really open your eyes, there are many people that are just trying to make this world a better place.
I'm thankful for those people.
I'm thankful for how many people want to help others.
It's easy to be cynical and think everyone is out for themselves, but when you really open your eyes, there are many people that are just trying to make this world a better place.
I'm thankful for those people.
February 9, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Gratitude for the helpful.
I'm thankful for how many people want to help others.
It's easy to be cynical and think everyone is out for themselves, but when you really open your eyes, there are many people that are just trying to make this world a better place.
I'm thankful for those people.
I'm thankful for how many people want to help others.
It's easy to be cynical and think everyone is out for themselves, but when you really open your eyes, there are many people that are just trying to make this world a better place.
I'm thankful for those people.
Testing out more flavour combos for my fave healthy snack.This is Ottolenghi’s Citrus & Spice,my new fave kitchen shortcut (at least til I make my own version!). These lovely roast sprouts take 10 mins in an air fryer.I add a tbsp of water upfront to give a little steam action for starting cooking 🍜
February 6, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Testing out more flavour combos for my fave healthy snack.This is Ottolenghi’s Citrus & Spice,my new fave kitchen shortcut (at least til I make my own version!). These lovely roast sprouts take 10 mins in an air fryer.I add a tbsp of water upfront to give a little steam action for starting cooking 🍜
I do love the super moist texture of chicken in the Instant Pot! A whole chicken gives us 2 here a roast dinner, dark meat for chicken leek and barley soup and this beautiful breast meat for super sandwiches in the week. And not forgetting the base for the best chicken stock 🍜 😋💛
February 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I do love the super moist texture of chicken in the Instant Pot! A whole chicken gives us 2 here a roast dinner, dark meat for chicken leek and barley soup and this beautiful breast meat for super sandwiches in the week. And not forgetting the base for the best chicken stock 🍜 😋💛
I started making YouTube vids in my 50s.Why? I believe everyone deserves good food and cooking fun, especially when life gets hard, and I wanted to share what I'd learned from some real tough times. 6 years on, I've learned the best part isn't the cooking at all. It's the community. It always is
January 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I started making YouTube vids in my 50s.Why? I believe everyone deserves good food and cooking fun, especially when life gets hard, and I wanted to share what I'd learned from some real tough times. 6 years on, I've learned the best part isn't the cooking at all. It's the community. It always is
I usually cook pearl barley for 10 mins in the Instant Pot before adding in the rest of ingredients for chicken barley soup. I just tried a one pot version but had to cook everything for longer. It worked okay, but the chicken was more 'pulled' than I like for soup. Back to my told method I think 🍜
January 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I usually cook pearl barley for 10 mins in the Instant Pot before adding in the rest of ingredients for chicken barley soup. I just tried a one pot version but had to cook everything for longer. It worked okay, but the chicken was more 'pulled' than I like for soup. Back to my told method I think 🍜
If I think about all the things I’ve learned about how to still cook and eat well 🍜 (mostly) in those tough seasons of life, I’d say this: It's not about being perfect or keeping cooking til you drop. It's about... [thread]🧵
January 27, 2025 at 10:34 PM
If I think about all the things I’ve learned about how to still cook and eat well 🍜 (mostly) in those tough seasons of life, I’d say this: It's not about being perfect or keeping cooking til you drop. It's about... [thread]🧵
Yes, the Kitchen Aid has many functions. This one might be less well known 🤣
January 13, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Yes, the Kitchen Aid has many functions. This one might be less well known 🤣
It’s nearly Seville Orange season and I normally make marmalade - pressure cooking the peels saves so much time and the instant pot does a grand job of it. Trouble is, I then get tempted to eat sourdough toast, morning, noon and night 🫢. So do I marmalade or not this year? 🍜
January 10, 2025 at 9:03 AM
It’s nearly Seville Orange season and I normally make marmalade - pressure cooking the peels saves so much time and the instant pot does a grand job of it. Trouble is, I then get tempted to eat sourdough toast, morning, noon and night 🫢. So do I marmalade or not this year? 🍜
The snow people have become an ellipsis. I think we might be warming up at last here.
January 10, 2025 at 8:52 AM
The snow people have become an ellipsis. I think we might be warming up at last here.
It’s hard to resist going into the bakery with these little guys in the window, but I don’t go in. I have a code. I don’t eat snow people.
🍜
🍜
January 7, 2025 at 8:29 PM
It’s hard to resist going into the bakery with these little guys in the window, but I don’t go in. I have a code. I don’t eat snow people.
🍜
🍜
Ok, i cant eat anymore panettone, crackers or cheese. Its time to get back to the real world and some healthier food. First step: fridge /pantry audit and clear out. Who’s with me?
January 2, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Ok, i cant eat anymore panettone, crackers or cheese. Its time to get back to the real world and some healthier food. First step: fridge /pantry audit and clear out. Who’s with me?
I’ve had an ambition to make a quilt for over 30 years (eek!). Making my first wobbly steps forward on this first day of 2025 . Step 1 is learning to use my sewing machine! This is my 3rd ever cushion and it even has a zip. So ridiculously proud😊
Any other beginner sewers or #quilters out there?
Any other beginner sewers or #quilters out there?
January 1, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I’ve had an ambition to make a quilt for over 30 years (eek!). Making my first wobbly steps forward on this first day of 2025 . Step 1 is learning to use my sewing machine! This is my 3rd ever cushion and it even has a zip. So ridiculously proud😊
Any other beginner sewers or #quilters out there?
Any other beginner sewers or #quilters out there?
I used to think meal prep was all about having 7 identical boxes of 'something with rice' lined up in the fridge. Now I realise that, for me, it's all about having a selection of things I can mix & match in the fridge and, at least, one 'ready to heat' meal in the freezer for those tough days 🍜
December 30, 2024 at 8:22 AM
I used to think meal prep was all about having 7 identical boxes of 'something with rice' lined up in the fridge. Now I realise that, for me, it's all about having a selection of things I can mix & match in the fridge and, at least, one 'ready to heat' meal in the freezer for those tough days 🍜
Quick tip for anyone becoming more plants forward, but still eating a little meat. I cooked a ham hock for OT in my Instant Pot…then stole some of that tasty stock for my lentil soup. So good! 🍽️ 🍜
December 14, 2024 at 11:07 AM
Quick tip for anyone becoming more plants forward, but still eating a little meat. I cooked a ham hock for OT in my Instant Pot…then stole some of that tasty stock for my lentil soup. So good! 🍽️ 🍜
Thank you Marie Popova - I remember those fierce emissary days 🚲 💛
December 12, 2024 at 2:22 PM
Thank you Marie Popova - I remember those fierce emissary days 🚲 💛
Reposted by Susan
A reminder that there are still places for my free talk at Manchester Central Library tomorrow at 6pm.
I'll be talking about the history of pies and puddings.
I'll also have copies of my books to sign.
Really excited about.this event! Book here: librarylive.co.uk/event/a-hist...
I'll be talking about the history of pies and puddings.
I'll also have copies of my books to sign.
Really excited about.this event! Book here: librarylive.co.uk/event/a-hist...
A History of Pies and Puddings - Library Live
Explore the history of some our most beloved British foods with local food historian Neil Buttery: pies and puddings, from their rather posh origins to the present day, where they […]
librarylive.co.uk
December 4, 2024 at 6:04 PM
A reminder that there are still places for my free talk at Manchester Central Library tomorrow at 6pm.
I'll be talking about the history of pies and puddings.
I'll also have copies of my books to sign.
Really excited about.this event! Book here: librarylive.co.uk/event/a-hist...
I'll be talking about the history of pies and puddings.
I'll also have copies of my books to sign.
Really excited about.this event! Book here: librarylive.co.uk/event/a-hist...
I’m probably way behind here, but sprouted puy lentils as a topper for soup are so good! What’s your favourite soup toppers right now? 🍜🍽️
December 3, 2024 at 2:43 PM
I’m probably way behind here, but sprouted puy lentils as a topper for soup are so good! What’s your favourite soup toppers right now? 🍜🍽️
Yesterday we took a visit to Cragside, ‘Britains’ First Smart Home’.It’s incredible at any time but it’s been ‘dressed’ for Christmas right now, with a pinch of the mischievous spirit of the Victorian owners & innovators in hydro-electricity. Here’s some pics from the kitchen area. Magical💕 🍜
December 1, 2024 at 11:21 AM
Yesterday we took a visit to Cragside, ‘Britains’ First Smart Home’.It’s incredible at any time but it’s been ‘dressed’ for Christmas right now, with a pinch of the mischievous spirit of the Victorian owners & innovators in hydro-electricity. Here’s some pics from the kitchen area. Magical💕 🍜
Hey everyone. Stage 1 🇬🇧 Christmas Cake baked and cooling. Now it needs to be fed every few days til Christmas. We don't drink much these days so no brandy or rum… suggestions for a booze free alternative? 🍜🍽️
November 29, 2024 at 8:22 PM
Hey everyone. Stage 1 🇬🇧 Christmas Cake baked and cooling. Now it needs to be fed every few days til Christmas. We don't drink much these days so no brandy or rum… suggestions for a booze free alternative? 🍜🍽️
Hey food friends 🍜.
I want to eat more tofu - how should I prep and cook it so I can go from meh 🫤 to wahay 😋 ?
I want to eat more tofu - how should I prep and cook it so I can go from meh 🫤 to wahay 😋 ?
November 27, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Hey food friends 🍜.
I want to eat more tofu - how should I prep and cook it so I can go from meh 🫤 to wahay 😋 ?
I want to eat more tofu - how should I prep and cook it so I can go from meh 🫤 to wahay 😋 ?
I think the number of cookbooks I buy might be a good proxy for how stressed I feel 🙃 🍜
You?
You?
November 24, 2024 at 6:18 AM
I think the number of cookbooks I buy might be a good proxy for how stressed I feel 🙃 🍜
You?
You?
