I can guarantee that I will not be writing a food blog. Why is
Am I a bad cook? Do I hate cooking? No to both of those questions.

Rebel Cooking
I love to eat and I love to cook. But as with most other things, I have to do it my way. Rebel cooking if you will.
I have dozens of cookbooks and I love reading through them and looking at all the recipes. I also read tons of food blogs myself and I appreciate their beautiful photos and their willingness to test their recipes until they get them just right.

Cooking By The Seat Of Your Pants
Me, I fly by the seat of my pants. Once I read enough recipes to decide what I want to make I start making whatever I’ve chosen with my own twists. The only caveat to that is if I am baking. I am more apt to follow a recipe when that happens.

Weekend Food Chopping And Audiobooks
I do try most weeks to prepare my food for the week on Sunday. I bring my cutting board to the table, turn on my Bluetooth headphones and audiobook and chop way. It’s very relaxing!
I usually make a soup and/or casserole, some kind of salad, hard-boiled eggs and chopped veggies to eat with dips or hummus and to top my green salads.

Favorite Soup
I can tell you one of my favorites. Creamy Tomato-Basil Soup. Yum-me! Here is my version for the Instant Pot
- 1 chopped leek
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 1 tsp. of chopped garlic
- 2 tbsp. butter or olive oil
- 1 large can of chopped tomatoes
- 3 cups of water
- 1 tsp. of chicken stock base
- 2-3 tablespoons of fresh basil
- 1 cup half and half
I take the butter and melt it in my instant pot on the Saute setting. I add the chopped leek, celery and garlic and let it soften and brown a bit. Then I add the tomatoes, water, and chicken base, seal the lid and change the Instant Pot setting from Saute to Pressure Cook.

I set the time for 8 minutes and do a quick release when it is finished cooking. Once it is safe to open the lid, I stir in the half and half and the fresh basil and Bob’s your uncle.
So good! Sometimes if I have extra veggies like spinach or zucchini I will add those to the pot before I seal the lid and then use my Cuisinart stick blender to mix it up (carefully because it’s HOT) once I add the half and half.
What do you like to cook up on the weekends?