About

A little about me…

Hi, my name is Neena, and I’m so glad you’ve found me!  I live in Salt Lake City, Utah with my husband and three growing teenagers.  Over the years, I’ve thought about how I could pass on family favorite recipes to my kids as they grow up and leave the nest. I decided to create this blog as a way to share my favorite recipes with my family and friends (and you!)

The recipes I share are ones that are regularly on our menu rotation and have been given two thumbs up.  My husband and I are originally from India, so I also share some Indian family favorites.  My recipes are either my own, from family and friends, or adapted from recipe books and magazines.  Where applicable, I credit the source of the recipe.  All recipes have been tasted and approved by the discerning taste testers in my kitchen!  Although I do have a few non-Instant Pot recipes, most of my recipes are family favorite recipes that I’ve adapted for the Instant Pot.

My cooking philosophy has changed over the years and I’ve gone through many fads and phases including low-fat, vegetarian, and low-carb.  These days I cook anything that tastes good and has more fresh ingredients and minimal processed ingredients.  My mantra these days is ‘Everything in Moderation’.  We have butter, oil, sugar in our diets but try to include them in moderation.

My family is the most important thing to me and as I mentioned earlier, my kids are growing up so fast and getting ready to head out into the world one by one.  So for my husband and me, spending time with them is so precious.  And the best conversations we have are usually at the dinner table.  And nothing spurs laughter and good conversation like a delicious meal!

I hope you enjoy the recipes I share and are inspired to try them out.  Let me know how they turn out – I’d love to hear from you!  Tag @paintthekitchenred on Instagram to share photographs of recipes you’ve tried. Or contact me here.

About the Instant Pot Recipes

• Every Instant Pot recipe has detailed step-by-step instructions with accompanying photographs, followed by a more concise (printable) recipe card.  I hope this allows both beginner and advanced Instant Pot cooks to be able to make the recipe.
• If you don’t wish to read the step-by step photo instructions, I provide a link that allows you to go directly to the recipe card.
• The beginning of each post is where I get to talk – after all, it is a blog! For the most part I try not to bore you with stories, but sometimes I may not succeed and I completely understand if you choose to skip reading that section, just scroll on down. However, I do pass on tips and tricks and lessons that I’ve learned in the umpteen times I’ve made a dish. So just a heads up to check that section if you happen to have any questions about the recipe.
• Please note that I follow the recipe writing convention where the preparation time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredients. i.e. if the ingredients list “1 cup onions, finely chopped”, the prep time will not account for chopping the onions.  Please keep this in mind as you plan for making a recipe.
• Whenever I refer to the ‘Saute’ function, it will be on the mid-level setting i.e. Medium or Normal (depending on your Instant Pot model).
• All recipes have been tested in either a 6 quart DUO or ULTRA.  If you have a different model, you may need to make minor adjustments based on your experience.  The 8 quart, in particular, may require some more liquid.
• I do my best to provide directions for recipes where all steps can be accomplished in the Instant Pot.  I have readers who may not have access to an oven or stove (e.g. dorms, hotels, camping).  Feel free to do any of the steps (especially the ‘Saute’ mode) on a stovetop or in an oven, if you feel that the flavor would be better.
• If you’re using the Saute function of the Instant Pot, please make sure you do a good job of deglazing the pot before you start pressure cooking.  I try to mention this in each of my recipes, but I’m saying it here for emphasis.

The photographs on this blog are all taken by me, and I request that you ask permission to use them and please link back to the original post.