Ejeff, me too! I cook at least one batch of steel-cut oats in the Instant Pot weekly, plus lots of lentil soup/stew. I'm trying to get in the habit of cooking beans in there, especially since I read that the need to soak beans is a myth.
https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/soaking-salting-dried-bean-myths-article!
(Though, one supposed benefit is that soaking beans makes them cause less gas. But since I eat so much veg and beans I don't worry about that anymore.)
Fresh cooked garbanzo beans taste much better to me than canned, more mild. Plus I think the canned ones smell kind of terrible! But even with the canned ones, I like to roast them and put them in salads or just snack on them:
Toss with some tamari, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric and curry powder (or your favorite spices), spread evenly on a large pan with parchment paper, cook 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees. They are really good! One of the first recipes I learned when I started my WFPB lifestyle last July.
Suey in answer to your question, my 58-yr old sister is very heavy and diabetic. She does not eat this way. But I will not be cooking her anything different. I hope to set a good example and show her how easy this lifestyle is. (While also understanding that the first few months are much more challenging than later on.) We grew up in a very heavy family (except our skinny brother, grrr lol). I think she will be surprised by my changes and I hope it will be encouraging, maybe even inspiring to her! She has taken my advice to cut dairy drastically, so that's a start. And I've also suggested oatmeal for breakfast every day, any kind but instant oats.
That reminds me! I just saw "Quick Cook" Steel Cut Oats at Costco and though I would love that because they are cheaper in the size they sell, but I am skeptical. I should have taken a photo of the package. The ingredients are just "whole grain oats" but I don't know what processing was done in order to make them instant. Ok, so I just looked them up online and apparently the "Quick" part is in the microwave, and they still take 45 minutes on the stovetop (or about 20-25 minutes in the Instant Pot including warming up time!) So maybe I will try them next time I go. I am so lucky to have a Costco less than 2 miles from my work.
I really do recommend the Instant Pot. I read so much about Instant Pot cooking but never thought I would do it. Then finally I bought one and it sat unopened for 2 months. And then I made some stuff and holy cow! So easy! No watching the stove, easy clean up, I just love it to death. I think I grabbed one for under $80 or so on sale, a 6-quart one. I don't measure stuff, I just dump stuff in it.
By the way, it's so nice to chat with you guys! The MWL threads were excellent but less interaction because it was so many people. Of course, I'd love to see more people in this one just because it would mean the message is spreading far and wide. I have been trying to think of ways in my life to spread this message, specifically a whole foods plant-based vegan message. Recently I started painting farm animals in hopes of bringing attention and helping rescued ones. I've been trying to learn to paint for about 10 years and it's a good project.
Wow, this was a long ramble. Have a great week Suey and Ejeff! I'm going to go make some IP garbanzo beans.