It seems counterintuitive to launch a book two weeks after Christmas, but maybe the marketing gurus at HarperCollins are onto something.

Everyone who found an Instant Pot under the tree, raise your hand. Pioneered in Ottawa by a team of former Nortel workers, the all-purpose wonder machine (it’s a pressure cooker! A slow cooker! A rice cooker! A steamer! A cake baker!) gets more popular with every upgrade. But now you’ve got the wondrous pot taking up a good chunk of space on the counter, what to do with it?

Just in time to answer that question, Instant Favourites ($29.99) hits bookstores January 9. A collaboration between husband-and-wife team Mia Bachmaier (a chef and food stylist who has worked as a recipe tester/developer and the food stylist for Anna Olson’s Food Network shows “Bake” and “Fresh”) and Mike McColl (a chef and food photographer who has seen his luscious photos appear in 23 cookbooks), Instant Favourites stands out for the insider tips from two trained chefs.

And it’s not only about the main course — check our Facebook page for a (sweet) recipe from Instant Favourites.

City Bites Hot Tip: Buy it for the great photography, keep it for the 125+ recipes developed with busy parents in mind — think straightforward ingredients and instructions.

City Bites Hot Tip #2: Always check out the “Note” at the bottom of the recipe. Those notes include quick tips on how to punch up the flavours, easy substitutions, and advice on doubling or halving certain recipes.