FOOD

I have to say, the Instant Pot is pretty cool.  I’ve seen several bloggers write about it, and after several months, decided I needed to have one.  It’s a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, and dutch oven all in one.  I’ve used it at least 4 times since I got it this weekend.  Aside from the week’s worth of steel oats I made, I used it to make basmati rice (in about 4 minutes!), stew, a pot of beans, and a new dish too (keep reading for recipe)!  It’s official.  I’ve drunk the pressure cooker kool aid.

Sunday night I made tofurky, roasted carrots, basmati rice, and mushroom gravy.

Monday and Tuesday were nearly identical green smoothies for breakfast (though they’re purple!).

Monday afternoon was broccoli soup, and dinner was a veggie burger on corn tortillas with ketchup, mustard, and cabbage.

Lunch today was leftover soup, and dinner was fun in the Instant Pot!  You can use a regular pressure cooker too.

Crissie’s Pressure Cooker Lentils, Rice, & Cauliflower Curry

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tsp ginger root (I use the jarred ginger rather than mincing fresh root – reduce to 1/4 tsp if you use ground)
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp curry powder (I used hot curry)
• 1 tsp brown mustard seeds
•  1 cup red lentils, rinsed
• 1/4 cup brown rice, rinsed
• 3 1/2 cups water or veggie broth (I used Better than Bullion veggie base)
• 1/2 head cauliflower, cut into large florets
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

• use the saute feature of your electric pressure cooker or Instant Pot (for a stove top pressure cooker, use medium heat) and cook the onion and garlic in a little bit of broth or water until translucent.
• add ginger, cumin, curry powder, and mustard seed.  Stir and cook for 1 minute.
• add lentils, rice, and water or broth and close the cooker.
• Cook at high pressure for 10 minutes.  Quick release.
• Add cauliflower, remaining 1/2 cup of water, and salt.  No need to stir.
• Close the cooker and cook at high pressure for 5 minutes.
• Let it naturally release.
• Stir and eat!

FITNESS

Sunday I went for a run in my new neighborhood!  I did a nice 4 miler that included a loop around a local park.  It was really nice.

Today I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill and checked out a new piece of equipment – a cross trainer.

LIFE

It’s been a really good couple of days.  Sunday was tea, organizing the new house, chilling by the fire, grocery shopping, booking the spring break trip for me, R, M and one of M’s best friends (D has a big project and can’t take off, so M’s friend is coming instead) and Yahtzee!  R and I had a rematch and she won.  Then we all played, and M won.  I came in dead last.

Then it was back to normal!  Work, school, and life!

GOAL CHECK-IN

• all my grub has been healthy and balanced.  Woo hoo!
• I snacked on some pretzels and hummus, but otherwise no gluten
• haven’t gone out to eat the past few days (and not too often the past week, other than the vegan meet-up)
• exercised twice since Sunday!
• been planning meals and prepping in advance.  Soup, pre-shredded cabbage, diced up fruits and veggies, big pot of curry, etc.
• no weekday wine.  Had two glasses on Sunday while cooking and playing Yahtzee.
• have not meditated at all since moving
• haven’t slowed down any – in fact, I think my pace has picked up.  Too much going on, and I’ve had no real down time in weeks.  It’s starting to show with hives coming back, so I need to work on that.