Slow- NO! FAST Cooking

Posted on January 26, 2012 by lala362

I love to cook. I love my slow cooker- but recently in my search to find ways I can do cooking classes here locally I found my newest love… a PRESSURE COOKER! Here is a slow fast cooking machine! I thought it would be the perfect tool to demonstrate healthy cooking because I would not need a kitchen to cook in it. The problem was? Well I found it just as Christmas was coming and all my gifts had already been purchased. I DID still mention it to My Guy… but I also said that I would save up and buy one for myself after the holidays.

I guess I talked about it a few times- because come our anniversary in early January… guess what I opened up!! An Electric Pressure Cooker!! We laughed because he felt like it was not necessarily the most romantic gift! I thought it WAS! I mean he paid attention to what I wanted and got it for me! LOVE!

http://www.chefscatalog.com/product/23103-cuisinart-pressure-cooker.aspx

Since I got it (about January 10th) I have made quite a few things already:

  • Black Beans
  • Mushroom Barely Soup
  • Organic Brown Rice
  • Whole Chicken
  • Chicken Stock (Sitting in there right now! Done in less than 90 minutes- stock usually takes all day simmering in the pot!)

Pressure cookers have come a long way since my grandmother used to make turnips and parsnips in hers on the stove! This is electric and has Brown, Saute, Simmer and Keep Warm settings as well as high and low pressure. EASY to use!

A pressure cooker works when steam trapped in the pot builds up pressure that creates hotter temperatures, and the pot is so tightly sealed that vitamins and minerals can’t boil away. It keeps your healthy veggies and food even healthier!

I am excited to keep trying new things in my pressure cooker- it’s a fast healthy alternative to spending lots of time waiting for food to cook in the oven or on the stove!

Do you have a pressure cooker? 

Have you ever actually used it?

What do you make? We’d love to read your recipes! 

La-

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Are You Eating Enough to Lose Weight? A Repost of a Fan Favorite

Posted on January 23, 2012 by lala362

As the new year begins- for many of us it is a time of renewing our plans to live healthier and lose weight. I know I have been very focused and “back on the plan.” (I have lost about 5 lbs! YAY ME!)

Anyway, as we start to focus on that plan or even think about which weight loss plan to choose, many of us go immediately to a super low-calorie diet. The problem with going so low cal- is that it is hard to sustain. Both when we think about eating (we want MORE!) and on our body!

Below is the link to one of the posts I wrote last year that still gets the most hits and I get the most questions about. It explains why it is important to eat enough in order to lose weight and keep it off long-term. Check it out. Get some info! You really DO have to EAT enough to LOSE weight!

http://www.thecurvylife.com/2011/02/are-you-eating-enough-to-loose-weight/

I know I need to re-read this myself and keep the focus. How about you? Do YOU eat enough to lose that weight?

La-

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One Little Word for 2012

Posted on January 12, 2012 by lala362

Every year I pick a word to represent my year. The things I want from it, the things I expect, the things I intend… My goals and my Word for the year come together to give me vision and something to focus on.

This year- My Word is CULTIVATE.  It is chock-full of meaning for my life in 2012! I have such great expectations for this year- I need to cultivate my dreams, goals, relationships etc to grow them to where they will go!

cul·ti·vate

  • Break up (soil) in preparation for sowing or planting
  • Raise or grow
  • Grow or maintain
  • Try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill)
    • - he cultivated an air of indifference
  • Apply oneself to improving or developing


  1. I need to maintain my weight and my lifestyle. I know how easy it is to fall off the wagon and gain weight back. Every day needs my focus. 
  2. I am developing the skills I need to have a successful business. I am also acquiring  the experience and knowledge to help my clients be successful. 
  3. I will be, (am) applying myself to continual improvement of mind, body and spirit.

Still working on my 2012 goals post. (Mostly because I am still trying to work through my goals… but it is a good process and one that cannot be rushed. Having my word will help give me form for my goals.)

Do you do an annual word? What is your word and why? 

This is the site where I got the idea originally for the One Little Word- http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/onelittleword.php

La-

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Seriously? Why Did I Not Know This?

Posted on January 11, 2012 by lala362

Brown Rice? Long Grain Organic Brown Rice? It is soooo yummy! I had NO IDEA! I have always just not liked rice much. I can eat it with Chinese food and I LOVE it with Indian food… but at home? I just never cooked it. Seemed difficult to make… and I never liked the flavor. Of course, I was making the Minute Rice- or Boil in Bag or Microwave one serving types… and they are just… well NOT GOOD!!

Brown Rice all measured out into half cup portions for our lunches and dinners this week!

This week as part of our New Year- get back into the plan Detox/Cleanse… My Guy and I are following an elimination diet. Removing all potential allergy/inflammation type foods for a while to give our bodies a chance to recover from the abuse over the holidays (and frankly a good part of the last year- but that is another post!) and to jump start our weight loss for the year.

As part of this diet we eat about a cup of rice a day. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying it! Seriously! A little salt and pepper- once a day a little pat of butter… this stuff is good! LOL I know, I know- you all probably already knew this. I on the other hand- had no clue! LOL

But now? You can consider me educated! YAY! (My Guy just got me a Pressure Cooker for our one year dating anniversary- I am going to pop some rice in there and make it up too! Wonder if that will be easier? Or just more fun?!!)

Do you eat Brown Rice? Do you have any favorite recipes?

Or better ways to prepare it? Tips?

La-

Loose Weight and Have More Energy… Ask me about how!

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Posted on January 3, 2012 by lala362

As I sit here eating my totally healthy and totally completely yummilicious beets, butternut squash and onions roasted in Rosemary olive oil… I just keep thinking how blessed I am!

Oh Christmas Tree, 2011!!

I have the ability to make choices. I have the abundance to have choices to make. Is everything perfect? Nope. But I don’t look at perfection as the goal. I look at the journey, I look at where I came from and how I am getting to the next place. And right now, in this place. I am good. I am blessed. I am at peace.

Peaceful Christmas.

So this is just a quick note to say HI! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As usual I will have my goals for the coming year and my one little word for the year coming up in a blog post soon!

Merry Christmas from me and My Guy!

If you have not been following here long- you can see past years “Year in Review”, “One Little Word” and “Goal Setting” at the links below (for your reading pleasure!)

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