SC Carrot Lady Review

I believe the Instant Pot has been a new popular kitchen appliance for the past few years. The cost runs from approximately $59 to slightly over $100 depending on the size and model you get. I prefer the 6 quart size. It’s a good size for two to four people.

I first thought of my Instant Pot as nothing more than an electric Pressure Cooker. And having grown up helping my mom make dinners with a her stove top pressure cooker, I remembered how easy it was to make dinner in one pot. (Oh, isn’t that what a crockpot does??) Yet liking new gadgets but not liking spending money unnecessarily, it took me some time to research and understand just why this appliance would be a good investment.

After reading how these Pots worked, all their functions (use as a crockpot being one) along with the fact that hubby and I would be traveling the country in our RV with limited storarge space, the Instant Pot now began to look like a necessary need for my kitchen.

At first I was slightly intimidated to begin using my new Instant Pot. Although the directions seemed easy enough, I am more a show me type of person so I turned to the internet and found U tube videos showing the step by step process.

Although some Instant Pot recipes can take a bit more preparation than just putting everything in a Crockpot. (And you still have that option with an Instant Pot)…I find that the food taste better and is less mushy than in a Crockpot. I also feel that not cooking food for hours gives you more nutritional value left in (though I don’t have any scientific facts to prove or disprove this).

There are some wonderful recipes for the Instant Pot. Being a Vegetarian I do like eating beans and rice of various types. Not only is the a setting to cook beans and one for rice, but a few weeks ago I was given a recipe by a friend for a delicious Pinto bean stew and I found out I could use dried beans without soaking them first (they are cheaper and more nutritious than canned). And it is a yummy, easy to make dish.

Tomorrow I will post the recipe for the Instant Pot Pinto Bean Stew.

Southwestern Enchilada Casserole

1 Med Onion chopped

1 med red pepper chopped

1 Tbsp finely chopped garlic (4 cloves)

1 tsp oregano, 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp basil

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can bk beans

1 med zucchini diced

1 cup frozen corn

5 cups chopped greens (prefer Kale).

Corn chips crushed for topping

( optional: 1 cup Mexican cheese)

Heat 1 Tbsp water in large pot (med high)  Add onion, pepper cook 5 mins

Reduce heat add garlic, chili, oregano, basil, Chili, cook 2 mins (add water as needed)

Stir in tomatoes, beans, zucchini , corn, greens cover cook 5 mins.

Place 1 cup veg. mixture in blender, blend and stir back into pot.

Pour into  9X 12 baking dish, greased.  Top with Cheese than corn chips.  Bake covered 15 mins.  Let sit 5 minutes before eating.

ENJOY!

Today I am beginning this new journey called blogging. Since many have asked me to share some of my healthy recipes and tips toward a healthier life style, using a blog seemed like a great way to share with many friends. Blogging is really a new concept for me, so please bear with me as I struggle through this process. I believe that keeping oneself healthy not only requires us to strengthen our bodies with healthy food and exercise, but to also strengthen our minds by learning new skills. As I journey along this path, I will from share with you health tips that I have learned over the past 15 plus years as I came to understand the importance of eating a plant based diet. I hope that you will join with me in discovering what so many others know to be true.

If you have any health stories to share, healthy websites you find valuable, or are enjoying any of the recipes I have shared. Please leave me a comment. The things that I share come from my experiences and are not intended to be considered a substitute for the advice of a qualified medical or health professional.

Thanks for joining me!

Here’s “TO YOUR HEALTH”

“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east…and He planted trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food”  Genesis 2:8-9