Don't have time to cook? Now you do...

This post is looong over due.  I have found a new love.  An appliance love (yes....again. :-)  )

My steamer was starting to give out so I went online months ago looking for a new steamer.  Everywhere I looked this thing called an Instant Pot popped up.  I ignored it.

Then I decided to find a new pressure cooker to use on the stove.  I have one but it is aluminum and I am NOT cooking in aluminium anymore.  Guess what kept popping up in my search for a new pressure cooker?  Yep, you guessed it, this weird little appliance called an Instant Pot.  Still, I ignored it.

Then a friend sent me a link to this appliance that she knew I would love.  Can you guess what the link was too?  Yep.  An instant pot.

Hilarious, right?!

So, I started researching and asked for an Instant Pot for Christmas.  My giving husband delivered. :-)

Then for about what feels like 2 weeks, I sat there staring at the Instant Pot.  The manual was overwhelming and my past fear of pressure cookers was resurfacing.  Finally, I decided to bite the bullet and just try something...anything.

So, I boiled water (this is a test they want you to perform before using) I thought I could handle that.  

Then I was ready to cook a meal.  And it turned out beautifully.

Here are a few reasons why I am in love with my IP:
-Chuck roast in IP-45 minutes....crock pot 8 hours
-Beef bone broth in IP 1 hour 50 minutes and delicious....stove top 1 day.
-Refried beans in IP-30 minutes....crock pot 24 hours.
-Ribs-actually tender
-Best cheesecake ever
-Best soft boiled eggs ever
-Best hard boiled eggs ever
-Dinner time is no longer stressful and I enjoy meal planning

So, for those of you who have told me you can't cook traditional, that there aren't enough hours in the day....well.......guess what?  Now you have no excuse.  Start saving for the appliance that will change your life forever and allow you to cook healthy, home cooked meals in a fraction of the time.  And I can't even imagine how much this is cutting down on our electricity bill.  Click here to see the one we bought.  A 6qt Duo.  There is a new one with blue tooth, but I didn't want that one.

You can see in the picture the 3 cookbooks I bought.  I love them all but Bob Warden's is my favorite.

Also make sure you are part of the Instant Pot community on Facebook.  It's amazing.

Happy instant potting!!!  Your life will never be the same.

  

Seasonal Issues (sneezing, coughing, runny nose and drainage...oh my!)

Sooooo, is anyone out there silly like me?

I have been suffering (well not really...how about tolerating) being sick for over 2 weeks now.  2 weeks!  Me?!  The one who rarely gets sick.

So, I was doing an essential oil class Saturday and the topic of seasonal sneezes, coughs, drainage and runny noses came up.

AND IT DAWNED on me...it's that time again......it's early this year.  I usually do it once a year, every April or May.  Well....with the way the weather has been this year I guess it's here early.

This is what I do...I base it on body weight, so I take 2 drops each of lemon, lavender and peppermint.  A larger man, I would suggest 3-4 drops of each.  2 times every day for 2 weeks.  For my kids I do 1 drop of each in a shot glass.  When they were under the age of 5, I put the oils along their spine.

Seasonal Issues Protocol
2-4 drops of each Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint (base on body weight)
Small amount of water
Shot glass
Water to drink

I put a small mouthful of water in my adorable essential oil shot glass I bought from AromaTools and then add 2 drops of lemon, 2 drops of lavender and 2 drops of peppermint.  And swig it back without letting it touch my lips.  Then I rinse the shot glass 2-3 times and swig it back so that I get all of the oils out of the shot glass.  Then grab my water bottle and drink water.  Do this 2 times per day for 2 weeks.  

No joke, on day 2 I was already feeling better!

Love my essential oils!!!!