I live, I eat

Ah yes, it's time for another fitness review. This time I jumped on the bandwagon for Chris Hemsworth's Centr fitness app. I started out with the seven day free trial to see if it was even worth the full try. Lest I say, I stayed on to get the full experience. Signing up is super easy. There is not really much that you have to fill in but you do have the usual height and weight. There are a few goals and preferences that you can fill in, and then you get the whole week's plan. The options for the goals are lose weight, get fit & toned, and build muscle.  I have to say that I can really appreciate that they've made this app to cover pretty much everyone's major goal. There is also a preference for the diet being: regular, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan.  Even if you choose to have the regular plan, you can look forward to having some vegetarian options come up in your meal plan. These are able to be changed but I like that it rounds out the nutrition in...

Macaroni-Potato Salad From  Hawaii Magazine (Serves 8) ½ lb. macaroni 8 hard-cooked eggs 3 red potatoes, cooked and cubed 1 Tbsp. salt 1 Tbsp. vinegar 2 cups mayonnaise ½ tsp.     ground allspice ½ tsp.     pepper 1 package frozen peas, thawed and drained (10 oz.) Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Separate egg yolks from egg whites. In a small bowl, mash yolks and chill. Chop egg whites; put into a large bowl with macaroni and potatoes. Stir in salt and vinegar; chill overnight.    Add egg yolks and remaining ingredients; gently mix into macaroni mixture. Chill.

Making steamed rice can seem a chore if you don't know what you are doing.  I will be making this steamed rice in a rice steamer.  Long ago I decided that I didn't care for using a pot on the stove.  I suggest you upgrade to a machine if you already haven't. For this recipe, I will be using 2 cups of calrose rice, a pinch of salt, and water.  Later I will season my rice for my recipes, but that is optional.  But there are a lot of things that are not. When measuring your rice, you need to use the provided cup from your machine. I've had a few, so I have a couple in easy reach. If you accidentally threw yours away, you need to remember that a Japanese cup is about 2/3 cup in American measurement.   You need to wash your rice at least three times.  Three is the magic number, but you might need one more, just watch the water.  The first rinse I do not count, because you pretty much get the rice wet and pour off the water.  This is the dirt...

Chicken goulash, as my family calls it, also goes by chicken paprika or chicken paprikash.  It has been a family recipe that has been handed down to me from my father who was taught by his mother.  This recipe is so simple and tasty, and not to mention budget friendly. I have tried adapting a couple of things, but mostly I have always stuck to the original.  My parents told me that you usually choose between potatoes and ganadle, but I do both.  I have also tried sweet potato.  The flavor was great and I will try it again, but with the long cooking time, the sweet potatoes disintegrated.  So they will have to go in later. Ganadle is a Hungarian egg noodle that is spoon dropped into your soup like a dumpling.  I'm sure it goes by several different names, but this is what I have always known it as. Your finished chicken goulash should end up spicy with a thinish broth and chicken falling off the bone.  The spice level depends on your taste. ...

I have fallen in love.  I've been on the lookout for things to do with Chinese healthy eating and medicinal food.  Mostly this is for my stomach, which is almost always in turmoil and for weight loss.  I know, I know... I need to go get a full allergy testing done.  But for some reason I can't make myself.  Maybe I am happy in my ignorance.  I do hate the thought that I would not, in good conscience, be able to eat all the foods that I love if I know what they do to me. I came across a recipe for congee on one of my searches.  It also goes by the name of jook, depending on where you are in China.  You would actually find this recipe all over Asia, and it is the go to meal for when you are not feeling well.  It is also a great breakfast food. I had recently purchased my new Instant Pot electric pressure cooker.  OMG!! This machine is awesome.  It's a 6 in 1 pot that is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, soup and chili maker...

So I am subscribed to Rawmazing, which I totally recommend.  Recently she made a post of a new recipe for cookies.  These things are soooooooo delicous.  I brought a couple batches to work, sent some off with a friend for their trip.  And the nice thing is that they are raw!! They are comprised of almonds, chia seeds, coconut, salt, vanilla, grapeseed oil, sweetner, with a puree of fresh strawberries on top, then dehydrated.  I used a flaked coconut that I ground down, the almonds were soaked and dried and for my sweetener I used coconut nectar and a touch of stevia.  So yummy!!  I might try it with blueberries instead of strawberries next time. http://www.rawmazing.com/raw-strawberry-thumbprint-cookies/   Photo from Rawmazing