Halloween Pumpkins

Halloween is only days away. These pumpkin carvings really get me feeling festive!

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Eating In: Crock Pot Chicken Curry

Here's another crock pot recipe that is one of my faves. You can replace the chicken with beef or tofu. If I had some peas on hand, I would have added them as well.

Ingredients:
- Garlic (the more the better for me)
- 1/2 or 1 white or yellow onion (diced)
- 1-2 whole carrots (peeled and chopped)
- 1-2 russet or golden potatoes (peeled and cubed)
- Chicken (dark meat, white meat or a combo of both; I used skinless and cubed the meat; you can use bone-in to add more flavor; cut according to preference or leave whole pieces)
- Tomato (based) sauce (at least 1 cup but it depends on how much sauce you like)
- Water to create sauce (add according to your preference; I prefer medium thickness/not too watery)
- Spices (I added 2 teaspoons each of the following: turmeric, paprika, cumin, coriander powder, garlic powder, onion powder, sumac; adjust according to your personal preference; no need to include all of these)
- Salt and pepper
- Bay leaves (I like alot; don't forget to remove them when serving)
- Parsley or cilantro when serving
- Jasmine rice (or couscous, brown rice, etc.)

Oil your crock pot to make clean up a snap. I use my spray device for even distribution and no waste.

Place lid on slow cooker and set on high for 3-4 hours or on high for 6-8 hours.

Remove the bay leaves and serve over any kind of rice (I LOVE Jasmine for its fragrance and texture, but any rice will do)  or coucous for a comforting and nutritious meal :) For perfect rice in the microwave, click here.

Bon appetit!

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Eating In: Perfect Rice Using the Microwave

My mom taught me how to do this years ago and it NEVER FAILS! There's no need to go out and buy a rice cooker or sit over a hot stove to make sure it comes out perfect. All you need is a casserole dish, rice and water. I LOVE Jasmine rice, but this will work with any rice. However, with brown or wild rice, you will want to add 5-10 minutes or so to the cook time depending on your microwave.

Take 1 cup of uncooked (Jasmine) rice and pour into your dish. Add 2 cups of water. Basically you're working with a 1:2 ratio. For every cup of uncooked rice, you want to add double the amount of liquid (ie. water or chicken broth). 1 cup of uncooked rice is enough for 2 people. You can add salt or use chicken broth instead of water, but I like mine au natural and paired with a flavorful side dish, such as my Crock Pot Chicken Curry. DO NOT PUT THE LID ON. Leave uncovered and put in the microwave. For my particular microwave, I set it for 25-27 minutes. If cooking Jasmine rice, the aroma will begin to fill the air. Once it's done, remove (careful, it's HOT so use an oven mitt) and fluff with a fork. You can cover it with the lid now to keep it nice and warm.

This formula always produces the best rice and it's so EASY! Give it a try and I promise you'll love it :)

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Meatless Monday: Garlic Kale Chips

This is a super healthy and yummy snack you all should try!

Bon appetit!

DIY: Yoga Mat Cleaner Pt. 2

Here's another yoga mat cleaner recipe for you to try :)