Welcome to my first entry! I have been thinking for a while now what I want my first entry to communicate… the fact that I am a working mom trying to stay sane? The fact that, like many of you, I am trying to make healthy choices for both me and my family? The fact that I love to nerd out on science and learn about the newest diet fad (and try to poke holes in the biology as to why eating keto/low carb/gluten free may NOT be the best choice for the average person)? Nope. My first blog is going to be about me getting an Instant Pot for Christmas (it’s actually a different brand name, but I have learned that saying “Instant Pot” makes it more recognizable as to what I am talking about).
As I have already mentioned, I got one of these things for Christmas and I am telling you that this thing is a game-changer. I can now make dinner (including prep time) in 30 minutes rather than the typical 1-2 hours that it used to take me. And the meals are healthy and delicious. I want to share with you the recipe that I recently made: asparagus with shrimp on a bed of mashed cauliflower.
I need to touch on lectins for a second. What are lectins, you may ask? They are proteins that are in a lot of foods, including many fruits and vegetables. They tear tiny holes in your gut which can lead to digestive issues, inflammation and “brain fog”. I have been trying to cut out as many lectins as possible, in an effort to gauge how they affect my overall energy levels, muscle soreness, etc. That is why this recipe is low in lectins.
If you haven’t tried mashed cauliflower, I am telling you, you are missing out. Throw in some butter, garlic powder, salt and pepper and it is amazing. Better than mashed potatoes in my opinion (and I am a potato LOVING girl… I can eat potatoes for a meal). I didn’t make this part of the meal in my pressure cooker, but they are easy enough to make on the side.
Mashed Cauliflower Recipe – Serves 2 adults
Ingredients:
- 1 head of FRESH cauliflower (this is important since frozen cauliflower comes out mushy and watery… definitely not as good)
- 1/4 c. of butter (more to taste)
- 1 1/2 – 2 Tbsp of garlic powder
- 1 tsp of salt
- 1/2 tsp of black pepper
Fill a pot about 2/3 of the way with water and start to boil. Chop up the cauliflower into smaller pieces so that they boil easily. Once the water is boiling, place the cauliflower pieces into the pot. Boil for 16 minutes.
Once the cauliflower is soft, mash with a masher or place in a food processor to puree. Mix in the butter and allow to melt. Then mix in the garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Asparagus and Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch of asparagus
- 1 pound of raw shrimp
- 1/4 c. of butter
- 4 cloves of crushed garlic
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 tsp of garlic power
- 1 tsp of salt
- 1/2 tsp of pepper
Place one cup of water on the bottom of the pressure cooker. Then place the wire rack in the pot. Trim the “woody ends” off of the asparagus and then place them on the wire rack. Then place the shrimp on top. Melt the butter and pour in over the shrimp and asparagus. Squeeze the lemon juice over the contents. Then sprinkle in the garlic and finally sprinkle in the spices.
Set the cooker to “steam” and then press the (-) button until it says 2 minutes. Then select the “low pressure” option. Press start.
One thing I always forget is that it takes the pressure cooker about 5-10 minutes to warm up, before it actually starts cooking. So I am including a friendly little reminder for y’all.
Once complete, let it de-pressurize naturally. Then release the pressure valve.
Place the mashed cauliflower on a plate, then the asparagus and then the shrimp. You now have a lovely carb free meal that is low in lectins. Enjoy!
Try A Bite 