Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Day 7- 21 Day Sugar Detox

Today is day seven and can I say, I feel great!  Besides the fact that I stepped on the scale this morning and I am down 6 pounds (which is a bonus), I just feel better.  My knee is not hurting, I feel like I am sleeping better and I actually have energy and want to do things.  The new year is a great time to make positive changes that will allow you to live better; what are you waiting for? 

I must apologize because I don't have any pictures but the other night I decided to make some bone/chicken broth with the remnants of the chicken I made.  There are several ways that you can make broth: on the stove, crock pot or...  PRESSURE COOKER!!!  I have never used a pressure cooker before but it was so easy!!!  It only took 45 minutes on the stove and I had some healthy, vitamin rich broth.  (FYI, broth on the stove or crock pot can take anywhere from 12-24 hours...  Who has the patience for that?)

Chicken Broth (pressure cooker style)

 THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! Read the directions of your pressure cooker before you begin.

Place the remnants of your chicken in the pressure cooker.  If you can break the smaller bones, do it-  this will add a lot of healthy stuff to your broth.

1 large carrot, peeled and quartered
1/2 onion (no need to cut this)
2-3 leaves of kale
pepper to taste

(It is not necessary to add the veggies to the broth. I did so to add some flavor and include the benefits of the veggies.)

Add water and make sure to cover the contents of the pot.  Make sure to cover the contents...  Cover the contents completely...  Do I need to say it again? 

Lock it down and..... go!  45 minutes later I had this wonderful, steaming chicken broth.  And the bonus?  The carrots..  I love soft carrots.  After it has cooled, strain the broth from the solids.  If you would like to use some of the chicken meat (include it in soup), go for it.  I pulled out what was available but my broth was mostly from bones.  However, the kale was not very good, so I just tossed it with the bones.

I must say, it was very tasty and is very healthy.  There are no additives like with the store bought broth and I really have this strange sense of accomplishment...  I will be making this again.  Now I just need to learn to can so I can make and store it to cook with later.  No more processed broth!

And let me say it one more time...  THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! Read the directions of your pressure cooker before you begin.