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Eat Clean With A Grill Pan

April 6, 2012 By 8 Comments

Months ago I saw Rachel Ray using a “grill pan” to cook burgers on her in studio stove.   I thought it was a cool idea, but then I thought nothing could beat my beloved George Foreman.

Then tragedy struck…. my George Foreman died.

After proper mourning I headed to Amazon to look into getting either a new George Foreman or try out a Grill Pan.   I ended up getting the latter and I absolutely could not be happier.

I chose the Cuisinart Green Gourmet 11″ Square Grill Pan.  (PS – its cheapest on Amazon) I was stoked when it arrived just 3 days later, and have been cooking on it almost daily ever since.

Cuisinart® is leading the way in eco-friendly branded cookware with our new GreenGourmet™ line. Exclusive Cuisinart Ceramica™ nonstick technology is ceramic based instead of petroleum based, helping to conserve existing oil supplies and the coating is applied at a temperature one half that of conventional nonsticks. And it’s completely free of PTFE and PFOA. The cookware’s hard anodized construction provides high heat conductivity, which requires less energy to reach desired cooking temperatures. Riveted stainless handles stay cool on the stovetop and are made from 70% recycled stainless steel. Today, more and more home cooks are going green… and so is Cuisinart® cookware!

Part of “Eating Clean” is adding as little as possible to whole foods.  My diet consists of all meats, fruits, vegetables, and nuts – which can get boring after a while if you do not change it up from time to time.  With my Grill Pan I put just a bit of cooking spray on the pan, and a bit of dry seasoning to my meats and grill – just like I do on my outside grill!  For veggies I do the same thing – only with no seasonings at all – and it tastes just exactly like I slaved over a grill.

We use the Cuisinart Grill Pan almost daily for lunch.  It is so easy for Mike and I to throw on a chicken breast and some veggies and in 10-12 minutes have a healthy, tasty, economical lunch for us both.   And in a quarter of the time it would take us to go out, and half the time to fire up the big outdoor grill.  It is large enough for me to cook a meal for all four of us as well, which is nice, and clean up is a breeze – I just pop it right into the dishwasher.

I absolutely love this thing and have cooked chicken, steak, fish, veggies – and even a London Broil on this thing.  It cooks up perfectly and I never have to walk outside.   Between the Grill Pan and my Westbend Food Steamer, Eating Clean is not only easy, but incredibly tasty!

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated in any way for this post – I just absolutely love this thing and wanted to spread the word with my fellow Eat Clean friends!

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The #1 Kitchen Appliance Everyone Should Have

April 7, 2011 By 1 Comment

It is no secret that I am not a great cook.  So when I find a Kitchen Appliance that makes me look like a Chef, I am all over it!  Add in that it is incredible for Eating Clean, and you have my #1 Kitchen Appliance Every Kitchen Should Have!

Four years ago I won a West Bend Programmable Steamer from my Home Party Plan Company.  I had no idea then how much I was going to end up using it!  When it arrived I promptly unpacked it…. and put it in the cabinet.  It was like finding a painting on sale, and putting it in a closet – not knowing just how valuable it is. When I did finally break it out of the cabinet again I quickly fell in love.

The West Bend Programmable Steamer will cook everything from vegetables to fish to rice – all in one place.  You can truly cook an entire meal in just one appliance.  Some of the stats of the steamer are:

  • 12-Hour programmable timer; Given an optimum length of time to steam cook a variety of foods
  • 90-Minute electronic countdown timer-audible beep alerts to completed steaming
  • Tiered Steaming Versatility-Baskets are stackable to allow for multiple steamed food items at once; fit together for easy storage
  • Easy to add water, add water indicator signals when water level is low
  • Water-level Indicator Lens; Cool Touch Exterior and Handles; Digital Backlit LCD

Since deciding to Eat-Clean, this steamer has certainly gotten a workout.  Every day for lunch I have happily loaded my West Bend Programmable Steamer with all kinds of fresh veggies – from corn to fresh beans to carrots to asparagus – and I am always impressed with how flavorful the food is after cooking.

Today I paired by West Bend Programmable Steamer with my second favorite appliance – my George Foreman Grill – for an amazingly filling, healthy lunch.   Both Mike and the Toddler ate every bit!

The West Bend Steamer is a great way to save money AND stay healthy.  Today’s lunch yielded 3 full servings at approximately $4.25 a piece.   Where else can you get that kind of nutrition – in 15 minutes – for less than $5!?

Honestly, I believe every kitchen should come equipped with one of these.  It should be as standard as a refrigerator or oven.  I believe that would significantly cut down on the obesity rate in America.  Imagine if the whole country ate Cleaner…

If you are looking to lose weight.  If you are looking to get healthier.  If you are looking to save money.  If you are looking for an easy way to APPEAR to be able to cook.  You need a West Bend Programmable Steamer.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for this post – just another post sharing what I love!