Rice investment + a NEW leg burner

Iโ€™m pretty sure our rice cooker has paid for itself already.

rice cooker

I picked it up at Costco for our housewarming party, and since then, have used it countless times for various grains- it makes beautiful quinoa. Since I busted the mini food chopper making cookie butter, I think it may be my most frequently-used winter kitchen appliance (Vitamix wins in the spring/summer).

Itโ€™s not that I have a habit of messing up rice, but I hate the guessing game of wondering if itโ€™s done or not. With this, you add the grain, water or broth, close and cook.

Last nightโ€™s brown rice accommodated some teriyaki shrimp and veggies:

shrimp

Bell pepper, onion, broccoli, baby corn, fresh pineapple, snap peas, mushrooms in a little olive oil

veg

with shrimp

shrimp (2)

and this sauce.

sauce

I halved the brown sugar, used Tamari instead of soy sauce and brown rice flour since we didnโ€™t have cornstarch, and it turned out amazing- just like the stuff in the bottle minus the creepy ingredients.

dinner

2 bowls of brown rice, shrimp and veg, covered in a blanket of red chili flakes. Good stuff ๐Ÿ™‚

This morning I woke up freakishly early, but Iโ€™m excited to have a couple of extra hours this morning to get things done around here and hit the gym.

Hope you have a great day! <3

xoxo

Gina

Something to do: How about a little leg burner? Add this one into a weights routine or after some cardio for a little extra burn. As always, check with a doc before making any fitness changes and modify to suit your personal needs.

Lovely leg burner

Clock lunges (alternating sides for 2 minutes)

Jumping lunges (1 minute)

Plie squat with calf raise (1 minute)

-Hold plie squat position (30 seconds)

Sumo burpees (1 minute)

Donkey kicks (10 on each leg, and then hold the leg in the highest position, flex your foot and pulse towards the ceiling 20 times on each side)

Repeat if youโ€™re feeling a little feisty ๐Ÿ˜‰

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49 Comments

  1. Ali @ Peaches and Football on January 3, 2012 at 10:22 am

    That stir fry looks wonderful – love the color variety.

    My dad bought my mom a new rice cooker for Christmas and she’s in love with it. Now I want one too!!

  2. HRCK the Herald on January 3, 2012 at 10:32 am

    Your stir fry has such beautiful colors! Also, glad to see the baby corn in there. I know lots of people who hate it, so I’m happy to see I’m not the only weirdo who enjoys it ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on January 3, 2012 at 10:37 am

      that was one of my favorite parts! it’s funny because i don’t really like regular corn, but baby corn is different ๐Ÿ˜‰

  3. joelle (on a pink typewriter) on January 3, 2012 at 10:36 am

    That rice looks soooo yummy.

    I need to try some leg workouts.. I thought all my walking and running would forever keep my legs toned, but lately they don’t seem to be doing the trick. Could be the extra helpings of cookies I’ve been having over the holidays though….. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  4. Jen on January 3, 2012 at 10:41 am

    Love my rice cooker, made brown rice with peas, carrots and a little parm and asiago added in the end. So good. Along with Brussels great dinner! I find white rice to be boring now that I’ve been doing the brown for so long. Looking into buying my friend a rice cooker since she wants to lose weight for health reasons, hoping to show her brown rice is better then white if you add some healthy flavor to it. I need to try the quino does it taste simpler to rice?

    • Jen on January 3, 2012 at 10:44 am

      Ugh spell check meant similar

  5. Caitlin on January 3, 2012 at 10:42 am

    Mmm love shrimpies! They make any dish seem more fancy. And you are the second awesome blogger I know of (after Emily) to endorse the rice cooker. I may have to think about this!

  6. Kelly @ Vegolosophy on January 3, 2012 at 10:43 am

    mmm that looks so good! I have been craving stir fry/ noodles recently, so decided tonight I would try to make some Pad Thai noodles! I really want to get a rice cooker, but need to convince the hubby ๐Ÿ™‚ He gets overwhelmed with all my cooking gadgets in our tiny NYC apart haha.. until then I guess the stove top it is!

  7. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat on January 3, 2012 at 10:44 am

    Mmm that sounds so good! I don’t have a rice cooker but now that you’re so happy with yours, it’s been added to my never-ending wish list of kitchen appliances!

  8. Ginger on January 3, 2012 at 10:50 am

    Looks DELICIOUS! and I know what you mean about the creepy stuff in the bottle. I threw out a bottle of “stir fry sauce” last night for the same reason. If I’m feeding it to my child, the ingredients need to be few, easily recognizable, and preferably fresh!

  9. Jordan on January 3, 2012 at 11:04 am

    My boyfriend has had his rice cooker since his freshman year at college and it has traveled everywhere with us since. This thing is a life saver! Enjoy ๐Ÿ™‚ (And just in case it doesn’t mention it in the instructions do not wash the metal bowl inside – if you have that version – with abrasive brushes or sponges, it will ruin the bowl)

  10. Liz @ Southern Charm on January 3, 2012 at 11:15 am

    love this leg burner! as I left the gym this morning, I was thinking about how I needed to find time to put one together. well, you have my back, haha, and I’m set!

  11. Chelsa on January 3, 2012 at 11:27 am

    Yum your dinner looks so tasty. I bought a zojirushi rice cooker over the summer and I use it several times a week. I totally agree it’s a great investment. You can pretty much put anything with brown rice and it will taste good.

    I do love my vitamix too, I think they’re equally great machines <3

  12. Cat @Breakfast to Bed on January 3, 2012 at 11:36 am

    I love my rice cooker. This is especially true since I am married to a Chinese guy who is obvie in love with rice. It also does GREAT bulghur!!

  13. Lena @Fit on the Rocks on January 3, 2012 at 11:48 am

    I love rice cookers. The dinky 2-cup rice cooker I bought from Target during my undergrad years makes my mom and her fancy rice cooker cringe. It works though, so no replacements anytime soon for me ๐Ÿ˜›

  14. Kelly @ Laughter, Strength, and Food on January 3, 2012 at 11:54 am

    I love anything ‘stir-fry’ like! It’s so easy to customize! Veggies, grain, sauce, voila! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  15. Corrie Anne on January 3, 2012 at 11:57 am

    Oh man. I’ve been wanting a rice cooker. maybe that’s what i can get with my gift card!!! And I’m always feeling feisty!!

  16. Anna @ the Guiltless Life on January 3, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    That teriyaki sauce sounds yum, and I love this leg workout – plie squats are one of my faves to do ever since we used them to warm up in dance class. Dance class always made exercises so fun, so whenever I do these I think of how fun I used to find it and it elevates my workout to a whole ‘nother level ๐Ÿ˜‰

  17. ash on January 3, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    looks great- love shrimp!

  18. Trainer Kjirsten @ Balanced Healthy Life on January 3, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    I didn’t realize you can make things other than rice in the rice cooker! I think I need to invest in one as I love quinoa and brown rice but hate cooking it on the stove top. Your meal looks fabulous! I love all those vegetables in there!

  19. Ali @SeeAliEatSeeAliRun on January 3, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    I’m obsessed with my rice cooker. Best investment!

  20. Emily on January 3, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    We have a rice cooker that we got as a wdding gift (I have burnt rice to the bottom of the pan a few times) and I have yet to use it. I need to get it out soon!

  21. Katie @ Plates and Paste on January 3, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    Hi Gina! This has nothing to do with your post, but I had this dream last night and it made me think of you…I dreamed I was pregnant (which I am no where near to being) and I was sitting around trying to figure out my own due date. I then suddenly realized that I was due in a week and started FREAKING OUT because I had done nothing…I had never gone to a doctor appointment and hadn’t bought any clothes, furniture, etc. Nothing!

    Haha I figured you’d get a kick out of that one ๐Ÿ˜‰

  22. Karie on January 3, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    Hi Gina,

    I have been reading your blog for awhile now and I was reading it last night right before i went to bed and i had a dream you had your baby and it was a boy not a girl and the pilot was late and got there just in time! The dream was so real and i remembered it so vividly I had to share! Good Luck I am sure “she” will be here soon!!

  23. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga on January 3, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    I can’t believe you’re still rocking out amazing dinners and workouts in your late term pregnancy days. Congrats to you, mama!

    It looks lovely!

    I’ve been tempted to buy a rice cooker many times but never have. I dont use my crockpot enough so figure I didn’t want another appliance graveyard purchase. Lol

  24. Yolie @ Practising Wellness on January 3, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    I’ve got a rice cooker and I NEVER use it – I must! That meal looks oh-so good ๐Ÿ™‚ Enjoy your early morning! <3 xyx

  25. Ali on January 3, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    We used to use our rice cooker almost daily as well. But now, the Juicer and the vitamix are way more abused! I love love love my juicer, and I do not go a day without using it. Best investment ever! Have an awesome day and an awesome work out girl! <3

  26. Gena on January 3, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    I consider my rice cooker to be literally essential to my life as a home cook! I count on it for beans and grains of all types, as well as veggie steaming. Invaluable.

    Happy 2012, sweetness ๐Ÿ™‚

  27. Kris | iheartwellness.com on January 3, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    Mmmmm, I’ve actually been craving shrimp lately and haven’t had it in years!!! I think I might get some ๐Ÿ™‚

    Thanks Lovie!
    xxoo

  28. Vanessa on January 3, 2012 at 3:34 pm

    I think rice cookers may be the best invention out there. How else can you make perfect rice ever. single. time?!

  29. Rosi on January 3, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    I just got that exact same rice cooker and I love it!
    I always had issues with the guessing part of making rice too… I’d put in the proper proportions, but it never seemed to cook right… :/

  30. Heather on January 3, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    Is there an alternate name for donkey kicks? It always sounds so unlady like and makes me want to giggle like a 7 year old laughing at fart jokes.

    • Fitnessista on January 3, 2012 at 6:51 pm

      kickbacks ๐Ÿ™‚

  31. Moni'sMeals on January 3, 2012 at 4:20 pm

    yum! I want one. Looks like a fabulous meal too.

  32. [New Balance] Nicole on January 3, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    That meal looks amazing!! I need to check out rice cookers ๐Ÿ™‚

  33. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on January 3, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    I’ve burnt my rice the past 2 times I’ve made it – I always leave the kitchen and forget to turn down the stove to a simmer! I think I need to get a rice cooker. ๐Ÿ˜›

  34. Leanne (Bride to Mrs.) on January 3, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    I received a rice cooker as one of my bridal shower gifts back in the summer and I LOVE it. I make my steel cut oats in there and love how they turn out.

    • Fitnessista on January 3, 2012 at 6:50 pm

      i definitely need to try some oats in there

  35. Kathy on January 3, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    How do you do quinoa in a rice cooker?

    • Fitnessista on January 3, 2012 at 6:50 pm

      same way! add the quinoa, water/broth, close and cook

  36. Tessa on January 3, 2012 at 5:35 pm

    Seriously, I adore you! You are so pretty and have the perect husband and the perfect balance between work and enjoying yourself ! I try a hardest not to be jealous of you ๐Ÿ˜‰ ! I wish you all the luck in the world with your little one! Can’t wait until she’s finally there ! Can’t wait to see pictures of her either! If she’s going to be anything like her mum, she’ll be amazing!
    ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on January 3, 2012 at 6:49 pm

      you’re a sweetheart- thank you tessa ๐Ÿ™‚
      and yes, i’m a lucky girl to have the pilot

  37. Gen on January 3, 2012 at 5:53 pm

    Yum! That recipe sounds awesome!
    Also, can’t wait to try out the new workout!

  38. Desdra on January 3, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    Wow, why had it never occured to me to cook non-rice grains in the rice cooker. I feel like this is a serious face-palm moment for me. Thanks for opening my eyes to the possibilities. The veggies look amazing. I’m a little hungry now.

    • Fitnessista on January 3, 2012 at 6:46 pm

      i always thought it was just for rice, too! nope- you can put almost anything in there ๐Ÿ™‚

  39. Krista on January 4, 2012 at 11:04 am

    I have an Aroma rice cooker but hardly use it b/c I can’t figure out how long the rice will take to cook in there! There doesn’t seem to be a guide in the book it came with. How long does the quinoa take? Or brown rice? Ahhh!

    • Fitnessista on January 4, 2012 at 11:14 am

      it ends up taking about the same amount of time- 40 minutes or so

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