P'let's Instant Pot and Cooking Adventures

 I discovered this method for Thanksgiving. Dad had two servings, and he's NOTORIOUS for disliking chicken. It's SUPER easy, with an instant pot.   Literally dump a package of frozen chicken thighs into the instant pot.   Add a bottle of marinade/dressing.  I'm currently loving the Caribbean Jerk from Walmart.   Set it to pressure cook for 12 minutes.  That's it.  Seriously.  You can let that sit on 'warm' for hours, or serve after it depressures.   This is melt in your mouth delicious.  

  Honestly, can someone tell me if sleeping heart rate of 80+ is bad? Doctor thinks it's ok-ish. Since I'm not short of breath. Seriously, should this be looked into? It's not an emergency, obviously, since my heart rate has been like this since my accident in '16. John did some quick google-ing. It might be a symptom of my chronic mild dehydration. I HATE water. I also can't stand the flavor of fake sugars. I'm doing better. Looking at my fitindex history, I'm doing better, but should be more, apparently. I've been drinking my water. UGH. Down to 100ish after my exercise, again . On the plus side, I'm down to 173.8 at my last weigh in. The fitindex scale has a lot of information, if you know what you're looking at. I like it. It shows me being at 41.8% "body water". according to the app, 45% is 'normal'. And it also shows that I've consistently been low there. Protein is also low. 13.4%, with a standard from 1

 So! I made jalapeno poppers about a week ago.  I used a recipe from Betty Crocker.  Well, I based it on the recipe.  It's called "Olive Balls Recipe"  https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/olive-balls/a6358011-ee76-4ac2-a0eb-35ba9f450f60 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces) 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 cup Original Bisquick™ mix I also added two finely diced jalapenos.   Heat oven to 400 degrees. Stir together cheese, butter, and W sauce.  Mix in baking mix (I actually used Jiffy baking mix, not bisquick) Mix in jalapenos. Spoon about a TBS of mix and roll into a ball.   Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, about an inch apart   I used parchment to line, because I like it. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. I also made 'poppers'.  I rolled little balls of cream cheese, and wrapped the dough around them.  This is next level delicious, and I highly suggest doing it.   (Thank you, Matt, for the suggestion)

 Today, pulled pork again. I do seem to have a small issue with flavor.   My seasoning doesn't have much effect on the flavor of the meat. It does flavor the water, but not the meat so much.  John has suggested adding something like an au jus or onion soup packet to the water.  I think that's a good idea.   But since I'm starting with GOOD meat, it's a great blank slate. (Small brag, the grocery store I work at has the BEST meat department - if you happen to be in Pipestone, MN; stop at Hank's)

Got the little pumpkin cut into chunks.  I'll be roasting the chunks, then pureeing it.  

I think I've done the potato wedges here before, but again, just cut one or two potatoes into wedges, toss in oil and seasoning of your choice, and air fry for 20ish minutes. I did the beef in the crock pot, with a good amount of the McCormick "Mesquite" seasoning.  Covered with water,  and cooked on medium for 6 hours.  I think it could have gone longer, but I wanted enough time to have some for lunch, so went with that.  I had about 3lbs beef.  It was on sale at work for 3.99 per pound.  I don't think beef shreds as well as pork.  So that's a thing.   I  put the beef on top of the potatoes, with a bit of shredded cheese on top.  I'm stuffed.