Do you have a pot or utensil you’ve had forever? I do. I was using a “pressure cooker” tonight. I’m sure that many of you don’t even know what that is. It is a pot with a gasket that seals in the liquid with a weight on the top. When the pressure builds up, it makes the weight shake. It’s quite a disturbing noise and if you don’t regulate it, it will explode all over the kitchen. In the hands of an experienced user, it makes food tender and cooks quickly. This was pre microwave. I received mine as a wedding present (my first wedding!!) in 1973. My Mother-in-law taught me how to use it and I have been using it a few times a year ever since. It dawned on me tonight while I was preparing a “bouilli” which is basically a stew that I may have to finally retire it. The gasket took a lot of coaxing to hold together. The pot is beaten and battered with most of the paint worn off. In the 70’s red was a popular color for pots and pans and appliances for that matter. Now that’s coming back as trendy….who knew!
It made me think about all the times I’d used it to prepare food for my family. The honey/mustard hams, the stews, the pot roasts. It’s been 36 years ago since I was a bride of 18. Where did all the time go? Today I was driving around in my new car (yum yum). I went to get appointments for the H1N1 vaccine, deliver Christmas lights and the traditional advent calendars to my son, daughter-in-law and grandson. Even though my children are all grown up, they still want their advent calendars and all Christmas presents have to be toys, no practical stuff. I definitely failed to bring these boys up properly.
Food has such a special place in our lives. It reminds us hopefully of happy times growing up. I remember my Mother was a terrific baker (not so much of a cook like many British folk). She used to make this square with a shortbread base with maraschino cherries and a meringue topping. I have looked everywhere to try and re-create it but have never been able to find it. Last year I prepared a photo album for each of the boys with all of our family recipes. I wrote each one out by hand with my best handwriting. If I made a mistake, I would start again. I have to say it was quite a labor of love but they were delighted. They can never say they don’t have our family recipes and for those who have lost loved ones, it is comforting to see a loved one’s handwriting.
I think I’ll try to find a new gasket for my pot.
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I got my pressure cooker in the 60s, and it is still going strong. I get new gaskets and valves on the internet.
Thank you Jakill. I did find a website to order it from. All the best
What a great gift you made; a photo album of family recipes. I’m sure it will be treasured because I would too.
Excellent article Kay, re pressure cooker. We also own one at home and like yourself it gets used periodically throughout the year. You are so right when you say that using it can be very intimidating, the noise, the steam, the rocking. Your story reminded me of when I was young and it was the weeks before Christmas. My Mom was an awesome baker and it seemed for weeks she would bake what seemed like endless supplies of rich tasting deserts. Come to think of it my Mom never slept ha ha, certainly didn’t seem like that . Well Kay, I must say I love this time of year. I find that most people are in better moods, but for those Asses who are not I say WHO CARES…
Keep up the great BLOG, I love it.
Your Friend
Brian
I hope you find a gasket, Kay. Pressure cookers were great! The taste of the meat isn’t anything like from a microwave - the flavors get sealed in an everything is moist, instead of dried out!
I love my pressure cooker, it is fairly new, about 5 years old. I always loved the food that my grandma cooked in her pressure cooker so much that I asked for one for Christmas and of course that is what she gave me. I was very intimidated by it at first, but with grandma’s guidance I now use it a few times a month and wouldn’t want to do without it.
Thanks for stopping by. Yes my badminton coach cooks all sorts of things in it, even cakes. It’s wonderful that you keep your Grandmother’s traditions.
Hi Kay, great article! I stop by daily through Adgitize
I have 2 pressure cookers and 2 pressure canners. They are real work horses! I actually prefer using a pressure cooker over the microwave oven. Two places you can check for a gasket for your pressure cooker is Goodman’s (goodmans.net) and Pressure Cooker Outlet (pressurecookeroutlet.com). You can also google for parts based on your pressure cooker but the two sources mentioned are quite good. I’m in Canada. Home Hardware carries some pressure cooker gaskets as does Sears. I’ve heard that Ace Hardware in the US stocks a variety of pressure cooker gaskets. I hope this helps.
Thank you very much. I have located a place in Canada I can get the gasket. My pressure cooker will live on…….