Friday Night Photos: Look What Came in the Mail !
Lately I’ve been interested in pressure cookers, which are becoming trendy again since they’re a good green way to save fuel and cook inexpensive foods. After I wrote about pressure cookers at BlogHer, I ordered one, following the advice of my friend Susan V. from the beautiful blog Fat Free Vegan Kitchen, who told me she loved her Kuhn Rikon Pressure Cooker (affiliate link).
I chose a relatively small 3.7 quart model since I’m not usually cooking for a lot of people, and I want to use it for things like beans and brown rice. I got this from Amazon.com, and it was definitely expensive, but I’m old enough to have learned to buy the best and keep it a long time. You cannot imagine how delighted I was when I opened the box and saw that the top was blue, perfectly matching my kitchen.
(And obviously, anyone who could have photographed this at night, using lights, and not gotten that reflection, is a much better photographer than I am. I’m trying to learn, so suggestions are welcome.)
Since I’m a bit of a sucker for those “if you like this you might like this” deals at Amazon, and because I love Lorna Sass’ book Whole Grains, Every Day Every Way (affiliate link) I also got her book Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure (affiliate link).
There’s only one problem with the pressure cooker coming so soon, and it’s that I’ve been frantically busy all week writing blog posts and lesson plans so I could go to BlogHer Boston, which is where I am now. Obviously I won’t be doing any pressure cooker cooking until next weekend when I get back home. But if any readers have pressure cooker tips or pressure cooker recipe ideas I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
And finally, of course this plant didn’t come in the mail the way you see it here, but what a nice surprise when Cheryl from Gluten Free Goodness offered to send me some lemongrass starts, after she posted her recipe for Parchment Tilapia and I told her I’d never grown lemongrass or seen the plant in Utah.
They came in the mail with roots wrapped in wet tissue, inside a plastic bag, and I quickly planted them inside, since Cheryl said they didn’t like frost. It remains to be seen whether I can keep this plant alive inside through an entire Utah winter, but I’m certainly going to try. Thanks Cheryl.
So that was a pretty exciting week of things coming in the mail, wouldn’t you say? Did anything interesting come in the mail at your house?
19 Comments on “Friday Night Photos: Look What Came in the Mail !”
I enjoyed this post a lot, as I tend to use a pressure cooker practically every day as many Indian kitchens are prone to doing. Hope you enjoy using yours and we look forward to hearing of the meals that you created with it.
I really hope you enjoy your pressure cooker, Kalyn! Being a vegetarian, I love being able to go from dried beans to dinner in about an hour. I’m looking forward to seeing what you create with it.
how lovely of cheryl to send you that! in Brazil people use the leaves for tea. it is lovely.
Love hearing from people who have enjoyed using their pressure cookers. Wanda, will keep you posted.
I can’t wait for your feedback on the pressure cooker…..sounds like something for my busy life….I love beef stew, soups, but never enough time to put it together late in the day.
…..thanks so much!
Wanda
Kalyn
I have had a pressure cooker for over 30 years now. I am on my second one. It makes me look soooooo good. I pressure cook ribs in it and then “put them on the grill” outside with BBQ sauce just to “set” the sauce and they are “perfect” every time. falling off the bone good. I do green beans with new potatoes on top………..wonderful ! You won’t be disappointed !
Sherrie
Hi Kalyn! My Mom & grandmothers always used pressure cookers & the food that came out of them was always delicious & meat was ultra tender. I have always been a bit shy to buy/use one (maybe because I saw what can happen when you don't close the lid properly) so I'll be interested to read your reactions to your new pressure cooker. Cheers!
Thanks for the pressure cooker sites and pages!
I’m fascinated with pressure cookers, especially the Indian whistling ones, which alert you with a whistle ( Rice, dals, chicken, potato cook in two whistles, in under 10 minutes. Here are a series of One page cookbooks I wrote especially for pressure cookers.
Pappu – Andhra’s lentil stew
Quickie Dinners
Sundal – Dry lentil curries of Tamilnadu
There’s a site for pressure cooking recipes..Miss Vickie’s Pressure Cooking Recipes..Being in my old-age (70’S) I’ve used the pressure cooker forever and still love it.
Kalyn, congrats on your new pressure cooker. I used mine three times this week! I’ll be posting the recipes in a few days. I have one of the jiggle top kind and I’m trying to decide if I need the kind like you got. I can’t want to see what you make.
Sorry not to get back to anyone on these comments, but I’m sitting in sessions at BlogHer Boston and really having a great time.
CC, love the idea of using it for artichokes. Will definitely try that!
I like to cook artichokes in my pressure cooker. Doesn’t take a lot of water, and if you throw aromatics in with ’em (lemon rind, herbs, chili pepper) the extra flavors are *driven* right into the artichoke flesh. Yum.
Regarding lemongrass…I get single stalks at my grocery store or Whole Foods. If you put the stalk in water, it will root quite readily. I then plant it outside in the Spring and it grows into a gorgeous multi-stalk plant. In the Fall, I cut the stalks and freeze the white portion for use in chicken or soup dishes. The lemongrass dies in Boston winters. 🙁
I love my pressure cooker. My Mom always had one and used it all the time! It makes the absolute best corned beef or beef stew!
The recent interest in pressure cookers by “molecular gastronomists” has enhanced their popularity also.
I’m not sure if they’ll go “out of fashion” again though?
That’s a nice gift you receive in the mail today.
I’m looking forward to reading how you like it!
Hilary @ Smorgasbite.com
Kalyn,
I’m glad they arrived safe and sound and I’m sure they’ll enjoy their new home. I can’t wait to see what you do with it next summer!
Very interesting. My parents live in a high-altitude city and they have to use a pressure cooked to cook beans. I may be interested in one of these, there’s just something about stirring a pot of bean soup on the stove all day though.