My new Acquisitiion

Did I mention that I went out searchng for an electric digital pressue cooker? No? I didn't even know I wanted one but here is what happened.

 I fell asleep infront of the the TV last week and I must have rolled over on the clicker, when I woke up the shopping channel was on. they were hawking electric pressure cookers. Now, it has been a long time since Grannie gave me my old stove top model pressure cooker. After we tamed it down from exploding onto the ceiling time and again we got the knack and I used it hard for several decades. When it became impossible to find the rubber gasket for it, I retired it to become a popcorn pot.

I wanted that electric digital pressure cooker. I really wanted it. According to the SC it would completely take over my kitchen and we would want for no other appliance. Cooking would once again become a breeze, no less a pleasure.

They are hard to find. I looked in all the major department stores and most of the kitchen stores. I googled it and found that Williams Sonoma had one. In the states.
I happened to be at the mall one day so I stopped in to the store, I was prepared for a big laugh at the price. Usually the price of stuff in WS is so ridiculously inflated that it makes for great entertainment. What?  $1200 for a toaster? Who buys this stuff?
But my luck was in and the pressure cooker that I wanted (6 quarts) was on sale for $149. Hmm I said, I saw it on the internet .ca for $99. They couldn't have been more accommodating and it wasn't 10 minutes later that I was struggling down the mall escalator with my new pot.

I initiated it the first night with some stewing beef that I picked up at the Better Butcher. Brown the meat, pour in some wine, season, add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste, chop up some mirepoix and toss it in. Pressure cook for 30 minutes. Let off the steam and toss in green beans and carrots and pressure for 6 minutes. Wow!!!!!
Dellicious.
I just made the best stew I have made in many years, in my wee little temporary kitchen with my new pot.
I was off and running.

Next night it was pot roast. My favorite easy meal. Again browning the meat and adding mirepoix, a cup of red wine, reduce for a few minutes and then add some beef broth to the pot.
Pressure cook for 45 minutes. Let the steam ease on its own, probably another 15 minutes or so. In that time you can prepare your potatos and carrots. Once the meat it done, remove it from the pot, add the carrots and steam for 3 minutes, let off the steam and add the potatos and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the vegetables and stir in on the browning cycle, a mixture of COLD water, maybe 2/3 cup and a couple of heaping table spoons of flour. This will thicken the broth in the pot and become a decious gravy.

Another wonderful 'no work' way to make a fabulous pot roast dinner is this; after you have browned the roast, sprinkle a package of dried onion soup mix over the roast then pour in a can of mushroom soup. Pour over 1 soup can of water and pressure cook for 45 minutes. You will probably never use another recipe again and your family will eat the whole roast in one go.

I made a BBQ'd chicken for easter Sunday dinner and after we picked it over I pressure cooked it for 10 minutes. The meat fell off the bones when it cooled down enough for me to open it. Oh did I mention another think I really like about this appliance? You can set it and go out. Yes, you can go out. No longer do you need to dial 911 when using a pressure cooker. When the food is done, it slowly reduces the steam and then sits on stay warm until you open it up.
Tonight we had just the best chicken vegetable soup.
So, when you don't have an oven or at least a cook top and you can't eat junk food at the fast food joints, this is by far the best choice.
More recipes coming.

Easter weekend in the rubble

How long have we been at this...? Day?

We are now settled in to our little underground cave. Well, it isn't that bad actually. It is really over 1600 sq ft. Not too shabby for an apartment. We have a level exit to a covered patio to our back yard and the golf course. But I guess it is the snow that is getting to me, endless snow, just when it gets warm up to 10 + or so, the weather gods look down and say 'Oops we haven't given these folks enough grief yet, so give 'em so more snow."
We had a Huge dump of snow a few days ago, probably over 11 inches, wet and heavy. It was a couple of days melting and now another dump of snow on the way.
Above us the floor guys have taken over from the kitchen guy and the demo is on going. Banging and pounding and in a hollow mostly empty house the sound is dementing.
I have sqeezed our kitchen into the little office storage room but it works well and I have made some pretty nice meals in it. I know I have had smaller kitchens in my life.
I have to go buy my appliances soon, choose the tile for the shower and the floors and buy lighting fixtures and plumbing trim. We still have to walk out the kitchen floor plan, making sure that the cabinets will all fit and then off to choose the granite and the back splash material. Oh and we haven't chosen a paint colour or the floor stain colour yet.
We all have our minds on the demo. The creation is the next step. Oh and have a garage sale. or give our surplus stuff all away.....any takers?

Toto alert

Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Later on same day

Something as small as a sliver will be the complete undoing of me soon. Down in the guest bathroom where I am now finding sanctuary, it sounds like WW111 upstairs. My nerves are rattled and we are both bloodshot with the fatigue of moving all the detritis of our lives. We have given up all social niceties and have loud FU fights with the windows open.
My thumbs are cracked and sore and I could weep with exhaustion and I am on day 2.
I think I would like to become a vagabond.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: Heidi <mohrfun@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:29:56
To: bebop_her@yahoo.ca<bebop_her@yahoo.ca>
Subject: Re: Out with the old

Wow! What a monster project! Good on you. I can't handle touching up the trim where they quarter round molding now sits lower after ripping out the carpet!

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 11, 2011, at 3:15 PM, bebop_her@yahoo.ca wrote:

> Some of these cupboards are going downstairs to the little bar kitchen ex laundry room. Then I can put some stuff away. Ginger has been wading through pasta noodles and canned tomatos wondering why on earth we are doing this stupid move.
> It is amazing how much space there is now upstairs that the island is gone...only to be replaced by a continent.
> Ceiling coming down this week too.
> Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
> <IMG00079.jpg>

Out with the old

Some of these cupboards are going downstairs to the little bar kitchen ex laundry room. Then I can put some stuff away. Ginger has been wading through pasta noodles and canned tomatos wondering why on earth we are doing this stupid move.
It is amazing how much space there is now upstairs that the island is gone...only to be replaced by a continent.
Ceiling coming down this week too.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

24 hours to go

I hope my reflection does not show anywhere in this picture....did I even wash my face today? I have run out of boxes and I ache in every muscle in my body. I have been at this mess since yesterday late afternoon. I lose my mind occasionally and find myself sorting socks in my closet. But soon desperation reminds me to get back to the grind stone. Sometimes the grind stone is the phone or a client. Then a few hours later I am right back in the middle of this mess. The clock is ticking and every minute counts.

Some how this all has to be packed away somewhere downstairs where I can find it when the whole reno is done..
And you're thinking...'Why doesn't she just throw that junk out?'

Wednesday

I did my full work out at Jazzercise class. I was sore and tired when I got there so I had to fight to stay to the end. My hips were on fire. Plus a burning knot of hot coal on my SI joint. What agony.

I took off right from class with cooling sweat on my brow and did my morning CMA picture taking tour. That was an hour out of my day.

Then back home for a shower and change and down to the office and I worked until 4:30 on listing projects.

 I guess you can tell that the packing and sorting thing is getting delayed further into my day.
I spent all last night dreaming of where to put my kitchen cabinets and it hit me 'like a thunderbolt' that I could put one upper set in the little office kitchen down stairs.

After a full day's work I went back upstairs and tackled packing up two cupboards. It may seem easy to do but I have to consider what I need now, what I will need in the summer and what I never want to see again..
Then off to costco to buy a bar fridge and to Lowes to get a real dolly. or is it spelled dauli? or dahlii? Anyway a moving aid. Finally after all these years I actually have one, Now I can put an end to the back breaking dragging stuff around moving experience.
I have to be out of the kitchen by Monday am and right now the job looks daunting.
Tomorrow I might get more accommplished.
Question. Will I be ready when they come to tear down my ceiling?

The reno begins

I am so grateful that our housekeeper could help me yesterday. We packed up the china and pictures and finished the dining room and the living room, Tonight, when I get home around 7 I have to get the kitchen set up in our wee little office kitchen down stairs. You can't swing a cat let alone a mouse in it.
The kitchen is being taken out Monday morning and the ceilings come down a day or two after that. I had hoped I would have more time but alas it is underway now.
So, we have to get everything into a pod in the driveway as well as organized in the basement for that is where we will be living for the next 3 months.
I am cooling my heels in the docs office right now, he will probably check my blood pressure....it is bound to be high today.
Before I pass out every night I hope to remember to blog.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry