The Joys of Pressure Cooking

I was very unhappy on Friday. My trusty pressure cooker had given in to the high flames of my gas range and the handle had worn out and had broken beyond repair.

What in the world is a pressure cooker you ask me?
A pressure cooker allows for Pressure Cooking. Pressure cooking is a method of cooking in a sealed vessel that does not permit air or liquids to escape below a preset pressure. Because the boiling point of water increases as the pressure increases, the pressure built up inside the cooker allows the liquid in the pot to rise to a higher temperature before boiling and lets food cook quicker.

My humble 2 liter stainless steel pressure cooker was 4 years old, cost me Rs.1000 (about $20) and had been carried by me all the way from India to the US. I absolutely adored it. I made my baby food and then toddler food, soups, stews, curries, chilis...you name it and every dish in it...I wanted a pressure cooker pronto...

I did get a replacement pressure cooker today. It is a 4 liter aluminium pressure cooker made in India ( purchased at an Indian store in the Bay Area) and I am so excited with it. I have soaked some black lentils and kidney beans and am planning on making some Dal Makhani tomorrow. Here is a recipe for Dal Makhani if you fancy making some for yourself,it tastes super good with brown rice or some Trader Joe's Whole Wheat Naan or a chunk of french baguette.

What are your plans for Sunday...I am just planning to unwind with a trip to the Farmer's Market, a good cuppa ginger tea and the Miss Marple's DVD - Nemesis.

P.S - The photograph is one of my new trusty pressure cooker taken by a wonderful canadian couple (whose blog I avidly follow) living their life to the fullest in Coastal Kerala.