The Delicious One Hour Stew

I knew our 'miracle' wedding gift was up to the challenge. In less than an hour, we had delicious tender stew. I was not surprised. Our pressure cooker made it happen, again, in another 'forgotten' moment, after school. It was the early 70's.

I removed the roast from the freezer when I got home, having forgotten to do so, that morning, before going to school. My 'miracle' machine would create a delicious meal in one hour. And so the journey began. Into the pot went the frozen roast, for 20 minutes, long enough to soften its edges for cutting into thick even slices. I was ready for beef stew, beef bourguignon or goulash. After the thick slices came evenly cut sticks and then cubes. The meal transformation had begun. The cubed meat was returned to the pot, for a second time, for 20 minutes of pressure cooking. The vegetables: diced carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, arrived soon after, for another 10 minutes, under pressure, to complete the entree, mere minutes for tenderizing the meat and cooking the raw vegetables. A slurry of flour or cornstarch, depending upon the appearance desired, was added to thicken the stew, adding herbs or spices as desired. Unbeknownst to me, bone broth had been created, intensifying the flavour of the stew while retaining valuable nutrients, within minutes, not hours, of cooking. Fast food's meaning was different in those days.

The hissing sound emanating from beneath the movable metal 'turret' on top of the lid of the pressure cooker could easily fall off, if I was not careful. The pent up pressure from deep inside the pot could be unleashed, perhaps, blowing a hole in the kitchen ceiling. Was this fact or fiction? That was the message, in those days, with the cooker of that era. That threat always seemed to loom large in my active imagination. But pressure cookers were a rudimentary lot in those days. I used mine as often as it made sense. Prior to marriage, I had never used one, seen one or heard of its existence. But it became my cooking ally during the early years of marriage.

A pressure cooker's pre-eminence in our lives provided a basis for all other vegetables to appear, willingly. The web has given me further evidence of the powerful health effects of this powerhouse kitchen tool, called a pressure cooker, to augment the nutrient value of the foods cooked in it. With ribs, the 'show' is more dramatic. After 20 minutes of pressure cooking ribs, these oft expensive and tough meats, are then placed into my Phillips AirFryer with its patented technology, for that broiled in the oven flavour, taste and look. There's nothing quite like it, really. A rib rub of onion powder, paprika, cayenne?, turmeric, cumin, salt and pepper, can be added mixed in, prior to 'roasting'. A taste sensation is just moments away. Dining out is no longer the only place to find delicious ribs. Now, it can be found in our kitchen where human health always begins. ... Cooking wings can happen easily in the majestic air fryer. Slow and easy does it with a dry rub all around.

Many air fryer machines have been on the market for many years. None caught my eye till the name Phillips, appeared, a name synonymous with quality and my childhood. My life changed. Meal time took on new dimensions. “Do you want fries with that?” was a constant refrain as I cooked dinner. “Other ' fries were always suspect. Was 'old' oil of unknown origins, being used for them? Did 'new and improved' really mean better? With my pressure cooker, cooking times were greatly reduced as flavour and tenderness, improved. Frozen appetizers could now be baked, easily and quickly, in the air fryer for the fresh from the oven taste. Cooking drudgery was slowly disappearing and replicating restaurant meal entrees was now possible with my air fryer and pressure cooker.

The oven is no longer the only appliance to roast, tenderize or broil. We have the pressure cooker and the Phillips Air Fryer, working in tandem, to keep us home, more often, saving money, protecting health while freeing up the time to engage, once again, with our children and our pets. It is a simple case of life, happily, ever after.

And So it Happened to Me

As a nineteen-year-old, working part time, in a local deli/convenience store, I was summarily groped by my boss, a man of many faces. He was not nice to his teen employees. As students, naive, trusting, while looking towards our future, we had no rights in his mind. His utterances were also a reflection of this.

Workplace laws and the minimum hourly wage of less than a dollar dictated my teen world. I was happy to be working and saving my money for university or college, whatever 'institution' would accept me. Part time jobs ruled the day, then, as it seems to, today. My employer ruled his kingdom in the basement of his store where I had been sent for 'inventory', that day. I was not expecting the pickings to be me. How naive I was.

We are all complicit, to a degree, in fostering the behaviour of those men who think of women, as second rate humans, unequal to them. Have beauty pageants, provocative posters, advertisements and 'R' rated movies helped keep women in our respective places? We are objects of admiration, yet to be demeaned, dismissed, ignored, at a later time, when it suits whoever is in charge. But let us not vilify the whole herd. It is unfair, ridiculous and downright mean. As a cocktail waitress, in the late 60's, in a conservative costume of its day: blouse, skirt and vest, I was 'violated' by two customers who felt obligated to demean me as I cleared their table. My retort was quick and to the point, catching them off guard. I was not what they had expected, a timid willing victim. Justice was swift. I was vindicated. A rude utterance, one day, from a 'friend' from our distant past, reminded me that some things never change. Oh, my, I could never say that. But he did. No one ever knew. But I never forgot! The 'friendship' died.

My future husband's first gift to me was a complete set of encyclopedia of cookbooks. (I hear the laughter now). I was and still am fascinated by food and its collective footprint on human health. Back in my day, food was a burgeoning study. I was fascinated by it all! While admiring the Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cooking, one day, 'John' noticed my focused attention on these magnificent hardcover gems of food, recipes, and illustrations, in the home of a friend. I owned nothing like it. Soon, I was presented with the complete treasure trove set of these recipes, photographs and historical facts all bounded in majestic hardcover artistry. And it wasn't even my birthday. My now husband has always thought of me as an accomplished somebody. At times, I believe it, too; other times, no. Is that the result of my personal history?

Hollywood is up in arms over what has transpired these past few months. Women have been on the back burner, perhaps, historically and given few choices other than the 'obvious', for paid work. The workplace has evolved while men have always been in the driver seat. But has society not expected them to be? For those women who have always wanted to be a mom, how would that have gone over with the future-in-laws if the guy had said the same thing and had no aspirations beyond being a dad. He might have been considered a poor husband choice. Yet we are not. Motherhood is the hardest job in the world, some say. It has its moments and the rewards are incredible.

In an episode of M.A.S.H, the war sit-com show from the 70's, a Swedish doctor arrives at the M.A.S.H unit to observe army combat surgery, only to be met with delinquent sexist views when she begins to demonstrates, quite skillfully, a life enhancing surgical procedure on one young soldier, while, later, saving the life of another, who was suffocating. In both instances, sexism reared its ugly head. Two doctors were made to feel inadequate by her skill set. The episode ended with the chief of surgery admonishing the demeaning views of another colleague while showing remorse for his own ridiculous outdated, patronizing views on the 'weaker' sex. Everyone had been put on notice. Times were changing.

Diamonds are not this girl's best friend. Other things matter more. No engagement ring for me, either. He followed me wherever my career took me and quit a lucrative career, in group insurance and financial planning, to do that. When we married, he was prepared to take my name if I had wanted. I wanted to 'move up' in the alphabet so I adopted his. (His surname was easier to pronounce, anyway.) 'High school' decimated my first name. Seemed like it was too hard to pronounce. Ouch, my self-esteem.

As a female, in my male dominated world, I understand the male mantle, only too well. We've have it bad, many times, but so have they. The men of the majority are kind, funny and loving. Go after history, when things were worse. If we condemn them now, collectively, we cast a very long shadow on our sons and daughters, too. How unfair is that!

The Holiday Sugar Dilemma

We had been invited to visit, around the noon hour, during the holiday season. With three young boys in tow, I hoped lunch of some kind would be served. Family always had some sort of food readily available. I know I did. What we faced wasn't unimaginable. It was unexpected, a interesting lesson for us all.

The day had started, normally, with breakfast, three boys and two retrievers to attend to. The day was somewhat predictable until we arrived at the home of our relative. In a house built for 'one', there would be little to amuse young boys, I knew. But I was not concerned. They knew how to behave in all environments. It was both their duty and responsibility. At home they could scream, yell, run around, as the tide allowed. Homes were designed with that human behaviour mind. But in the home of another, the boys knew what was expected of them. They were simply happy to be there.

The offer of sugar cookies and soda pop was presented as soon as we arrived. Episodes of The Three Stooges, would be shown for their viewing enjoyment. It was a treat, after all. An extra measure of tomfoolery, I mused. Oh,my. This newest 'twist' on lunch was unexpected, our boys knew. A set of unusual circumstances had been presented. They were uncertain as to what to do. The 'captain' of the crew, our oldest, looked at me plaintively, hoping for an answer. I reminded them that their choices were clear and simple. “Yes, please” or “No, thank you” would be their replies with each boy determining his own 'fate'. I appreciated their unusual dilemma. And so they greeted the sugary treats with unexpected excitement. I watched for changes in behaviour. I cannot remember what happened that day, but the boys grew up to be caring men, in loving relationships, with rescue pets and children, all around. One moment in time does not a bad habit make!

Cookies were not a mainstay in our children's lives, they knew. Even the homemade ones were a rare commodity. Fruit might have been an option with a hotdog, perhaps, that day. With small appetites, healthy food was always my preferred choice. (Get the good stuff in before the bad stuff has a chance.) The couple of hours visiting a relative, whom we rarely saw, was not going to be marred by a parent's “Is this all you have? “scenario. Maybe, poor judgement had been exercised by the host but I was not here for conflict resolution. It was more important to enjoy the visit than be 'distracted' by other less important things. Keeping things simple was what mattered most.

We visited another relative, an elderly candy aficionado. The sweet snacks were everywhere, spread out in a carefully laid out colourful landscape, on the coffee table, within reach of the little hands of children. It was a holiday, after all. Children will always decide what makes sense, in the moment, if given the opportunity. Excesses may begin the exercise but the body always wins the 'argument'. Rational thinking takes time. Watching my reaction to the 'sweet' offers of candy was a powerful moment for both of us. Mom was going off script. How could she do that, they wondered? It was easy. The clock was ticking and I was not worried. A diet 'correction' would occur later, at home. Having a good time was what the holiday visit was all about. Candy was just a momentary fun distraction. ... Controlling children was never in their best interest. Who wins if parents are always in charge of life's 'little' moments?

Our boys did eat the candy, that day, how much, I do not remember, but the luster of those ongoing moments of freedom soon passed. Saying “no” to children is easy. If said often, the word becomes meaningless. The power structure is so lopsided, anyway. A win on the parenting battlefield, early on, means nothing, if children do not learn the consequences of their own behavior. Bigger battles are looming, later, when “no” will unleash its truly awesome power upon them.

The sweet dilemma of those moments, long ago, became isolated incidents of fun to recall. Much is lost, in raising children, when our need to control them, in every way, supersedes theirs to learn valuable lessons. Being of sound mind and body doesn't just happen. It is created over time, with practice, patience and help from caring, loving family members, some of whom are of the four-legged variety.