I, for one, think the good old Pressure Cooker has been overlooked in our culture’s culinary experience.  We just don’t appreciate the Pressure Cooker anymore.    Nope.  Not at all.

Some people….. … especially here in the U.S….. still use a large Pressure Cooker for canning.  Hence, it’s name…. the good old Pressure Canner.  It is designed, specifically to hold jars.  I think it should be Jarring foods, not canning.

But back to the real McCoy.  The Pressure Cooker… which I might add.. was known as the first PC.   (Where as the real McCoy… was referred to as  the first Mac.)  But back on track now.

The PC has been around for quite some time now.  A guy named Denis… YEP… Denis Papin invented it.  He was French.  And he came up with the idea way, way, way back …. around 1678.  Seriously.   Leave it to the French.  Today is Denis’ birthday.   August 22.  1647.  Good pals with Isaac Newton.  Well.  Sort of.

Denis did a bunch of experimenting with steam devices.  And THAT….. makes me wonder why he chose steam to work with of all things.  To see a painting of this guy… well…. he looks more like a knitter to me.  At any rate….

The PC.  Pressure Cooker.  I don’t think folks use them too often anymore.  I’m not sure why.    It is the process of cooking food, using water in a sealed vessel…. AND….. it  does not permit air or liquids to escape below a pre-set pressure. It cooks food quicker than conventional cooking methods, which also saves energy.

I guess you could cook vegetables in it… or even steam fruits…. like apples.  Maybe soups?  I have no idea what you are REALLY supposed to fix in a PC.  I think apples would be best.  It fits in with the aforementioned Mac.  And Isaac Newton.

My only guess is that it isn’t convenient.  And THAT is why it fell by the wayside.

But the name is catchy.

Especially in sports and such.  “Folks…. we got a real Pressure Cooker on our hands.”

Some days… I guess all of us might feel like we have something in the Pressure Cooker.    And the only way to make it stop cooking, cooking, cooking… is to blow off a little steam.

“Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.” – Peyton Manning