It’s been a while since I posted about what’s in my kitchen. I haven’t been shopping much but I have wanted a new pressure cooker for a long time. I have an electric one that doesn’t work very well.
I wanted a large pressure cooker for the big jobs so I got an 8 ltr. Scanpan on sale for 60% off and I’m really happy with it.
I saw this egg cooker/pancake cooker on a Facebook ad and went to Aliexpress to see if I could get it for way less. I paid $4.50 with free shipping. I haven’t tried it but it needs a bigger pan – thankfully I have one. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I love an electric wastebasket. It’s great when I have both hands full of trash and it opens for me. The old bin I had was round and it was hard to scrape off from a cutting board. I found this at Costco and I’m really pleased. I also picked up bags that fit perfectly and enough to last a year. The only problem is with the stainless steel because I live along a salt water canal so everything metal gets rusty over time – and often it doesn’t take long.
A good friend reminded me that I hadn’t brought you up to date on how I’m doing. She said that she noticed I’m posting weekly but I haven’t said how things are going. I have a doctor I trust completely and that means so much. While there is no cure for the disease (Forestier’s Disease/DISH) I have, it is manageable if the right medicines are found. My problem has always been that I don’t react well to most all pain relievers. Recently, I was headed to blindness before we tracked the culprit down and reversed the changes to my eyesight by stopping a drug. Now I wear a patch on my back that has brought me to nearly normal most days. Some days are great and other days, I just rest. I’ve learned a lot from my friend Krista at Rambling Tart about nurturing myself when I have to and working hard when I can.
If you’d like to see more kitchens, check out the list at Sherry’s Pickings. She’s the new host of In My Kitchen, where we get to peek in the kitchens of food bloggers. We’d love to have YOU join us too. In My kitchen started with Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial and then Liz Posmyk from Bizzy Lizzy’s Good Things took it over. Sherry is just getting started so she’d love your support.
Glad to hear your health has reached somewhat of a steady state. I’ve been wondering, too. And of course I always wonder what’s in your kitchen! I’ve never had a pressure cooker, and keep thinking of getting one. Those electric wastebaskets are neat. Does Charlie wave his paw in front of it to open the lid? 🙂
Thankfully, Charlie has never been a trash dog except once. John had the flu and his waste basket full of tissues was strewn from one end of the upstairs to the other. Could be worse, I suppose! 🙂
Count me as one looking forward to your news… yes, nurturing yourself should be your number one priority… and I am glad you are having some good days. I shivered at the eye sight problem, and hope not only you were able to stop the process but revert it back to normal?
on the trash can – I once read that if you use those wood polishes, I think the name is Lemon something… comes in a spray can, you can prevent rust. Just spray and rub on the stainless steel surface.. ok, I remembered now Lemon Pledge, almost sure that’s it
it cleans and it then leaves a little protective coat too. Plus it smells wonderful!
(I adore my pressure cooker, good Brazilian that I am.. or was… )
I’m off to buy lemon wood polish!! Thanks for that idea. My washer has rust and my old refrigerator had rust but the tradeoff to live near the water makes it okay.
Thank you for the health update. I’m glad you’re doing better.
PS: I need a new garbage can. 🙂
Taking care of number one is more and more important as we grow older, dearest one. You have been through the hoops and now’s the time to nurture yourself into good health and wellbeing. Lecture over, with a big hug. Thank you for the very kind shout out. I was wondering how you were managing with things. Pressure cookers frighten me. I bought one for myself, but sold it a while back. Happy cooking with it. Take care, lotsa love and thank you for the shout out. You forgot to mention that you, too, were a host of IMK xxxxx
Aliexpress has some wonderful bargains. Your new pressre cooker looks good. I agree the electric ones don’t work so well. Take care Maureen.
I have a pressure cooker, but am dead scared of it so seldom use it.
I’m glad that you are getting a handle on your health Maureen – and I hope you continue to improve. xxx
Oh I love your shiny new things Maureen, what a super Scan pan sale!!!
And I love that you are nurturing yourself…yes, we get busy & forget about our own needs often. I’ts so valuable to have friends remind us sometimes.
Thanks for introducing us to Sherr’y Pickings…heading over there right now :)) xx
We love to know what is in your kitchen but more so about how you and your husband are. Knew about your back worries. which I share. but not about vision problems. Know you have the best possible care. Happy you are reaching out to say ‘hello’ . . . . good days and bad days but life is still wonderful . . . about to > ‘Sherry’s . . . [we all are individuals but I have knocked almost all chemical meds off my list !] . . . .
My sister has one of those bins! They’re fabulous 🙂
I’m not sure about the pressure cooker, I’m a little bit scared of them 🙂
Great to see inside your kitchen as always 🙂
Julie
Thermo.Kitchen
I love seeing what’s new in your kitchen Maureen but I love so much more hearing that you’re doing so much better and having near normal days. BRAVO to your wonderful doctor!
Glad to hear you’ve found the culprit, Maureen. Sending you prayers of Grace and ease.
Speaking of ease, your trendy shiny new trash can has me coveting the item. Plus I’m interested in obtaining the pancake/egg cooker. Seems like a good buy. Trust the plastic is sturdy enough to withstand heat =)
Glad to see this back. I love peaking into other’s kitchens. I’m so envious…a new pressure cooker. Mine is over 40 years old, making it too sentimental to replace. 🙂 Glad to see that you are making progress with figuring out and managing your disease. I know from experience how tricky that can be. I’ve been living with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease for 14 years and it’s a part-time job, but life goes on. The drug that was causing your blindness sounds scary as hell. Glad you got that worked out. Sending you some big and gentle hugs Maureen.
thanks for joining in maureen. great to see you able to do blogging again. i love your wastebasket. i just wish all my doors etc were automatic. i would really love one of those automatic front doors to my house. i’m a bit nervous about pressure cookers. have never had one or used one. perhaps because we don’t eat a lot of meat. i assume they are great for stews etc? 🙂
I am so pleased to read that you are doing so much better and that you are taking the time to rest and look after yourself gently and with kindness. Love the bin, we need a new one, actually… we just need one. We currently use one of the HUGE shopping bags.
Delighted to hear your perspective on your health. Some days all you can do is rest and rest you should. Life is a delicate balance especially with a new diagnosis. Take care of yourself and enjoy your new gadgets.
I am glad you are taking good care of yourself and rest when needed. Your electric wastebasket is something I could use myself.
I have wanted a pressure cooker for a while but have resisted to date. Mainly a space issue. I have decided to get rid of something and make space for one as I know it’s invaluable for stocks and cooking pulses. I’ll wait until the mid year sales. I mentioned you in dispatches in my current edition of IMK as I shared a picture of Red Lobster biscuits and talk about your son’s early career.
I’m back from a break from blogging and reading blogs so enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for sharing
I’m off to look!
Hello darling one, I’m so glad to hear you’re doing “reasonably” well AND that you managed to ward off blindness!!! Do take it easy on yourself. Love that you finally have a pressure cooker that works and a robot bin that opens for you by itself.. 🙂 Much love xxx
You find the coolest things. Love the egg/pancake cooker. Cool!
Maureen, I THOUGHT I commented on your IMK post… or maybe I got sidetracked checking your links? (Some days are like that; know you completely understand.) Thanks for the one to Rambling Tart (good thoughts) and also to your successors Liz & subsequently Sherry. IMK shall prevail!
Tickled you’re still a part of it. You’re such a dear friend to us all, xo! Oh my heavens, you almost went blind?! My daughter is dealing with side effects from “drugs” right now… seriously, how can they even put some of those Rx’s on the market?! Hope you’re feeling a lil’ less like a guinea pig and more like yourself… sounds like you are, YAY! Loved your pressure cooker, poacher, and “electronic” wastebasket, too. What’ll they think of next?!
You must be relieved to finally know what was causing all of your pain, I’m sorry that it’s only manageable and not curable. I saw that pancake thing on FB too and looked immediately for a less expensive one, I found it on eBay but decided I did not need yet another thing. Let us know how it goes, depending on your experience with it, I may break down and get one anyway! The trash bin looks wonderful, we had one incorporated into the design of the kitchen when we renovated, but I would love one that opens on its own! The green garbage lives under the sink and is a pain to pull out so I usually just gather all my compost in a container on the counter and when it’s full, I dump it.
I love my pressure cooker. I bought it last winter and now use it all the time. Last night I cooked osso bucco in 30 minutes! I’d love a bin like yours. I didn’t know Sherry had taken over ‘In My Kitchen’. I’m glad to hear you’re doing better and that the patch on your back is helping you a few moments of ‘normal’ xx
Maureen, I’m so glad you answered the question of how you’ve doing. I’m so glad you’ve found a doc you trust! So sad that those meds almost had you loosing your site – but so glad that it was reversed…and, am so glad to see your posts in my inbox! I had a breather tonight and figured I’d have to come by and check out your site.
I’m thrilled to see you! I’m getting back my mojo. 🙂
So glad to hear you are having more “good” days and fewer “bad” days. Keep taking care of yourself and enjoy life. There have been days when I could use an electric wastebin as well, unfortunately mine is built in under the sink. Maybe I should have hubby rig it up with electronics for me! I’ve only recently starting using an electric pressure cooker. I see it coming in handy over the hot and humid summer months.
I’m glad to hear the pain management is working somewhat. That must be very difficult. Hope you have a good week!
I’m so pleased your health is improving and you are back to regular posting 🙂
Dear Maureen – I do hope your pain is manageable – drugs can be so strong, one way or another. I will keep you in mind as I research foods for Steve. I did a little research just now, and I’m sure you know this, but exposure to high amounts of Vitamin A is not good for you. It’s also important to try to do some stretching and limbering up everyday, if you can. How about some marijuana brownies for pain? And maybe wear a mask in the old folks home – you don’t need to be fighting colds on top of this. xoxo, M.
It’s good to see you up & writing Maureen, we missed you at #IMK. I’m glad you’re at a ‘manageable’ stage with your health too. I saw that egg poacher/pancake ould just the other day, please let me know what you think of it – is Aliexpress any good? I have been trying to decide on a stovetop or electric pressure cooker. I like the stovetop one because if there’s a power outage, I can still cook on gas but I’ve seen an electric pressure/slow cooker, as I need a new slow cooker. I’ll figure it out 🙂 xx
I have an electric and the stove top and find the stove top one heats much faster than the electric.
Hey, why did you stop updating your kitchen these days?
I’ve been really unwell and I’ve had to change my priorities. I’ll blog again once I get past all this.