So, how can you tell if you are married to possibly the greatest
man in the world? Well, you have to have a little back story. So let's go back
to the 1970's. My mother was a recently divorced nurse trying to raise three
feisty daughters on a farm with little money or hope of getting any child
support. Holidays pay better if you work, and Christmas was the most
coveted in our very Christian home town. My mother worked pretty much every
Christmas in order to be able to spend Thanksgiving at home with the family. It
was her favorite holiday and never missed by anyone.
Years later, after I had my son and my cousins had their kids and
we had spread around the country, my beautiful mom, Gertrude, brought us
together one last time when she passed away Thanksgiving morning. It was
devastating to say the least for the entire family, and a few days away from my
40th birthday. Now I still celebrate the day, and this year am cooking for my
mother's sister and her family and all the kids. I have prepped for years for
this, and feel I know all the family's favorite recipes by heart. I am even
ready to start teaching my almost four year old son so that someday, when I am
gone, he will teach his kids. Recipes are one of the best ways to keep the ones
we love alive.
Now what does all this have to do with my husband? Well as you can
imagine my birthday has gotten to be kind of a depressing time. Not because of
my age, but because it made me so sad thinking about my mom and the holiday and
all that sort of thing. The year Gert died, he threw me my first surprise
party...ever. Actually it was really only one of a handful of birthday
celebrations I had ever experienced. I think I had a sleepover when I was
seven, and maybe one other, but it usually got mobbed into the Thanksgiving
meal.
This year, I know he went out of his way to make it special
again. I have been trying to get this food blog up and running, money is
tight because I am working from home, all of these things. I was once in
Executive Level Management for a large company, I made male wages and worked
hard to fight my way to the top. Now I am in charge of laundry and the
household, as well as somehow making enough money to pay for my son's private
pre-school. Having said all that, I wanted to add a new angle to the blog. I
wanted to open up a whole new world of old school recipes by using a tool I
didn't have the money to buy...A PRESSURE COOKER.
So my husband comes home yesterday and says he wants to give me my
gift early. What could it be? Not just a regular old pressure cooker, but an
automatic pressure cooker! Oh I love this man! According to the instructions, a
pot roast can be cooked in 20 minutes, along with the potatoes and carrots! So
my faithful readers, I foresee some new and exciting recipes in the future.
As I have been reading my mom's old recipes and dissecting her
cookbooks and side notes, I have periodically come across items that require a
pressure cooker. I am sure that this item will not only be awesome in helping
me whip up dinner after working all day (hey, these things don't write
themselves!), but also will help renew more old school cooking skills that we
know create healthier meals.
From my research I know you can buy a regular pressure cooker for
about $20-30 if money is tight. I was saving up for the super awesome model,
which I got. I hesitate to look up what my husband spent because that's tacky but
in the interest of information, it seems the ultra model costs around $80.
In closing, this year I am thankful for having such an awesome
husband who wants to support his wife during a weird time of career change,
life change and household change. My mother has been gone for three years already,
and it's been tough to get through the holidays and birthdays. Many couples facing such hardship and loss (we
lost his mother about six months after mine) while dealing with a new son, well,
it doesn't usually go well. With my staying home our income has declined
significantly, but together we are strong enough to make things work another
way. And that is why I know I am married to the best husband in the world.
Thankfully it is a class of man and not limited to just one. That means you too
can be married to the most awesome man in the world as well. I can come from
something as small as a pressure cooker, or even smaller like just knowing they
support you. Be thankful. Love each other and enjoy your holidays.
The specific model I will be using from
this point on is the Power Pressure Cooker XL.
I cannot WAIT to get to canning!
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