[Blindtlk] cooking was Hobbies?

Sat Mar 30 15:46:00 UTC 2013

Julie,
I do a lot of canning, and pressure cooking is really the only safe way to
can food anymore.  I can vegetables, fruit and meats and I have a small 3
pint canner and a larger 7 quart/14 pint canner for canning large batches of
food like fresh caught salmon, a large harvest of tomatoes or green beans,
or a lug of peaches or pears.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 10:29 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] cooking was Hobbies?

I don't have a talking meat thermometer. I test for doneness by texture and
smell.  I do buy the holiday turkeys with the pop up timer thingy, but those
you can feel when they've popped.

I would like to find a talking candy thermometer.  I use the cold water
method...spooning a small bit of the candy into ice cold water so it sets up
quickly.  However the candy still on the heat is still cooking while I'm
testing.  Whatever is in the ice bath is about a step or half step behind
the stage in the pot.  I think a thermometer would be more accurate.

Also does anyone can?  I've been reading up on it.  there seem to be a
couple of different methods, pressure canning and hot water bath.  I haven't
figured it all out yet.  I think I might ask my mother in law for help
because she cans.  Anyway will I need a thermometer to can safely?  If I do
need one does anyone have any suggestions on a specific product?

Julie

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Wolfe
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 9:35 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Hobbies?

Julie,

    Whas your experience been with the talking meat therometer? I bought one
but wasn't allowed to use it to cook with. I really miss cooking for six
years that my life has been like denied rights of cooking just cold meals is
all I'm allowed to do like simple salads, sandwiches, tuna and peanut butter
crap. I like cooking cause it allows me to be the little helper who I like
to be in the house just can't in this realtionship.

    I have a question in inner personal relationships for everyone to
consider on my situation. What would you say after numerous attempts of
trying to find something that has been moved everywhere that your partner
says "As soon as we move to somewhere new so that everything isn't moved all
the time then you can be more independent". This has happened to me for four
going on five years of relentless controls on everything even my messages
and riffling through my laptop. I don't seem to have any privacy, however,
age might play a role cause they are twice as old as me. Nobody should be
treating someone like an animal like arguing to go to stores or insisting
maybe pleading to attend me wherever I go on paratransit. I'm just so tired
of all this and have no where to go from here with numerous other medical
obligations like dental and savings to do that I can't afford yet to move.
By the way, this is all because I cheated on her with a man like a year and
a half ago and she thinks that I'm mentally ill for being gay. Tired just
tired of her damn nephew saying gay jokes about me just ridicule doesn't put
its right name on it just horrible.

sad,
Peter

On 3/30/13, Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
> Peter,
>
> I cook on the stovetop nearly daily.   I prefer to bake, but I think 
> that's
>
> because I enjoy cookies and cakes more than meat and vegetables! 
> Seriously
>
> though, I haven't found cooking particularly difficult as a blind person.
> Most things I determine doneness by their texture or smell.  Meat 
> smells different when it's browned.  I cook vegetables until they feel 
> soft, but not soggy, when poked with the wooden spoon.  Same thing 
> with pasta, although I usually eat a noodle to double check.  I really 
> don't like underdone pasta.
>
> To drain noodles I place the strainer in the sink in a corner so it 
> won't slide around.  then I slowly pour into the strainer.  My 
> husband, who is sighted, prefers to use the type of strainer spatula 
> thingy that you hold against the edge of the pan and pour through.  I 
> don't have enough hand strength to do it this way because you have to 
> be able to hold the pan with
>
> only one hand.  the other is holding the spatula strainer.
>
> I've been buying hamburger directly from the butcher for several years 
> now.
>
> The meat is very lean and rarely is there enough fat that it needs to 
> be drained.  However in the days of grocery store hamburger, I would 
> use paper
>
> towels to absorb the excess fat.  There are lots of ways to remove the 
> extra
>
> fat.  the paper towels are just what I find easiest.
>
> For flipping I generally use a standard spatula.  although if I 
> anticipate that the contents of the pan might splatter or the grease 
> might pop a lot, I
>
> prefer to use tongs.  They give me more control and a firm grip on the 
> piece
>
> of meat.  For flipping things like eggs or pancakes, the trick is to 
> flip fast.
>
> We are just moving into spring and our meals will get lighter with 
> more fresh ingredients.  For most of the winter we eat things like: 
> beef stew, pot roast, chili, chicken and dumplings, spaghetti and 
> variations on these.
>
> In the summer we'll eat a lot more grilled meats and sautéed vegetables.
>
> I have grilled numerous times independently.  It really isn't that 
> much different from stovetop cooking.  Getting your heat source going 
> is different, of course, but the actual cooking isn't all that different.
> Then
>
> again I learned to cook on a gas stove, so maybe grilling doesn't 
> bother me
>
> because I'm comfortable with the open flame. I'd suggest starting with 
> steak, pork chops or bigger pieces of chicken.  Decent sizes of meat 
> that won't roll and won't fall down inside your grill are easiest.  If 
> you grill
>
> vegetables, try putting them in foil or using a grill basket.
>
> I think if I get my garden bed preparation done, I'm going to make a 
> carrot
>
> cake this afternoon.  I'm thinking we'll have Shepherd's Pie for 
> supper to use up a lot of the vegetables in the refrigerator. And I 
> agree with you cooking and cleaning are basic life skills everyone 
> should know regardless of gender roles.  My son actually wants to be a 
> restaurant owner.  He's turning out to be a very good cook.  When I 
> met my husband he only knew how
>
> to grill and make frozen pizza.  It's been 9 years, but he does have 
> enough
>
> skill in the kitchen now that he would be okay if something happened 
> to me.
>
> We had to find that out the hard way when I broke my foot.  Microwave 
> dinners are not nearly as tasty as the commercials lead one to believe!
>
> It concerns me when you say that your partner won't let you cook or 
> clean and that your yoga pants were taken away.  I don't know your 
> situation and I'm not trying to be judgmental in any way.  I'm saying 
> this to you because
>
> I value you as a person.  the kind of control you are describing seems
> abusive to me.   Please take care of yourself.  There are organizations 
> that
>
> can help.  Please reach out and let people help you.
>
> Julie
>
>
>
>
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>

--
Cordially,
Peter Q Wolfe, BA
cum laude Auburn University
e-mail: yogabare13 at gmail.com
"If you don't stand up for something your willing to fall for anything"
Peter Q Wolfe
"Stand up for your rights"
Bob Marley

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