Re: pressure cookers was Re: Need recommendations on security

"User" '

| In French, etouffee means to "braise" but in Cajun Country it means to
| "smother". The late Justin Wilson was probably one of the foremost
| authorities on etouffee. Attending a half dozen or so of his "picnics"
| in Tickfaw, La. were memories not soon forgotten.

Wilson came late to the party of being an official Cajun and was originally
a 'safty' engineer for Esso back before it became EXXON. While an excellent
cook he was not considered an authority by the locals.  As example he was
heavy on the use of wine in his cooking something that was not common with
the bayou cooks.  BTW his house in French Settlement was at most 5 miles
from our place in Prairieville.

While our families were acquainted we did not socialize with him and his
much as he was mean enough sober and much less sociable when drinking.
(Early on he effected a cane, not for support but because it was heavy ...
weighted with lead)

| An etouffee remains an etouffee until you add tomatoes, after which it
| becomes a "stew" according to most "purists".

The best modern review, both of the history and the makings, of Cajun
cooking is the Richard Collins Cook Book.  The hard copy went out of press
in the 70s and is very hard to fine. (We have several signed copies that
were presented to my grandmothers by the author) The paperback was still
available in the early '90s and may still be found in used book stores on
Magazine St... if you're lucky.

My grand father claimed he could tell where (within 25 miles) in Louisiana a
cook was raised based on the flavoring of the food served in their home.  I,
personally, expect it was because he knew most everybody's family history
but his stories expounding on the food and it's origins amused everyone.
Most especially a young bride trying to impress a visitor. He would often as
not, consider with a stern face the last of a dish and comment:  "You know
what this taste like?"  followed by a brief pause to allow the lady of the
house to ponder what was coming next he would say 'Another serving'

As to what something is recall that 'all things come to he who orders gumbo'
Gumbo BTW is from an African word that translates to English as okra.  I'm
not at all clear on the origins of the vegetable okra but if memory serves
this too had it's origins in Africa.