Hi all! My June class lineup is LIVE! I will be teaching three classes next month and these will be my last before my annual summer teaching break during July + August. Classes will resume in the fall (….does anyone else feel like 2024 is flyinnnng by?).
For accessibility in cooking—I’ve found the instant pot (if you have enough counter space for it to stay out and not need to be lugged down constantly) to be really helpful. Not having to stand over a pot on challenging body days makes a big difference, as well as buying already chopped veggies and frozen stuff. Love being able to dump stuff in and eat fairly quickly. I also ordered a microwave bowl that David Chang promotes but haven’t used it yet—just finally gave in to the instagram ads promising quick rice and greens so we’ll see how that goes.
Sauces to go on simple meals also makes things better for me (the Go To dressing in Simply Julia is a regular but I need to get more in rotation), since I can have quinoa or rice already made, or the Trader Joe’s microwave brown rice, a protein (canned chickpeas is the absolute easiest since they’re cooked through) and a veg. Add sauce—and ideally something crunchy like pickles or sunflower seeds—and that’s a lot of my meals. So excited that you’re writing about cooking accessibility!
If nobody mentioned the cookbook Cook As You Are by Ruby Tandoh, let me be the one. I loved how the book was organized, and how friendly it was to various accessibility needs including painful hands (RSIs/arthritis). It's like both a big hug and a sturdy kitchen stool at once. I do need to get a stool one of these days, in fact...
Hi Julia! I have a question about rice cookers — the pic/link you posted reminded me to ask! I have one and EVERY time I use it, it bubbles over and gets starchy water/steam everywhere. It's the kind of rice cooker that has a lid that is attached and latches closed. I rinse the rice like there's no tomorrow and it doesn't make a difference. I use 1.5c of water to 1c rice. It was frustrating so I just went back to stovetop, but it does require a bit more diligent watching. I welcome any other troubleshooting tips because rice cookers are great!
Congratulations to Grace on finishing grad school!
I totally know what you mean - mine does the same. From what I’ve read, rinsing makes a big difference but you’re already doing that…another thing I saw but haven’t tried is adding a little fat to the rice - oil or butter, or even putting a little oil on a paper towel and rubbing the surface on the rice cooker with it before adding the rinsed rice/water. I haven’t tried that but want to! Let me know if you do!
For accessibility in cooking—I’ve found the instant pot (if you have enough counter space for it to stay out and not need to be lugged down constantly) to be really helpful. Not having to stand over a pot on challenging body days makes a big difference, as well as buying already chopped veggies and frozen stuff. Love being able to dump stuff in and eat fairly quickly. I also ordered a microwave bowl that David Chang promotes but haven’t used it yet—just finally gave in to the instagram ads promising quick rice and greens so we’ll see how that goes.
Sauces to go on simple meals also makes things better for me (the Go To dressing in Simply Julia is a regular but I need to get more in rotation), since I can have quinoa or rice already made, or the Trader Joe’s microwave brown rice, a protein (canned chickpeas is the absolute easiest since they’re cooked through) and a veg. Add sauce—and ideally something crunchy like pickles or sunflower seeds—and that’s a lot of my meals. So excited that you’re writing about cooking accessibility!
Thank you for all of these details I appreciate them sooooo much!!!
Congratulations, Grace!
🎉🎉🎉
Maybe she’s had it for years and this is my first time noticing, but I love the pink in Grace’s hair!
Also what would I use my instant pot for if I bought a just-a-rice cooker? 😂
Oh grace changes up their hair all the time! So fun (also grace uses they/them now 🩷)
Was not aware, thanks for correcting me!
Also lol re: IP!
If nobody mentioned the cookbook Cook As You Are by Ruby Tandoh, let me be the one. I loved how the book was organized, and how friendly it was to various accessibility needs including painful hands (RSIs/arthritis). It's like both a big hug and a sturdy kitchen stool at once. I do need to get a stool one of these days, in fact...
Yesss!
Hi Julia! I have a question about rice cookers — the pic/link you posted reminded me to ask! I have one and EVERY time I use it, it bubbles over and gets starchy water/steam everywhere. It's the kind of rice cooker that has a lid that is attached and latches closed. I rinse the rice like there's no tomorrow and it doesn't make a difference. I use 1.5c of water to 1c rice. It was frustrating so I just went back to stovetop, but it does require a bit more diligent watching. I welcome any other troubleshooting tips because rice cookers are great!
Congratulations to Grace on finishing grad school!
I totally know what you mean - mine does the same. From what I’ve read, rinsing makes a big difference but you’re already doing that…another thing I saw but haven’t tried is adding a little fat to the rice - oil or butter, or even putting a little oil on a paper towel and rubbing the surface on the rice cooker with it before adding the rinsed rice/water. I haven’t tried that but want to! Let me know if you do!
Thank you for the suggestion! I will give that a try — and I'm happy to know I'm not alone in my starchy mess. :) I will report back!