Hawkins Futura 5 Liter Pressure Cooker Review

That got your attention didn't it? Well don't worry, it's not just a hook. I can in fact connect the dots for you.

So, the last time we heard from the "suddenly single guy" he (I) was mastering the art of creating pleasing tastes and aromas with his (my) Rival 6 Qt. Slow Cooker.  I was also crying a lot.

Well, months have gone by and being "suddenly single" was becoming okay.  At least I wasn't crying as much.  My teenage daughters would pop over a few times a week and I actually found myself smiling a lot more.

I also had  lot more time to go through all the great household goods given to me by my friends Dick and Donna.  Oh, I never explained about them did I?  Dick had been the CEO of a large household goods chain and companies flooded him and Donna with samples of their products.  When I moved out and into my own place with little more than my shoe trees, there were Dick and Donna with a freight pallet full of all the things they thought I might need.  It's good to have friends like Dick and Donna.

So, one day while picking through all the boxes on the pallet I came across the Futura 5L Pressure Cooker. "Now what in the world am I going to do with this?" I thought.  But still, it was strikingly beautiful (Can you see the graphic?)  I mean it's almost sensual.  I read the cookbook.  I was impressed.

Pressure Cookers

Familiar?  In a nutshell pressure cookers cook by combining heat, liquid and tremendous pressure.  This allows them to cook amazingly quickly and they totally infuse the flavors of all the ingredients.  This really caught my imagination.  How quick is quick?  How about 46% faster than a microwave?  That's quick!  And, who actually cooks in a microwave?

The Futura 5L Pressure Cooker

Futura took that klugey looking device our grandmothers may have used and gave it some sex appeal.  Sleek in design, constructed of hard anodized aluminum and completely safety engineered it begs to be used.  My first creation using it?  Paella. Yup, and every bit as flavorfull as anything you might have had in Spain.  How long did it take start to finish?  About 30 minutes from fridge to table.  Keep in mind also that this was back when Rachael Ray was probably sneaking cigarettes in-between classes.

You'll find no shortage of books stuffed with pressure cooker recipes in your local bookshop or library.  And, the web is full of them.

But sex Rudi, you promised us sex

Okay, okay.  As my proficiency with cookware and specifically my Futura Pressure Cooker increased I was emboldened to sign up for cooking classes sponsored by a local market in Westport, CT.  I met some wonderful women at those classes.  And in time I found myself more and more comfortable asking "Dinner at my place Friday?  I'm making Paella."  The rest is history.  In the words of someone who became a very close friend, "There's something so sexy about a man who is comfortable in the kitchen."  Of course soft candle light and Barry White have their places too.

Tips not mentioned in any cookbook

A spare oversized shirt, a bathrobe, an extra tooth brush and some decent shampoo and conditioner are good to keep on hand because you never know.  Do I need to mention clean sheets?  Oh right, I'm talking to guys here. Don't forget clean sheets!

And finally

Whether you're a "suddenly single guy" trying to work his way back into the world or just an adventurous cook who'd like to make some truly fine meals in a minimum of time, the Futura 5L Pressure Cooker has a place in your kitchen.  I highly recommend it.

Mrs. Xeno's take on all this?  Let's just say she has a real appetite for paella.

Now go and cook something good tonight.

Regards,

Rudi