I’m a Blue Jean Chef. I am a professionally trained chef and I often wear a blue jean chef coat when I’m working. When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me in blue jeans. So, one way or another, I’m a Blue Jean Chef.
I have always loved food. Luckily for me, I’ve been able to turn this love of food into a career in cooking, and have spent the last ten years sharing this passion with friends, students, co-workers, and now television viewers.
I started my career working in restaurants, but instead of continuing behind the stovetop and behind the scenes, I’ve chosen to teach people how to cook both in person and on television, and to write about food, cooking, and dining.
I’d like to make others as comfortable in the kitchen as they are in their blue jeans. Here you’ll find my musings on food - memories from childhood, cooking tips and techniques, recipes, new culinary trends, and general writings on food. All of this will be down to earth, basic, casual and comfortable. I am, after all, in blue jeans.
Hi Diana,
Try Amazon and search for “steaming racks” or “cooling racks”. You just have to get one that is smaller than the diameter of your cooker insert. 6 or 7 inches should work. Also try collapsible steamers.
ML
I had seen you make a whole chicken with marinara sauce and chicken broth in the pressure cooker and would like to try that out in my new cooker. Can you give me more specific measurements and time for cooking? I’m would really appreciate it. Thanks, Lisa Z.
I bought the pressure cooker model K41143 - cooking essential. but in the cookbook it states to cook on HIGH, I do not see a high setting on this pressure cooker. can you please explain?
Hi Lisa. First season the chicken with salt and pepper and any spices that you like. Then, brown it on all sides. Add some vegetables (onions, carrots, celery, peppers, whatever you like). Pour in a large jar of marinara (the 24 ounce size) and about 1 cup of chicken stock. Cook it for about 35 minutes (for a 3.5 pound chicken), or a little longer if bigger. I know it is tough to cook without exact measurements sometimes, but give it a try - it’s liberating!
ML
Hi Mary Jane,
The cookbook is written for any pressure cooker model, not specifically k41143. That is why you see instructions to cook on HIGH. Some cookers have high and low settings and stovetop cookers can be set to low or high or anywhere in between. K41143 only has a high setting so you just put the time in and cook it according to the recipe. You’ll notice that I use high pressure 99% of the time, so there’s no worry.
ML
Just watched your demo on ITKWD and I have a question. When cooking two chickens do I figure my time on the combined weight or do I just use the weight of one chicken. Hope you can help. By the way I love both your books! Thanks
Hi Barbara,
If you want to cook two chickens at once in your pressure cooker, use the same time unless you really jam them in there. Two chickens should take about 35 - 40 minutes.
Thanks!
ML
I have a lot of your products and I have always received good service from them. Several years back I purchased the Personal Blender from QVC. I attempted to reorder the large cups and called the customer service number listed in your manuel. 800-699-6998. I have called several times and every time I called I received a recording asking me to leave a name and number which I did. To this day I have not received a return call from them. I then contacted QVC and was told the only number they had was the same number listed above and to keep trying, I still did not receive a call back. I called QVC again and they said the would send me another blender and forward my email onto the right person. That has been over 6 months back and I still have not received a call. I did not want another blender just to reorder the cups, but I have changed my mind I think I am going to ask them to send me another one because I do not think anyone is going to return my call. I just wanted you to be aware of the service I got from the company that is servicing your products. Thanks
Hi Kathy. I’m afraid I think you purchased that blender before I started representing Cook’s Essentials. Cook’s Essentials is QVC’s brand and they really should be able to help you, regardless of when the item was purchased. I’m sorry that they have not been able to do so, but do hope that since you wrote this (sorry it has taken me so long to respond) they have replaced your blender. Thanks for keeping me in the loop.