Now You're Cooking With Gas

One of my bigger frustrations with life in Boston is that where I am living, we only have an electric range.  New Yorkers, as it turns out, are generally spoiled by the wide ranging access to natural gas cooking - no wonder it's a big foodie town. :) Even in my fairly cheap rental we had gas (as does my Mom, still, and my sister).

Gas is just easier to cook with - easier to control, easier to adjust, and I think, more forgiving.  Or I did, until the last couple of days, when my reintroduction to gas cooking is proving to be something of an adventure. 

As an aside, I should mention that I am finally mobile, and so a good part of today was consumed with getting out in the world, including a bigger grocery shop at the rather distant Shaw's.  All of which was to facilitate more adventures in cooking once I got home.

So I managed to scorch the butter, singe the sausage, and generally muck up my tomato sauce.  Partly, I think, it's because I was experimenting with fresh Italian spices in a paste form, rather than dry, which threw me off.  But the pan was too hot, and I can't figure out my Aunt's stove... yet.

UPDATE: My Mom points out that she has a similar problem with my sister's stove, which is as new (if not more so) than my Aunt's. So it may just be that modern gas technology is the issue here; Jennifer helpfully pointed out the amount of control she has over her (classic forties or fifties era) stove, which also just underlines the point - we all seem to know what to do with those older ones (Jennifer's stove is, indeed, marvelous, as I can attest; a joy to cook with).  It's that new-fangled technology that's the problem. :)

Still, it's a mild complaint (and even the burnt flavor added something to the overall tomato sauce experience) when I get to cook with more time and energy than usual. That's the upside of vacation, and now I'm cooking with gas, baby. :)

Comments

[*Amy*]

move to Beacon Hill! pretty much all of the ovens are pre-1960, and it definitely helps to lower the electric bill.
but no, you have to be a south boston kinda guy :o)

[Jennifer]

Better yet-move back to NY. :)