Ooga Aga Ooga Aga

I can't stop this feelin'-- wait, that's not what this post is about.

This is your basic "All About My Aga" post that I know everyone has been sitting on the edge of their computers waiting for.

Everything you ever wanted to know about an Aga-- it's here folks, look no further. (ok, maybe Google was your better option)
Some of you said you'd never heard of it before. Don't hang your head in shame, the first one I ever saw was in a small cottage with a tiny kitchen and this monstrous beast-looking thing was taking up precious oven room. Didn't I look stupid when I asked if the landlord would be removing it before we moved in. He informed me that it was "the bee's knees" and people really wanted them.

I hate looking stupid, so I researched and he was right. I wanted one. There are Americans over here complaining that they can't get theirs to work properly, or that they can't figure theirs out ...but it's because they didn't take the time to learn about their cool toy. I did and am TOTALLY enjoying mine.

First of all, an Aga is a cast iron monster that can set you back about £9000.00 for a really good one. Since it's cast iron, your foods cook evenly and the moisture isn't lost.

It is on all of the time, you don't shut it off when you're finished cooking. Leaving it on actually uses LESS fuel than an average stove/oven because no heat is lost (your average oven has to keep reheating to maintain an even temperature).
The Aga is like a traditional baker's brick oven, producing wonderful biscuits and featherlight pastries.

The one I have has two ovens. One is a roasting oven, using a higher temp to cook roasts (28 pound turkey can cook in about 3 hours) and a simmering oven for steaming fish or stewing meats or slow cooking. I can move things from one oven to the other rather than turning the heat down or up as I need it.













There's two hot plates, same theory. The intense heat allows water to boil almost instantly on one and after I've reached that boil, I move the pan to the other to let it simmer. This morning I made scrambled eggs for breakfast burritos while I heated the tortillas on the other. Several pots or pans can be placed on each plate at the same time. Only a portion of the pan needs to be on the plate to still get great results.



Since the Aga is always on, the kitchen stays warm and inviting.

Brilliant. I love this thing. I did tell the Hubby that the Air force is going to have a really hard time getting me out of here. I may tie myself to it.

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OTHER NEWS

The move went really well and our new house is starting to look homey-- a very cluttered chaotic homey. Our first couple of days in here, it snowed and then the UK was hit with an arctic blast. I waited for 15 minutes at the kids' bus stop in -9c weather, only to discover that the bus couldn't get through because of a road closure.

And finally, thank you for your support these last few days. I've decided to postpone the lobotomy for now. I can't tell you how much I appreciated your comments and reassurances that I am not alone with the current parenting stage I am in.

Thank you!