Boring....help me use my new pressure cooker

[chopsfordinner]

I bought a pressure cooker last summer and have yet to use it. I think I'm scared to use it in case I blow the house up. I have vague recollections from doemstic science about the dangers of pressure cookers.

The old ones were dangerous, especially if overfilled with pulses (they can jam the valve) but I don't think the modern ones are.

I mostly do meat in mine to add to curries and stews-it cuts out the long cooking times. I also like poaching a whole chicken for chicken noodle soup. Try poaching pears or quinces in wine. That's a great dessert but takes far too long in a conventional pan.