Alex Rast wrote:
>
> At a lower price point:
>
> Pizza stones

Admittedly I rarely use mine, but that's because hubby got low-carb
religion a couple of years ago. If you're into baking artisanal bread,
then a bread stone is really useful for getting the crust nice and
crispy dark. Pizza stone, being circular, doesn't have as much area.

What I suggest as truly useless is the item seen in (I believe) the Sur
la Table catalog some years ago: a pizza stone in a copper serving
tray, with attendant pizza cutter. The copper serving tray is just
wasteful excess IMHO. But hey, keep on giving tax cuts to the super
rich, and you'll keep on having people who need to spend their excess
cash on this stuff. They have to fill up those 42,000 square foot
houses and 10,000 s.f. kitchens.

Leila
can't help but get in a political dig

Re garlic gadgets: I don't use a garlic press much (we keep breaking
them) so I have no comment. The useless garlic item I nominate is the
garlic peeler. An inventive RFCer gave out home made ones once, which
is nice because they recycled bike inner tubes; I never could get mine
to work that well and failed to see the point. I just use my knife to
slit open the skin, peel it off, crunch with the flat of the blade, and
mince. No it's never as fine as a garlic press would be but it's good
enough. We like garlic around here.

Leila

"Leila" > wrote:

>Me three. I'm not sure I've thrown my splash guard away yet - the KA
>was a wedding present over 7 years ago. This thread reminds me that I
>can, and should.

I guess I have a different take on the splash guard. Since I mainly
use the KA for bread, all the wet ingredients go in first, followed by
nothing but flour or a mix of flours. For that, the guard is pretty
useful. When it's time to "scrape down", the guard comes off and
stays off. For most everything else, we use a hand mixer, because the
KA is indeed sometimes more trouble than it's worth.

"Leila" > wrote:

>Re garlic gadgets: I don't use a garlic press much (we keep breaking
>them) so I have no comment. The useless garlic item I nominate is the
>garlic peeler. An inventive RFCer gave out home made ones once, which
>is nice because they recycled bike inner tubes; I never could get mine
>to work that well and failed to see the point. I just use my knife to
>slit open the skin, peel it off, crunch with the flat of the blade, and
>mince. No it's never as fine as a garlic press would be but it's good
>enough. We like garlic around here.
>
>Leila
>
90 percent of the time I mince the garlic with a knife too. On rare
occassions, I use the press. I got a Susi brand, have had it for
about 15 years and can't imagine breaking it even if I tried <G>.

"Leila" > wrote:

>> Pizza stones
>
>Admittedly I rarely use mine, but that's because hubby got low-carb
>religion a couple of years ago. If you're into baking artisanal bread,
>then a bread stone is really useful for getting the crust nice and
>crispy dark. Pizza stone, being circular, doesn't have as much area.

Leila, the only thing we use the deep-dish stone for these days is
cornbread - it really comes out a lot better. My wife uses some of
the flat "tray-type" stones for various things, but when I bake bread,
I plop it onto a cookie sheet covered with cornmeal - it has sort of a
ball-bearing effect, and I don't have to add extra fat by greasing the
sheet. Course the lower shelf of the oven is covered with tiles, so I
guess I'm still sort of using a "baking stone", eh?

I have never actually used one, or even seen one in person, but how
about the ron popeil thing that will beat an egg within the shell?!
That seems utterly useless to me.

josie

Trouve
"Smarter Food Storage"
www.savethelids.com

On Thu 28 Apr 2005 01:11:39p, josafeen wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> I have never actually used one, or even seen one in person, but how
> about the ron popeil thing that will beat an egg within the shell?!
> That seems utterly useless to me.
>
> josie

They're good for a joke. A friend of mine had one of these some years ago.
He took it over to his parents' house while they were on vacation and mixed
all the eggs in the refrigerator, then put them back. Confused the hell out
of his mother then next time she used an egg! <g>

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

OH, i hadn't thought of that, LOL. I stand corrected.

josie
Trouve
"Smarter Food Storage"
www.savethelids.com

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Thu 28 Apr 2005 01:11:39p, josafeen wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
> > I have never actually used one, or even seen one in person, but how
> > about the ron popeil thing that will beat an egg within the shell?!
> > That seems utterly useless to me.
> >
> > josie
>
> They're good for a joke. A friend of mine had one of these some
years ago.
> He took it over to his parents' house while they were on vacation and
mixed
> all the eggs in the refrigerator, then put them back. Confused the
hell out
> of his mother then next time she used an egg! <g>
>
> --
> Wayne Boatwright *=BF*
> ____________________________________________
>
> Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
> Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

"josafeen" > wrote:

>I have never actually used one, or even seen one in person, but how
>about the ron popeil thing that will beat an egg within the shell?!
>That seems utterly useless to me.
>
>josie
>
>Trouve
>"Smarter Food Storage"
>www.savethelids.com
>

Yep. I listed that one as did a couple other people. I can't believe
that at least 3 people even own one of those. Ours was a wedding
present. Which says a lot about who made the guest list - not me.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Thu 28 Apr 2005 01:11:39p, josafeen wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>
>>I have never actually used one, or even seen one in person, but how
>>about the ron popeil thing that will beat an egg within the shell?!
>>That seems utterly useless to me.
>>
>>josie
>
>
> They're good for a joke. A friend of mine had one of these some years ago.
> He took it over to his parents' house while they were on vacation and mixed
> all the eggs in the refrigerator, then put them back. Confused the hell out
> of his mother then next time she used an egg! <g>
>


Whaddaya wanna bet SHE didn't think it was so funny....

gloria p

Gal Called Jani wrote:
> One time on Usenet, x-no-archive: yes said:
>
>>"Dr. Dog" > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Anyone have any nominations?
>>>
>>>I'm loath to laugh at any of the things for sale now. Even a slotted
>>>olive spoon turned out to make sense when one came our way. But is
>>>there anything truly useless and preferably expensive that is on the
>>>market now for chefs who have everything?
>>
>>These are both cheap but absolute travesties. The hinged flip-flop
>>"omlet" pan, and the battery-powered "insde the egg" egg scrambler.
>>Somehow we have both, but never used them Don't know why they didn't
>>make it in that garage sale 15 years ago.
>
>
> Aw, I love my hinged omelet pan, it makes thick, fluffy omelets.
> Unfortunately, DH doesn't like them that way, so we don't use it
> very often. Now the "in-the-egg" scrambler is just silly, IMHO...
>
Oh, I don't know. It might come in handy when you have a houseful of
people for breakfast and don't feel like cooking. simply get DH to
scramble a couple of eggs and you will quickly find yourself on the way
to a nice brunch :)

"josafeen" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I have never actually used one, or even seen one in person, but how
> about the ron popeil thing that will beat an egg within the shell?!
> That seems utterly useless to me.
>
> josie
>
===================

I don't have one but it's on my 'wish list'. Presuming it does as
advertised - which most Popeil products do - I think it would be so cool to
use it to make hard boiled eggs for spinach salad. The yolks wouldn't
separate from the whites. Hence, prettier salad...? I dunno. It's
probably silly but I'm hoping one for Mother's Day... but Christmas will
probably be more realistic. LOL

Cyndi

"Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu 28 Apr 2005 01:11:39p, josafeen wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>> I have never actually used one, or even seen one in person, but how
>> about the ron popeil thing that will beat an egg within the shell?!
>> That seems utterly useless to me.
>>
>> josie
>
> They're good for a joke. A friend of mine had one of these some years
> ago.
> He took it over to his parents' house while they were on vacation and
> mixed
> all the eggs in the refrigerator, then put them back. Confused the hell
> out
> of his mother then next time she used an egg! <g>
>
> --
> Wayne Boatwright *¿*
>=============

SNORT!!! That's funny... well, after she got over being ****ed off!
Well, I'd have been a bit peeved, at first.... Still...it's funny.

Cyndi

"Rick & Cyndi" > wrote:

>I don't have one but it's on my 'wish list'. Presuming it does as
>advertised - which most Popeil products do - I think it would be so cool to
>use it to make hard boiled eggs for spinach salad. The yolks wouldn't
>separate from the whites. Hence, prettier salad...? I dunno. It's
>probably silly but I'm hoping one for Mother's Day... but Christmas will
>probably be more realistic. LOL
>
>Cyndi
>
>

Actually, although I said we never used the thing - I do remember that
my wife thought it was so incredibly silly that she did actually use
it once - to make mixed-up hard-boiled eggs. And I have to tell you -
it's one of those things that you can amaze your less-than-bright
friends with. A mixed-up hard boiled egg is quite a sight to see.

In article >, notbob
> wrote:

> My frugal gourmet recommended wooden lemon/lime reamer was recently
> rendered completely useless by the purchase of one of those cheapo
> cast aluminum Mexican lime squeezers. Those things are excellent!
> ...squeezing every last drop, sans seeds, in a couple seconds. It
> only cost $3 at my local Mex fruit stand and may be the most handy
> effecient gadget I've bought in years.

I will look for this when I next go to the Mexican market. I don't
think we've actually spent as much as $3 on any of the reamers we have,
so we'll be throwing around some real cash on this thing. ;)

Regards,
Ranee

--
Remove Do Not and Spam to email

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

See my Blog at: http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/

In article >, Miche
> wrote:

> In article >,
> "<RJ>" > wrote:
>
> > 3. The "griddles" that make toasted filled sandwiches
>
> Brilliant. Used one all the time as a teenager. (Not so much now,
> since toasted sandwiches are off my radar.)

I have heard, but not tried this, that you can make quickie corn
muffins (or whatever else muffins) in them, and quickie turnovers.

Regards,
Ranee

--
Remove Do Not and Spam to email

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

See my Blog at: http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/

On Fri 06 May 2005 04:33:25p, Ranee Mueller wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> In article >, notbob
> > wrote:
>
>> My frugal gourmet recommended wooden lemon/lime reamer was recently
>> rendered completely useless by the purchase of one of those cheapo
>> cast aluminum Mexican lime squeezers. Those things are excellent!
>> ...squeezing every last drop, sans seeds, in a couple seconds. It
>> only cost $3 at my local Mex fruit stand and may be the most handy
>> effecient gadget I've bought in years.
>
> I will look for this when I next go to the Mexican market. I don't
> think we've actually spent as much as $3 on any of the reamers we have,
> so we'll be throwing around some real cash on this thing. ;)
>
> Regards,
> Ranee
>

Well, let's not have any of this spending with reckless abandon! <G>

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

"Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri 06 May 2005 04:33:25p, Ranee Mueller wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>> In article >, notbob
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> My frugal gourmet recommended wooden lemon/lime reamer was recently
>>> rendered completely useless by the purchase of one of those cheapo
>>> cast aluminum Mexican lime squeezers. Those things are excellent!
>>> ...squeezing every last drop, sans seeds, in a couple seconds. It
>>> only cost $3 at my local Mex fruit stand and may be the most handy
>>> effecient gadget I've bought in years.
>>
>> I will look for this when I next go to the Mexican market. I don't
>> think we've actually spent as much as $3 on any of the reamers we have,
>> so we'll be throwing around some real cash on this thing. ;)
>>
>> Regards,
>> Ranee
>>
>
> Well, let's not have any of this spending with reckless abandon! <G>
>
I searched for a long time before I found a plastic reamer to replace a lost
one I'd had for 20 years. Most are made of wood. And I've found that using
a fork to ream out (poke our fork down into the meat of the lemon or lime)
does a good job. Now, it looks as tho I'm going to have to look for the
cast aluminum Mexican lime squeezer? I'll put it on my list to try to get
at the "global" market next time. I don't use but a lemon/lime a day -- but
one never knows --
Thanks so much.
Dee

sarah bennett wrote:

>
> aaaugh! i hate electric can openers!
>
> --

If you have arthritis in your hands and wrists, you probably wouldn't
be saying that. I WISH I had an electric can opener because I can't
squeeze the handles on the manual opener very well. It takes forever
for me to open cans. A twice fractured right wrist with resulting
arthritis is the problem. Lack of counter space in my closet size
kitchen and unavailability of a GOOD quality electric can opener is the
reason I don't have one.

Sandi in Honduras

Dave Smith wrote:
> Dog3 wrote:
>
> > I think it would be my ice cream maker. It is usually cheaper and
easier
> > to buy ice cream on sale than make it.
> >
>
> I bought an ice cream maker almost two years ago. I have not bought
ice cream
> since I go the thing. I make all the ice cream we eat here. It is not
cheaper
> than the cheap stuff, but is is cheaper than the expensive stuff, and
usually
> just as good or better.

We brought our 4 quart hand crank ice cream maker with us to Honduras.
Our neighbor is hooked on homemade ice cream. When the kids are out of
school (and there is a lot of muscle power for cranking) we will make a
batch and deliver some of it to her. She keeps chickens so we get a
return of FRESH eggs, not the commercially produced stuff from the
grocery store.

Sandi

Ranee Mueller wrote:
> In article >, Goomba38
> > wrote:
>
> > Well sure, but usually only after it has also sliced, diced and
minced
> > other components of the meal prep. What *else* can that garlic
press do?
> > Nope.. I don't need one. I'm pretty handy with a knife <hehehehe>
>
> Mince ginger in a way that Rich doesn't complain about it in the
food.
>
> Regards,
> Ranee
Oh....great idea. I never thought to use it that way. I'll have to
suggest that to him next time he is doing stuff with ginger!

Sandi

"Sandi" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Ranee Mueller wrote:
>> In article >, Goomba38
>> > wrote:
>>
>> > Well sure, but usually only after it has also sliced, diced and
> minced
>> > other components of the meal prep. What *else* can that garlic
> press do?
>> > Nope.. I don't need one. I'm pretty handy with a knife <hehehehe>
>>
>> Mince ginger in a way that Rich doesn't complain about it in the
> food.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Ranee
> Oh....great idea. I never thought to use it that way. I'll have to
> suggest that to him next time he is doing stuff with ginger!
>
> Sandi
>===================

Be careful mincing ginger with a garlic press... some aren't strong enough!
My DH bent the hinge pin in our old OXO garlic press when trying to press
ginger. After purchasing a new OXO (with a larger holding bin - YUMM more
garlic!) I advised him to use his hand held grater - not quite a planer...
but not a "normal' grater... (?).

Anyway, just fair warning that you might overexert your mincer.

Cyndi Mincer

I think the one I have will be perfectly adequate. I just got a new
garlic press in Dec 2003 and it is heavier than any garlic press I have
ever purchased in the US. The ginger we get here is locally grown and
the roots are not as large or as thick as the ginger purchased in the
US. Our housekeeper hasn't managed to destroy this garlic press like
she did my other one (the OXO) and like she did my grapefruit knife
and my whisks. She thought the grapefruit knife was bent so she
straightened it for me AAaaaaargh!!!!

Sandi

Sandi wrote:

> We brought our 4 quart hand crank ice cream maker with us to Honduras.
> Our neighbor is hooked on homemade ice cream. When the kids are out of
> school (and there is a lot of muscle power for cranking) we will make a
> batch and deliver some of it to her. She keeps chickens so we get a
> return of FRESH eggs, not the commercially produced stuff from the
> grocery store.

I was going to make some ice cream this week, even remembered to get
whipping cream for the base. Then I discovered a half gallon of store
bought ice cream in the freezer that wife had bought it recently. I hadn't
bought any in almost two years. It was a premium brand. It sucked. Now I
know why I make it myself.

Ranee Mueller wrote:
>
> In article >, Miche
> > wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > "<RJ>" > wrote:
> >
> > > 3. The "griddles" that make toasted filled sandwiches
> >
> > Brilliant. Used one all the time as a teenager. (Not so much now,
> > since toasted sandwiches are off my radar.)
>
> I have heard, but not tried this, that you can make quickie corn
> muffins (or whatever else muffins) in them, and quickie turnovers.
>
> Regards,
> Ranee

Yes you can. Can also make a version of Dutch 'poffertjes' in them too.
Sandwich toaster is a staple item in many UK households. But then they
are very cheap over there and many varieties from which to choose.

In article >, Arri London >
wrote:

> Yes you can. Can also make a version of Dutch 'poffertjes' in them too.
> Sandwich toaster is a staple item in many UK households. But then they
> are very cheap over there and many varieties from which to choose.

Well, we have one, so please explain what these poffertjes are and I
may make them. :)

Regards,
Ranee

--
Remove Do Not and Spam to email

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

See my Blog at: http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/

Ranee Mueller wrote:
>
> In article >, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> > Yes you can. Can also make a version of Dutch 'poffertjes' in them too.
> > Sandwich toaster is a staple item in many UK households. But then they
> > are very cheap over there and many varieties from which to choose.
>
> Well, we have one, so please explain what these poffertjes are and I
> may make them. :)
>
> Regards,
> Ranee
>

You need the sort of toaster that has the scalloped depressions and
cuts/seals the sandwiches. Otherwise it won't work.
If that's what you have, poffertjes are a small puffed cake. Usually
made in a special pan but the scalloped bed sandwich toaster works fine.
Probably any waffle or pancake batter will work.

Poffertjes

500g flour (white or wholewheat)
1 egg beaten
50 g cane syrup (corn syrup should work)
1/2 tsp salt
50 g yeast
3/4 to 1 litre warm water

Mix the flour and salt in a bowl. Warm the syrup with a little water.
Add the yeast and mix until smooth. Pour the yeast mix into a well made
in the flour.
Put about half the water into the flour and mix well. Add the egg and
enough of the rest of the water to make a thick pancake batter.
Let the mixture rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Grease the heated poffertjes
pan (or sandwich toaster) with melted butter and add a small amount of
batter. When the poffertjes are brown on one side, flip them over and
cook the other side. (In the sandwich toaster both sides will cook at
the same time.)
Serve with a little butter and a lot of icing/confectioner's sugar on
top.
Eet smakelijk!