Went to an estate sale last week in the neighborhood. I've got to say that
estate and moving sales tempt me a lot more than garage sales. I seldom stop
at garage sales, but if it's an estate or moving sale, I'm more way tempted.

In any case, I got 4 cookbooks. They're under a pile of paperwork here, so I
don't have the exact names handy. One was interesting because it was a
locally-compiled book from some group, but instead of the recipes being
typed, they were all handwritten. Printed actually, and very readable. But
obviously in the different individuals' handwriting.

Then I found a device called the "bio-snacky" or at least that's what the
instruction booklet called it. The box is labeled "Biosta glass sprouter"
and it was made in Switzerland. I'm guessing 60's or 70's vintage.
Basically, it's a thing for growing sprouts. Very simple. The tray where the
seeds sit has a ridged bottom, so the seeds (if they're not too small) will
sit on the ridges and not in standing water. There's a drain hole with a
plug that causes a siphon action, so just about all the water drains into a
holding tray below that you can empty after rinsing the sprouts.

This thing wasn't worth whatever someone paid for it originally; I used to
grow bean sprouts in mason jars and that worked well enough, when I
remembered them. But this is an interesting design, and the drainage system
looks like it will keep the sprouts moist enough but not too wet. I just put
some mung beans in there today, so we'll see how well it works.

So, I got 4 cookbooks and the bio-snacky for a whopping three dollars.

Best thing about these sales is some of the weird stuff that people have.
There was a device for making square hard boiled eggs. Basically it was a
square plastic box with a screw thing on the open side. You boiled the egg,
peeled it, put it into the box, smashed it down with the screw device, and
put it in the fridge to set up.

It might have made some interesting square deviled eggs...one egg at a time.

--
Donna