Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos - Page 8

iguanachocolate · 09-07-2008, 01:27 PM

yes, i find that it does, Luvs.

Google · Sponsored Links

Lucy · 09-07-2008, 02:53 PM

I have a mini-Cuisinart food processor that I've never used.

I keep meaning to -- I chop onions and garlic for just about everything I cook. The boyfriend recently got a full-sized food processor and we made salsa and were so impressed with ourselves and how easy it was. So I'm going to try my mini one today to chop onions for pasta sauce.

Critical · 09-07-2008, 03:21 PM

I think we probably have the same food processor, Lucy. Mine is the Cuisinart Mini-Prep. I didn't use it for a while and just got it back out a few weeks ago to make pesto. I used it quite a bit when I got it, but then kind of forgot about it. You can't put all of the basil in at once - I just stuff it in and chop it down and then add more - but it came out wonderfully. I also used to make apple sauce in it. I bought little red delicious apples - the kind they sell in bags at the store. Those tend to be very sweet. I just peeled the apples, quartered them and parboiled them before popping them in the food processor. It makes just enough to fit in a regular size apple sauce jar and I never felt like I needed to add sugar.

My favorite Pampered Chef product is the micro steamer. It looks like a saucepan, only it's plastic. The lid snaps on and is vented. I steam all of my veggies in it and they come out perfectly.

I'm sure the PC reps hate me at parties when they ask everyone to talk about their favorite PC product. My three faves don't come to $10. I like that steamer, the little white paring knife ($1) and the bamboo tongs (probably $3) you use to get bread out of the toaster.

Cootie · 09-07-2008, 03:37 PM

I made fresh tomato & basil soup last night. What I realized as I was making it was that a food mill would sure be nice. I have never used one and don't know much about them. Is there a minimum quality one needs in a food mill to get good use out of it? I have been on Amazon to browse and see a wide variety of prices, features and finishes. Does anyone have an opinion on food mills? There are still plenty of tomatoes growing out back so now is the time for me to act.

ETA - I have a small kitchen so I acquire gadgets only if they could be very useful

PugMum · 09-07-2008, 04:53 PM

I bought those Debbie Meyer "Green Bags". They are type of a plastic bag that are supposed to keep your produce fresh longer.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!
We went to our Farmer's Market last Tuesday and bought some extra peaches that were not quite ripe so we could put them in the "green bags" thinking they'd last until the weekend. They were unevenly mushy after two days. YUCK!

Now IF anyone has used them and had GOOD luck with them PLEASE let me know. I may very likely have done something wrong!

marybethp · 09-07-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Critical

I'm sure the PC reps hate me at parties when they ask everyone to talk about their favorite PC product. My three faves don't come to $10. I like that steamer, the little white paring knife ($1) and the bamboo tongs (probably $3) you use to get bread out of the toaster.

Don't forget the 75 cent citrus peeler - my FAVE PC item!

I love those white paring knives. I buy a bunch of those at each party I go to.

I have the 2 steamers from them and I always forget about them! I need to pull them out.

Critical · 09-07-2008, 06:17 PM

I wouldn't cook broccoli without those steamers and I eat broccoli all the time. It's so easy and the broccoli always comes out perfectly. I had a co-worker who kept the micro steamer in her desk and used it to heat up a can of soup for lunch every day. I've only ever steamed veggies in it. Still, it's the best $6 (or was it less?) I ever spent!

I have about four of those white paring knives. They're especially good for slicing mushrooms, since they're so thin. I have another, pricier PC knife. It's one of the ones that comes in it's own sheath. I use that knife all the time. The sheath has a little sharpener built in, so you can sharpen it whenever you remove it.

I have a friend who bought some of those Green Bags and she loves them. I may try them and see how they work for me since I buy so much fresh produce. I hate having to rush to make sure everything gets eaten.

marybethp · 09-07-2008, 08:45 PM

my Mom uses the green bags and said they work great - you do have to wipe them out if you see condensation building up - they need to stay dry on the inside.

PugMum · 09-07-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marybethp

my Mom uses the green bags and said they work great - you do have to wipe them out if you see condensation building up - they need to stay dry on the inside.

I had read about them needing to stay dry inside and as soon as I noticed the condensation and went to wipe them out, the peaches that were in it were mushy.
Do you know if your mother keeps the green bagged fruit and veggies in the refrigerator or out on the countertop?
Thanks for the in put. Right now I plan to give the rest of the bags to my sister, she is the head of the Home Ec. dept at the HS. They can experiment!

Lil Bit · 09-07-2008, 08:59 PM

I read about Green Bags in Consumer Reports. The article said that they worked really well for bananas but that they didn't notice much difference in freshness with other fruits or veggies. I've never tried them myself.

09-07-2008, 01:27 PM	#71
iguanachocolate Joyeux Noel! Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,252	Re: Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos yes, i find that it does, Luvs. __________________ Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything... But they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

09-07-2008, 02:53 PM	#72
Lucy Wonky snarkmistress Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Playing kickball for the beer Age: 32 Posts: 8,736	Re: Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos I have a mini-Cuisinart food processor that I've never used. I keep meaning to -- I chop onions and garlic for just about everything I cook. The boyfriend recently got a full-sized food processor and we made salsa and were so impressed with ourselves and how easy it was. So I'm going to try my mini one today to chop onions for pasta sauce. __________________ It's such a fine line between stupid, and clever. -- David St. Hubbins

09-07-2008, 03:21 PM	#73
Critical Bitten Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Merlotte's Bar & Grill Age: 40 Posts: 4,800	Re: Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos I think we probably have the same food processor, Lucy. Mine is the Cuisinart Mini-Prep. I didn't use it for a while and just got it back out a few weeks ago to make pesto. I used it quite a bit when I got it, but then kind of forgot about it. You can't put all of the basil in at once - I just stuff it in and chop it down and then add more - but it came out wonderfully. I also used to make apple sauce in it. I bought little red delicious apples - the kind they sell in bags at the store. Those tend to be very sweet. I just peeled the apples, quartered them and parboiled them before popping them in the food processor. It makes just enough to fit in a regular size apple sauce jar and I never felt like I needed to add sugar. My favorite Pampered Chef product is the micro steamer. It looks like a saucepan, only it's plastic. The lid snaps on and is vented. I steam all of my veggies in it and they come out perfectly. I'm sure the PC reps hate me at parties when they ask everyone to talk about their favorite PC product. My three faves don't come to $10. I like that steamer, the little white paring knife ($1) and the bamboo tongs (probably $3) you use to get bread out of the toaster. __________________ The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them. - Mark Twain

09-07-2008, 03:37 PM	#74
Cootie FORT Fan Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the base of the mountain Posts: 212	Re: Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos I made fresh tomato & basil soup last night. What I realized as I was making it was that a food mill would sure be nice. I have never used one and don't know much about them. Is there a minimum quality one needs in a food mill to get good use out of it? I have been on Amazon to browse and see a wide variety of prices, features and finishes. Does anyone have an opinion on food mills? There are still plenty of tomatoes growing out back so now is the time for me to act. ETA - I have a small kitchen so I acquire gadgets only if they could be very useful

09-07-2008, 04:53 PM	#75
PugMum Hockey Mom Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North of Reality Posts: 1,475	Re: Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos I bought those Debbie Meyer "Green Bags". They are type of a plastic bag that are supposed to keep your produce fresh longer. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! We went to our Farmer's Market last Tuesday and bought some extra peaches that were not quite ripe so we could put them in the "green bags" thinking they'd last until the weekend. They were unevenly mushy after two days. YUCK! Now IF anyone has used them and had GOOD luck with them PLEASE let me know. I may very likely have done something wrong!

09-07-2008, 06:17 PM	#77
Critical Bitten Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Merlotte's Bar & Grill Age: 40 Posts: 4,800	Re: Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos I wouldn't cook broccoli without those steamers and I eat broccoli all the time. It's so easy and the broccoli always comes out perfectly. I had a co-worker who kept the micro steamer in her desk and used it to heat up a can of soup for lunch every day. I've only ever steamed veggies in it. Still, it's the best $6 (or was it less?) I ever spent! I have about four of those white paring knives. They're especially good for slicing mushrooms, since they're so thin. I have another, pricier PC knife. It's one of the ones that comes in it's own sheath. I use that knife all the time. The sheath has a little sharpener built in, so you can sharpen it whenever you remove it. I have a friend who bought some of those Green Bags and she loves them. I may try them and see how they work for me since I buy so much fresh produce. I hate having to rush to make sure everything gets eaten. __________________ The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them. - Mark Twain

09-07-2008, 08:45 PM	#78
marybethp RIP Abbie dog Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: NY Age: 39 Posts: 4,431	Re: Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos my Mom uses the green bags and said they work great - you do have to wipe them out if you see condensation building up - they need to stay dry on the inside. __________________ There is no exercise better for the than reaching down and lifting people up! It's better to be hated for who you are than be loved for who you're not

09-07-2008, 08:59 PM	#80
Lil Bit FORT Fogey Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 894	Re: Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmos I read about Green Bags in Consumer Reports. The article said that they worked really well for bananas but that they didn't notice much difference in freshness with other fruits or veggies. I've never tried them myself.