Posted on 05/14/2015 3:43:34 PM PDT by Jamestown1630
This week we're starting with: Implements, Strange and Wonderful!
I'm a sucker for 'gadgets' related to cooking and serving food - I have wonderful tools that I've never even used yet, and acquired quite a few 'Like on TV' failures that went immediately to the trash or to Goodwill. I now have every possible sort of sandwich toaster, for instance - including a couple of the old 'Toast Tite' ones; and yes, I bought that Hamilton Beach breakfast sandwich machine, and the ubiquitous red Quesadilla maker - both of which actually work very well, and get a lot of use!
I thought that for fun this week, I'd run through some of the things I've acquired, and ask you about your favorite tools.
1. A couple of years ago, my husband gave me one of the Jalapeno grilling racks, for Christmas. It's a tray with holes in it of different sizes that props-up your stuffed jalapenos for grilling or just baking in the oven.
Here's the Grillpro version, and their recipe:
http://www.grillpro.com/m/recipes.php?type=4&recipe=1
There are many recipes out there for different stuffings; the first time I used the rack, I used Cheddar cheese, but to save time I just carved a 'plug' to fit the jalapeno. That didn't work - the cheese melted down too much. So if you're using anything like Cheddar or Jack cheese, you need to grate it and really pack the stuffing in.
(My Grillpro came with a corer; but make sure you get all the seeds and ribs out, if you're serving jalapenos to 'heat-wimps'. These peppers are very inconsistent when it comes to the Scoville scale; I've bought some that were almost as mild as bell peppers; and others that nearly incapacitated me ;-)
If you don't have a rack, and/or just want to do these in the oven, the following recipe turns out very well; I've tried these on a foil-covered sheet, and on a wire rack; they actually came out best on the foil, but you have to grease it well:
http://www.food.com/recipe/bacon-wrapped-stuffed-jalapeno-peppers-152465
2. I was in the local ethnic store recently, and saw a gadget that looked like an elaborately-carved pestle of some sort. I had no idea what it was supposed to do, but was delighted to learn that it is used like a kind of 'whisk' to froth beverages, especially Mexican hot chocolate. Here's Lisa Fain, the 'Homesick Texan' on the 'molinillo':
http://www.homesicktexan.com/2006/12/mexican-hot-chocolate-and-molinillo.html
I will probably never use this for its intended purpose - more than once, anyway; I whip up my 'Abuelita' hot chocolate with a wire whisk. But at less than $5 for a whimsical purchase, it sure looks pretty in the kitchen :-)
3. Occasionally on a weekend, we do a lot of casseroles or soups to freeze and make weeknight meals easier. I prefer to steam vegetables that are going into a casserole, and my problem has always been that I didn't have a steamer set-up that was quite large enough to steam the big bags of vegetables that we buy for these mega-casserole projects. I recently found this, and it's wonderful:
http://importfood.com/stacked_steamer.html
The holes in the racks are kind of large, so it wouldn't work for things like peas and corn; but for broccoli, cauliflower, carrots - larger things - it works very well, gives you two tiers to work with, and you can do a lot else with it.
4. My passion for cooking implements sometimes becomes entangled with my fetish for 'containers' of any type. Show me a bento box, a clever jewelry box, or one of those wonderfully crafted wooden tool chests, and I'm in Heaven. (I've sometimes bought things I have no use for, just because I liked the container they came in. Go figure.)
In that vein, I've been a fool for 'tiffins'. I've got the pretty Thai type:
http://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Tier-Tiffin-Carrier-Lunch/dp/B0084Z18KO
And I have a couple of these vintage American ones:
https://img0.etsystatic.com/052/1/6761086/il_570xN.664860286_snnh.jpg
These are great for carrying cold or room temperature things to a big party or picnic. (And if you don't do parties or picnics, they're great for storing craft supplies - as one of mine is doing.)
5. Last but certainly not least is something I had wanted for ages, but only bought when I saw it at the thrift store for a great price and looking pristine: the old Farberware Open Hearth Rotisserie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cd_jTivLRM
I've never used this, because I need some parts - not least of which is a modern grounded plug!
I bought it because I thought it would be a great conversation piece for a holiday party - and everyone who remembered it said that it roasted meat wonderfully. Someday, I'll get it going!
-JT
Does the veg-o-matic Really Really work?
I’ve often wanted to buy one; the only thing like that that I’ve bought is a Joyce Chen spiral cutter.
Which model of the Veg-o do you have?
-JT
Re: wooden tool boxes:
It’s odd to me that in the Olden Days, when quality items took longer to make, and people took more pride in their workmanship, so many nice things were actually less expensive than they are today.
-JT
Not sure really. It’s really old - I have had it for a long time, and my oldest daughter originally got it at a yard sale. She brought it with her, when she moved back to get divorced, and left it when she moved out.
Since I was using it, she said to just keep it as she rarely used it.
I use it mostly for processing pickle slices. Sometimes to make a big batch of French fries. It works well for those purposes.
For super thin potato chips, I use a mandolin that came with a microwave plate to make chips in the microwave, but I usually just fry them in cocoanut oil.
Just a plain, old fashioned girl....in love with my old potato peeler. Really, would be lost without it. Just lost my 30+ year old microwave. Thought it was a luxury until it was no longer around. A new Sharp for less than $100 and breakfast is a breeze once more. The old Montgomery Ward appliance was much more than $100- and it lasted for over 30 years before giving up the ghost (so no complaints)
This site might help make useful some items in your pantry when you wonder what you might do with them. Wacky uses....alternative, unusual uses for some things you might have never thought of
http://www.wackyuses.com/
That’s so cool! I’d love one of those, too. I’ve never met a gadget or cooking tool i didn’t crave!! lol
once i get it, i don’t necessarily use it, but i HAVE it!
Memorial Day equals BBQ. A list of BBQ recipes cooked in smoker, crockpot/slow cooker, or on the grill
FAMILY COOKBOOK PROJECT
http://www.familycookbookproject.com/
http://www.familycookbookproject.com/bbq_list.asp
BBQ sandwich, chopped beef pulled pork, sweet relish, Tabasco on a bun and Freedom Fries....THE BEST
BQ plated, sliced brisket with mashed potatoes and the juices generated from the slow cooking. WOW! Time for a visit to Clarks Outpost BBQ in Tioga, Tx. Put on your boots, bring an appetite and best bring a napkin as well...lots of good eatin’ Let’s not mention their delicious Bread Pudding. (A downfall of many)
Still debating if this new cooking tool is a positive or a negative. The new links on google when searching for sites. The information popping up is at time overwhelming with soooo much included one might be lost for weeks. Love the photos included (especially those of the finished product) but at times it can be too extreme with so much that is really not what one might be seeking.
Logged into this site while searching for another only due to the site name as being so ‘out there’. Once on the site, sat drooling over the pics and had to look at some of the recipes.
http://www.cravingsofalunatic.com/blog
When the time is there, the new google surf is certainly a library of interesting possibilities to classify as a great tool.
Another interesting site with yummy looking recipe finds
OH BITE IT
http://www.ohbiteit.com/
This one for bacon, dough and cheese might be easy and it certainly looks very tasty.
http://www.ohbiteit.com/2013/04/cheesy-bacon-bombs.html
The Cici’s?? pizza ad for bacon wrapped pizza has been seen on tee vee locally all week. Decadent..but OMG it looks divine.
How does a butcher knife disappear? I have that same question. Twenty years ago, my daughter worked for cutco selling those expensive knives, and my Hubby bought me their big set with all sorts of knives, scissors, steak knives, kitchen utensils, knife sharpener.
Within 2 weeks the butcher knife was gone gone gone. Hasn’t turned up to this day.
I have a molinilla, bought it at the mercado in San Antonio. I never use except as a kitchen decoration. I too use a whisk for my hot chocolate.
My husband likes kitchen gadgets and whatnots. I just need a cutting board and my knife set. I have 2 food processors but never use them, preferring to slice and dice with my knife. My husband will go for the processor every time.
Was trying to catch up on my reading tonight, and saw this recipe. I made a copy to try. I have been searching for a really good whole wheat bread recipe to use with the wheat I grew and have been grinding as needed.
I also like to have it soak at least 8 hours, so this should fill the bill - all the other recipes have been too dense and heavy as well as tasting a little like sourdough.
Adding it to my stack of stuff to try - on the very top of the bread stack.
Yum, with strawberry butter!
Let me know how it works out for you. My prior WW breads, even those with some white flour in them, were brick-like.
How neat that you grew wheat! that’s something I want to do eventually. I have so much to do and learn, now that I’m in my forever country home.
Like adding extras to cornbread? This is good stuff. Not made it with Jiffy Mix but instead from a cornbread recipe. Hot dogs and onions added. (and jalapenos for DH)He ate with BBQ sauce; here, it was honey.
http://formulamom.com/corn-dog-casserole-recipe/
There are several variations on the web
Happy with cornbread, a bowl of beans or chili No need to add anything more.
The best cornbread recipe ever eaten was posted here some time back. The submitter said it was THE BEST....and she was absolutely correct. Just unable to locate where it was found at the moment. Made more than a few times...all those who eat it say it’s the best ever. Either they tell the truth or are just exceptionally nice and generous with their praise. Back to the search.
Thanks. I’ll let you know how it goes. I grow my wheat in the winter here in Missouri, mainly for compost, but it also gives me a little wheat to experiment with.
Check out our Weekly Gardening Thread. We have lots of people newbies and long time gardeners, and we post related issues, so it’s another source of info for your country home activities:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3290279/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3292628/posts
great idea! I have a ton of questions, now that my seedlings are doing well!
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