[elibar]

I just used a gadget I forgot about - my fat separator measuring cup. It is like a liquid measuring cup, but it has a spout that attaches to the bottom. Put the liquid in the cup, and the fat rises to the top. Then you can pour out the liquid from the bottom. Very handy for stock and gravy.

[PolkaDot]

Molczan, on 15 March 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

Thats it! I'm getting a new garlic press! Maybe I can find one in the sucker, I mean gadget, aisle that is good quality or I will look on-line for a Pampered Chef one.

My most used gadget is my grain mill, since I bake all our bread. I also make all our flour for biscuits, tortillas, pizza dough, pie crusts, pasta, etc. It saves on the budget and is hopefully healthier for us too.

However, my current favorite gadgets are my pasta attachments for my Kitchenaide. They are so easy to work with, since without a crank, you can have both hands free to handle the pasta. I rarely use store bought pasta any more...I just throw some grain in the mill, spelt and soft white wheat work good for pasta, mix up the dough and let it relax while I make sauce. Then while sauce is simmering I cut the pasta. Or instead of sauce I just cut up veggies that I throw into the pasta after it's drained...add a little feta or pesto and yum!

Yum is right!! Sounds delicious!!

How do you keep/store all your flours?

You can find PS garlic press on Amazon. They last forever, unlike some of the other brands. I think the holes are a tad bigger than my previous garlic presses, which is a good thing....easier to press and easier to clean.

[Molczan]

elibar, on 15 March 2012 - 03:56 PM, said:

I just used a gadget I forgot about - my fat separator measuring cup. It is like a liquid measuring cup, but it has a spout that attaches to the bottom. Put the liquid in the cup, and the fat rises to the top. Then you can pour out the liquid from the bottom. Very handy for stock and gravy.

I usually spoon the fat off, but one of these would get more of the fat...which would help keep it off my hips!

[Molczan]

PolkaDot, on 15 March 2012 - 04:39 PM, said:

Molczan, on 15 March 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

Thats it! I'm getting a new garlic press! Maybe I can find one in the sucker, I mean gadget, aisle that is good quality or I will look on-line for a Pampered Chef one.

My most used gadget is my grain mill, since I bake all our bread. I also make all our flour for biscuits, tortillas, pizza dough, pie crusts, pasta, etc. It saves on the budget and is hopefully healthier for us too.

However, my current favorite gadgets are my pasta attachments for my Kitchenaide. They are so easy to work with, since without a crank, you can have both hands free to handle the pasta. I rarely use store bought pasta any more...I just throw some grain in the mill, spelt and soft white wheat work good for pasta, mix up the dough and let it relax while I make sauce. Then while sauce is simmering I cut the pasta. Or instead of sauce I just cut up veggies that I throw into the pasta after it's drained...add a little feta or pesto and yum!

Yum is right!! Sounds delicious!!

How do you keep/store all your flours?

You can find PS garlic press on Amazon. They last forever, unlike some of the other brands. I think the holes are a tad bigger than my previous garlic presses, which is a good thing....easier to press and easier to clean.

Dot, I just grind the flour right as I need it. I store my grains/seeds in clear bins on the side counter...Hard white, hard red, soft white, spelt, rye, hulled barley, oat groats, amaranth, millet, and sorghum are the ones I use the most. I just pour in the combination I want into the hopper and it grinds them into flour right on the spot.

From what I understand, grains can store for a long time. However, after it's ground, the heat in the grinding process of "whole grain" releases the natural oils and the flour will only last about a week before the oils start going rancid. I guess that is why industry strips the bran and other parts of the grain off...so that it will extend shelf life. I could never figure out how the flour would last in the old days. They would buy big bags and it wouldn't go rancid. Then I read that the old fashioned stone mills or hand milling processes were slow enough that there wouldn't be as much heat involved to release the oils. Industry just wants to do the process fast and have a long shelf life.

Sorry you asked yet? LOL! I don't know the whole science behind any of it. All I know is that it's a lot cheaper and my family loves the end product!

[tiza126]

All this talk of garlic presses...I think I need to use mine for dinner

[Smiles]

I haven't owned a garlic press in decades. I buy the little frozen minced cubes at Trader Joe's. I used to absolutely hate cleaning the old aluminum one I had.

I forgot about the gadget without which no member of our family can set up housekeeping. It's called a handi-helper. It's a stainless steel sort of pancake turner, with a semi-sharp end. It's great for getting brownies out of a pan, turning pancakes or scrambling eggs (except in non-stick pans); it will cut pizzas, and it will scrape stuff burned onto the bottom of a pan. The only place we've ever seen them is in the Miles Kimball catalog. My parents discovered them when I was a kid, and they've been a family staple ever since.

[scrappinchar]

PolkaDot, on 15 March 2012 - 02:40 PM, said:

When DD was still at home she loved my hand held "mixer," (egg beater) the old fashioned kind with the two spinners and the handle you hand turn. They are handy little items!

I have one of those! lol Ethan and Hunter LOVE to use it on the eggs when we're having scrambled eggs. I put them in a bowl and let them have at it, then pour them into the pan.

[PolkaDot]

HEY! Your favorite gadget today should be a fire starter to light your candles!

Happy Birthday! I forgot to look at the birthday list earlier, so I sure hope it's been a great day!

[Sara Arell]

My favorite kitchen gadget are my fabulous paring, serrated kitchen knives from Williams-Sonoma - I use them every single day and could not imagine being without them - the only drawback is that they have wooden handles which tend to "loosen" from the blade every year of so, so it's time to order some more - they come in sets of 5 and I dearly love them.

I also love my panini press - we use it all the time - funny the difference it makes in "just a sandwich" when turned into a panini! And there is almost nothing one can't do with the press! I've even cooked link sausages in it and they turned out great!

[LaLo1103]

I'm thinking I need to find a Pampered Chef person and order a garlic press!

[Molczan]

PolkaDot, on 15 March 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

HEY! Your favorite gadget today should be a fire starter to light your candles!

Happy Birthday! I forgot to look at the birthday list earlier, so I sure hope it's been a great day!

Thank you! Yes, when the amount of candles got to over 40, I stopped counting! I guess a fire extinguisher would be a good kitchen gadget for me have...

[Molczan]

scrappinchar, on 15 March 2012 - 09:30 PM, said:

PolkaDot, on 15 March 2012 - 02:40 PM, said:

When DD was still at home she loved my hand held "mixer," (egg beater) the old fashioned kind with the two spinners and the handle you hand turn. They are handy little items!

I have one of those! lol Ethan and Hunter LOVE to use it on the eggs when we're having scrambled eggs. I put them in a bowl and let them have at it, then pour them into the pan.

Plus, those have two beaters in them...so if you're mixing cake batter, there is one for each of the boys to lick!

[Molczan]

Smiles, on 15 March 2012 - 08:01 PM, said:

I haven't owned a garlic press in decades. I buy the little frozen minced cubes at Trader Joe's. I used to absolutely hate cleaning the old aluminum one I had.

I forgot about the gadget without which no member of our family can set up housekeeping. It's called a handi-helper. It's a stainless steel sort of pancake turner, with a semi-sharp end. It's great for getting brownies out of a pan, turning pancakes or scrambling eggs (except in non-stick pans); it will cut pizzas, and it will scrape stuff burned onto the bottom of a pan. The only place we've ever seen them is in the Miles Kimball catalog. My parents discovered them when I was a kid, and they've been a family staple ever since.

Gayle, it sounds like a kitchen survival item! I always love going to the state fair and walking down the kitchen gadget aisles. They have people demonstrating their items..."It cuts, it dices, and you can saw through a pop can with it!" Your item would be awesome for one of those demonstrations!

[LaLo1103]

Molczan, on 16 March 2012 - 12:10 PM, said:

PolkaDot, on 15 March 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

HEY! Your favorite gadget today should be a fire starter to light your candles!

Happy Birthday! I forgot to look at the birthday list earlier, so I sure hope it's been a great day!

Thank you! Yes, when the amount of candles got to over 40, I stopped counting! I guess a fire extinguisher would be a good kitchen gadget for me have...

Ha! I think the fire extinguisher is the ULTIMATE kitchen gadget!

[PolkaDot]

LaLo1103, on 16 March 2012 - 12:51 PM, said:

Molczan, on 16 March 2012 - 12:10 PM, said:

PolkaDot, on 15 March 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

HEY! Your favorite gadget today should be a fire starter to light your candles!

Happy Birthday! I forgot to look at the birthday list earlier, so I sure hope it's been a great day!

Thank you! Yes, when the amount of candles got to over 40, I stopped counting! I guess a fire extinguisher would be a good kitchen gadget for me have...

Ha! I think the fire extinguisher is the ULTIMATE kitchen gadget!

You know, you're right!!!!!

[Smiles]

Molczan, on 16 March 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

Smiles, on 15 March 2012 - 08:01 PM, said:

I haven't owned a garlic press in decades. I buy the little frozen minced cubes at Trader Joe's. I used to absolutely hate cleaning the old aluminum one I had.

I forgot about the gadget without which no member of our family can set up housekeeping. It's called a handi-helper. It's a stainless steel sort of pancake turner, with a semi-sharp end. It's great for getting brownies out of a pan, turning pancakes or scrambling eggs (except in non-stick pans); it will cut pizzas, and it will scrape stuff burned onto the bottom of a pan. The only place we've ever seen them is in the Miles Kimball catalog. My parents discovered them when I was a kid, and they've been a family staple ever since.

Gayle, it sounds like a kitchen survival item! I always love going to the state fair and walking down the kitchen gadget aisles. They have people demonstrating their items..."It cuts, it dices, and you can saw through a pop can with it!" Your item would be awesome for one of those demonstrations!

you can use it as a paint scraper, too, but I wouldn't use it for food after that, I think.

[elibar]

Ok, ladies, I love my garlic press, my tomato knife, and my fat separator. But...

I HATE my can opener. Don't think I want an electric one. Can you help me with recommendations?

[Molczan]

elibar, on 16 March 2012 - 05:33 PM, said:

Ok, ladies, I love my garlic press, my tomato knife, and my fat separator. But...

I HATE my can opener. Don't think I want an electric one. Can you help me with recommendations?

I have a Pampered Chef one that opens from the top with the smooth edges. It's pretty easy to use and the winding handle is fat enough that it doesn't hurt my hand.

[PolkaDot]

Molczan, on 16 March 2012 - 05:46 PM, said:

elibar, on 16 March 2012 - 05:33 PM, said:

Ok, ladies, I love my garlic press, my tomato knife, and my fat separator. But...

I HATE my can opener. Don't think I want an electric one. Can you help me with recommendations?

I have a Pampered Chef one that opens from the top with the smooth edges. It's pretty easy to use and the winding handle is fat enough that it doesn't hurt my hand.

Yep, that's a good consideration......not hurting your hand. I have a Kuhn Rikon Side Winder which was part of a set which included a jar opener. I think I got in from QVC on a special, since I don't see it there anymore. I like it a lot- very easy to wind and safe. I'm not getting an electric ever again, either. I think they are too hard to keep clean.

I thought of another gadget I like a lot, which is my Tupperware Spaghetti Dispenser. Also, I gave DS the Tupperware Marinating Container for Christmas, and he likes it very much (just a container which you flip.)

[BarbaraC1977]

I had a Pampered Chef can opener. While it lasted, it was great, leaving smooth edges at the top. However, it failed within the second year. I've had a wonderful OXO can opener for a number of years nowthat keeps on ticking. Due to my elbow problems, I'm sensitive to can openers that are hard to use, but I'm not in love with any electric ones I've ever used. OXO products are great! (My other Pampered Chef products are fine, too.)

[Molczan]

BarbaraC1977, on 16 March 2012 - 09:10 PM, said:

I had a Pampered Chef can opener. While it lasted, it was great, leaving smooth edges at the top. However, it failed within the second year. I've had a wonderful OXO can opener for a number of years nowthat keeps on ticking. Due to my elbow problems, I'm sensitive to can openers that are hard to use, but I'm not in love with any electric ones I've ever used. OXO products are great! (My other Pampered Chef products are fine, too.)

Barbara, I'm not familiar with OXO products, so I'll have to check them out. I'm with you though, they've got to be easy on the hands & elbows!

[scrappinchar]

I like OXO stuff, too.
I feel, now, like I'm needing a new can opener. lol

[BarbaraC1977]

Molczan, on 17 March 2012 - 12:33 PM, said:

BarbaraC1977, on 16 March 2012 - 09:10 PM, said:

I had a Pampered Chef can opener. While it lasted, it was great, leaving smooth edges at the top. However, it failed within the second year. I've had a wonderful OXO can opener for a number of years nowthat keeps on ticking. Due to my elbow problems, I'm sensitive to can openers that are hard to use, but I'm not in love with any electric ones I've ever used. OXO products are great! (My other Pampered Chef products are fine, too.)

Barbara, I'm not familiar with OXO products, so I'll have to check them out. I'm with you though, they've got to be easy on the hands & elbows!

Look for "Good Grips" or "Soft Works"-- those are the product family names. You can find them at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, and other places.

[tiza126]

I bought one of those OXO smooth edge can openers a couple years ago so I could make Cherise's Pop Top can craft... ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Christmas Pop Top & ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Valentine Day Pop Top

And once my regular can opener broke, I use the smooth edge one all the time. I love it! So much easier to use since the crank is on the top and not the side.

[luckyladybug]

I have two favorites. One is a beautiful cherry red pepper grinder that I keep loaded with a coarse Montery grill seasoning--I grind a bit right onto my eggs, salad, anything. Much tastier than plain black pepper, with just a touch of salt. Something about my cherry red pepper grinder just makes me happy!

My other favorite is an old long handled wooden spoon. I think I have used it to stir every batch of jam I've ever made--believe me, that's a lot of jam! It's turned kind of a pretty shade of lavender from all the years of blueberry stirring, but every now and then I'll do a batch of marmalade and that seems to freshen it up a bit. I just love it!

[April Showers]

Angela - you can have my pampered chef garlic press if you want it... I'll even deliver. I just replaced it with the OXO one.
I LOVE the Kuhn Rikon can opener. I got it a few weeks ago at Willams Sonoma. It is smaller than the OXO one, so it doesn't take up as much drawer space.

[Cheri T]

Molczan, on 16 March 2012 - 12:10 PM, said:

PolkaDot, on 15 March 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

HEY! Your favorite gadget today should be a fire starter to light your candles!

Happy Birthday! I forgot to look at the birthday list earlier, so I sure hope it's been a great day!

Thank you! Yes, when the amount of candles got to over 40, I stopped counting! I guess a fire extinguisher would be a good kitchen gadget for me have...

LOL - sorry I missed your birthday; we were on vacation. At my aunt's surprise 60th birthday, they put ALL SIXTY candles close together on the cake. And almost burned the house down:( Mental note - don't put that many candles on the cake, or separate them all over the place:) (It set off the smoke detectors and more than one child was in tears).

[Molczan]

April Showers, on 17 March 2012 - 09:58 PM, said:

Angela - you can have my pampered chef garlic press if you want it... I'll even deliver. I just replaced it with the OXO one.
I LOVE the Kuhn Rikon can opener. I got it a few weeks ago at Willams Sonoma. It is smaller than the OXO one, so it doesn't take up as much drawer space.

Cool! I'm down in Southern OR at the moment, but maybe we can get together! Yes, drawer space is a big consideration when it comes to gadgets...how can you keep buying them if your drawers get full? I went through my gadget drawers not too long ago and removed random stuff that didn't belong, cleaned the drawer and put everything back in. It was such a lovely sight, all neat and clean! Then the boys went back into the kitchen....LOL!

[Molczan]

Cheri T, on 17 March 2012 - 10:29 PM, said:

Molczan, on 16 March 2012 - 12:10 PM, said:

PolkaDot, on 15 March 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

HEY! Your favorite gadget today should be a fire starter to light your candles!

Happy Birthday! I forgot to look at the birthday list earlier, so I sure hope it's been a great day!

Thank you! Yes, when the amount of candles got to over 40, I stopped counting! I guess a fire extinguisher would be a good kitchen gadget for me have...

LOL - sorry I missed your birthday; we were on vacation. At my aunt's surprise 60th birthday, they put ALL SIXTY candles close together on the cake. And almost burned the house down:( Mental note - don't put that many candles on the cake, or separate them all over the place:) (It set off the smoke detectors and more than one child was in tears).

WOW! All 60 candles? At least no one got hurt! What a great story to tell though, hope you got pictures and video of that!