Showing posts with label best bbq smoker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best bbq smoker. Show all posts

Friday, August 29, 2014

Cadco PCR-1S Professional Cast Iron Range, Stainless

Cadco PCR-1S Professional Cast Iron Range, StainlessI love this single burner range...I serially bought one of several different models (of single burner ranges) locally, tested them, and returned them all. I was disgusted. Then I got this one. It was considerably more expensive, but its rock-solid and has been in use about 18 hours a day, 24 in some cases, for several months.

Its a great size for pans and regular pots, but a bit too large for the smaller pots, like 1-1.5 qt (or even a 2.5 qt, if the latter's got a windsor bottom).

It warms up very quickly, and cools off more gently. If you're used to cooking with gas, this will be a shock because it's cast iron and holds the heat. If you're experienced in cooking with cast iron (pots, pans, ranges :), you'll find it utterly predictable, or at least I do. Sometimes you just have to remove the pan for a few seconds and turn OFF (not down) the heat.

I consider it easy to clean. I've never done more than blow a few crumbs off on the cast iron burner, but I imagine it IS a sponge eater if you scrub it with one (as noted by another reviewer). The burner has a rough surface, but that's all good in my book. It keeps pots and pans from too easily or inadvertantly sliding off the range prevents potential disaster! The part of the range that I'm really concerned about keeping clean is what all surrounds the burner. That part is all brushed steel, with no seams or holes or "gingerbread", very sturdy, very professional, and a real breeze to keep clean.

Did I mention that I totally love this range, despite the hefty price? It was designed for working cooks, imho. If I ever need yet another burner, I won't bat an eyelash at getting this same model, or at recommending it to a friend.

Apr '09 ---->2 years after original review

Still in near constant use, still working perfectly, still loving it...

Jun '12 ---Still the most used tool in our kitchen, still find it a joy to own.

I was worried about ordering online and not being able to see the product in person. I was so surprised that it was so much better than I expected. I used it for canning and had a giant pressure cooker sitting on it. It performed perfectly and because it is so well made I expect that it will last me for years. Due to the fact the top area around the burner is metal you do not have to worry about a large pot extending out over the side of the burner and melting any plastic like other models on the internet. Well worth the price.

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THIS PRODUCT IS A GOOD BUY. I BOUGHT NEW CERAMIC TOP STOVE & BOUGHT THIS FOR MY PRESSURE COOKERS.I USE A PRESSURE COOKER OFTEN & I CAN WITH BIG COOKER EVERY YEAR.WELL WORTH ITS MONEY ,WORKS GREAT.JUDY IN TN.

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We bought this item as an addtional burner durign canning season, and it works great. Hits quickly, high heat too, not the run of the mill hot plate. Cast iron and stainless steel makes it a breeze to clean.

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This is a quality, substantial, well-built hotplate which is made in Germany. It is not a range. Ranges consist of several hotplates and at least one oven.

The cast iron surface is very well-finished, providing good friction to hold pots in place. The "slow-reacting" nature of cast iron burners renders them superb for many uses where constant even heat is required though less suitable for use where quick temperature adjustments are required. There is fine control of the heat output and it works superbly with cast iron dutch ovens. It also makes an excellent extra burner for those few times they are needed, and its portability makes it a good warming plate for use on or near the table.

This is NOT an inexpensive Wallymarket special. It is solidly built of stainless steel and is substantial enough to support and heat a full 14" diameter 30 qt. pot. though at 120v 1500w, it does take quite a long time to reach a boil. Great for an outdoor cookout (provided the long heat-up time is accommodated).

I am prepared to pay extra for quality products that are not made in China. This is well-worth the extra cost. I shall revisit this review if there is a problem with its longevity.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Electric Griddle Control

Electric Griddle ControlAlmost got a used one on ebay for more money. Thank you amazon. called Presto and they confiirmed this model fit my large frypan. this will fit for Presto Model 0690003 Automatic Electric Heat Control E73717.

Ordered & received in a timely manner AND it was just what I was looking for! Thanks, Amazon!!!

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It's difficult to find these controls. Although it's referred to as "electric griddle control," it's versatile for numerous applicances. We bought it for an old electric frying pay.

Read Best Reviews of Electric Griddle Control Here

Purchased to replace control for a vintage Sunbeam "Crocker" electric skillet, slow cooker combination. It has a removable crock. I didn't want a new skillet, just wanted to find a control for it.

This fits perfectly, the temperatures are accurate. So thankful I could save my skillet. All these years, and it is in new condition. Thanks again Amazon !

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I have a griddle that we use extensively. The griddle, being a hunk of metal, will last for decades, but the control died after about 10 years. This replaced model number 0690003 and fits/works perfectly. Better to spend a few bucks to replace a part than 35 bucks to replace the whole griddle.

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Monday, August 25, 2014

George Foreman GR1036P Grand Champ 133 Square Inch Extra Value Indoor Grill

George Foreman GR1036P Grand Champ 133 Square Inch Extra Value Indoor GrillThe George Foreman Grand Champ Extra Value Grill is perfect! I had no problem grilling 6 large chicken breast at the same time. The grilling plates on this model are not removable, but clean up is still fairly easy. I absolutely love this product...its an easy way to make healthy meals fast!

I had an older George Foreman with thermostat and timer that worked great until the thermostat quit working. I purchased this grill which had no controls because it had the large surface area that I needed. Mistake--burned everything. The outside of food was charred and the inside uncooked.

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This is a great product and it arrived quickly. If you have a family of 4 or more this is the george to get

Read Best Reviews of George Foreman GR1036P Grand Champ 133 Square Inch Extra Value Indoor Grill Here

Love this item my daughter uses it all the time The price was great too. I give it 5 stars

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I will forever buy George Foreman grills I've had a few (each worn out from so much use). This is the first time I've bought this model I am frustrated with the on/off switch and the cook at high temp, then cool down for a bit, then cook at high temp again. The others may have done this, this one just has a light that tells me when it's doing it. Still love the grill. And note, if you put a piece of foil over the bottom plate, clean-up is a breeze, no matter what I cook.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Innovate Titans 50" TV Stand

Innovate Titans 50' TV StandAssembly of the stand was pretty easy and only one allen wrench is needed. It is not a thing of beauty and does not go well with people who have traditional furnture. If you have modern furniture and like black, then you might like this

ive owned this tv stand for several months now and it is very nice. it is strong metal and the glass is thick durable tempered glass...the tv mounts easy..mine is a 42 inch seiki lcd and the cords are hidden behind the panel....the tv feels very secure on there and turns with ease ill try to get some pictures up soon but i would reccomend this to anyone looking for a stand with mount..i chose this over a wall mount...this does the same and is much easier

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Monday, August 18, 2014

Gtxpress 101

Gtxpress 101I purchased this item for Christmas but today sent it to the trash. Despite extreme care, using plastic lifter, generous use of Pam or other oils, food sticks every time and the item is almost impossible to clean. I would say it worked well for about the first month. We have kept using it but finally reached the point of too much frustration. This item is a very good idea but with poor execution -it needs a very strong non-stick finish.

I do not recommend this product. After only 4 months of use, the cooking surface started to bubble, even though I seasoned the pan as per the directions. This product was a waste of money.

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Both times I have used my brand-new GT Express (following the instructions to the letter), the food was completely fused to the "non-stick" surface and had to be scraped out in bits and pieces, making a big mess on the counter and ruining the appearance of the food. Because of the incinerated "crust" fused to both the top and bottom wells, cleanup is quite a chore, too. This product is a huge disappointment and I highly recommend AGAINST purchasing it; if I could rate it "0," I would.

Read Best Reviews of Gtxpress 101 Here

This item is great for infant sized portions. The non stick coating wore off after about 5 uses despite following instructions for seasoning. Cleaning was an absurdity. Food particles got stuck in the gap between the lid and the base. Burned on food had to be scraped off. We threw it away after about 10 days. We didn't even bother to unpack the second "free' one. That went the way of the first.

Save your money and use a frying pnn.

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Followed all instructions, for keeping it non stick, seasoning it, using nonstick spray, when called for in recipe book. Cakes and eggs were a nightmare, about the only thing that did not stick was sandwiches wrapped with a tortilla. Very disappointed,so now it is seldom used.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Santa Fe Quesadilla Maker

Santa Fe Quesadilla MakerI bought this little appliance on a lark thinking that it would be something to try and would probably end up in the little-used appliance graveyard in my basement. It has since turned into an indispensable part of my kitchen. I love the nonstick surface of the grills (easy to clean), and I especially love that the lid locks, and the entire appliance stores upright, thus leaving some empty counter space while keeping the grill close at hand.

I've read some of the other reviews here, and I can honestly say that I don't have anything negative to write about this appliance. I only had some of the filling drip out onto my counter once, and that taught me to put the filling (meat, veggies, cheese, salsa) closer to the middle of the tortillas. Trust me, it all cooks, and it spreads out to the rest of the tortillas. I've never taken the time to measure out portions of the filling, and this hasn't been a problem. I have also had no problem whatsoever finding tortillas to fit; in fact, I often bring home a couple of bags and refrigerate them so we always have them on hand. I now also keep plenty of colby, monterrey jack and cheddar cheeses on hand for those quick quesadilla fixes! Another reviewer mentioned problems with the tortillas not getting completely done, but I've never experienced that with mine. I've also found that I can use one tortilla and make a 1/2 serving as a quick snack. Since the grill marks perfectly formed triangles on the quesadillas, you can easily cut them or pull them apart into even servings. My only suggestion is to make sure that you pre-grill any meat that you use since this appliance isn't really meant to fully cook meat.

The quesadilla maker comes with a mini recipe book. I encourage you to try some of the dessert tortillas. I made a cinammon-sugar one that was absolutely fantastic with some vanilla ice cream! Yum!

We received this as a gift, and have made great use of it. It is very easy to use: just put a tortilla on the bottom, scoop some filling (ground beef, chicken, cheese, vegetables, etc.) into the pockets, put a tortilla on top, and close the lid! It makes perfect, light-golden-brown quesadillas every time. The triangular quesadilla sections are easy to break apart and remain sealed (i.e., they don't leak the filling).

We have found that it is able to make quesadillas more than fast enough to keep up with the consumption requirements of a family of four (unlike a typical waffle iron, where you are always waiting for the next one). Leftovers are great to snack on or put in a school lunch.

It is extremely easy to keep clean and is very durable.

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I am a fan of quesadillas and I usually make them by slapping a flour or corn tortilla on the pancake grill, adding some grated cheese and salsa, topping with another tortilla and mashing it and flipping it for a few minutes until the surface is toasted and the cheese melted. A couple of swipes with a knife on a board and I have a quesadilla, a fast lunch or dinner or snack.

To make "professional" quesadillas with sealed edges, you need the Quesadilla Maker, which presses your tortillas into cute little wedge shaped pie sections. This unit is made by Salton, lord of all heated griddle and grill appliances, and it's pretty useful if you, like me, enjoy quesadillas and need a quick snack or meal.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

It's bright red (warning, if your kitchen clashes with bright red, hide it away or make a dust cover for its salsariffic redness.) It's round, like a waffle iron and takes up more space than I was expecting. It's maybe 11 inches in diameter and a few inches high. The manufacturer recommends that you put something UNDER it if you cook on formica or other plastic (read CORIAN) countertops as the heat can discolor your counters. Believe it.

There are two lights on the lid, green and, you guessed it, red. The red light is the 'power indicator' and the green light is the 'ok, time to cook light'. As in many of the Salton grills, the heat is one temperature. There is no adjustment and no timer.

Inside, there are two concentric circles on a non-stick surface and wedge-shaped impression inside these circles. The circles are the outer perimeter seal of your tortilla, and the wedge areas are where the filling gets pushed into the quesadilla pockets. There are six segments. The unit has a hole in front, oval, and a small drip pan that fits under it. This is obviously to catch any fat or cheese or filling running out of your quesadilla. Nice touch.

MAKING A QUESADILLA

After the first use, where you prime the plates with a bit of vegetable oil, you are ready to cook. Heat it up, wait for the GREEN light and get your ingredients ready to go.

NOW HERE'S THE KICKER: This unit says USE ONLY 10" FLOUR TORTILLAS. No small burrito size, no CORN torillas, which ticked off the non-wheat-eater in the house who also loves quesadillas and his are made special with good quality corn tortillas to suit his delicate tummy. Sadly, we haven't found hugeaceous corn tortillas to try out, and I assume they might not work well in any case. If we find 10 inch corn tortillas, we will experiment and report back here (assuming we survive the experiment.) But for now, assume 10" flour ONLY. And they must be fresh and pliable, not old, hard and stiff.

Now you are ready to distribute your ingredients evenly over the tortilla. OLA! Do not allow el queso (cheese) or meat or salsa to touch the edges. The quesadilla will not seal and the juice or flowing lava cheese will run out of the front. Also, this isn't magic. If you put a hamburger (whole) inside, the quesadilla maker will not magically press it down effectively. Anything that can tear out of the relatively fragile wrap is likely to poke through. I suggest you use chopped meat (taco meat) or finely sliced meats and not big chunks or strips.

Also, there is not enough heat for enough time to cook a tough pepper. Or fry an onion. If you like these things, cook them in a touch of oil on the stove, stir fry style and then put them inside. Again, they should be fine strips.

After you fill your quesadilla and pop on the top tortilla, close the lid and let it ride for five minutes.

When done, pull it off with a heatproof spatula and place on a plate that can take the ministrations of a pizza cutter or knife, because you will have to divide up the sections. The maker does not cut the segments up for you.

CONSIDERATIONS

1. It takes up counter space, about the size of typical waffle irons.

2. It's RED

3. How many quesadillas do you eat (we eat them, so this is fine, but as a fad in the house, you may be better off with a sandwich maker instead.)

4. No corn tortillas. So wheat-free people will not be happy with this unit.

SUMMARY

I like the Quesadilla Maker because we like these Mexican grilled cheese sandwiches for snacks and quick meals. I am playing with recipes like Stuffed Sopapilla Filling with Green Chile Sauce, to replace deep-fried, puffy, lard dough sopapillas with a more healthy alternative. I like the idea I can make hot pockets with my own filling, so to speak.

I was not pleased of the limit of 10" flour tortillas only, but it's a small price to pay for a unit that makes a great snack, and might I add, a great kind of hors d'oeuvre.

Read Best Reviews of Santa Fe Quesadilla Maker Here

I initally put this item on my bridal registry as a joke, and actually ended up recieving it. After I took it home and unpacked it I decided to give it a try, and I was rather impressed. The surface is certainly non-stick, which comes in handy when you forget to put the top tortilla shell on and the cheese begins to melt to the top iron. It cooks the quesadillas evenly and when you are finished cooking them (which only takes about 4-5 min)you can easily break off the sections. The cooking time is quick, and even with the prep time it takes to cook the chicken for the filling, you're looking at about a half an hour tops before dinner is ready. I am very satisfied with the quesadilla maker, even though I initially thought of it as a joke. It is certainly a worthwile purchase, especially when the gang is coming over for the game.

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I bought this on a whim, it was in a sale list, seemed reasonable, and would be something that my daughter could use to make an after-shool snack. It works great. I love it, she loves it.

I find it very easy to use and clean up. We have made many different kinds of quesadillas with it, and have had great success each time. The only filling that caused problems was using the peanut butter and jelly suggestion from the book included with the machine. The filling did tend to leak a bit, but once the tortillas had "sealed" there was no more leakage. It seemed the filling melted before the seal was formed.

As mentioned in other reviews, clean up is a snap. A paper towel or two, and you are done. Nothing seems to stick even the peanut butter and jelly!

As mentioned in another review, I have found it is easier to assemble the quesadilla before you put it on the griddle. The plates seemed to cool too much when I tried to assemble the food with the cover open. A little advance planning solved this problem.

If you prefer a browner, crisper snack, simply spray the griddles lighly with a non-stick cooking spray before you start. I learned this by accident, the first one I ever made was brown and crisp, the later ones lost this. By spraying the griddles, I got the original results again and again.

We find this to be very family friendly. By setting out a few different types of toppings, everyone can make their own, just the way they want it.

I would highly recommend this appliance to anyone who enjoys quesadills as a quick, easy to clean up to the traditional skillet method.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Flavorwave Turbo Oven

Flavorwave Turbo OvenA very good cooking appliance, but I gave it 4 start not 5 start, here is why.

I bought a Secura turbo oven a while ago from their website because they offer extended warranty. It is a perfect cooking appliance, and then we noticed there is a similar Flavorwave oven that selling at slightly higher price with less standard accessories. There must be something on Flavorwave oven that makes good even better. But to our surprise, when we received our Flavorwave oven, we immediately realized there are 3 features missing from Secura turbo oven.

First, there is no extender ring; we need to buy it separately which cost extra $30-40. Seems like this is a problem that can be settled by spending more, not sweet, but I can live with it.

Second, the Secura turbo oven has a handle safety button. You need to push the button and then lower the handle to turn on the oven heating. So it does not accidently turn on when you do not intend to. The Flavorwave Oven does not have this feature. When the handle bar is in down position, the oven turns on. Imagine you set your oven top aside after done with cooking, and definitely do not want the oven to heat again which is impossible to happen with Secura oven's safety button. This safety feature is very necessary, I highly recommend to add this feature.

Third, on the Flavorwave oven, the power cord is permanently connected on the oven top, but Secura turbo oven has a detachable power cord. We have been using Secura Turbo oven to cook and serve on dinner table. When the meal is cooked, just remove the oven top and unplug the power cord. It is convenient and do not have to worry about stepping on the power cord by accident. Just a small detail on design that can make a big difference. Flavorwave oven's platinum model 797DH has the detachable power cord design though if you have interests.

Other than these a few difference, Flavorwave and Secura oven are very alike, the craftsmanship, the heavy duty glass blow, wire rack cad power cord, even the parts # printed on the halogen bulb. Then I was told by customer service, that these two are the same manufacturer only the model #s are different. Flavorwave's 767MH vs. Secura's 777MH. Flavorwave's Platinum 797DH vs. Secura's 798DH.

Having these said Flavorwave oven cooks very well. It does best to cook your food crispy outside and juicy inside. Secura turbo oven is a newer model, but the core technologies are the same as Flavorwave oven. Had I do not know Secura turbo Oven, I would have given Flavorwave oven a 5 star.

Okay, so I have to amend my rating to 4 stars. I still hold to my review, and that this thing is more art than science, but it is so much fun, and now that I've gotten good at playing around with it, the food is so tasty, I am bumping it up to 4 stars. The kitchen is not heated up, there is no waiting for pre-heat, there is no defrosting. Once I bumped up the temperature a little higher, moved the food around a little bit, threw away the times and temps from the instructions manual, and just messed around, everything is coming out delicious.

So, it may not cook as fast as Mr. T says it will, but seriously: I pity the fool who does not buy a halogen oven!

Flavorwave cooking is really more an art then science.

Some pros and cons:

Pro 1: Cook from Frozen! It really does defrost and cook your food from frozen, and faster than a regular oven, which is a huge plus for us busy families. When you cook chicken or fish in a conventional oven, from frozen, for let's say 35 minutes, the food comes out dry because the outside is overcooked and the inside is under or just cooked. With the Flavor-wave, it is as promised: Your food is cooked both inside and out. The chicken is juicy and the fish is flaky, there are no raw-spots on the chicken, and there are no extra dry spots on the fish.

Pro 2: Master Potatoes! It makes perfect potatoes every single time. I've tried enormous bakers, frozen fries, sweet potatoes: The fries come out crispy, and the large baker is absolutely perfect, inside and out, and fast too.

Pro 3: Huge Fun Factor! Yes, it's fun! Watching the light go on and off, watching your food cook inside the bowl. Kind of amazing, and even clean-up is playful and toy-like.

The cons:

Con 1: Not Piping Hot Food: While I am confident that the food comes out fully cooked, it does not come out piping hot, like it does in the oven. For me, it feels like cooked food that's been allowed to cool off for maybe 10 minutes. It's not a concern safety-wise, meaning, the food is clearly fully cooked, both inside and out. It's just that, food is so much better when it is piping hot, where you must blow on it to cool it down. Food does not exit the flavor-wave with that kind of heat intensity and mouth-feel.

Con 2: Simulated oven-feel: The chicken and fish comes out almost poached, to me. So the chicken is a little too juicy on the inside, and not crispy enough on the outside. Strange, almost simulated, but not quite like the oven: My salmon is flaky, but does not have that seared feel on the outside, that I might get from a conventional oven.

Con 3: Awkward Bowl: I find pulling food out from the bottom rack to be a little difficult. With chicken and perhaps meat, not a problem because you can use tongs. But with fish, you are going at it with a spatula, and on that bottom rack, because of the bowl, that means you are coming in at a downward angle, and with the round tines to the rack, awkward. I've blown it a couple times, with the fillet falling into a couple pieces before making it to the plate. The top rack, not so much of a problem, but I prefer putting the fish on the bottom rack, and potatoes and veggies on the top, otherwise the fish will drip on the veggies and taters, and that's not good for anyone.

So it's a mixed bag, and hence, the 3 stars. You will probably enjoy the Flave, but it is not a replacement to your oven. It's really convenient, especially during the week, when fresh salmon is not sitting in my fridge after a long day, and for the weekdays especially (and those potatoes), I'm keeping it.

But, the Flavor-Wave is more art than science, and it will take some playing around with it, to get things just right.

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I bought my 1st Flavorwave oven from manufacture, it was pretty good. I noticed Amazon is selling at a very tempting price(Only later I realized it was sold by seller W***** Best Deals, not from Amazon). It shipped pretty fast from Minnesota, which is good, but when I received it I can tell it looks very similar with my 1st flavorwave oven, but I did notice some difference. I plugged in and turned it on, immediately the fan gave a strange noise, apparently something is wrong in there. I called manufacturer and explained what happened, they can not guarantee it is a genuine Flavorwave oven unless I can find a S/N # on the machine. I looked around and read the rep all the #s I can find on the machine. Guess what? none of them is a valid S/N #. The manufacturer will not help me if it was not bought from them directly, leaving me very upset. I am new to Amazon, did not realize there are so many complications, hoping this post will help others.

Read Best Reviews of Flavorwave Turbo Oven Here

So I bought it recently and a have used it a few times.

1. It's pretty big and bulky so make sure you have room for this on the counter or elsewhere for storage. P.s the lid is heavy too so be careful when you lift it gets quite hot!

2. I've made burgers, fries and biscuits in it pretty easy stuff. The burgers came out perfectly cooked from frozen (it's good to flip halfway thru on the meats the book says so I did) and the fries where great. It said that you use the top rack for the fries but it's difficult because it falls thru the slots (maybe for homemade as those are bigger) I did buy along with it the accessory pack (all of these items I bought from Amazon) so I used the steamer basket. Perfect. The biscuits were fine they browned well. Oh I want to tell you that the accessories are made out of non stick, best I've ever had nothing stuck at all and I didn't even spray it!Flavorwave Turbo Oven 4-Piece Deluxe Accessory Set

3. The cooking guide is not very helpful for times so you may have to play with it. It says it's a guideline for the times that's the only real beef I have with it. I would also like a more comprehensive list for what item and how hot and how long.

4. I tried the self cleaning mode and that was pretty amusing and actually works! All the stuff stuck at the bottom was easy to get out after that (I did try to clean before the cycle).

So far I am enjoying this machine and plan to make a whole chicken in it on Tuesday so more experimenting to come. As far as the claim as it cooks faster that other methods, MAYBE it is faster than the oven but maybe not a grill. Either way I am happy with it mostly because I can cook two thing at once without messing up my stove. So I hope it lasts I plan to use it a lot.

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The Flavor Wave Turbo does not offer the ability to replace a burned out Halogen bulb. The bulb in my unit lasted just over a year. I tried unsuccessfully to find a replacement bulb on line. The rest of the unit works fine. I'm told to buy a new oven. Here is a manufacturer that is filling our landfills with what should be an easy fix for the American consumer. This is the kind of irresponsible ecological manufacturing we should not support.Flavorwave Turbo Oven

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Man Law 5-Piece BBQ Tool Set with Bonus Steak Thermometer

Man Law 5-Piece BBQ Tool Set with Bonus Steak ThermometerWe haven't been able to use them yet because we are waiting for our new BBQ but I can tell you that they appear to be the most heavy duty set of BBQ tools that we have ever purchased! We are in our late 50's and have gone through so many different BBQ tools and they never last that long. But these look like they will be lasting us quite a long time -they are Durable heavy duty stainless steel grilling toolsI And they are very attractive too! We are going to be sure they don't sit out in the rain because the finish is so nice. And they are quite heavy too! We like the fact that they are Extra long, sturdy handles for safer grilling and can't wait to try them out! Oh yeah and the fact that you also get 4 steak thermometers is great too....because we always have everyone wanting a different state of doneness. We want rare and my daughter wants medium rare but her fiance want over done! So now everyone gets their own custom steak without having to guess which is ready for their particular taste....now that's fantastic!!!!! One thing we would never have thought of is the feature that the spatula has a bottle opener in the handle. I know it's not necessary but quite convenient when you grab a beer while grilling and you could open it right there without having to grab an extra tool from the kitchen....great for my husband. In the past we have had so many different types of basting brushes but inevitably they start losing their hairs and we hate getting those stiff hairs on your food while cooking. Now this brush is silicone and they work so much better. I recently got 2 Rachael Ray silicone basting brushes and found that they work so much better! You wouldn't think it but they actually spread the sauces on the food so efficiently and easy too! Not to mention how easy it is to wash and clean them afterwards. The brushes made with stiff hairs are NOT easy to clean or keep in good condition....always loosing hair and NEVER easy to get butter, sauces etc out of them after use. Wow...I got everything in one set of BBQ tools and couldn't be happier with our choice this time. We would definitely recommend choosing these tools over so many other ones. The price is a little high but in this case YOU DO GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!

Man Law 5 Piece Stainless BBQ Tools. It is difficult to find a set of completely stainless BBQ tools, nothing to melt!

They are sturdy and have a nice heft to them. They come with a bonus set of steak thermometers. I have not tried them yet.

They look like they will be of service for years to come.

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Monday, January 6, 2014

Man Of The Grill-BBQ Apron by CafePress

Man Of The Grill-BBQ Apron by CafePress - KhakiMY HUSBAND REALLY LOVED HIS APRON IT IS REALLY THICK. tHE ONLY THING THAT COULD OF BEEN BETTER, WAS, HE WISHED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DARKER. tHE IVORY LEAVES TOO MANY STAINES.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Charcoal Companion Explorer Folding Handle Grilling Fork

Charcoal Companion Explorer Folding Handle Grilling ForkThe size of this thing is both a plus and minus. Due to it's size it allows you to manipulate food further away from the flame, but that also means it takes a bit to manipulate food because it is so huge.

I bought his along with the folding tongs and spatula that are sold by the same company because I wanted something compact to keep with my gear. We do a lot of camping out of the trunk of our cars and don't have a lot of space for storage at home so I thought they would do the trick for us. They only take up 1/2 the amount of space that the old ones did.

They are a very well made item made with good quality wood and metal. I like that the fold in half and lock in place relatively easily. This also holds true for closing them as well.

There are two reasons I didn't give them five stars. First of all, the hanging ring position is wrong since it is near the middle of the fork when it is open but is fine when they are closed. Second, the way that the fork is welded onto the neck makes holding it a bit awkward. They welded it on the same way that they welded the spatula on, but it should be welded on the other side since it would fit in a more natural way in your hand given the curve of the handles. I am just nit picking on these things.

I would definitely buy these again.

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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot with BBQ Grill

Shabu Shabu Hot Pot with BBQ GrillThis is the second pot I bought from MV trading. I lived in Thailand for a few years and one of my favorite dinners was Yao Hon Kowlee BBQ. In Thailand, real fire (charcoal pot is used) and the BBQ/soup pot, which aluminum with slits cut into it that allows for cooking the meat and at the same time allowing the fats and caramelized juices to flow into the soup, sits above the glowing coals. As the dinner progresses, the soup (recipe to follow) gets tastier. Having a clay pot that weights 20 lbs filled with 3-5 lbs of burning coals limited this dinner to an out door affair. We live where it gets over 100 f in the summer and snows in the winter so we could not enjoy this as often as we would like (its not fun sitting around 3-5 lbs of burning coals when its +100f). I searched the net periodically for something that would allow my family to grill meats and have the drippings to flavor a base soup and this was the closest I could find.

This works great if you have the correct utensils and enjoy a social dinner and are not in a hurry. Its romantic if just you and your spouse/significant other. But also fun for the kids (we have 5 thus the need for 2). The kids enjoy have Yao Hon as often as we want to set this up. They would eat it daily if we let them. Below is a list of things I have found to help make this a fun and delicious dinner including meats vegetables and dipping sauces.

1. a couple quarts of Broth (vegetable or chicken, low salt if you are restricted). It is much easier if you pre boil the broth before adding it to this pot. It inst required as there are 2 settings for the soup base (hight and low) and high will bring the soup to a boil but pre heating allows for a quicker start.

2. Meats: any meat you like grilled usually we do 2 types of meat like Sirloin (1 inch squares) and large shrimp. Often we also throw some Japanese egg plant or portabella mushrooms on the grill toward the end of dinner to lighten it up. We have a Thai marinate we soak the meats in, but you can use your favorite pre-grilling marinade or rub. Just use a lighter amount.

3. 3-5 types vegetables: we do thai vegetables, but it really is a matter of choice ( Bok choy, cabbage, spinach, Chinese broccoli, regular broccoli leaf veggies cut into 1inch by2 ibch strips). We always use mushrooms but again, all about your likes so the list of veggies can go on and on. Often we add a couple scallions and garlic cloves to the broth depending.

4. Glass noodles (rice vermicelli) again as preference goes, you can use any type of soup noodles that you like. Ramen noodles work well as a substitute.

5. Eggs: We mix the glass noodle with a raw eggs before putting the noodles into the broth. You can also scramble the egg and add it directly to the boiling broth for an egg-drop style but it inst required.

6. Lubricant: In Thailand, they place a huge chunk of Pork fat with skin on and this releases a slow steady oil that keeps the meat from sticking. We use a can of Pam and coat the Grill portion between each set of meat. I always spray the top of the meat before turning it. This is a low calorie option and works well.

7. Dipping sauces at least 3: Again this depends on your meats and tastes. For example for Steak you can use Bearnaise (package mix works well), shrimp or chicken you can use teriyaki, Portabella you can use your favorite BBQ sauce. We use some special thai sauces that make this a very Thai experience. It all depends on the time you want to spend (open jars for quick and easy or spend some time to make some home made).

8. Misc: Tongs, Ladle to dish out soup, Large cooking Chops sticks to turn the meat over, regular chops sticks for eating, Medium Bowls for soup, small plate for cooked meats, ramekins for dipping sauces, spoons for soup (consider the Asian style soup spoons to make the soup more romantic/fun), small pitcher with extra broth (needed not only to replace soup if wanted, but also I use the broth on the grill plate between each set of meat. It cools the grill plate and removes the caramelized drippings so they don't burn).

Directions: Pour pre-heated broth into soup pan. Fill to about 2 inches from top. Turn the Boil switch to "high". Do not turn on the grill side until the vegetables are cooking. When the soup starts to boil, add the noodles and egg to broth and use chop stick/large spoon to make sure egg doesnt stick to bottom.

Add alot of vegetables to broth remembering most of the leaf veggies will shrink so you really cant put too much.

Turn on Grill portion and coat grill with pam. Here is the fun times as each person having dinner can put a few pieces of meat on the grill and cook their own meat. After using chop stick on raw meat, stir the soup to make sure veggies are all cooking and sterilizing the sticks.

After everyone has removed there first pieces of meat, pour just enough broth onto the plate to cool it and use chop sticks to break up any juices. Use the tongs to grab the plate and dump the liquid right into the soup. Sometimes it takes 2 rinses. Spray with pam and then Add more meat. The soup usually takes about 15-20 minutes, but we normally only take a small portion of the soup at a time as the soup gets better and better each time you rinse the grill into it. The grill gets hot enough to really brown the meat but it doesnt do it too fast so medium rare is about the best you can do.

This is a slower, social dinner that allows for lots of interaction and hands on fun. If you open a bottle of wine or have some cocktails, this is one of the best dinner parties you can have. It is extremely low fat with lots of veggies so it satisfies multiple needs. On the flip side, you can Keep it extremely simple with simple veggies, chicken/steak and store bought sauces.

I am a foodie at heart and have been lucky enough to have traveled all over the globe collecting recipes and experiencing food from so many cultures the way it should be. I hope that this isnt too intimidating as it is really a joy to experience. The $75 might seem abit steep, but we use it about 2 times a month and so the cost per use is really worth it.

The pot and the grill worked very well and clean up was easy.

It is helpful to boil your water in a pot first then pour it into the Shabu Shabu pot. By doing this you do not have to wait for the water to heat up and you can begin your feast much faster.

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I had previously purchased a Tayama hot pot which I had to return (Amazon.com). I was very disappointed after having purchased and prepared a lot of vegetables and meat, the hot pot did not get hot enough to cook anything (used hot water and was not even simmering after 40 minutes). Amazon.com was great about the return though and issued my refund for the return shipping fee before I had even returned it. As soon as they received the return, I was refunded for the item and original shipping fee.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K6EJBA/ref=oss_product

I was apprehensive on ordering another hot pot, but gave this one a try. It heated very quickly (under 10 minutes to boil 4 cups of cold water). The grill heated quickly as well. I'm very happy with this item. Would definitely recommend.

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I have used this Hot Pot twice, it is so nice, the grill bar is so easy to clean. I love this product a lot, the only drawback is that it doesn't offer the keeping warm feature, you either turn it on or off. Other than that, it is definately a good buy.

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Got this as we enjoy Shabu Shabu and had a gas burner for the table which didn't really do the job. Couldn't heat the water, so had to pre-boil it on the stove and transfer to the gas burner.. Had to buy the bottles of gas, which always run out when you need them!! Well I am happy to report that this electric one does it all and very well. Heats the water from cold to boil in less than 5mins and holds the boil easily.... Top grill is small but works well if you like Korean BBQ.. This is a must if you like hotpot cooking!!!