Nordic Ware French Crepes & Wraps Pan and Dipping Dish

This is the best crepe maker I have ever used, I and I have been making crepes for about 25 years! Anyone who creates a mess on the counter using this product needs to work on their technique.

The main secret is to dip the crepe maker uniformly straight into the pan and hold it there for no longer than about a second. Then immediately lift straight up and hold it there for another 1-2 seconds BEFORE turning it over. This will make the batter cook just enough so that it will not run when you turn it back over (no mess).

Another secret is to LIGHTLY oil the pan often. It takes some practice to find the right amount of oil, as too much oil will cause crepes to fall off into the pan and too little will allow the batter to burn.

One last bit of advice: the batter must be exactly the right consistency; not too thick and not too thin. Again, this takes practice. But with all these things in place, you will make beautiful, perfect crepes every time. I hope this helps.

My only (tiny) complaint about this product is that the batter pan should be heavier. When the batter gets very, VERY low, the pan must be held down to the counter so that the final few crepes do not stick to the pan. Other than that, this product is perfect!

***UPDATE***

Just like the other reviewer, my dipping pan also started to peel after about 3 uses. However, I called the manufacturer and they promptly sent a new one. So if that happens, call them and they will take care of you!

***NEW UPDATE 1/14/11***

I am happy to report that after a year my new dipping pan is still perfect no flaking! I suppose there was a bad batch at one point and that they fixed the issue. Also, don't be afraid to use it with an electric stove. That's what I have and it continues to work great! This is the third crepe maker I have had in 25 years and it is by leaps and bounds my favorite. I continue to give it an enthusiastic thumbs up!

This nordic ware crepe pan is AMAZING!! I love it and the dipping pan also makes dipping the pan into SO incredibly easy! Makes me actually enjoy making crepes because its so quick and easy! Thank you!

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This worked well three times and then the red paint on the dipping dish started to peel off in strips. It's now half off and the crepe pan itself doesn't work without the dipping dish so the whole thing is a total loss. This product should be recalled.

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the pan used to hold the crepe "soulution" is totally flaking off. also note that the crepe pan (by design) is best suited for gas stoved.

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The dipping dish peeled in the dishwasher totally destroyed after 2 washes, leaving maroon paint flakes that are fairly difficult to remove.

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Extra Large Paella Burner with Tripod and Regulator

Great for parties. My only issue was that they forgot to send me the tripod and regulator with the original order but they did send them right away when informed they were missing. I'm satisfied and made a great paella last week! Make sure you clean the pan well after using and wipe a thin coat of oil before storing. And use real saffron, it's not that expensive!

some of the reviews say the tripod is adjustable. it is not. the burner is very large. you will not be able to use it with pans smaller than 16inches.

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Nordic Ware Pancake Pans

I was a bit hesitant to buy after reading a couple of the reviews but was willing to take a chance. I really don't see why there was any negative comments about it. As long as you spray your pan first, there is no issue with sticking. You will have issues if you try to turn them before they are cooked on one side but that's true regardless of your pan. I even used a waffle recipe on this rather than a pancake recipe and it was just fine.

I can't wait to surprise my granddaughters at breakfast time! It takes so little to make them happy yet the memories last for years. I only get to see them once a year since they live far away, but throughout the year they talk about the special breakfasts Oma fixes for them. I always have something unique at breakfasts & they've come to expect it as tradition. In time, I'd like to get some of the other pans just for the variety...And the thing is my husband & I are kids at heart so we'll use them even when the little ones aren't here.

We've had a great time making pancakes and eggs in this pan. The kids love them. Keep in mind, these are small pancakes, so it takes a while to cook up a meal. I'm thinking of buying another pan (with different animals) so I can get two sets going at a time. We use some spray on olive oil and have had no problem with sticking or with clean up. Took a couple of tries to get the temperature right, but once we found it, the fun was on.

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I purchased this as an Easter present for my grandchildren. They received it this morning & couldn't wait until Easter to use it. It worked perfectly! There was NO sticking. My daughter said she'd highly recommend this, as it was a big hit at breakfast this morning.

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This broke our glass stovetop the first time we used it. We had to buy a new stove because of that. There is no warning on the label. We read online that the cast iron coils under each animal face cause a seal with the stove top and traps the heat. The heat builds up and breaks the stovetop.

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I bought this pan just a few weeks ago. It is perfect in all ways. Pancakes are made quickly, they don't stick to the surface and everybody at home loves the bugs. We are very glad to have it.

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The Amazing Handheld Bug Zapper

In the summer time, the place I live is infested with black widows everywhere. They balloon into the house, build webs around the bulkhead, doors, etc. We're talking infestation folks. Last thing I need is a guest to sit too close to a widow tending a missed eggsack and deliver a bite.

I grew frustrated using my stove lighter, rubber bands, and Formula 409 was totally useless Against widows. One fully grown widow seemed to even chuckle and dare I say give me her version of the bird as she crawled OUT OF A FROTHING POOL OF 409. Inconceivable!

Then my girlfriend's mom gave me this zapper for my b-day, ironically, because she knows I love insects (???).

Anyway, I offensively left it in the corner to dust-over until I realized this would be perfect for widows (even though I'm strongly against killing non-poisonous spiders).

Well, the light bulb went off and, by the Power of Grayskull, I launched a full assault on the young and old widows around the house. I simply turned the Zapper on and first blocked their escape back into their hidey-hole then slowly moved zapper towards the middle of the web where they were. Eventually, they run out of web and the Zapper's Fury crumples them into a smoldering ball at my feet. A-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

A-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Highly recommended.

I bought this little goodie as a lark and was surprised to learn what kind of a zap and spark one could get from tiny little batteries .....

Certainly not the tool to have if you have any kids .... OR .. if you have any co-ordination problems and may hit yourself or anyone around you ... Touch the metal parts of the swatter and you will very quickly learn what religion is all about with stinging ZAP and a spark ....

Flying bugs are fried immediately ... so if you have any fear or allergy of wasps or bees ... well then this baby is for you ...

Oh yes ... for those of you with an imagination the Amazing Bug Zapper is as close to Darth's light sword as you can legallay get ... LOL

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Keeping the sport in bug zapping, this handy dandy handheld model takes it to competitive levels. The more passive models may be as effective, but are they as FUN? Can you feel SATISFIED? Can you COMPETE?

Please note that this is not a safe toy with a child around (and they are going to be soooo tempted, particularly if a younger sibling is close). Definitely a must have for the barbeque boy, porch princess, and all those Happy Campers. Hint: You probably will need more than one.

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My wife hates bugs, and I bought this for her. But I liked it so much I ordered another one and will buy more for my parents. The best thing about Bug Zapper is that you don't have to deal with the 'bug juice' (if you swat them), and you don't need to wait for the bugs to land and wait for your swat. I even used it near a bee hive, and it was the best defense against them. A few cautions 1) don't zap yourself, it's pretty painful, 2) don't hit metal objects, you'll see sparks flying (incl. some windows "Low-E" windows have metallic coating), 3) you can't kill fruit flies with this zapper since it has horizontal bars that these small bugs pass through. However, you can find double or triple meshed version on ebay or sharper image if you have the urge to kill all sizes of bugs. 4) some big bugs need extended roasting I've seen a few biggies come back to life after a brief coma.

All in all, it's quite entertaining to use.

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Talk about a fun and entertaining way to swat flies! I had a blast attacking a springtime fly swarm when this package first arrived, and I was impressed with its ease of use and effectiveness.

BUT...

The trigger button on the handle is flimsy plastic, and I hadn't used this very long before the internal connection snapped, rendering my cool new toy -I mean, fly killer -into a fairly useless lightweight paddle. I recommend you look for one with a more durable construction.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

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Cuisinart CTF-615 Digital Temperature Fork

This product does not work. Temp reading are slow and not accurate. Perhaps I have a faulty one. the redi-folk was much better.

I bought this just to see how we'll it works since I just bought a new infra red grill , at first I didn't believe it worked and then I compared it to a old school one and the temperatures were very similar , this would be useful for people who rarely BBQ

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I've had better units like this. Its very slow to read temps. But it is very accurate. Wish it would have a gauge on base rather than a beep when its done.

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We use these until they stop working! Sounds like not a great review but when your BBQing or using them in the oven, they get tossed around and sometimes melted in the dishwasher (by accident he placed it in there) but they work until you have beat them up!

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Maxi-Matic EGL-3450 Elite Cuisine 13-Inch Countertop Non-Stick Grill, Black

This has been a great purchase for our kitchen counter top. This is the perfect item for rainy days when you don't want to grill outside. I have had no issues with this product so far and it cooks staek and chicken perfectly the way my girlfriend and I like it. The grill surface isn't very big but it's great for two people. Fantastic for grilling veggies too!

I have been trying to diet recently and needed something to make quick , easy meals... I previously owned a George Foreman grill and it was super annoying to clean so I was looking for something a little more simple. Well i found EXACTLY what i was looking for with this grill .. Not only is it super fast and easy , the cleanup is even easier. When i cook my meats, whether its a turkey burger , piece of chicken or some salmon It drips all the access fat into a tray & cooks perfectly every time ! It even grills my vegis to perfection. I love it . For the price you simply cant beat it .

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I bought this for my sister and she loves it! It's easy to use, grills great and easy to clean!

I also have this grill and use it all the time. I highly recommend this product.

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This grill works well as no water needs to be added and still keeps smoke down. You need to clean the grill after every use and follow the prep instructions to keep the grilling area clean.

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I wanted to save a buck by buying a less expensive grill but was worried the quality or grilling power wouldnt be as good. Turns out it works great! I've already used it 4 times and so far so good. Nice grill marks and the temperature appears to get very hot just like a regular grill. Very nice to use when the weather is bad or you just dont feel like messing with the big gas grill.

I do reccommend using this on top of the stove with the vents on high as this will absorb the small amount of smoke that grilling causes. The house is less stinky that way and you also have free counter space. Just a thought.

George Foreman GLP80V 80-Square-Inch Nonstick Grill with Variable Temperature Control

I bought this grill several weeks ago after remembering how much I enjoyed cooking when I had the old style George Foreman grill in the past. This one was better than I had expected. The grill itself is 12" x 10" and the grilling service is exactly 10" x 8". Now the older model I had did not heat evenly, the top plate was not nearly as hot as the bottom, forcing me to flip things over half way through, but this one grills each side exactly the same and cuts down on overall cooking time. It also looks very nice sitting on the counter with the silver and black design. The surface is non stick and works great. I know a lot of people complain about the ease of cleaning it so below is the way I keep it spotless day after day and it only takes a few seconds

This is how I keep it shining like new after using it almost daily:

First I want to say that this is the way I clean it and if not done properly or if you're not paying attention you can burn yourself. If you let the grill cool down and the grease and grime is still on it, it will be a chore to get it out if not impossible. The way to keep you grill spotless is,

-Right after you take your food off and the grill is still hot,

-Take a wad of paper towels (about 3 2-ply or quilted should be fine, more if they are economy or 1-ply)

-Fold in half several times until you have a thick square that is about the size of a quarter of a sheet

-Wet the entire thing, then ring it out

-While the grill is still hot CAREFULLY wipe the grill surfaces (There is not need to apply a lot of force and any grease or burnt pieces should slide right off) Just be careful not to let any part of your hand/arm to touch the hot surface.

-The turn off your clean grill

I have found that this is the only way to keep the grill completely clean without much hassle, because once the grill cools anything that is stuck on will be very hard to clean off later, so do yourself a favor and just wipe it away with a thick wad of WET paper towels. The fact that they are wet will prevent any heat from getting to your hands and will work like a steam vac on your carpet. IT works great and takes seconds, but just be careful.

Now back to the grill, the on/off switch is very useful as the old grills didn't have this and you had to unplug it to turn it off, leaving a dangling cord that is a hassle to hide and an electricity risk since you have to unplug something that is one which gives off sparks. The temperature control on this unit is also great, since now it accommodates a lot of different foods without burning anything.

The surface heats up within a few minutes and everything comes out wonderful. Usually thinner cuts of meats, hamburgers, hot dogs, and anything that isn't really thick will take 5 minutes to cook. Large and thick cuts will take a bit longer, but I would suggest checking on anything you put in after 5 minutes and then going from there. Overall most of the stuff I cook on it is a flat 4-5 minutes without any hassle.

My final verdict on this grill is that it is AWESOME The surface is big enough to cook for at least 3 people at once, temperature control is spot on, easy cooking, and easy cleaning if done as described above (just use a bit of caution and it will take you only seconds to keep it clean) I am extremely happy with my purchase and I hope this feedback helps for anyone considering buying it. Also, as far as comparisons with other George Foreman Grills, I did a lot of research and found that this is the perfect one to have if you cook for 2-3 people and cook a variety of foods. It's big enough for everything me and my wife need, looks great sitting on the counter top (black and silver), and is the easiest appliance I have ever used and I do a lot of cooking.

This is my first GF grill and I considered all kind of different models, but the once with removable plates and switches are almost $100. I saw this one at Target for $39.99 with on/off switch and temperature control. For that price who needs removable plates. I find it very easy to clean when the plates are hot with some wet paper towels. Everything slides right off! Everything comes out just perfect. Meats and fish come out moist and juicy.

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My wife and I have used this grill now for about a month and we're very happy with it. We've used it for full chicken breasts, pork chops, steaks, hamburgers and much more.

I have to say, that this grill has made cooking easy and quick. The larger surface area is great, for preparing four meals at a time. Cleaning is not too easy but it brings two plastic spatulas that help a lot. I will have preferred that you could remove the grill plates but for the price a paid "$28" I won't mind.

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I've always wanted one of these and when I got one for Christmas I was very happy. It does cook very well and it takes less time than conventional methods to cook food, however, it is very hard to clean. It also gets extremely hot around the edges and after burning yourself a few times you learn to be very careful when using it.

Cleaning it would be easier if it had some sort of non-skid footing as when you're wiping it down it slides all over the place. It is easier to clean when it's still hot, but you have to be careful not to burn yourself.

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When we ordered this, I was expecting a fairly "cheap" grill, but when we got it, it definitely seemed much higher quality than we were expected. Our previous grill was one of the original few models of the Forman with only on and off (and off was only if you unplugged it). This was a dream!

We love:

The easy to reach on/off switch on the side of the grill

The variable heat control on the top

The size, which is perfect for 4-6 burgers (depending on the size of your burgers)

Ease of cleaning (I've known people with removable plates and they've got nothing buy complaints in the long run. This just takes a wet paper towel placed inside while it's cooling off and everything cleans off easily)

We used to have one with a bun warmer, but we started putting the buns right inside this one (while it's heating up) and they come out nicely toasted.

I'd recommend this grill to anyone on any budget!

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Hershey's Smore Maker with bonus Hershey's Kiss fondue

Well, I don't like the bonus fondue pot at all. Because it is heated by a tea light candle, the flame is focused on one spot and it burned the chocolate. The s'more maker pot worked fine! Really cute set! However, I need to buy a separate chocolate fondue.

I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY GRANDSON. MY DAUGHTER SAID HE JUST LAUGHED AND HAD SO MUCH FUN. IT WAS WELL WORTH THE MONEY.

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Krups PG70 Panini Maker, Brushed Stainless Steel

This is my first panini maker. We were getting sandwiches from our work cafeteria and being charged an arm and leg. I really did my research and am very happy with my purchase. I like the temperature control and shut off, the locking of the unit works great and makes it easy to move. We can grill up to 3 full size sandwiches and all have been masterpieces. The only thing I would have liked would be to remove the grids for cleaning but the cleaning is not so painful and doesn't stop me from using it. Looking forward to warm winter sandwiches. Recipe book has good ideas. Now our lunches for 3 people run under $8. It will pay for itself this winter.

I've had one for 2 years, use it about twice a month. Grills sandwiches evenly, easy to clean (I just wipe it off with soft paper towels while the grills are still slightly warm), cord wraps tidy and the locking works great allowing you to store it vertically which saves storage space. The multiple settings allows you to cook thick/think sandwiches accordingly. Great product!

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I love this appliance!!! It's great in a pinch to make grilled ham and cheese for the kids, or cuban sandwiches or ruebens!!!! I experimented like crazy when I first got it. If you clean it right away, it's low maintenance. If you leave burnt on oil or cheese it will take a little work to get clean, but totally worth it!!!! My kids think it's great to take paninis to school for lunch (spoiled brats!). I would recommend this if you want to deviate from the norm and cook up some great sandwiches. I haven't made anything but sandwiches on it, as it sits flat and the clean up on that would be more involved and probably annoying.

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We love the panini maker. There are absolutely no problems with the machine. We now wonder if we should have purchased a panini maker that had other plates, eg. waffle, flat for pancakes, etc. but that issue not take away the excellent quality. It is very easy to clean as well as cook.

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I bought this one on Sept 2007 and is being used often because we love paninis. Right now, I am buying a second one to use in my beach house. Highly recommended as you can prepare delicious sandwiches without spend a fortune in a Panini Bar. Don't buy cheap models than underperformed since first day. Notice that this is the only one in a price range of less than 100 bucks that offer 1800 Watts of power. This is the reason for which you get really paninis. Check that.

Char-Broil Live Fire Heavy Duty Meat Hook

Overall I'm very happy with this product. Nothing really stands out about it, but I also have no serious complaints about the construction. If anything, I can see a leather cord being more versatile to hang the tool from, versus the rather bulky hanging hook. The rivets securing both hooks to the handle seem secure, and there is no wiggle at the junctions. Made in China.

I bought this based on the price, so my overall impression is, "great product for six bucks!" Sadly, the cost has more than doubled from when I ordered this on 4/25/12 (with Prime shipping) for $6.57. I can't say I would purchase this at the current price point.

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Swissmar KF-77043 8 Person Classic Raclette Party Grill

Product delivered on time and no complaints. I did not get the granite top as I wanted the grill to heat up faster but I cans see its a toss up as it would be nice to keep the heat when cooking cold food. I think I still prefer the standard grill.

Romertopf No. 117 Clay Baker

I purchased the Romertopf 6 1/2 Quart Clay Baker to replace a smaller clay baker that I have had for years. Baking in clay pots is my absolute favorite way to cook roasts and chicken and this larger size allows me to cook plenty of vegetables and meat to feed by family of five at family dinners (and have leftovers). The flavors are outstanding and I highly recommend this method of cooking to anyone who hasn't tried it. You soak the clay pot, fill it up, and place it in a cold oven and turn up the temp -then you do nothing until it is done -it is the most tender, juicy meat you will ever eat.

The pot is exactly what I expected it would be, although my old one was glazed inside and this one is not. I have used it several times already and that has not been a problem.

I like it so much I am purchasing the same pot in a smaller size so I can cook dinners for two.

this thing barely fits in my oven so it can make a big big stew. i have loved my 4 quart schlemmertopf clay pot but sometimes it's a little small for what i wnt to cook. when i saw the romertopf 6 1/2 quart i had to have it. try this: 2pound roast, 1-2 inches of water, salt, pepper, garlic, basil. cook in oven at 350 for 1 hour. add two large russet potatos cubed, 1 pound carrots, one large red onion, one large bunch of celery, all chopped, and one 16 oz. jar of a good marinara sauce (h.e.b.'s 2 dollar version is great). add water to about 1 inch from top of pot. cook for another 2 hours at 350. you don't even have to check it. this is stew like mom used to make!!!!

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have cooked two turkeys in this since received. wish i had bought one of these years ago. easy and quick to use. meat falls off the bone and is moist and juicy. used a standard recipe, but increased the temp. by 100 degrees and reduced cooking time by 30 minutes. fastest i have ever cooked a turkey other than by frying.

easily handled a 14 lb. turkey. could go larger; specs say up to 17 lbs.

only minor complaint is that if you only have one oven, the temp. is so high and the clay pot so large that it is difficult to cook sides at the same time. i used my gas grill as an oven for the side dishes.

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I've been using this pot to make turkey for the holidays and it works brilliantly. I've just ordered a second one because these same ones from Mexico are not made any longer. The new ones will be shipped from Germany. The German web site for this pot says: "with porous inner glaze in the base", which concerns me. It doesn't appear that my current pot has any glaze in it. And I don't want to mess with perfection.

The max size bird I'd cook in this pot is 13 pounds. I prefer 12.5 pounds, which leaves a bit of room. I leave the thawed, naked bird on a wire rack in the fridge for 16 hours or so to allow the skin to dry out, which makes for crispy skin. I bring the turkey closer to room temperature by leaving it on the counter for 2 hours. I soak the pot for 30 minutes before placing the bird in it. I cook the 12.5 pound turkey for about 2.5 hours at 450 Fahrenheit. I don't use stuffing. Instead I chop a handful of veggies I like and place them in the cavity--leaving enough room for the heat to enter the cavity.

For those interested in the German page (slashes removed): roemertopf.de english roemertopf_klassik klassik.htm

The Romertopf Direct web site says: "All Romertopf by Reco products have been discontinued and our store is now closed."

[Update: 12-31-2012]: One source for these pots ( fantes [dot] com ) wrote to me that the new pots (i.e. non-Reco pots) will be arriving in mid-January. According to them the new pots "will be glazed on the bottom half, and the top unglazed, similar to the Schlemmertopfs"

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As a young mom, I noticed that my Italian neighbor used the Rometopf for everything she baked. I gave it a try. I think it is the only way to get a carefree turkey that has moist breast meat and nicely browned skin. Even my non cook daughter in law made a fantastic turkey with the clay baker. It is great for any meat you want to bake and bread pudding.

Remember to soak it in water before using. It is a life saver if you get a late start on a holiday dinner or important meal. I have used a Rometopf for over 30 years and still love using it. I put it inside my dishwasher with no soap or rinse agent and run a cycle. It comes out fresh and has no soap or rinse residue to worry about.