Showing posts with label egg grill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label egg grill. Show all posts

Friday, August 1, 2014

Perfect Solutions Talking Fly Swatter, Black

Perfect Solutions Talking Fly Swatter, BlackThis thing works but when the novelty wears off you'll take the batteries out of it.

This was fun to have at our Family Backyard gatherings. We live on and near old cattle land and have an abundance of flies in the summer months. We had more fun passing this around. No one missed their turn, and everyone giggled.

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This is a great flyswatter. It's fun and effective. We laugh everytime we terminate an annoying fly, since the swatter makes appropriate remarks such as "gotcha" when used. Makes a great gift too!

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Was a great gift for my husband who is hard to shop for as a gag gift from our Dogs to Daddy

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Simply put, it did not work. Also, the package appeared to have been opened like perhaps it had been previously returned by an unsatisfied customer.

I'm really glad that Amazon paid shipping costs for the return.

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Friday, July 18, 2014

Pancake Puffs Aebleskiver Pan

Pancake Puffs Aebleskiver PanOkay, so we had seen the Pancake Puff on TV and thought that it looked fun. I ended up getting one for Christmas. My thoughts:

1. It's a lot smaller than I expected. Each puff is about the size of a large marshmellow. When they kept showing them full of stuff I thought they were larger. Turns out they are perfect toddler size.

2. They cook really quickly, which is great.

3. It takes a little bit to get used to flipping with the little sticks, but it's easy to catch on.

Overall, a fun product.

This item works well with plain pancakes. However, the pan is much smaller than it looks on tv or in the ad. The puffs come out very small and it takes a very long time to cook them as you must keep the heat low with cast iron. I tried the brownie puff recipe that is included in the kit and they did not come out at all. The puffs are also very difficult to turn in the pan to cook the other side. They are fun and yummy once they are done, but somewhat difficult to make.

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I bought my wife the Pancake Puff for Christmas, and she was very happy to get it. The first thing we noticed as we started using it was that it is not non-stick as they claim. You have to keep using butter or some kind of non-stick spray with each batch, or they'll be impossible to turn over. Also, be mindful of how hot you turn it up, or they'll keep coming out bad. My last criticism has to do with the flipping sticks they're barely usable. They've got to come up with some sort of specialized flipping tool for these things. The sticks are really nothing more than kabob skewers.

All criticism aside, once you get used to some of the trickier aspects of it, making and eating pancake puffs is really fun. Kind of like most pancakes, the first few are not pretty, and barely edible. After that, they look good, they taste great, and they're just fun. Now my wife is looking forward to trying out cornbread puffs, brownie puffs, and lots of other puff craziness.

When making pancake puffs, we use butter to grease the pan (so no butter on the finished puffs) then we shake some powdered sugar on top and drizzle them with syrup. Mom, Dad, and the kids gobble them up very quickly. My only wish is that they were faster to make, so we could have more right away when we're done with the first batch.

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I purchased this at BB&B today. It was a surprise for my daughter who LOVES pancakes and has seen the infomercial. She was very excited. I was nervous but decided to try it out. We used Aunt Jemima Original pancake mix which requires egg, oil and milk (I used original almond milk to replace cows milk). I added about 1/2 cup of blueberries and about 1 tsp ground flax. I have a glass top stove and was careful when placing the pan down. I set temp to medium and let it heat up a bit before brushing with veg oil. I always cook regular pancakes over melted butter (smart balance). I used about 1 1/2 tsp total for the puff pan and reloaded with each batch. This does two things; keeps it from sticking and makes it have that yummy crispy shell. They were FANTASTIC!!!! My children didn't even ask for syrup and I didn't need to add butter since I did that at the beginning (the pancakes soak up the melted butter, yummy!). We used two of the flipping sticks when turning the puffs. It made for a smooth flip. My puffs came out completely round but I guess that might differ depending on the batter used. I am thinking that we will need 2 of these pans to speed things up when cooking for a larger crowd. One pan was fine for the 3 of us. Also, I noticed that the first batch did not get cold as fast as traditional pancakes do. This is nice because you can actually cook enough for the entire family and then sit down to eat with them instead of everyone eating separately to insure a warm meal. I am totally happy with this product for the reason I purchased it, pancakes. I am going to try other recipes soon. I am thinking that this might be a good egg cooker if the temp is just right. We will see.

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I am a dad at home with my kids during the day. I bought the set at a local outlet for 19.99. The first thing we made is the pancake puffs. I used bisquick pancake mix. they were great.

Now I think there is a trick to it soo I will lay out what I do.

First heat the pan. I use a medium heat on our flat top range. I actually set the dial to 4 so its just below medium.

I then mix the batter. I cut a small piece of butter and put it in the middle well and spread it with the included brush into the other wells. the butter should melt fast and make some hissing sounds. You know your pan is hot enough then. I use a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon to ladle the batter into the pan wells. I use another spoon to wipe the excess batter of my ladle spoon. I fill each well just a little more then half. After about 2 minutes, the batter rises and small bubbles start to set on the surface. I use the wooden sticks to turn them. I use 2, one in each hand. one stick pushes one side down and the other stick kind on gets under the other side and guides it to flip. Then in about 2 more minutes their done.

It works.

The trick is to preheat the pan and dont touch the heat. If you dont let it heat you migh turn it up to high and the first batch will be ok but the next might burn. Also butter the wells for each batch. I use the same heat setting for everything I make with this pan.

I also made the crab cakes but I used tuna instead of crab meat and a thomas english muffin instead of bread and it was vey good. and a great way to get my kids to eat tuna.

We also made blueberry muffin puffs from pillsberry blueberry muffin mix.

The only thing that did not work is brownies from a box mix. I think brownies take to long to cook that they burn on the outside before the center is done enough.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Lodge Logic LPGI3 Pro Grid Cast Iron Grill/Griddle

Lodge Logic LPGI3 Pro Grid Cast Iron Grill/GriddleI absolutely adore this griddle, and I use it almost every day.

At first, I wasn't sure that I wanted a cast iron griddle. They are HEAVY and not dishwasher safe . . . so I tried a few nonstick brands first --top dollar brands with high ratings.

I hated them. The nonstick surface was inferior. On a reversible griddle, the underside became sticky and difficult to clean. The heat was distributed unevenly. One claimed to be dishwasher safe, yet when I put it in the dishwasher, some of the nonstick surface came off.

I am extremely health conscious, and I use very little oil when I cook. Food often stuck to the "non-stick" surface -go figure.

I wanted to find a great griddle that I could use for many things, including cooking like the chefs in Japanese Steak Houses -I dreamed of using a small dash of my favorite oil and flinging shrimp, chicken and veggies on the griddle like a pro. No, I didn't think I could toss my tools in the air or catch the shrimp in my pocket . . . I just wanted the flavor and the ease of cooking.

By this time, I was on a quest, and the non-stick stuff just wasn't cutting it. I did a little research, and I learned that pros recommend the Lodge griddle, so despite my apprehension, I thought I'd give it a try.

Wow! The pre-seasoned surface is perfect and better than any non-stick surface I have ever used. Just a tiny bit of non-stick spray is all I need, and everything from pancakes to eggs flip with ease. Grilling Japanese style works perfectly.

On the grill side: whole steaks, chicken, fish -fabulous, fast, and everything has those beautiful grill lines. Nice for grilled vegetables, too.

The griddle is indeed heavy, but it's okay. I wouldn't recommend lifting it if you have serious muscle or joint problems, and I wouldn't want to drop it on my foot, but otherwise, go for it. I'm a softie, and if I can handle it, so can you.

As for not being able to put the griddle in the dishwasher: I don't believe I'm going to say this, but I don't care about having to handwash it. The griddle cleans so easily, a few swipes and I'm done. If I forget to clean it and wake up to it the next morning (okay, so I'm not Suzy Homemaker), I just lay it straight across the top of my sink -not IN the sink, but rather, balanced from edge to edge, on top . . . and I run a little water over it, let it set for a few minutes, and it's easy to clean.

A word of advice: Just as it says in the instructions, you need to clean the griddle without soap (water only) to preserve the pre-seasoned finish. However, should you want to use soap, you can. There are instructions included in how to re-season the griddle -it's easy.

I frankly didn't like the idea of not cleaning with soap. I didn't feel as though the germs were destroyed . . . but soap doesn't really kill germs, it merely works as a surfactant that makes water wetter so things become easier to clean.

If you want to kill germs, heat is one of the best ways to do it. Every time you use the griddle, you preheat it on the range for about five minutes or so -you're killing far more germs than if you had used soap!

You can also rub your griddle with a very light coating of oil, stick it in a hot oven and disinfect it that way (this is also similar to how you reseason it).

This is one of the easiest, most wonderful kitchen tools I own. It is a breeze to use, I feel like a pro flipping all that food around. Everything comes out great, and it is very easy to use, and food does not stick.

I have since added six more pieces of cast iron to my collection, one triangle cornbread/scone, a round muffin/biscuit, and four cast iron skillets. Two of the skillets are antique -talk about well-seasoned! I do not use the bread/muffin bakers as much as I thought I would, but I use the skillets almost every day. I love them.

PS: I remember reading somewhere that using cast iron also adds iron to your diet -not sure how true or how much, but if it does, it is a nice extra, yes?

Goodness I see two chief complaints posted here: First, some people say it's heavy. Well, yes, it is. It's over 200 square inches of iron, folks. The weight is clearly advertised, so I'm having a hard time understanding this complaint. The second complaint some have is uneven heating. Lodge could fix that all they have to do is make it thicker and much heavier, and even more people would be unhappy about the weight.

Since the number of comments about the weight and the uneven heating seem about equal, I'd say Lodge did a great job of hitting a happy middle ground. Personally, I count on a little uneven heating, I'll sear breakfast chops on one end over a high burner and flip eggs on the other over a lower burner I've even been known to run mine on just one burner, cooking on one end and warming on the other. When I was a grill cook, that's how I ran my grill, hotter at one end. You also have to allow for some "settle time" for cast iron compared to aluminum, it's a fairly slow heat conductor, which gives cast iron it's wonderful thermal stability. But it takes time for the heat to distribute, so give it a few minutes.

I can't comment on the factory coating I strip and season the cooking surfaces on all my iron, new or used. I made one modification to mine, which Andrew pointed out I took a dremel and ground a shallow notch in the outer lip of one end of the grease gutter to help pouring the grease out if you do this, be sure to smooth the edges of the notch to avoid heat stress cracks they love to start at sharp corners and don't make it too deep just a small notch makes a big difference when dumping grease.

While I'm at it I'm a heretic a blasphemer an apostate. My confession? I sometimes clean mine with soap to be more precise, detergent, which most modern dish soaps actually are. I think the "no soap" thing is a bit of mythology that's come down to us from Great-Grandma, whose dish soap was basically lye and some type of animal fat (my grandma used bacon grease for her soap). So yeah, maybe lye soap was a bad idea, but it had a very different chemistry from today's dish detergents, and as far as I can tell, modern detergent won't touch the baked-on grundge on the bottom of my aluminum and enamel cookware, and they don't touch my properly seasoned iron either. I do always make sure to rinse very thoroughly, and re-oil after cleaning, however, as that thin film of oil is life to cast iron.

I love this grill on the cooktop, but if you want to see this beauty at it's best, and you have at least a 20" charcoal grill, set it on your charcoal grate and have some fun. I don't think mine ever cooled off during the week or so after hurricane Charley, while we had no electricity. I had stocked up on hardwood charcoal before the storm, and as my neighbor's fridges warmed, and their freezers thawed, they kept bringing me food to cook before it spoiled and of course, they shared with the cook. The neighbors saved some of their food, the Lodge grill got quite a workout, and my family ate very well!

It's a well-made product. It's American. And it's a great value. What's not to love? Just don't drop it on your foot did I mention it's heavy?

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With all the reviews raving about this griddle, I was quite excited about my purchase. I had planned on using this on my gas range over two burners for cooking pancakes and such. The dimensions of my burners seemed to be a great match for the size of the griddle, but it turned out to be unusable. I returned it.

On many gas ranges this griddle will not lay flat, but will be tippy and unstable. The reason for this is the handle cutouts on the griddle. It is a little hard to explain so I have uploaded a video to illustrate.

If it weren't for the cutout handles, this griddle would be perfect and would work on a much larger set of stove top ranges. However, the current design limits its use for many potential users.

Other than that, the quality appears good. I have several other Lodge products and have been happy with them.

Update: I didn't measure the dimensions between the inside edges of the handles before I returned it. This would be helpful those considering this griddle. If anyone has this griddle, if they could post this measurement in the comments, that would be great.

If you found this review helpful, let me know with your vote below.

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I just received my griddle last week and I've been using it daily with excelent results every time. Mine arrived with a few minor scratches on the preseasoning but all of them seem to be disappearing quite soon (I spray a little pam all over the griddle before using it). I cooked some hamburgers on the grill side which turned out delicious and they got those great grill marks on them also. I've had no sticking problems at all with this thing so far. Cleanup is easy providing you have a stiff brush, a large sink and the strong arms required to carry it from the stove to the sink every time you wash it (this thing weighs 15 pounds). I highly recommend this griddle to anyone, it's very well constructed and looks like it will last a lifetime with proper care.

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When I received my Lodge grill/griddle a few days ago, I was stunned with how just plain beautiful it is. It is going to sit on my stove all the time, across the burners on one side, probably with the grilling side up to remind me that I can grill anything any time I want to.

I've never had a double-burner grill before, so I've experimented with turning on one or both burners; setting the burners on different settings; and cooking foods one normally would not cook on a grill on the grill side (eggs this morning, along with the bacon).

There is no better way to get the hang of cast iron cooking than to cook eggs. If you've got the seasoning right and the temperature right, you've got the best non-stick egg-cooking surface in the world. If you don't have it right and the eggs stick, just scour the pan with one of those dark green pot-scrubber pads (no soap!), rinse well, rub in some oil with your fingers or a napkin, and try again. If you don't cook something very acidic like tomato sauce in/on your cast iron, it will get so splendidly non-stick you will think you died and went to heaven.

I used my eggs-on-the-grill experiment to get a feel for the best temperature for the piece with only one burner on. The first time I did it, the eggs hardly stuck at all...so that's a great testament to the pre-seasoning.

What's nice is that, even when using only one burner, the entire piece heats up, so when you've finished cooking something on the side with the hot burner, you can move it over to the other side (the one with the burner off) and the food stays beautifully warm while you cook something else. I haven't tried pancakes on the griddle side yet (because I'm in the early stages of Atkins' diet), but I can tell this would be super for cooking up stacks of nice, warm, perfectly cooked pancakes.

When I first got it, it did smoke a good bit; I think this is because I had the heat too high...or maybe it just needed to smoke a little to settle it down. It's not smoking now.

I know this is a rambling review...I really just wanted to say this is a beautiful piece and I'm very happy to have it in my kitchen.

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Saturday, July 5, 2014

Professional Heavy Duty Reversible Double Burner Cast Iron Grill Griddle

Professional Heavy Duty Reversible Double Burner Cast Iron Grill GriddleLooks like a double burner, cast iron, indoor grill cooking tool. And it is just that. Not pre-seasoned, but I prefer to do my own seasoning myself anyway. Works great, even heat, nice grill marks on food, easy, almost non-stick, cleaning. Fits in my cast iron cooking tools drawer with ease (36W x 22D)

Would I buy this again, YES. Would I recommend this to a friend, YES. Would I give it to my kids, NO, go buy your own!

Awesome! I have been desiring one of these and i found the right one. It fits over 2 burners and excellent on chicken,bacon and ham so far.

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This grill pan is solid cast iron, long enough to cover completely the two burners on one side of my electric stove, and does what I want it to do--cook meats, fish and vegetables indoors with less fat. Does it really "grill" them? No, but it's not the fault of this particular pan. If you want real grilling, use a barbeque. Obviously you don't get that smokey flavor from this. But if you want to cook a steak or some onions and peppers for a fajita and you can't or don't want to fire up the barbeque, this will do a good job, searing the food where it touches it but not sauteing or frying it. It also uses a lot less energy than an oven, and takes less time.

I've found two downsides of grill pans. First, since it's not designed to be used with much, if any, fat, some foods will stick. I've had some problems cooking fish; when it comes time to flip or remove a salmon fillet, you may find yourself scraping vigorously with a spatula to avoid leaving that nice crust behind, stuck to the pan, even though you've brushed the fish with oil first. This may change eventually, if the pan gets thoroughly seasoned from use. (Of course, the alternative is a non-stick version, but no, thank you.)

Second, be sure you have a hood fan that works well, or a very well ventilated kitchen, or your house will likely fill with smoke. Putting a cover (or upside-down pot) over it may help.

But these issues are inherent with grill pans. This particular model is well designed and well made and reasonably priced. It's solid without weighing a ton, and I've had no problem with warping or cracking. It has a flat griddle on the other side, useful for pancakes or, for those who like them fried, burgers. Being cast iron, it should be washed without soap (so it maintains seasoning) and dried thoroughly before storage (or it will rust).

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I have Lodge skillets and they are great. However, this griddle is poorly manufactured. I am wondering if the business that sold it to me purchased them as factory rejects. There are pinholes (for lack of a better word) in the cast iron, a dent in the griddle top, and the entire surface is quite rough, especially on the grill side. I would have returned it, however when I ordered it I didn't notice that it came from a non-Amazon supplier and thus I would have to pay for shipping costs to send it back. It weighs over 10 pounds so it costs almost as much to return it as I paid for it. I'll use it for a boat anchor or a prop under my car when I put up jack stands to work underneath the vehicle. Alternately, if you saw the movie "Tangled" you understand what I mean when I say that it would also work well as a Rapunzel pan.

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My transaction was smooth and quick. The double sided cast iron griddle arrived on time and it was exactly as described. Very heavy and it fits perfectly across the 2 burners on my stove. I have fried tons of bacon on it already... to get that really deep slick seasoned surface. I would highly recommend this product and the price was great!

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Thursday, May 8, 2014

Grease Grizzly, 32oz, Pack of 6

Grease Grizzly, 32oz, Pack of 6I found an old bottle from years ago in my laundry room cabinet and decided to try it on the grease that I had not been able to get off of my stove and it's back splash with any other de-greaser. It worked and got rid of it. I ordered this newer version and it is no longer colored and no longer perfumed which is a plus, but it also is not quite as potent as the older version, thus the four stars. It is however still better than any other de-greaser I have found for my kitchen. I ordered a case of it to share with my four sons, since I have not found a contender for it in stores.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Outset Q120 2-Ounce Marinade Injector

Outset Q120 2-Ounce Marinade Injectori dont use it often but is solid looks like it will last for a long long time, if you doing this every other day , spring for the large stainless

this is suitable only for liquids and very fine dried herbs

It was just what i want it ,great quality , totally worthy the money . i very much recommend this product .

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i bought this item and it worked the first few times then after it brooke so i wont be getting this item again however thank you

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Just as I expected it would. Quality build and materials unlike the freebies you get with the Fryer itself. I would recommend it.

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I had thought that it would work with room-temperature butter, but it did not. I was disappointed because I had intented to use it for under-skin embedding of butter, herbs, etc., and not actually liquid injection into the meat.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Dimplex DFI2310 Electric Fireplace Deluxe 23-Inch Insert, Black

Dimplex DFI2310 Electric Fireplace Deluxe 23-Inch Insert, BlackIt looks amazingly like a real wood fire in our fireplace. It's easy to install, as long as your fire box is big enough, and you have a nearby electrical outlet. This "deluxe" model DFI2310 differs from the standard model DFI2309 by having a larger, brighter, even more realistic flame, for a somewhat higher price. The heaters can be turned off completely, for when it's warm, but you want that cozy fireplace ambiance.

On the "needs improvement" end, the remote control only turns the insert on and off; it does not control the optional heating elements, which can only be turned on or off at the unit itself. Mine arrived with all switches "on" so I got heat as soon as it was plugged in. It would be better to ship with all switches set to "off."

Also, there's no crackle or pop sound, so if wood fire sounds are important to you, this is not the electrical insert for you. However, if crackles and pops aren't that important to you, and you're looking for a very realistic looking, reasonably-priced unit with heating options, this is one well worth considering.

I'm writing this review because of how helpful I found other reviews before buying this fireplace. I did my homework, reading some 150+ reviews and watching Youtube videos of people's Dimplex fireplaces, before deciding on this model and it paid off! This is probably the best electric fireplace out there for the money (if there's a better one I can't afford it anyway!) I very happy with it and everyone who comes to my house thinks it looks very real (they all knew I bought a fake one so I'm still waiting to "fool" someone who doesn't know!) CSN (the company that provides the fireplace) has the BEST customer service dept to call. Whenever I called, I got someone different and they were ALL very nice and helpful.

The fireplace flames look as real as you can get, so real sometimes you think you hear crackling! It does make a slight whirring kind of sound (motor?) but you can only hear it in a quiet room (no TV, etc) and only if you're really listening for it. But it is an electric product so I guess you can expect SOME kind of sound to come from it! Like I said, it's very faint.

Overall, I'm very pleased. I used to use about 10 candles in my fake fireplace and always worried I'd start the house on fire and had to deal with dripping, etc. so it's nice not to have that worry anymore! The logs look very realistic (this model has the ceramic logs, not the styrofoam ones) and I don't know how they do it but it's pretty cool the way they make the flames (there's nothing you can "stick your hand in to see if it's real", it's done with a mirror somehow). Plus, don't be put off by other reviews that say they don't like the "half moon" effect on the background. I was worried about that but when I got it, it looked perfectly realistic to me! I've tried the heater to make sure it works, but it's still hot in Florida so I won't be using it for a while! It seems to work great, I just can't tell you how well it heats up a room at this point because it's not cold outside! I had no problem with the cord but then my outlet is next to my fireplace.

I checked out the fireplaces at the home stores and their flames looked so fakey compared to this one's and they were the same price or more. So trust me, I did my homework and researched to get the best at the best price, so you can trust my review!

1/12/11 update: I've had this fireplace for a few months now and absolutely love it! Everyone who comes over thinks its real! As for the heat, well, it's been pretty cold here in Florida and I have to say, you really can only feel the heat if you're standing right in front of the fireplace! It may "warm" the room up a bit, but if you're sitting on the floor in the room you can't really feel it blowing on you. It sort of blows up and out instead of directly forward and I don't know if this makes a difference or not. It's still a heat source but I use my central heater (mostly because I just had to buy a new one last year and it works great) the majority of the time.

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For many years in the winter months, especially at Christmas time, I have made a real fire in our fireplace to get that cozy "focal point of the room" feel. Which is great, except for the work involved buying the firewood, trying to get the kindling to light, adding more wood when necessary, and of course the long and dirty cleanup the next day. What if I could click a button on a remote to obtain the same result, and then click a button to turn it off, with no cleaning ever required? Well now I can.

This insert is a perfect fit for my fireplace and is bright enough and visible even behind the glass and metal gauze doors. While the "flames" are not 100% realistic, they are extremely effective in getting the effect I was looking for. And it is a sheer joy to be able to turn the unit on and off with the small, simple remote as needed.

This insert also has the ability to generate heat, but I have never used it for this purpose. Note that the "heat" option cannot be activated via the remote control; it needs to be turned on through a switch on the unit itself. That is obviously not a problem for me as we have central heating to keep the house warm, and I use the fireplace strictly for ambiance. I actually prefer that the heat is more difficult to turn on as I would not want my children to do this accidentally.

Note that to avoid a trailing power cord you will need to do what I did and have an electrician wire an outlet into your fireplace.

Perfect cozy winter ambiance that I can turn on and off at the flick of a switch, and nothing to clean up, ever. What's not to love?

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We rent a craftman style house with a wood burning fireplace. However, we cannot use the fireplace since it creates a lot of smoke, not only outside but also inside.

The quick solution was to purchase this Dimplex Deluxe insert. I've done quite a bit of reviewing and ended up with buying this one. The use of LED lights instead of incandescent light bulbs was a deal breaker.

However, when I read the manual after having the insert installed in the fireplace, I noticed that this insert is also powered with incandescent light bulbs. Two 60 Watt candelabra type light bulbs. That's a total of 120 Watts, without the heat setting on.

Otherwise I would have given this product 5 stars.

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Our fireplace insert arrived quickly w/o any damage. Thank you Amazon. We had no problem installing the insert & getting it running. We were surprised, however, to discover that the "remote" does nothing more than switch it on & off. The description needs to inform potential customers that switching on the heat, or changing the heat level, requires reaching inside the fireplace to work the manual switches located inconveniently at the upper right corner. We were also surprised that there is no thermostat to maintain a desired room temperature! It's my fault for not reading the description more closely, but I really expected a thermostat because that is a feature found on even cheap electric heaters. Dimplex dropped the ball here. In spite of those two disappointments, this unit is worth four stars for quality construction, easy installation, quiet operation, and realistic appearance of the log set & flames.

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Friday, January 24, 2014

Cast Iron Heat Diffuser with Handle by Ilsa 8.25 Inch

Cast Iron Heat Diffuser with Handle by Ilsa 8.25 InchThis is a must if you have a gas stove. Simmering Spagetti sauce, pea soup, chili etc. If you want it to cook slow and not burn this is your answer. This diffuser is the best one I have found. It will last a life time, unlike the cheaper variety that burns up over time. This one also has a little handle that can be added or removed as it is needed. A perfect product! Thanks.

This is a 8.25 cast iron disk pretty much as shown. It works fine for turning the "simmer" flame on our gas range into a wider heat source that doesn't burn stuff in the pan. Since we do marinara sauce a couple times a month, this is important. Won't work on a flat ceramic cook top.

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For years I have been dangerously stacking one burner grate on top of another on my gas range when I made things that needed simmering to keep them from burning on the bottom of the pan. A friend recommended I try this item, and I love it! I can't believe I ever mades sauces, chili, or soups without it.

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Decided to write this review as I didn't see any others reviewing this for a ceramic top or induction range. Took a chance and ordered it anyway and am so glad I did. I have an induction hybrid range (2 regular electric + 2 induction electric burners)with a ceramic surface. I needed a diffuser for 2 reasons: to use my tagine and to convert an induction burner for use with non cast-iron cookware. Works great for both. It does have a ridge on the bottom which I think is designed for a gas range but it works fine on my largest burner, which is induction, as well as the regular electric burners, as long as the ridge makes contact with the burner. Does not scratch the cooking surface of my smooth ceramic cooktop. Very happy with my purchase!

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Well made, works great. Well packaged. I can now work outside and let the soup simmer without fear of burning. Rice does not burn. Wish I had know about this before.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Lodge Signature SS12GR Grill Pan, Black, 12-inch

Lodge Signature SS12GR Grill Pan, Black, 12-inchI have been drooling over the Lodge Signature series since they were first introduced. I have a cupboard full of Lodge (very well used) and couldn't justify the price until my son direly needed a grill pan. Sooo I gave him my Lodge Logic grill pan (a fine pan in it's own right) and treated myself to this beauty.

I am astounded at the beauty, heft and quality of this pan. The pictures don't do it justice. Superbly crafted in the USA (HOORAY!!!!!), pre-seasoned, with gorgeous, well balanced stainless handles and the date 1896 stamped into the helper handle. The Lodge insignia in stainless is just below the main handle.

Couldn't wait to try it so off to the store for a treat fresh cut 1 1/2" thick prime filets. Rinsed this black beauty in hot water, dried it and right on the stove. Fired it up HOT, sprayed it with canola oil and put those bad boy filets, rolled in crushed pepper, in the pan. Meanwhile, I had a batch of Alton Brown's Bakers going in the oven, a Caesar salad chilling, a demi-glace made and gorgonzola at the ready and my Lodge Fajita pans heating in a 350 degree oven. 5 minutes and a flip, 3 more minutes, drizzle with demi-glace and crumbled gorgonazola and under a lid for about 45 seconds and then on to the hot fajita pans along with the bakers.

HEAVEN!!!! Those filets were better than any I've ever been served in restaurants melt in your mouth tender, juicy, seared to perfection. Serving on the hot fajita pans kept them hot until the very last bite.

The quality of this cast iron pan is just amazing perfect heat distribution and the stay cool stainless handle is a real bonus. (Note: the helper handle does get hot because of it's length) Cleanup was a breeze after dinner I poured hot water in the pan, heated it and then swirled a nylon brush around and through the grooves. Clean as a whistle. Rinsed it, dried it, put it back on the stove for a minute to get rid of any moisture and then wiped it down with a very thin coat of food grade beeswax and mineral oil made for chopping blocks (from Wooden Wonders on eBay). This product helps keep your cast iron seasoned without the rancid smell of oil.

After this experience, I will be buying the other Lodge Signature pans. There are pans and then there are PANS. This falls into the latter category. What a pleasure to use such a beautiful piece that is also exceptionally well crafted, balanced and designed. I haven't had the heart to put it away in a cupboard it's too gorgeous to hide and I'll be using it often.

Hats off to Lodge for an excellent product and applause to Amazon for selling it with the free shipping. This pan will last more than a lifetime. Worth it's weight in gold and now that I've used it, worth every single penny in price. I hope Lodge will add more pans to the Signature line!

Lodge is one of the few cookware products still made in the U.S. Their cookware is widely recommended by experts. A standard skillet like this will run in the mid to high $30's, and I've seen plenty of seconds for $15+ at Marshall's, etc. But those handles will get hot and need a holder. This product goes one big one better, since it has the great looking (and design award winning) stainless steel stay-cool handle (note that the long handle will stay cool about 1 1/2"+ away from the skillet, but the short loop will still need a holder). Pre-seasoning helps a lot. I am dissappointed, though, that Amazon is selling this for $107 delivered when there are several other online sources selling it for $10+ or so less, delivered (Chef's Catalog, a vendor here, sells it for $99 with free delivery).

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This Lodge grill pan is great. It comes pre-seasoned and is very heavy. You will find yourself using both handles to pick it up. It makes good steaks. DO NOT use soap or abrasives when washing this pan it will ruin the seasoning. I got a Lodge Set of 2 Durable Polycarbonate Pan Scrapers,Red and Black and just wash it in hot water. I also bought the Lodge 12 Inch Tempered Glass Lid and it fits just fine.

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I am not going to go into detail of all the pros and cons of this pan. I think they are well listed by the other reviewers however, if you are looking for this pan and wondering why the price has jumped drastically, it is because Lodge has temporarily discontinued the "L" Series (enameled cast iron) and the "Signature" Series (cast iron with stainless accents). You will not find these again till they re-introduce them with new look and design tentatively late 2013. So if you love the signature series buy them while you can or wait till they come back. I personally dont recommend the "L" series over the "Color" series which is not being discontinued but if you really wanted an "L" series get it while you can.

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Excellent product. I use it for steaks and chops. Get the pan really hot so the meat get a good char and finish it in the oven. Easy to clean with just hot water if you do it before it cools down completely. Heavy so it requires to hands but it is worth it.

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

CabCool 802 Lite Dual 80mm Fan Cooling Kit for Cabinet & Home Theaters

CabCool 802 Lite Dual 80mm Fan Cooling Kit for Cabinet & Home TheatersI bought this fan kit to keep the cabinet housing my home theater equipment from getting too hot. Upon opening the package and inspecting the components, I called CoolGuys because I thought I was missing a connector my bad for not reading the instructions beforehand. They answered the call quickly and explained how the unit needed to be connected so, no missing part. I assembled the kit in about 5 mins. All the materials seem to be sturdy and of good quality. Some posters here have complained about mounting holes not be properly aligned. I did not experience this at all. I installed it in my cabinet in another 5 mins. The fans are absolutely quiet you can't even hear them at arm's length. Great product and excellent customer service. I definitely recommend this kit.

The assembly was a snap and it installed in about 20 minutes. I tried the fans before I cut the opening and was shocked that I couldn't even hear them running 10 inches from me! They work great.

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This kit is very well built and seems to consist of solid parts. It took me about 5 minutes to assemble and install it. The fans definitely move a lot of air and keep my components cool, however, the fans have been getting louder everyday. Upon initial installation, they were almost silent, but now I can hear them from across the room. I am not sure if the fans are going bad so I may be seeking a replacement/return.

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When I got this and plugged it in to test it I thought the fans may be lacking in ability to move air but once I mounted them in my media cabinet I realized they work very well. My cabinet consist of a Power Conditioner, Receiver, Satellite TV receiver, PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, Apple TV, Wireless Router, and Modem. If I had more than one thing on at a time it would get very hot. Not since I installed these quiet fans.

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We needed a fan at work to cool a cabinet that we decided to put a small form factor computer in. We left the computer on and the cabinet would heat up to unacceptable levels. We decided to cut out squares and add some sort of cooling fan. After searching the internet we decided on two of these. The best part is how quiet they are. They are cooling the cabinet now and I don't see us having any over heating problems. A++

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Cuisinart GR-100 Indoor Outdoor Griddler

Cuisinart GR-100 Indoor Outdoor GriddlerThe grill does what it describes perfectly. For indoor grilling very good ventilation is a must. Warms up very quick and is very easy to clean after use. The grill is dishwasher safe, but it's been, thus, far very easy to wash. Very sturdy stand, only improvement might be adjustable legs on the bottom for less than even surfaces.

I have a griddler that I use inside but sometimes the whole house smells of whatever is cooking. The indoor/outddoor griddler is ideal. While there's only one side versus the original girddler the cover makes all the difference. So easy to use and to clean. I know we can use it inside without the stand but we're using it on the patio and it's great. Sturdy, too.

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Love, love it! Heats up fast and does the job. Glad I purchased it. Easy to clean and light weight to move from garage to back yard.

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Works fine but takes awhile to warm up. I only gave it 4 stars because of this. Food cooks fine.

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Only put "I don't like it" because it was the only way to get to the next step. May be a great griller, but was chosen by error, as I was looking for a grill. Returned it unopened, but after 2 months have not received a refund. Could you look into this problem for me?

Thank you, Dan

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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Picnic Time 18-Piece BBQ Set with Wooden Handles in Carring Case

Picnic Time 18-Piece Deluxe BBQ Tool Set in Carry CaseI've spent quite a time reviewing many grill sets. Looking for the best combination. Nothing missed, nothing extra.

I had 5 requirements and it matched them all perfectly:

1. Price less than $35

2. Long, wood handles-protect your hands and don't melt

3. Bottle opener in a spatula

4. Skewers & corn handles

5. Compact and lightweight

However, I need to remove one star because of cheap, poorly made, lousy case.

I don't care much about the color or material it made from, BUT inside durability of handling tools IN/OUT process is very important and is not satisfactory.

To Manufacturer: Update the case and the product will be unbeatable.

I admit I only picked this set because of the beer bottle opener. The tools have been used quite a few times and are sturdy. I did put the corn on the cob holders through the dishwasher and the wood faded a bit... but oh well it is going to fade over time. Case durability doesn't seem that great but it works for me since I just leave the case sit out on my bench during the season. Will hide it in the off season. I wouldn't let this case sit in direct sunlight. I wanted a set to include a brush and the metal kabobs will save money down the road. Very nice, and yes the bottle opener does work!

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Like the other ratings I read before buying, the case isn't amazing. I would rather have great tools and a crappy box though, so I went for it and am pleased.

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This set has everything you could need in a handy case. The case seems sturdy enough. It might take a second to get the tools back in right but very good set.

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This was a nice set. A few of the utensils don't like to stay out in the case. I have not used the tools yet. Plus I can't say how well they will hold up over time yet. That is why I am giving it a 4 star instead of 5 star. Still, this seems to be a good buy for the money.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Camp Chef Del Rio Gas Fire Pit

Camp Chef FP29LG Propane Del Rio 'Matchless ignition' Gas FirepitJust got this fire pit and it looks great but I haven't actually used it yet. Assuming it works as advertised, I give it 5 stars however I wanted to warn folks about the propane hose that gets advertised by Amazon as "frequently purchased with this item". It doesn't fit! You need to get the hose with 3/8" Male pipe thread x 3/8" Female pipe thread. It would be nice if the amazon description included this detail. Not only was it missing from the description but they actually promote the wrong one.

RECIEVED THE FIRE PIT IN GREAT SHAPE BUT BE AWARE THAT THIS FIRE PIT "DOES NOT COME WITH THE 7 LOGS" AS LISTED. THE HOSE THAT IS SUGGESTED TO BUY WITH THE FIRE PIT DOES NOT WORK WITH THE FIRE PIT AS IT COMES WITH ITS OWN HOSE WITH FITTINGS OF ITS OWN KIND,BUT THE HOSE NEEDS TO BE LONGER.... TO MOVE THE 20# TANK AWAY FROM THE PIT AND OUT OF THE WAY.AFTER CALLING AMAZON I HAD TO ORDER $100.00 CERAMIC REPLACEMENT LOGS FROM ANOTHER INTERNET STORE FOR THE PIT AS THE LOG LOOK IS WHAT I WAS GOING FOR NOT THE LAVA ROCK LOOK. I THINK IT WILL TURN OUT GOOD IN THE END BUT I WILL HAVE CLOSE TO $400.00 IN IT. HOPE THIS REVIEW HELPS

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This pit is just what I wanted. I never saw it advertised with logs, so the lava rocks are just fine. This pit is low to the ground so it lets the heat warm you more. Read the instructions well on how to slowly open the gas for the maxium amount of flame. I love that this is one of the highest BTU's (60,000) for a great price. Also very portable if I want to move from back to the front of the house or travel with it. I would definetly recommend to purchase. I have many friends waiting to see how it worked out for me before they purchase. great! And no worry about smoke, firewood and ashes! I also researched many others and it's great for the price.

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A great purchase all around. The firepit arrived quickly and in perfect shape and was easy to assemble and operate. We used it at a recent camping-themed reception, and it provided a lovely decorative accent as well as some much-needed warmth on a cool October evening.

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Bought the firepit in April 2011. Worked great for the summer and was enjoyed by all. By December the "copper" bowl is rusting all over, inside and out, and the burner ring is starting to get plugged holes due to rust. I am taking it apart to scrape and repaint everything. At the rate it was rusting I wouldn't expect it to work after another season. It looked good for about 3-4 months, then the rust started. If you want it to stay nice, give everything a clear coat of spray paint before it is ever used. I still like it, but I wish it had a better coating and rust resistance as it is an outdoor unit.

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Sunday, August 18, 2013

George Foreman GR0060W Super Champ Power Press Grill

George Foreman GR0060W Super Champ Power Press GrillThis is a good grill for the price. Great on nights you don't want to wait an hour to eat. It is a simple on off button. It sticks sometimes but but is easy to clean if you know how to. I always spray it with water before it cools down and then wipe it clean.

I was so excited to finally use the George Foreman grill and then that quickly turned to a big let down

I cooked chicken it got stuck to the grill even after I lightly greased it

it was so burnt on it took me an hour to clean it, and I have not used it since.

Tried to give away to a friend and she didnt want it.

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I bought this because I was living in a place that does not allow outdoor grilling and looked into electric outdoor grills as an option. After lots of looking I found this Geoorge Foreman super change power press grill. It comes with plastic tools so you don't scratch the surface. The size is great it can be put in the sink easily without submerging in water to clean. I use this all the time and my roommate used it even more. I would buy this again, its been over a year and still working as well as when I first bought it. No surface scratches and still non-stick.

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Yes I enjoy using the George Foreman. Where I live I don't have a stove and this is a big help to prepare some of my food.

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My husband and I enjoy this way to cook healthy portion control meats and poultry for the two of us. It is the same quality as our larger grill, but now we have the benefit of a space saving, easier to handle grill for everyday use.

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