Mom2Mom Recipe Chat. July 6th - 13th. Favorite Kitchen Gadgets!!!!

 

HI Everyone!

 

 

 I hope you all had a great weekend!

 

 I thought this week we could chat about all those great gadgets we have in the kitchen and why we love them!! I know I love looking at all the great tool in the kitchen supply section!

 

Or perhaps there is an applicance you can not live without!

We want to hear about it!!!

 

Please stop in and say Hi!

 

Have a fantastic week everyone!

 

Redawna

Hi there!

 

Wow, talk about a quick week! It was great to get away, I just wish we had more time! I took so many pictures I have to sort through them all. Kelly, I am going to check into the site you were telling me about. And I am so glad your box arrived!!!!

 

 

So once I have the pictures sorted I will share them. They turned out really good!

 

I did a bunch of weeding in the veggie garden, things are growing well. The carrots and beets that I reseeded are coming along slowly, goingto be a small crop this year. Zucchinni is doing very well as are the onions, dill, beans and tomatoes. I harvested a bunch of dill and beet leaves and will make a small batch of my Beet Leaf Holubichi tomorrow.

 

 

How was everyones 4th of July celebrations? Good I hope!

 

 

Well right now my 2 favorite gadgets are my canning tongs and funnel! Until you have tried to make 100 jars of pickles without them you have no idea how EASY canning can be. lol It is a HOT & NASTY job without the proper tools!

 

My husband keeps telling me I need a food processor but I have been putting him off. Will I really use it enough to justify the cost?  I personally think it will sit and collect dust. Do you have one and do you use it a lot? And what do you use it for?

 

Well I better get to bed. See you in the am!

 

Redawna

 

 

 

Greetings friends! Yes, I'm still up!

Redawna~`This is a great subject.  I am a real gadget nut and so is my Dh....I love my cherry pitter and also my melon baller...Among many other things...I also have a food processor that I thought I couldn't live without.  My girlfriend had one and used it all the time--so I thought I needed one. I use it to grate cheese if I have a lot to do and also I use it when I make Spring Rolls.  Other that that it sets in my cabinet with all my other "machines". I think it just depends what you make..I don't make cold slaw so I don't need it for that but it does chop cabbage nicely. You might use it????????

Glad to hear you had a nice vacation.  Will be looking forward to seeing your pictures.  Is your DD on her cross country trip?  I haven't kept up very good lately..

Hope everyone had a great Holiday.  We did..Talk later~~Sassy

Sassy so good seeing you!

 

We went hiking in the mountains in Jasper. Got up close and personal with a glacier! it was magnificant!

 

DD is working like crazy, making as much money as possible before she leaves. That will be in a few weeks.

 

Glad to hear you had a good holiday!

Hi all!  What a great topic Redawna - I love kitchen gadgets!  I guess my favorite and most used one is my kitchenaid stand mixer!  It can do so much!  My parents got it for me for Christmas many years ago and then the next year they got me the attachment pack to go with it. The attachments are - meat grinder, pasta maker and food processor.  I don't use them much as I should, but I will probably use the food processor attachment when my garden comes in.  I also have a pampered chef food chopper that I love and use quite a bit.

Since I was not on much last week, I didn't give a tip - here's mine!  When you make cookies and you store them either in a container or zip loc bag, put a piece of bread in with them - keeps them soft.  yummmmmmm...........

DS is up and watching Bob the Builder.  I swear I have all of them memorized as he loves bob!

 I weeded my garden before I left for my parents house last week.  When I came back Thursday night - the watermelon plants had spread out so much that there is no where to walk through them now!  I couldn't believe it!  I have also picked four cucumbers since Thursday night.  We do need a good rain though!  Maybe today as it is overcast out and looks like it could.

Well, gotta run.  I need to call the horse vet - my old horse must have been stung by a bee or something as his left side of his neck looks like bubble wrap he has so many hives.  Hopefully they will just give me an antihistamine for him and don't have to come out to see him.  He is a great horse and will let me do anything to him to medicate him so that is nice!  The other horse is a brat, so I am glad that it isn't her!

Have great day!

Kelly

Well, I couldn't do without my china cap, but my most coveted tool in the kitchen is a mandolin I bought when I worked in a chinese resturant. For perfect julianne, or any cut of veggie it is the best. Makes a stirfry look so pertty.Only thing is, if you lose your focus for even an instant while using it, you'll losee at least a piece of your finger. Those things should be considered dangerous weapons LOL I also couldn't do without my copper bowl to beat egg whites in.

I shoudda read your whole message LOL Yes, I do have a food processor and I absolutely love it. I use it for puree and chopping and making pie crusts and doughs, lots of things. And you're absolutely right about the right tool for canning. I love creamstyle corn and I remember having to cut off the kernels and scrape the cobs when I was on the farm. When i got married I bought my first creamstyler at a farmers market for 25 cents. I finally broke down about 10 years ago and bought a new on and it cost me $10.00 LOL But it and all the tools for canning are a must if you're going to do much. That's where my china cap comes in. It's on a tripod and getting all the juice out of the cooked tomatoes and veggies  for my V-6 juice works great as well as getting the seeds out of many jellies and jams. I hate seeds in my jelly and jam LOL I remember we used to have to put fruit and so forth in a makeshift cheesecloth sling and let it hang for the juice to drip out. It took hours and even then some of the seeds slipped through the holes in the cheesecloth.

Good Morning everyone!

 

Kelly, hope your horse is feeling better soon! I LOVE my stand mixer!!!!!! I have the pasta roller attachment with mine. I have played with it using fondant but do plan on making pasta someday! Your garden is fabulous!!!!

 

Deonia, thanks for stopping by!!!! That cap sounds like something I need! When I make my jellies I usually line my big collander with layers of  cheesecloth, which works but your way sounds better!!! I have seen the madolins, I would probably lose a finger!!!!!!!

 

HI to everyone else popping in today!

 

My car is ready!!!! It actually has been since 4 on Thursday.

So will grab that and then do groceries afterwards.

DS is having a sleepover tomorrow and we are going to the pool so I want to get all the errands done today.

 

Another great tool I have is a Spider!!!!!!!!! I can not find them anywhere up here and I was lucky enough to have someone mail me one!!! Love it!  DH uses it more then myself, he is the fryer in the house.

 

Have a great afternoon everyone!

 

Redawna

 

Good morning everyone!  We still had company this morning but we had VBS at church and picked up some neighbor kids too- so I've been running.  Now trying to enjoy a cup of coffee and sort some things out on my desk.

 

YEAHHHHHH!  We had such a nice weekend!  We took the boys fishing twice, had a picnic lunch in a park, went walking along the Greenbelt, did some grilling/cooking, and just had a wonderful visit with Mom and her DH.  They have left for home by now, but we might try and meet them next month somewhere to go camping and fishing. 

 

I LOVE kitchen gadgets!  I too love my Kitchenaid mixer.  I also have several food processors for chopping, and just got a new block of Chicago Cutlery knives that are fabulous.  I like the new silicone brushes for basting things (no more "hair" in the food!), and the mini spatulas for jars and such.  I always use rubber gloves for holding my canning jars while filling- the rubber glove can take quite a bit of heat before you feel it, and if you spill any you don't burn the skin of your hand!  I use the gloves and a ladle for jams now- and it is much faster than the funnel!  I could talk for hours about gadgets though.  I use a pizza cutter for a lot of things, and my ice tea maker is going about every day!!  Oh, and my wonderful egg cooker gets a workout too!  And I have five different sized crockpots.....and two waffle irons....    LOL

 

By the way, I made a big square dish of red jello Saturday and after it set we "frosted" it with cool whip, and then DS #1 decorated it with blue and red star marshmallows to look like a flag.  It turned out cute and he so enjoyed the compliments he got from our company!

 

Well, off to get through my Monday.  Take care all, and talk to you soon!

 

Blessings, Ellie

Oh, speaking of the waffle irons...  Yesterday we had the seven of us for breakfast, and everyone was sitting out on the front porch enjoying coffee.  I got busy in the kitchen and made a couple of pounds of bacon, scrambled up 16 eggs (with cheese!), and made three entire BATCHES of waffles in my irons- and we had hardly any leftovers!  Fishing made them hungry!! lol 

 

Bye!  E

Hello Everyone!

 

I just thought I'd stop in since this is such a neat subject!  What is the "Spider" tool used for?

 

Redawna- I need to get some of those canning tongs too. And I love my food processor-you know my favorite thing to do with it? ~chop up my fruit and veggies for jams and jellies.  I am done in no time!  You can also use it to mix up cake batter or pie crusts-mine even has a dough hook that I've never used for making bread dough.  I think there is a lot you can do with it (I haven't even used all the blades yet-there are a bunch for different things).  Mine is pretty easy to clean too-I have that cuisinart big one. 

 

I don't know the name of the one neat kitchen gadget I have-it looks like a hand with 4 fingers.  I use it to shave off lemonzest or limezest-and it's really easy to use too. 

 

-china

Afternoon everyone!

 

Welll I got my car back, looks good. The new fender is a bit to perfect for the rest of the car. Big black you can see all the scratches........which I had know that before, I would have went with a different color. Oh well. I am so glad it is done and dealt with.

 

Ellie, you make very good use of your tools and appliances!!! That is excellent!!!!!  I need a nice heavy duty pair of kitchen gloves for the same reasons you mentioned. 5 Crockpots!!!!!!! I have one now as my big one is just about to break. It has had a crack for a long time. The Jello dessert sounds good! I love Jello! Wow yo uhad a very hungry bunch!  Hope you had a good day!

 

Hey there China! I wish I had known you needed a set of canning tongs., I happen to have 2 I would and sent a set in my reveal!  I have a lemon zester tool also, used it for making that Zesty Red Onion Jelly!  Hope your jelly making goes well.

 

 

Did the groceries, grabbed a coffee! And now am very glad to be home. Got most everything put away and called for the sleepover plans for DS tomorrow. So now I can relax, clean a bit and then BBQ.

 

I hope everyone is having a good day!

 

 

 

 

Hi everyone.  We had a pretty good weekend.  DH, DS & DSIL went on a head boat fishing yesterday and had a good time.  DS caught a blue catfish that he thought about keeping but then they decided to throw it back.  My guys really just fish to fish they don't keep 'em which makes my Mom crazy. 

Redawna, I have a food processor and although I don't use it often I'm glad I have it when I need it.  It makes Christmas cookie baking so much easier.  Why don't you look for a great deal or even a garage sale one.  My brother and DSIL took their honeymoon up to Canada and loved Jasper so much that my niece's middle name is Jasper.  Sounds like you had a great weekend.  I'm not sure I know what a spider is - I'll have to do a search - maybe I need one.

Sassy, I'm going to look around for a cherry pitter.  DGS loves cherries so that might make DD's life a little easier although Gav is pretty good about putting the pits into another bowl.

Kelly, I hope your horse is OK.  Sounds like your garden is doing great. 

Ellie, the jello sounds cute.  I bought those marshmallows and showed them to Gavin.  When he saw them he said "Grandma, I'm taking that bag home - the WHOLE bag".  It was very cute.

Hi china & everyone else.  Have a great day.

Sue

 

Hello all!  What a great day!  I have been busy!  When DH woke up, we went and got hay.  Stocking up for winter for the horses.  We will get one more load and then we will have enough.  Gonna do that tomorrow probably.

My old horse is much better this afternoon.  I gave him an antihistamine injection and then another injection in the vein that takes care of swelling and inflammation.  I am glad that I can do all the injections and don't have to have a vet come out.  And, luckily this is the "good" horse and he just stood there for me and didn't flinch.  I took him to college with me and all the students in the vet tech program had "hands" on with him.  I do believe that he thinks any attention is good attention!  Such a good horse!

OK, been reading about the spider - how about a picture?  I have never heard of it before.

Redawna, did you have any luck working with that photo program?

I went out to the garden for a bit.  Brought in three more cucumbers and a green pepper.  The pepper was kind of small, but it hasn't grown much in the last week or so, so I thought I would go ahead and get it off the plant and hopefully more will come on.  The watermelon and canteloupe plants are so thick you can hardly walk through them!  The cucumbers are getting that way, but not nearly as bad.

 Well, gotta run.  Need to fix DS and I something for dinner - DH just left for work, so we are on our own for dinner.

Kelly