Comments on: Small Appliances — Extravagant Or Necessary? http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:29:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Katie http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-68081 Katie http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-68081 I would have to say my coffee maker , food processor,coffee grinder, I use for grinding whole spices,the stand mixer,stick blender,magic bullet for making lassi and smoothies,and last, but not least, our mortar and pestle ( even though that is not exactly an appliance ) it has to be mentioned because it is so valuable ! I would have to say my coffee maker , food processor,coffee grinder, I use for grinding whole spices,the stand mixer,stick blender,magic bullet for making lassi and smoothies,and last, but not least, our mortar and pestle ( even though that is not exactly an appliance ) it has to be mentioned because it is so valuable !

]]> By: Sandy http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-52465 Sandy http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-52465 I have the BEST stainless steel electric skillet. It's made by Towncraft (and made in the USA). It's a bit on the expensive side, but worth every penny! I can bake potatoes in it, fry chicken (without grease or breading), cook meatloaf, and even bake a cake or make cornbread in it. I absolutely LOVE it. I think other companies make a similar one. Kitchen Craft comes to mind. I love my Kitchen Aid mixer and use it to knead my bread dough, as I don't have a bread machine. No microwave either, but I do have a nice toaster oven (it'll bake a 12" pizza). I rarely use my blender, but have one of those "Magic Bullet" blenders that I use all the time. No George Forman, the electric skillets cooks hamburgers and steaks rather nicely too. I have the BEST stainless steel electric skillet. It’s made by Towncraft (and made in the USA). It’s a bit on the expensive side, but worth every penny! I can bake potatoes in it, fry chicken (without grease or breading), cook meatloaf, and even bake a cake or make cornbread in it. I absolutely LOVE it. I think other companies make a similar one. Kitchen Craft comes to mind. I love my Kitchen Aid mixer and use it to knead my bread dough, as I don’t have a bread machine. No microwave either, but I do have a nice toaster oven (it’ll bake a 12″ pizza). I rarely use my blender, but have one of those “Magic Bullet” blenders that I use all the time. No George Forman, the electric skillets cooks hamburgers and steaks rather nicely too.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-36486 Sarah http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-36486 I picked up my small George Foreman grill for like 15 bucks at a thrift sale that my work at the time was hosting. Comparable ones to it were running 75 dollars, so when I had the opportunity, I bought it. Living in my own apartment, with just me to feed, I used it tons. When I moved back in with my parents a year ago, I brought it with me. My mom now uses it all the time. She has even looked into purchasing one for the time when I move out...of course, she has also threatened to keep mine instead. There may be a battle whenever that happens. I picked up my small George Foreman grill for like 15 bucks at a thrift sale that my work at the time was hosting. Comparable ones to it were running 75 dollars, so when I had the opportunity, I bought it. Living in my own apartment, with just me to feed, I used it tons. When I moved back in with my parents a year ago, I brought it with me. My mom now uses it all the time. She has even looked into purchasing one for the time when I move out…of course, she has also threatened to keep mine instead. There may be a battle whenever that happens.

]]> By: carole http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-25522 carole http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-25522 Shirley - you mentioned the countertop oven; I was wondering what you think about a rotisserie? My boys love those yummy chickens you pick up all prepared and warm at the grocery stores. The thought of those sitting there for who knows how long under the heating lamps, makes me a little uneasy. Also, I would prefer an all natural chicken. Does your countertop oven have a rotisserie feature? Do you think it would be cost effective to invest in a rotisserie and cook our own chickens? With a house full of young boys, we easily polish off 2 of the store bought chickens now...I am very afraid of how many I will need once they start to approach the teen years! I am new to this website so forgive me if this is posted somewhere, but I would also love a series on cooking in volume and how to satisfy the never ending hunger of growing children, boys, athletes! I am very thankful to have discovered this website; a sincere thank you from a not so rural New Englander! Shirley –
you mentioned the countertop oven; I was wondering what you think about a rotisserie? My boys love those yummy chickens you pick up all prepared and warm at the grocery stores. The thought of those sitting there for who knows how long under the heating lamps, makes me a little uneasy. Also, I would prefer an all natural chicken. Does your countertop oven have a rotisserie feature? Do you think it would be cost effective to invest in a rotisserie and cook our own chickens? With a house full of young boys, we easily polish off 2 of the store bought chickens now…I am very afraid of how many I will need once they start to approach the teen years! I am new to this website so forgive me if this is posted somewhere, but I would also love a series on cooking in volume and how to satisfy the never ending hunger of growing children, boys, athletes!
I am very thankful to have discovered this website; a sincere thank you from a not so rural New Englander!

]]> By: Carol http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-9960 Carol http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-9960 Hi Shirley...I love your blog! So glad I found it. My favorite use for my stick blender is to make milkshakes. I use a large canning jar. Put my ice cream, a little milk and some chocolate syrup and rip it up. Maybe not quite like a milkshake machine, but satisfies my addiction. Hi Shirley…I love your blog! So glad I found it. My favorite use for my stick blender is to make milkshakes. I use a large canning jar. Put my ice cream, a little milk and some chocolate syrup and rip it up. Maybe not quite like a milkshake machine, but satisfies my addiction.

]]> By: Elwin http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-4556 Elwin http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-4556 We use the Crock pot a fair amount. It's great for fix and forget meals. I like to use it for cooking lentil and kielbasa soup. (Lentils and water according to the package, usually 2 cups lentils to five cups water. one 1 1lb. package of Kielbasa or other sausage, sliced into 1/4-3/8 in. slices, and one onion, chopped fine and sauted. It will cook up in about 4 hours on high, but you can cook it longer on low. Season to taste. Sometimes I add garlic. I have one of the older Vita Mix machines (basically a blender on steroids), that I like to use for all sorts of things, smoothies, soups, gravy, etc. I also have a 20 year old Oster Liitle Oscar food processor I inherited from my mother, which I use mostly for making biscuits, the odd batch of hummus, and peanut butter glaze for chocolate cakes. (I think my recipe for chocolate cake pan cake is the same one you have here, I got it from King Arthur flour) The glaze uses about 3/4 of a cup of powdered sugar, a couple of teaspoons of vanilla, maybe 1/4 cup of peanut butter and some water, then it get's whizzed in the Oscar until it is smooth and creamy. I put it on the cake right after it comes out of the oven. I have a larger "Professional Grade" Kitchen-Aid stand mixer I use. I make bread dough, cake, cookies, meatloaf, and occasionally mashed potatoes with. It's a remanufactured one I got at a factory outlet store. Cost me half as much as a new one would. I would love to have a countertop convection oven. I used to have one of those round "cyclone type" ovens, but it broke. When I had it, it worked quite well. I also have had my eye on one of those big Nesco roaster ovens for years, but keep talking myself out of getting one. We use the Crock pot a fair amount. It’s great for fix and forget meals. I like to use it for cooking lentil and kielbasa soup. (Lentils and water according to the package, usually 2 cups lentils to five cups water. one 1 1lb. package of Kielbasa or other sausage, sliced into 1/4-3/8 in. slices, and one onion, chopped fine and sauted. It will cook up in about 4 hours on high, but you can cook it longer on low. Season to taste. Sometimes I add garlic.

I have one of the older Vita Mix machines (basically a blender on steroids), that I like to use for all sorts of things, smoothies, soups, gravy, etc.

I also have a 20 year old Oster Liitle Oscar food processor I inherited from my mother, which I use mostly for making biscuits, the odd batch of hummus, and peanut butter glaze for chocolate cakes. (I think my recipe for chocolate cake pan cake is the same one you have here, I got it from King Arthur flour) The glaze uses about 3/4 of a cup of powdered sugar, a couple of teaspoons of vanilla, maybe 1/4 cup of peanut butter and some water, then it get’s whizzed in the Oscar until it is smooth and creamy. I put it on the cake right after it comes out of the oven.

I have a larger “Professional Grade” Kitchen-Aid stand mixer I use. I make bread dough, cake, cookies, meatloaf, and occasionally mashed potatoes with. It’s a remanufactured one I got at a factory outlet store. Cost me half as much as a new one would.

I would love to have a countertop convection oven. I used to have one of those round “cyclone type” ovens, but it broke. When I had it, it worked quite well. I also have had my eye on one of those big Nesco roaster ovens for years, but keep talking myself out of getting one.

]]> By: Esther http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-3602 Esther http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-3602 My Favorite appliance at the moment is my bread machine... I appreciate knowing exactly what is in my bread... it is very convenient... I have to have a coffee maker, and a coffee grinder.... a crock pot I use continually, and toaster oven... and microwave.... mostly for cooking oatmeal and rye cereal... it comes out the best..... My Favorite appliance at the moment is my bread machine… I appreciate knowing exactly what is in my bread… it is very convenient…
I have to have a coffee maker, and a coffee grinder…. a crock pot I use continually, and toaster oven… and microwave…. mostly for cooking oatmeal and rye cereal… it comes out the best…..

]]> By: orneryswife http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-2088 orneryswife http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-2088 Right now, we use the George foreman the most, but depending on the phase of life we are going through we use the toaster, blender, juicer, stand mixer, and warming tray. My husband has a little one burner stove affair that he keeps at work to heat his water for tea and his lunch on everyday. We gave the microwave away. With wheat allergies we don't do much bread so got rid of the bread maker and waffle iron. I take the immersion blender on road trips to mix smoothies so I don't have to haul the big one. My love isn't so much the appliances, as the gadgets. I am a Pampered Chef-a-holic! Now, if we were listing those, I'd have a LONG list of things I use everyday! That was fun! tm Right now, we use the George foreman the most, but depending on the phase of life we are going through we use the toaster, blender, juicer, stand mixer, and warming tray. My husband has a little one burner stove affair that he keeps at work to heat his water for tea and his lunch on everyday. We gave the microwave away. With wheat allergies we don’t do much bread so got rid of the bread maker and waffle iron. I take the immersion blender on road trips to mix smoothies so I don’t have to haul the big one.

My love isn’t so much the appliances, as the gadgets. I am a Pampered Chef-a-holic! Now, if we were listing those, I’d have a LONG list of things I use everyday!

That was fun!
tm

]]> By: Satsuki Rebel http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-2081 Satsuki Rebel http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-2081 Nice list! I don't have half of the items you do. I use my microwave and toaster ALL of the time. The toaster is for sandwiches using non-white bread. I think it makes em taste better. I only use the microwave for reheating leftovers. I prefer not to -cook- with it either. Nice list! I don’t have half of the items you do. I use my microwave and toaster ALL of the time. The toaster is for sandwiches using non-white bread. I think it makes em taste better. I only use the microwave for reheating leftovers. I prefer not to -cook- with it either.

]]> By: Grace http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-2078 Grace http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/small-appliances-extravagant-or-necessary/#comment-2078 I would say to get the waffle iron! Our kids have grown up on Dad's homemade waffles made mostly on Saturday mornings when they were little. They are grown now and still love to come over and have Dad's waffles. The grandbabies love them too so I vote yes for the waffle iron and yes to memories! I would say to get the waffle iron! Our kids have grown up on Dad’s homemade waffles made mostly on Saturday mornings when they were little. They are grown now and still love to come over and have Dad’s waffles. The grandbabies love them too so I vote yes for the waffle iron and yes to memories!

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