Friday, April 1, 2011

Presto 1755 16-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner

Presto 1755 16-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner
This product was recommended to me by someone who also uses a Presto pressure canner. I have been very plesed with the product. It was delivered in a timely manner. Instructions are included with the product that are easy to follow. The instruction manual also includes directions for canning specific fruits and vegetables, information about canning utensils and proper canning supplies. This size canner will process a 7 quart volume at a time. For a novis canner like myself this product was a perfect choice.

Lodge Logic L410 Pre-Seasoned Sportsman's Charcoal Grill

Lodge Logic L410 Pre-Seasoned Sportsman's Charcoal Grill
One of my friends received this as a gift to use for tailgating parties. After a few uses, he decided it took to long to cool off, was to hard to clean and had put it back in the box with the intention of setting it out with the trash! Fortunately before he did, he saw me looking at it on this website and asked if I planned on buying it. I said yes and he said don't because he had one that he was going to throw away. If I didn't mind it being used and a little rusty, I could have his. I took it. It was rusted but I scrubbed it, oiled all the parts, and seasoned it in the oven (it was still cold outside so I couldn't fire it up)! 

This little grill came in so handy when we bought another house in the spring and removed the stove to make way for the new one. I cooked on it everyday. What my friend found as a disadvantage, I found as an advantage, it stays hot for a long time! 

I grilled everything, half smokes, kabobs, burgers, chicken, veggies, fish, etc. . . and nothing stuck! I also grilled ribs on it. I sliced them into individual ribs, placed them on the grill, and covered them with foil (crimped the foil around the rack with tongs). They turned out really good. I used my little cast iron skillet on top of the rack to scramble eggs, and blacken steaks (lots of coals needed for that). 

The grill is very durable and as long as it is properly taken care of will provide many years of grilling pleasure! I really like it because the grill rack can be put in the sink for easy clean up and as long as it's properly seasoned, I don't have to worry about my food sticking to it. 

I also have a 22" weber kettle grill that I use when I want to grill a lot of food or large items. If I don't, I set this one inside of it on the grate and use it instead. This is an excellent grill for a small household, and I recommend it over the other hibachi type grills. It's great for camping but keep in mind that since it's cast iron it takes a long time to cool down, so start grillin' early!

Cook N Home 15 Piece Non stick Aluminum Soft handle Cookware Set

Cook N Home 15 Piece Non stick Aluminum Soft handle Cookware Set
I somewhat took a gamble when i purchased this product. I typically look for big discounts on high end products but didn't want to spend all that much money on a cookware set. I have to say, i'm amazed at the quality of the pans. The handles are sturdy and have a very comfortable grip. The set looks great. And have not had problems putting them in the dishwasher. I have no complaints at all and would highly recommend this product to anyone - even people that cook on a regular basis. I paid something like $60 for the 15 piece set.

Rival FD350S Stainless Steel Electric Fondue

Rival FD350S Stainless Steel Electric Fondue
I have two children of my own and we have done fondue in the past, however, when I married a man with 3 children, our fondue pot wasn't large enough to accomodate all of us. When I saw this one, I had to try it. All 7 of us can have an entire fondued meal and have a lot of fun doing it. It's a great way to slow dinner down and spend some quality time with the family. The oil or chocolate stays the right temperature and the magnetic release cord makes me feel so much more at ease, because I know if one of the kids trips on the cord the pot isn't going to turn over. It is very well made. We love it!

Lodge EC6D33 Color Enamel Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven Caribbean Blue

Lodge EC6D33 Color Enamel Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven Caribbean Blue
I've had a small le creuset soup pot for some time, which I use constantly, but was looking for something larger to handle soups, stews and roasts. I have a hard time seeing how any piece of cookware could really be worth $200 to me, so I started investigating alternatives. At $50, this dutch oven is a bargain, and certainly does not sacrifice performance. In fact, I actually think it cooks better than my le creuset pot (it seems to be thicker and better at evenly spreading heat). If you're in the market for a dutch oven, put this to the top of your list!

Circulon Contempo Hard Anodized Nonstick 8-Inch and 10-Inch Skillets Twin Pack

Circulon Contempo Hard Anodized Nonstick 8-Inch and 10-Inch Skillets Twin Pack
I'm a bachelor and don't know much about pans but, these are quite useful and look to be great quality. I've used them a total of about 2 months so far on a daily basis to cook my breakfast, steam veggies and brown meat and, the non stick has lived up to it's name(I'm told Circulon is one of the better technologies in non stick cooking). I like to rub a little olive oil over the surface of the pan before cooking in order to aide in cooking foods. It seems to work well for me and makes cleanup a breeze. Cooking sprays aren't recommended as instructed by the manufacture booklet included therefore, I use olive oil instead. Only time will tell if the non stick surface will last. Will update if any changes, otherwise, these are highly recommended. Girlfriend seems to like them as well(whenever she has time to use them...lol). Considering purchasing the entire set if these pans hold the test of time. Great product at an excellent price!

Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set

Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set
Just like Grandma used to have! 
Yes these pots and pans have been slightly updated from their older version, but they still function and clean up just as well. I purchased these because my Grandmother had a set of them my whole life and they were always dependable, and seemingly indestructible. I say indestructible because I have managed to destroy many non stick pots: scratching the coat off and melting the coat of non stick yuckyness- and that literally stinks horribly and ruins the meal and the pot! The Farberware pots and pans are heavy duty, stainless steel, and best of all- there's no non stick coating on the pots to ruin if you leave your beans unattended (in my case cleaning house) with the fire up a tad too high. The lids are not glass, they are also stainless steel. So no dropping lids and stressing the glass which in turn eventually break. These stainless steel lids sit nicely on the pots, the bell shape keeps the moisture in the pot and when the lid is removed the bell shape actually helps with not dripping the condensation on the lid all over the stove. 
This Farberware Classic Stainless Steel set is perfect for any cook of any age. For young cooks who are learning, for cooks who try to fold the laundry while the beans have 2 minutes left, for cooks who are a little clumsy and drop their kitchenware, and even the older much more experienced cooks who just want a good high quality classic cookware set. Regardless of the age or expertise, this set is hands down the best that is out there for anyone! And I must add- I searched everywhere including macy's, sears, walmart, target, and tons of places online. This was the only set I ever saw that was a great brand, that had stainless steel lids, and sturdy design. After moving out on my own I have ruined 3 sets of nonstick pots. I laugh now because now that I have this set, it will never happen again. The Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 17-Piece Cookware Set is the best cookware set on the market today!