Toasters, ovens and mixers, oh my! I used to advocate for minimalism in the kitchen, despising any sort of clutter on the gleaming granite…which then begs the question of why we “need” so much counter space if I’m not going to use it! But, we have recently discovered the joys of appliances and it has opened a whole new world of culinary capabilities. Like any “harmless” addiction, it began with a single-cup coffee maker then a heavy-duty mixer (a must for bakers!) and then brushed chrome toaster and cannot forget the amazing juicer we received as a gift…then our most recent acquisition, a Panini press! We purchased the Calphalon HE600CG Removable Plate Grill. The functionality is superb as it is not only good for Paninis but also great for cooking chicken, steaks, hamburger patties, you name it! The removable top and bottom plates make cleaning a breeze and it is also dishwasher safe. Here’s how we see it, if it will be regularly used (aka. needs to be in eye-sight = counter space!) then it is worth the splurge and can possibly make your cooking experience very painless! We have been on a Panini frenzy after discovering Ciabatta triangles from Costco; Paninis are a delicious alternative to the mundane sandwich and there are so many gourmet and creative recipes out there. For me, the key is to find the ideal machine to suit my needs and that includes aesthetics; if it is going to take up valuable counter-real-estate, it needs to look as sleek as it operates. Here are the appliance we have carefully chosen to “display” in our “gallery”…a perfect marriage of good looks & functionality!
The story behind our most recent purchase is that we’ve been on the hunt for a Panini press for quite some time. We went to our local Home Outfitters with the intention of buying a practical, utilitarian and value conscious Panini press. Nice and easy, right? Oh how wrong I was. When it came to the simple task of grabbing a grill and leaving, N’s feet turned into cement. Her eyes and body remained fixated on the Calphalon HE600CG grill. I have to admit, it did look nicer than the other ones. The problem? All the other “nice” grills were around $130 dollars while this one was $250. For those that don’t know our dynamics, N and I are like Yin and Yang. She spends, I save. She wins, I lose. Enough about my issues, I digress. Being the miser that I am, I quickly whip out my blackberry to ensure that I am getting the best value for this grill by “Googling” the model. I see it listed on the Macy’s website for $130 (yes, everything is grossly inflated here in Canada)! As luck would have it, we had a trip to Scottsdale planned that very weekend. And that, folks, is how we purchased a Panini press imported from the States.
My latest obsession is to find the ultimate slow-cooker (thanks to Rachel Ray’s current slow-cooker series!) which will suit my preference to bake & roast over fry & bbq (J’s department!). Once hubby decides to “gift” me (hint hint!) (I need an emoticon that rolls eyes), we will begin a slow-cooker-marathon-month and share our highlights & pitfalls with you live! Be on the look out! What do you think J, in the next few months? No pressure or anything, I just need to keep our readers informed, that’s all! -insert halo here-
After over five years of marriage, it dawned on me… happy wife, happy life. Stay tuned for the slow cook series everyone!
ourcherishedlife 