Kitchen Gadgets

I am, as some of my friends and readers of Eagleton Notes on the subject know, a kitchen gadget person.  I love my gadgets and I have a lot of them.  One of the ones that really does save you time and energy was blogged about by my brother, Scriptor, a short while ago here.  It produced a comment by my niece Helen saying that she too liked her gadgets and got some of them at Williams Samona.   Of course I couldn't resist a quick look.  I was quite surprised by some of the gadgets but none more so than by a gadget for cutting bananas.  That has to be the oddest gadget of all time.  It would take so much longer to clean it all out after use (never mind actually using it in the first place) than using a simple knife. 

 

Who Needs Gadgets?

I recently be-moaned the loss of my food processor because of the failure of a crucial but tiny and cheap component.  So when I had to make a base for a cheesecake for a lunch to which I have been invited on Sunday I was rather flummoxed.  I use finely chopped digestive biscuits and ginger nuts in the base.  The old way would have been to crush them in a bag with a rolling pin but I don't have a rolling pin and Wendy has no idea where hers is after the re-organisation and new kitchen at The House.  I couldn't find a suitable hitting implement until I came upon my knife steel.  Wow.  I'll never bother using a food processor again!  Quick, effective and no washing up afterwards.  Perhaps I should review my use of gadgets in other areas too.

Crumble Grumble

I was given some rhubarb earlier in the week and I'd already brought some home from Judy's.  I love rhubarb.  Ironically it's not that easy to find in the shops here because 'everyone grows their own'.  It apparently is impossible for it not to grow if you have a plant.  I was told that on Lewis as well but whatever I do I can not be doing it correctly because I just can't grow it on Lewis.  I've never tried here.  Anyway I decided that tonight when the family come for dinner the pud will be rhubarb (and ginger of course) crumble.  I had some crumble in the fridge but not enough so set out to make another batch.  

I've never had a lot of success with rubbing the mixture until it looks like breadcrumbs.  So, as suggested by some cookery article or book or other I used my food processor last time and it was a great success.  I had the ingredients in the bowl for about 500g of crumble.  I decided not to overload my small processor (which I had used perhaps 3 or 4 times before) and make it in 4 or 5 lots.  'Twas not to be.  The Sunbeam processor decided that the central shaft would cease to turn after the first 10 or 15 seconds.  That's the third processor I've seen conk out in my time at The Cottage (Wendy's given up too although her last one was a large expensive one).   I'm also on my 4th stick blender and my third kettle (the second one was an expensive 'silent boil' one which lasted 2 weeks over the warranty period).   On the processors and blenders it's usually the plastic bit into which the shaft goes which disintegrates.  So the whole item has to be thrown out.

I use my gadgets constantly when I'm in the UK and I think I may have replaced a stick blender once.  I have had a couple of kettles too over the last 18+ years I've lived in Eagleton. 

So I had to make the crumble by hand after all and I'm writing this out of frustration before I clean up the flour I managed to get all over the place when I took the food processor apart and tried to use the liquidiser (didn't work) and then used a large bowl.

Glad game: I have the satisfaction of a hand-made product which is all my own work.  But did I want that satisfaction?  NO!

Kitchen Gadgets

I’ve blogged on Eagleton Notes about kitchen gadgets and at some time I’m sure I’ve mentioned on this blog that I manage very well without them.  I know that Cowgirl at Riverdale Ramblings was very scathing about kitchen gadgets and I felt almost guilty at my UK collection although, in fairness to myself, many of the gadgets have been presents from people who know that I love cooking.  When I was having treatment at The Beatson in Glasgow last year I mentioned to Marlene (See The Last Day and Steak Pies and Kindness) that I was trying to find an onion holder for when you are slicing them but had been unsuccessful.  I find it one of the most useful kitchen gadgets and wasn’t prepared to take my Scottish one to NZ!  A few days later she presented me with one.  It has been put to very good use.  Here’s the evidence!  Thank you Marlene.