Alice

Hi Everyone!

Though I don't often post much, I'd like to get some advice from you guys. It doesn't really relate
to unschooling, per se, but then again, I think to most of us, just about everything pertaining to
life is unschooling. (yada, yada, yada :-) ) I have a friend who will be needing to furnish a house
from scratch. (man, I don't even want to _think_ about a job that big) He's got a twelve yo daughter
(and 10yo son) who'd like to learn to cook and 'thinks' vegetarian. (mom died a while back :-( )
Anyway, I'd like to get them a house warming/christmas gift for the kitchen. Since he's a guy and
doesn't do all that much cooking (and for that matter neither do I), I thought I'd ask... What would
be the thing you use the most or maybe not use alot but really glad you have it anyway. Or something
on your wish list... I'd like to get them something nice. I was thinking about maybe a food
processor - cuisinart? or a set of good knives - Henckels? Or even a favorite little gadget. Any ideas?

Something that would also be helpful would be links to get those kind of things at good prices and
places with good clearance sales... you get the idea. :-)

Thanks so much,
Alice

Sandra Dodd

-=- What would
be the thing you use the most or maybe not use alot but really glad
you have it
anyway.-=-

Crock pot.

Maybe you could get him a big crockpot and a good cookbook for it (or
two or three used ones! Or collect people's crock pot recipes from
here and make him a set of cards. Or from webpages of recipes...

I use my crock pot lots, and my mom asked for one lately and I got
her a four quart (she lives alone) for $10 and it's really nice!! I
almost got one for me even though I have a six quart that works fine.

Sandra

===================================================

catherine aceto

I agree with the idea of a food processor - I use mine all the time. If they are cooking vegetarian, a modern pressure cooker and pressure cooker cook book (Lorna Sass has an excellent one) is a marvel -- beans without soaking in an hour or so, risotto without stirring, 5 minute lentil soup -- also a thing I use all the time. Other things I use frequently, an electric rice cooker, garlic press, pizza peel and baking tiles, vitamix blender (I am the queen of gadgets). Good cook books or subscription to a cooking magazine. Some really great spices from a good spice company (like Penseys).

-cat


I'd like to get them something nice. I was thinking about maybe a food
processor - cuisinart? or a set of good knives - Henckels? Or even a favorite little gadget. Any ideas?

Alice


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

M. Dalrymple-Lepore

Ok, I thought about it, and this is my favorite thing: "The Best
Recipe" by Cooks Illustrated <
http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/
prod.cgi?cpid=4901104&domain_id=1856&meta_id=1 > (half.com listings).

Basically they tried 30-40-50+ different ways of making a lot of basic
stuff (sauteed chicken, creme brulee, pizza, etc), and devised the best
recipe from all their experience. You can read pages of background to
hear about the trial and error, or just follow the recipe. My mom and
I both have it and literally EVERY recipe we've tried has been a keeper.

Melanie


On Sunday, October 26, 2003, at 07:36 PM, Alice wrote:

> Hi Everyone!
>
> <snip>
> Something that would also be helpful would be links to get those kind
> of things at good prices and
> places with good clearance sales... you get the idea. :-)
>
> Thanks so much,
> Alice

Kate ODonovan

How about a smoothie maker. The one I saw was at Kitchen, etc. and basically looks like a blender with a spout. My kids love smoothies, especially in the summer. I think they enjoy it so much because they get to put the ingredients in by themselves (relatively easy) and they really enjoy the fact that they can try different things. Also, I think a pizza stone is great too. Hope this helps.

Kate

----- Original Message -----
From: Alice
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 7:36 PM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] to stock a kitchen


Hi Everyone!

Though I don't often post much, I'd like to get some advice from you guys. It doesn't really relate
to unschooling, per se, but then again, I think to most of us, just about everything pertaining to
life is unschooling. (yada, yada, yada :-) ) I have a friend who will be needing to furnish a house
from scratch. (man, I don't even want to _think_ about a job that big) He's got a twelve yo daughter
(and 10yo son) who'd like to learn to cook and 'thinks' vegetarian. (mom died a while back :-( )
Anyway, I'd like to get them a house warming/christmas gift for the kitchen. Since he's a guy and
doesn't do all that much cooking (and for that matter neither do I), I thought I'd ask... What would
be the thing you use the most or maybe not use alot but really glad you have it anyway. Or something
on your wish list... I'd like to get them something nice. I was thinking about maybe a food
processor - cuisinart? or a set of good knives - Henckels? Or even a favorite little gadget. Any ideas?

Something that would also be helpful would be links to get those kind of things at good prices and
places with good clearance sales... you get the idea. :-)

Thanks so much,
Alice


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Angela McGinn

How about some cookbooks for kids? You can find those at half.com or at a used bookstore.

Angela

(By the way, we have one of those smoothie makers with the spout. (It was $40-50 at Target.) We've had it for 3 weeks. It does a good job making smoothies. But the spout often leaks. So a blender might be a better bet.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, I'd like to get them a house warming/christmas gift for the kitchen. Since he's a guy and
doesn't do all that much cooking (and for that matter neither do I), I thought I'd ask... What would
be the thing you use the most or maybe not use alot but really glad you have it anyway. Or something
on your wish list... I'd like to get them something nice. I was thinking about maybe a food
processor - cuisinart? or a set of good knives - Henckels? Or even a favorite little gadget. Any ideas?

Something that would also be helpful would be links to get those kind of things at good prices and
places with good clearance sales... you get the idea. :-)

Thanks so much,
Alice



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Alan & Brenda Leonard

10/27/03 10:03:

>
> Maybe you could get him a big crockpot and a good cookbook for it (or
> two or three used ones! Or collect people's crock pot recipes from
> here and make him a set of cards. Or from webpages of recipes...

I'll second that idea. Make sure the crock comes out of the electric part
of the pot, though, or they're a pain to clean. Maybe I just don't have the
right recipes, but I never use my food processor. I just use a knife to
chop or a spoon/whisk to stir.

Brenda

badolbilz

It's awsome, easy to clean, and I'9 yrs ago, my grandma gave us a
Braun Multimix as a wedding present and it still gets used a few times
every week. It'is little, fits in a drawer and has beaters, a long
drink blender attachment with it's own large plastic cup and the best
part...a little chopping attachment for things like nuts, onions and
other veggies. I use it to finely grind up my browned ground beef
before I put into my chili mix.m sure now, 9 years later, Braun might
even have them with even more attachments. I also don't think they are
very expensive. That's what I'd give a family like that.

Good luck. Heidi Case

Alice wrote:

>Hi Everyone!
>
>Though I don't often post much, I'd like to get some advice from you guys. It doesn't really relate
>to unschooling, per se, but then again, I think to most of us, just about everything pertaining to
>life is unschooling. (yada, yada, yada :-) ) I have a friend who will be needing to furnish a house
>from scratch. (man, I don't even want to _think_ about a job that big) He's got a twelve yo daughter
>(and 10yo son) who'd like to learn to cook and 'thinks' vegetarian. (mom died a while back :-( )
>Anyway, I'd like to get them a house warming/christmas gift for the kitchen. Since he's a guy and
>doesn't do all that much cooking (and for that matter neither do I), I thought I'd ask... What would
>be the thing you use the most or maybe not use alot but really glad you have it anyway. Or something
>on your wish list... I'd like to get them something nice. I was thinking about maybe a food
>processor - cuisinart? or a set of good knives - Henckels? Or even a favorite little gadget. Any ideas?
>
>Something that would also be helpful would be links to get those kind of things at good prices and
>places with good clearance sales... you get the idea. :-)
>
>Thanks so much,
>Alice
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>[email protected]
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
>

badolbilz

That came out weird. Sorry. I don't know what happened there! Heidi

badolbilz wrote:

> It's awsome, easy to clean, and I'9 yrs ago, my grandma gave us a
>Braun Multimix as a wedding present and it still gets used a few times
>every week. It'is little, fits in a drawer and has beaters, a long
>drink blender attachment with it's own large plastic cup and the best
>part...a little chopping attachment for things like nuts, onions and
>other veggies. I use it to finely grind up my browned ground beef
>before I put into my chili mix.m sure now, 9 years later, Braun might
>even have them with even more attachments. I also don't think they are
>very expensive. That's what I'd give a family like that.
>
>Good luck. Heidi Case
>
>
>

Alice

Excellent ideas...
Helpful hints and useful/handy features are a plus.

>>a smoothie maker
>>Braun Multimix
>>"The Best Recipe" by Cooks Illustrated
>>a big crockpot and a good cookbook for it--

>>I'll second that idea. Make sure the crock comes out of the electric part
>>of the pot, though, or they're a pain to clean.

Absolutely. The crock definitely needs to come out. And how does one clean a waffle iron if the
grids don't come out??

>>a food processor

One I saw had extra blades to buy. Is that really necessary? The ones it comes with aren't enough?

>>a modern pressure cooker and pressure cooker cook book

Not too tricky for novice cooks?

One more request? --

What's your favorite cookware catalog? (He is going to have to do a lot of shopping) Some how we
were sent a "Chef's" catalog and wow it has some nice stuff. I'm having fun making my own wish list.
:-) I so much prefer browsing through catalogs than navigating web pages. But I've found pretty good
bargain and clearance sections online.

Thanks everybody!
Alice

catherine aceto

Pressure cookers could not be easier. Put the stuff in, lock the lid on, cook on high until it comes to pressure (a little knob pops up to tell you that), cook on low until done (that's where the recipe book comes in.). Unlike the rattly, prone to split peas on teh ceiling pressure cookers of your grandmother, the modern ones are an amazing marvel. LOL -- maybe I should do ads for them.

My favorite cookware catalogs are Williams Sonoma and The Bakers Catalog from King Arthur Flour and the Penseys Spices catalog. I mentioned spices before, I think, but I wanted to add that if your only experience with spices are McCormicks from the grocery store -- the difference quality spices makes is enormous.

-Cat


----- Original Message -----
From: Alice
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] to stock a kitchen


Excellent ideas...
Helpful hints and useful/handy features are a plus.

>>a smoothie maker
>>Braun Multimix
>>"The Best Recipe" by Cooks Illustrated
>>a big crockpot and a good cookbook for it--

>>I'll second that idea. Make sure the crock comes out of the electric part
>>of the pot, though, or they're a pain to clean.

Absolutely. The crock definitely needs to come out. And how does one clean a waffle iron if the
grids don't come out??

>>a food processor

One I saw had extra blades to buy. Is that really necessary? The ones it comes with aren't enough?

>>a modern pressure cooker and pressure cooker cook book

Not too tricky for novice cooks?

One more request? --

What's your favorite cookware catalog? (He is going to have to do a lot of shopping) Some how we
were sent a "Chef's" catalog and wow it has some nice stuff. I'm having fun making my own wish list.
:-) I so much prefer browsing through catalogs than navigating web pages. But I've found pretty good
bargain and clearance sections online.

Thanks everybody!
Alice





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nanci Kuykendall

-=- What would
be the thing you use the most or maybe not use alot
but really glad
you have it
anyway.-=-

I cook a lot and we make most things from scratch.
I'm not a gadgety person myself (though I would love a
vitamix) and just use a pot to cook rice and a knife
or blender to "process food." I do use a crockpot a
fair amount. A good set of knives and a good set of
pots and pans are two absolute necessities in any
kitchen, and people have different qualifications for
what constitutes a "good set." But what I might find
a necessity, another might find a dust gathering
mystery.

So my advice would be make your selection based on
what you know of the family. Some people don't do
well with cookbooks of certain formats, or are not as
linquistically inclined and find following a recipe
bothersome. They like to experiement. Which type of
personality is he, adventurous and experimental or
careful and precise? What do they like to cook and
eat at home generally? If the dad doesn't cook much,
what does he like to eat? What do the kids like to
eat? Where do they go out to eat if/when they do go
out? People usually cook what they like to eat, and
go from there. If they like pasta, get him some good
tools for cooking or serving it. If he likes a
certain type of ethnic food, cookbooks and tools for
making that. If he likes quick meals try a blender or
pressure cooker and recipes for smoothies or soups and
things. If he likes easy cooking and is patient, a
crock pot.

Generally the best things to have in the kitchen are
A: well made to withstand the abuses of cooking and
B: easy to use and clean.

Maybe the best gift for him, if he's really a babe in
the woods in the kitchen, would be some lessons in
cooking fun and easy meals that he and his family will
enjoy. Some fun dinners getting everyone involved in
the cooking and sending them home (or leaving them
with, if they are at their home) recipes and maybe a
small gift or two for making each dish might be a more
memorable and fun gift.

Good luck.

Nanci K.

[email protected]

> And how does one clean a waffle iron if the
> grids don't come out??
>
> >>a food processor
>
> One I saw had extra blades to buy. Is that really necessary? The ones it
> comes with aren't enough?
>
>

Jumping in here. You really just need to wipe the waffle iron down after
use. I think the kind that chirp when the waffles are ready are great.

My food processor has a regular blade for chopping, a grating one and a
slicing one. I use all three regularly. We went for a second bowl, too, which has
been helpful.

Now if only I had a place to put all my appliances without them being on the
counter all the time!

Elizabeth


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The Burton Bunch

A pizza stone (Pampered Chef type) -- can be used for pizza, fish, cookies, chicken, pot pies, bbq ribs, meat loaf, nachos, garlic bread etc. We use ours a minimum of 3X a week. Clean up is done with hot water and a scraper... no soap, scrubbing, or soaking required! =)
Jinger



----- Original Message -----
From: Alice
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] to stock a kitchen


Excellent ideas...
Helpful hints and useful/handy features are a plus.

>>a smoothie maker
>>Braun Multimix
>>"The Best Recipe" by Cooks Illustrated
>>a big crockpot and a good cookbook for it--

>>I'll second that idea. Make sure the crock comes out of the electric part
>>of the pot, though, or they're a pain to clean.

Absolutely. The crock definitely needs to come out. And how does one clean a waffle iron if the
grids don't come out??

>>a food processor

One I saw had extra blades to buy. Is that really necessary? The ones it comes with aren't enough?

>>a modern pressure cooker and pressure cooker cook book

Not too tricky for novice cooks?

One more request? --

What's your favorite cookware catalog? (He is going to have to do a lot of shopping) Some how we
were sent a "Chef's" catalog and wow it has some nice stuff. I'm having fun making my own wish list.
:-) I so much prefer browsing through catalogs than navigating web pages. But I've found pretty good
bargain and clearance sections online.

Thanks everybody!
Alice





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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Alice

>>You really just need to wipe the waffle iron down after
use.<<

Hahahahahah!!! Wow! Mine didn't do that and with the _cement_ like seal of the waffle that was left,
I _really_ almost threw it out the window!! (but I hate replacing glass...) I let it soak and washed
it and let it soak and washed it again. Though (!), I think I might not have heated it up enough, so
it was probably my fault. (!) And it (miraculously) has worked well since. :-)

>>A pizza stone

ok. what is the deal with these? I have one (pampered chef also). Tried to use it to make pizza on,
followed the directions, crust stuck to the thing - again - like _cement_! Then I put a frozen pizza
on it and the middle was still cold and the edges were on the verge of being overdone. Ugh! What
gives?? I can't preheat the thing for homemade pizza, since I'm not a throw-in-the-air type of crust
maker. Our crusts get pushed down onto the pan...

>>How about some cookbooks for kids?<<

Yes! We just gave the 12yog a veggie cookbook for teens. (the 'for teens' thing I cringed at at
first, but it did have some helpful hints for novices.)

>>You can find those at half.com<<

Yes, thanks. Now I need to get _my_ daughter that same book. (She looked through it and thought it
was cool and we only saw one on the sale table - decided to give it to her friend) I looked for it
on amazon and found it 'used' at a very reasonable price.

Cat... Thanks for the catalog suggestions.

Alice

catherine aceto

Yeah - you've got to preheat them. Can you push the crust down into the pan and then put the pan on the heated pizza stone? I roll my crusts out onto unbleached parchment adn slide the whole thing (parchment and all) onto the stone using my wooden peel. Then after a couple of minutes I pull the parchment paper out (otherwise it starts to singe and stink).

I also use the pizza tiles on my gas grill and have grilled pizza in the summer -- it's great not to heat up the kitchen.

-Cat
ok. what is the deal with these? I have one (pampered chef also). Tried to use it to make pizza on,



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

aicitticia

A pizza stone is soooo great and versatile. I use it and my wok the
majority of the week.

Ticia



--- In [email protected], "The Burton Bunch"
<livnrway@f...> wrote:
> A pizza stone (Pampered Chef type) -- can be used for pizza, fish,
cookies, chicken, pot pies, bbq ribs, meat loaf, nachos, garlic
bread etc. We use ours a minimum of 3X a week. Clean up is done
with hot water and a scraper... no soap, scrubbing, or soaking
required! =)
> Jinger
>

Jason & Stephanie

ok. what is the deal with these? I have one (pampered chef also). Tried to use it to make pizza on, >>>>>>>>


**********I never preheat my baking stone. I actually didn't think you were supposed to.I have never had anything stick either and pizzas come out wonderful. Cookies are really good on them, too. How long have you had it? It gets better each time it is used.
Stephanie in PA




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The Burton Bunch

If you use the stone with something greasy the first couple of times it will help a lot (frozen fish patties etc.), or you can lightly grease it w/shortening or spray with Pam. When we use ours for pizza I also sprinkle some cornmeal all over it. I was told the stone may break if pre-heated.
Jinger
----- Original Message -----
From: Alice
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 6:28 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] to stock a kitchen



>>You really just need to wipe the waffle iron down after
use.<<

Hahahahahah!!! Wow! Mine didn't do that and with the _cement_ like seal of the waffle that was left,
I _really_ almost threw it out the window!! (but I hate replacing glass...) I let it soak and washed
it and let it soak and washed it again. Though (!), I think I might not have heated it up enough, so
it was probably my fault. (!) And it (miraculously) has worked well since. :-)

>>A pizza stone

ok. what is the deal with these? I have one (pampered chef also). Tried to use it to make pizza on,
followed the directions, crust stuck to the thing - again - like _cement_! Then I put a frozen pizza
on it and the middle was still cold and the edges were on the verge of being overdone. Ugh! What
gives?? I can't preheat the thing for homemade pizza, since I'm not a throw-in-the-air type of crust
maker. Our crusts get pushed down onto the pan...

>>How about some cookbooks for kids?<<

Yes! We just gave the 12yog a veggie cookbook for teens. (the 'for teens' thing I cringed at at
first, but it did have some helpful hints for novices.)

>>You can find those at half.com<<

Yes, thanks. Now I need to get _my_ daughter that same book. (She looked through it and thought it
was cool and we only saw one on the sale table - decided to give it to her friend) I looked for it
on amazon and found it 'used' at a very reasonable price.

Cat... Thanks for the catalog suggestions.

Alice


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/28/03 03:17:14 AM Central Standard Time,
thesixofus@... writes:
ok. what is the deal with these? I have one (pampered chef also). Tried to
use it to make pizza on, >>>>>>>>


**********I never preheat my baking stone. I actually didn't think you were
supposed to.I have never had anything stick either and pizzas come out
wonderful. Cookies are really good on them, too. How long have you had it? It gets
better each time it is used.
Stephanie in PA
###############

I love all my stoneware from pampered chef. I've never had any problem with
it, I just had to get over the idea of hot water and a good scrub and that is
it for cleaning. <g> I have slowly replaced all my baking ware with the
stoneware. I never preheat it and all my pizzas, cookies, casseroles, roasted fowl
... comes out golden. Love it!
~Nancy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

nicole rodgers

I'm new on this list. My name is Nicole and my 11 yod and I have been homeschooling for a few years now. We love it and wouldn't dream of anything different.

So...What are we talking about?

The Burton Bunch <livnrway@...> wrote:
If you use the stone with something greasy the first couple of times it will help a lot (frozen fish patties etc.), or you can lightly grease it w/shortening or spray with Pam. When we use ours for pizza I also sprinkle some cornmeal all over it. I was told the stone may break if pre-heated.
Jinger
----- Original Message -----
From: Alice
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 6:28 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] to stock a kitchen



>>You really just need to wipe the waffle iron down after
use.<<

Hahahahahah!!! Wow! Mine didn't do that and with the _cement_ like seal of the waffle that was left,
I _really_ almost threw it out the window!! (but I hate replacing glass...) I let it soak and washed
it and let it soak and washed it again. Though (!), I think I might not have heated it up enough, so
it was probably my fault. (!) And it (miraculously) has worked well since. :-)

>>A pizza stone

ok. what is the deal with these? I have one (pampered chef also). Tried to use it to make pizza on,
followed the directions, crust stuck to the thing - again - like _cement_! Then I put a frozen pizza
on it and the middle was still cold and the edges were on the verge of being overdone. Ugh! What
gives?? I can't preheat the thing for homemade pizza, since I'm not a throw-in-the-air type of crust
maker. Our crusts get pushed down onto the pan...

>>How about some cookbooks for kids?<<

Yes! We just gave the 12yog a veggie cookbook for teens. (the 'for teens' thing I cringed at at
first, but it did have some helpful hints for novices.)

>>You can find those at half.com<<

Yes, thanks. Now I need to get _my_ daughter that same book. (She looked through it and thought it
was cool and we only saw one on the sale table - decided to give it to her friend) I looked for it
on amazon and found it 'used' at a very reasonable price.

Cat... Thanks for the catalog suggestions.

Alice


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