From the category archives:

Kitchen Appliances

Black & Decker Family-size Electric Griddle

My youngest daughter (Stephany) and her boyfriend (Rusty) got me a Black & Decker Family-size Electric Griddle last Christmas and I’ve used it nearly every day since. Bacon, grilled cheese, fried eggs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, French toast, pancakes, garlic bread – you name it, my beloved griddle and I whip it up.

It came in handy last night with our spaghetti supper. Stephany and I made a killer spaghetti sauce and we very much wanted garlic bread to accompany the meal. However, with our part of Kentucky registering in the late 90s and early 100s the past couple of weeks, we didn’t really want to heat the kitchen up with the oven.

So we heated the griddle, sliced the loaf, buttered and seasoned the slices and grilled them on the convenient, non-kitchen-heating-up griddle. Truth be told, even when the weather isn’t so intensely hot, I still prefer making my garlic bread on the griddle. It makes the outsides crunchy (if you leave it log enough) and golden brown while allowing the inside of the bread to stay soft, warm, and delicious.

The Black & Decker Family-size Electric Griddle has an extra large cooking surface for family-size meals but, frankly, I’d want this size even if it were just my husband and I. In fact, there have been times when we were the only two at home for breakfast, lunch, or supper and I’ve used my griddle. I love the convenience of cooking the bacon, eggs, and toast all in one place.

It makes clean-up so much easier!

I made myself a slice of cinnamon toast this morning and, like the garlic bread last night, using the griddle instead of the toaster left me with toast that was crunchy on the outside while remaining a little bit soft on the inside. Never underestimate a slice of warm cinnamon toast with a cup of hot coffee – an excellent way to start the day. What IS it about the aroma and flavor of cinnamon that’s so comforting and relaxing?

The Black & Decker Family-size Electric Griddle has something else that I love muchly – a warming tray. I use the warming tray to heat buns while cooking burgers or hot dogs. Nothing, I mean nothing, beats toasty buns.  The warming tray is also handy for keeping silver dollar or medium-sized pancakes warm while the rest finish cooking.

A removable drip tray collects unwanted oils for easy cleaning and I’m not even gonna lie, I’m all about easy cleaning.

I also use my electric griddle for heating tortillas for soft tacos, burritos, and wraps. All it takes is a few seconds on each side and the tortillas are perfectly warm and soft – just like they are in restaurants.

As I’ve said a gazillion times, a cook is only as good as the kitchen gadgets, appliances, quality ingredients, pots, pans, and equipment he/she surrounds themself with. The Black & Decker Family-size Electric Griddle is one of the best tools you can have in your arsenal.

I swear on my toasty buns.

Grind & Brew™ 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker Black

The Grind & Brew™ 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker from Cuisinart automatically grinds the beans to produce the freshest, most flavorful pot of coffee imaginable.

This brilliant coffeemaker is fully programmable and struts such a sleek, European design that any kitchen will welcome its beauty.

Cuisinart Grind & Brew Automatic Coffeemaker Features

  • Elegant Italian styling
  • Automatically grinds whole beans before brewing
  • 24 hour fully programmable
  • Brew Pause™ feature lets you enjoy a cup before brewing has finished
  • Adjustable auto shutoff – 0-4 hours
  • Grind off feature
  • 1-4 cup feature
  • 10-cup (5 oz. each) carafe with ergonomic handle, dripless spout and knuckle guard
  • Charcoal water filter removes impurities
  • Separate grinder chamber and filter area make for easy cleanup
  • Limited 3-year warranty

Chalk this little beauty as another great potential Mother’s Day gift!

Refurbished Accolade™ Stand Mixer Juniper Berry

Sigh. Is this Refurbished Accolade™ Stand Mixer Juniper Berry not the most breath-taking piece of culinary beautifulness you’ve ever seen?   I’m totally weak in the knees and can think of nothing but getting my dough-covered hands all over it.

Features:
High-Performance, 400-watt motor delivers the power to mix everyday household recipes including double batches of batter and cookie dough, quick breads, pizza dough, and basic white bread dough. Includes flat beater, dough hook, stainless steel wire whip. Pouring Shield not included, Pouring Shield sold separately Tilt-head design, Stainless steel bowl with ergonomic handle, Locked rotor protection Soft start mixing feature, Electronic speed sensor, Hinged hub cover for easy use of attachments Dimensions: 14.0″H x 14.5″W x 8.5″D, 22 lbs.

….and it’s UK blue!

On Thanksgiving morning, as a tradition, I make these amazing puff pastries that I fill with a homemade whipped topping.  Each year when I make the pastry (as well as the rest of the year when making homemade bread, doughnuts, pizza crust, etc.) I think what a difference a stand alone mixer would make.  The dough could be getting all kinds of a beat down while my hands are free to chop, cut, blend, throw chocolate into my mouth… you know, the necessities.

Click through the link above to learn more.  These beauties are available in every color you could imagine, making them more than just one of a kitchen’s greatest appliances – they’re killer decor!

I know I don’t have to tell you what wonderful Christmas gifts they’d make.  You’d truly light up someone’s world.  (Michael, dear, are you listening?…)


Black & Decker food processor

You know what a fool I am for kitchen gadgets and appliances. My knees get weak when I’m in the kitchen gadgets and kitchen appliance aisles. One of my favorite appliances ever is actually one that I wasn’t sure I’d ever use – my food processor.

I have a killer cutting board () and a fantastic set of knives (), as well as several hand-held graters. I honestly just didn’t think I needed a food processor.

Silly woman.

I use my food processor more often than I ever realized I would. It’s so fast, easy, and efficient. I know my hummus recipes, salsas, and pico de gallo wouldn’t be nearly as winsome without it. I used it recently when making salmon patties, too. The crackers, onions, salmon, lemons, and celery took a fun (abbreviated) spin and the patties were remarkable.

The food processor at the top of the post is the Black & Decker 10-Cup Food Processor from Cymax Stores. I trust any appliance with the name Black & Decker on it. It’s been good to me.

Features:

  • Food processor has a white and grey finish
  • Food processor has 400 watts of power
  • Food processor has a 10 cup capacity
  • Pulse setting, chops
  • Nonskid feet
  • Safety lock to prevent accidental operation
  • Includes reversible slice/shred disc

Chop, slice, blend, mix and more with this Black & Decker 10-Cup Food Processor. With four hundred watts of power, the food processor features pulse settings and can hold up to ten cups.

The 10-Cup Food Processor has numerous safety features, including non-skid feet, so your kitchen can be as safe as it is delicious.

Read more about the Black & Decker 10-Cup Food Processor. Trust me, you won’t know how you ever cooked without a food processor!