INDULGENCES house and home by joel martens This I Gotta Have! So, I’m on this electronic gadget kick. I admit it, I
love do-hickeys. Can’t live without those things . . . especially if they make my life a little easier. People complain that gadgets are to spendy, but if you look at what that double-latte costs you over the course of a year (go ahead and add it up), you can
actually save a little of the cashola when you invest. Let’s start with my absolute must-haves:
So my next favorite thing is my RICE COOKER/
STEAMER – you say why not use a regular cooking- pot? I say, water, rice, seasonings and walk away, no burning, missing the right turn-off time, etc, - I win. I have one of the least expensive models out there
That trusty and wonderful and absolutely get me go-
ing in the morning gadget: THE ESPRESSO MACHINE. They say that the first meal is the most important, so why not let the lead-in (at least for me) be caffeine?! I’ve been using a Breville Commercial for years, and
I love the simplicity of its die-cast stainless steel design. It makes the exterior a breeze to keep up, and all of the loose parts as well. Mastered easily, the unit heats up quickly, all of the indicator buttons are clear and simple, the water level is easily read and the reservoir removable for an easy fill. You will be pleased with the flavor pro- duced, it is rich and rivals that of any cup I’ve had from a professional barista. The steam is a little disappointing but with practice, you will be victorious! The price can be a little daunting, it currently retails for $400-$500 but being the good little shopper I am, I purchased a refur- bished one for $250 and have been very happy. The reviews I read recommend the Gaggia line highly,
I have two friends that use them regularly and swear by them. Again, the price is annoying (the Gaggia Classic retails around $499.00) but I’ve drunk the nectar of this contraption and again it is sweet and rich. The machine is easy to clean and take apart and very sturdy, my friend has had his for years. My main complaint about this one is how long it takes to warm up (being impatient for that cup is a fault, I know it already) but everything in life is really about patience isn’t it? The bargain priced unit that has high reviews is made by DeLonghi (customer reviews are very strong).
It
retails for roughly about $100.00 and has a respectable value for its price.
The two biggest complaints are
that the frothing wand is poorly positioned, and that you can’t fit a decent sized mug in the unit (hello shot glasses?) .
a Black and Decker. I think I paid $25.00 for it several years ago. I use it constantly and it never disappoints! Some may say that because it leaves a crusty layer on the bottom it’s a disappointment, but for me that’s the best part – manna from heaven (my Persian friend calls it tah-dig and it’s considered a delicacy.) You can go the gamut on cookers, but don’t
go crazy, it’s (in this cook’s humble opinion) not necessary. Panasonic has one of the top rated and it runs between $25 and $50. It’s almost as simple as mine, but it’s a little more functional in that it steams veggies and cooks soups and stews. Watch for a stay- warm feature, you can walk away and it will keep the rice, etc. nice and toasty for you. In my wanderings, I ran across the Caddy of all rice
cookers/steamers; Zojirushi makes it and it uses the induction method for steaming. It’s totally program- mable and I’m told it makes perfect rice every time. It sure as heck better, for a whopping average price of $300 – sheesh (there are lesser priced versions however). To each his or her own!
The next gadgety thing I love is my IMMERSION
BLENDER (sometimes referred to as a “stick” blender. I’m partial to the Braun line as I have had my little buddy for nearly 10 years. Many a protein shake has been made with this little sucker, and whipping up potatoes on Thanksgiving is almost fun. They have an updated version called the Multiquick 5 series and it is very pow- erful and very efficient. It comes with attachments like a whisk and a chopper making them a bit more versatile, but truth be told, I still kind of like my plastic version because I can use it in non-stick pans with out ruining them (approximately $80.) Kitchen Aid makes another respectable model that runs close to the same price, but I disliked the size of the grip, it made the unit feel awkward in my hand (stop already with the dirty minds!) There are so many more things that I could add to this
list, but I will restrain myself for now. The kitchen is a veri- table garden of eden in the gadget department, with specialized items that can do everything for you – but be careful, you could end up with more stuff than your cupboards can hold! Bon Appetit!
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RAGE monthly | MARCH 2011
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