Creative Home Sphere 3-Quart Bronze Stainless Steel Tea Kettle Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $40.00
Sale Price: $39.61
Today's Bonus: 1% Off

This tea kettle is a really nice shiny color and still cleans easily. It pours well but doesn't whistle until it is really boiling hard. It seems to take awhile to heat up but that might just be that I have a flat electric cooktop and the kettle has slight ridges on the bottom.

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Not only do I love the vibrant color on this kettle, which the picture is right on, but the easy thumb switch that lifts the spout so you can pour is great. The handle gets hot while boling but not so hot that you can't pick it up. The lid is snug but not hard to open like my Le Creusset was. Overall, I am very happy with this well-made whistling kettle.

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I assumed the inside of the kettle would be stainless steel. My last one had an enamel coating that scratched and wore off. This has a powdery coating who knows what it is. I'm going to get one that has a surface that I can be sure is safe.

The outside is attractive though and I'm sad to return it.

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I bought this kettle to replace an old one that had seen better days, and in this color because it perfectly matched a new backsplash tile accent I put up a year ago. The box shows the exact same color pictured here, but the real kettle color is more of a burnt orange/apricot than the copper in the pic indicates. It still matches well enough, but when you purchase a teal, purple or apricot colored kettles, I assume it's to match existing color schemes, hence the warning.

As far as the kettle itself goes, it's fairly well-made for the price point, has a comfortable handle that never gets hot, is easy to pour, and the wide, flat bottom makes water boil much faster than my old Copco kettle, which is a huge plus when I need my first cup of java in the morning. And this baby's whistle will wake the neighbors when it gets going, unlike another reviewer's comment about it not whistling till it really gets boiling. There's no such thing as blanket uniformity in manufactured goods anymore, no matter what country they're made in, but mine had no such issue. You'd think I lived adjacent to a train track when this kettle sings.

All in all, I'm pleased with this kettle, which will get used 3 to 4 times a day, so I hope I feel similiarly in a few years time. It's got a good look, it's well-balanced, the handle stays cool, so it's both appealing and utilitarian what more could you want?

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This was purchased as a replacement for a stainless designer model tea kettle that had outlived its useful life. The primary need was aesthetic and this unit filled the bill perfectly.

However, the time it took to receive this item was way too long, which prompted me to contact the seller to see what's the matter. As it turns out, the listing did warn about this eventuality, but I was hoping the listing was pessimistic, so as to ensure greater likelihood of an on-time delivery.

In the end, I am happy with this purchase and would recommend the seller (as long as it's not needed quickly).

Discount Fox Run 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Chinois Set

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List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $35.33
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

Not a mesh chinois at all. It's a China cap; a solid metal cone with holes stamped into it.

It's well made, solid, and beautiful. Good piece of equipment.

But don't be fooled by the picture I think it's the low resolution of the photo that makes it look like this has a mesh screen, like a chinois.

But it doesn't.

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Both the stand and the wooden "pusher" are great. The holes are too large for what I was originally intending to use the chinois for, which was making seedless raspberry jam, but I will still use it for other recipes. I probably would not have bought it if I could have seen a good picture of the holes.

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This would have worked perfectly if the strainer holes were a little smaller. I used mine to make tomato juice and there was a little too much pulp caused by the holes being just a tad too big.

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So, this is actually a china cap, not a chinois. Although the picture shown is a mesh seive, ie chinois, the product shipped is a perforated steel, collander type set up which is actually a china cap. Great for straining soup but not for custards, fruit purees etc.

Had to return it.

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I you are envisioning the huge light weight aluminum "china cap/chinois" that grandma had...this is not it LOL! This one is 7 inches tall, 7 inches around. It works very well and fits into a large cooking pot; no need to strain foods in another container and then transfer to a pot. I love the stand rim design...slotted so the handle of the chinois does not slip around while you are working! This is very sturdy stainless steel construction and a bit heavier than grandma's old aluminum set; it is designed to last!

Best Attitude Apron Your Opinion Apron, Black, One Size Fits Most Deals

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List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $11.86
Today's Bonus: 41% Off

Received this as a gift. Was very disappointed with the very poor workmanship. You can tell the materials are the cheapest available; not a nice, thick apron as I was expecting. The strand going around the neck and through the sides is very cheap, too. I could probably at least forgive some of its quality if it wasn't for the fact that you can't hang the apron up. When you attempt to hang it up, hung from the neck, the white strand falls straight through the sides. Unfortunately I can't return this item, otherwise I'd do so in a heartbeat.

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My step mother-in-law loved this adorable apron! The neck straps are directly connected to the waist straps, so there's only one know to tie.

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I am the chef in the family so everyone thought it would be great if I express myself. They picked this out online a nd gave me the money to pay for it. They said it fits me perfectly

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I received the order a day late and it wasn't the item I had requested. My dad was happy with it so it worked out okay.

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There is only one slight thing that I would do to improve it. The sash that is used to go around your neck and the one that goes around your waist are the same one. So if you are looking at the apron, the sash goes from under your arm, through the top of the arm and then down the same path on the other side thus the loop at the top becomes the part that goes over your head which is OK but you can't hang it up by the neck piece without it coming through and out of the apron. I know this sound confusing but it is the only way I can describe it. It makes sense to me.

Cheap Alpha Heavy Gage 24 Qt Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Glass Lid

Customer Ratings:

I bought this because I am doing freezer meals now. I read the reviews on many stock pots and chose this one because it sounded like it was constructed well, and I wanted stainless steel. I wanted enough room to make many batches of stew at once or stock with several chickens. I am really happy with the quality, it has pretty smooth connections where the handles are attached, the handles feel good in my hand which is important because this is a heavy pot!!! The lid made funny sounds the first time I used it I was afraid it would shatter! But I think it was just adjusting the the handle. I have made 2 things in it so far and I love it! You will need a large storage spot, too big to leave on the stove. I keep mine in the linen closet.

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So far so good for this behemoth! I just used mine for making a cooked brine and then submerged a 20 lb. turkey in it for our Thanksgiving Day feast which it accommodated easily. Worked and performed beautifully! The bottom is quite thick and sturdy. It is of tri-ply construction like its much more expensive brethren with a layer of heat conducting aluminum sandwiched between 2 layers of stainless steel. Also, like some of the MUCH MORE expensive stocks available on the market--this pot is not just made of "heavy guage" stainless steel, it IS 18/10 stainless steel. This is specified on the box it arrives in but for some reason is NOT listed on the product description here on Amazon which it should be! Why is that??? This was one of the key issues which caused me to repeatedly hesitate to commit to ordering it. If it had stated from the get-go that it is 18/10, I'm sure I would have ordered it immediately after doing only half as much research.

Anyway, I am more than pleased that I now at long last have a high-quality stock pot which will fill a variety of needs in my kitchen after having wasted money on a few cheaper stocks which only lasted once or twice before falling apart. Only one drawback that I can see so far: It is quite large but hey....it IS a 24 qt. stock pot so what do you expect? I DID absolutely make sure of course to measure the interior dimensions of my fridge BEFORE committing to ordering it as I knew it would be pointless to order it in my case if I couldn't find a way to squeeze it in there. I had to remove one of my side door compartments while putting it in and taking it out, but I expected that. Once it was in though, I was able to put the compartment back on the door and everything closed up just fine! So, if you are planning to use it to brine--just make absolutely sure you measure your fridge area first.

I will of course also have to store it in one of my closets when not in use as it will not fit anywhere in the storage kitchen areas---but that is a very small price to pay for such a high-quality kitchen item at a price that is a steel for what you get.

I see that a few others have commented on the looseness of the glass lid. Although I can understand the reason for this criticism, so far it really is not an issue in my short experience with it and seems purposeful in the overall design and construction. Perhaps this may be an issue later on, but I have so far used it for both hot and cold cooking and the lid has not been an issue at any time.

Order with confidence! GREAT kitchen product at a more than fair price!

Best Deals for Alpha Heavy Gage 24 Qt Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Glass Lid

I use this stock pot in an outdoor kitchen to process foods such as salsa and relish for home canning. I love the size of the pot--large enough to hold an entire recipe--but still can be moved off the burner with ease. Cleans easily and is very sturdy.

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Ok, given the pricepoint and the whole online thing I was not expecting a pot too thick but this one is amazing. Very thick at the base large perfect for brewing 5 gallon batches of beer. It came in one day when I ordered two day shipping and was an unexpected suprise.

I just can't rave enough about the quality. Just perfect, I have used a lot of large pots for different catering and events this one is head and shoulders better then the thin metal ones.

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Very good quality. Price is best out there. We use this for homebrewing, but will probably come in handy as well if need to prepare food for big parties.

Best Nordic Ware Pro Cast Castle Bundt Pan Deals

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List Price: $31.99
Sale Price: $20.15
Today's Bonus: 37% Off

I love this pan. From the first time I saw it displayed in the kitchen store, surrounded by raw sugar "sand" and a pail and shovel, I was charmed. My imagination took hold and I had to have it.

First of all, it bakes up just like any other bundt cake, so long as you get each nook and cranny of the pan interior with flour-added cooking spray. (It's right there on the grocer's shelf next to the regular spray.) If you do that one simple step, I guarantee that this cake will release from the pan perfectly every time! I like yellow cake for that sandy color no need to frost this cake! Oh, and take care not to over-fill the pan... make a few extra cupcakes if you need to with any leftover batter.

Presentation options are endless! I use turbinado sugar "sand", sprinkled all over, and chocolate rocks for a natural look. I've added chocolate seashells for a beachy look, and once sugar cookie starfish... On another version, fondant "ladybugs" and "butterflies" frolicked about the castle walls. Don't forget to add flags to the turrets, especially if it's someone's birthday cake! Most of all, have fun and enjoy the compliments!

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Castle cakes! Castle cakes! Castle cakes! You have to admit it's fun to say. :D

This little bundt pan delivers! It pops out beautiful cakes in amazing detail. Using non-stick flour spray, I've have had no problems at all (and I've had a long history of cracked cakes from other pans). I've baked 6 cakes in the past week. Each one turned out fantastic and was a delight to decorate (we found out that cutting out the drawbridge further adds to the realism of the cake--plus you can put a little knight or gingerbread person inside).

The quality of this pan is also very impressive. It's made with a heavy metal alloy (not like the cheapy bundt cake pans I've seen at the store). It will most likely become an heirloom in my family. :)

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NordicWare castle cake pan is super easy to use (follow bundt-pan directions on cake mix.) Cake comes out perfectly with the cake showing all of the details on the pan. (follow bundt-pan directions on cake mix box.) Drizzle cake with melted frosting & crushed candies or seasonal-colored sprinkles to decorate (regular frosting would cover all the details.) Easy, easy, easy cake pan to use, and soooo easy to end up with a WOW looking dessert. Use your imagination on decorating...we did Candy Canes in the towers for a christmas cake. Guests were so impressed, they decided this is the new "traditional" Christmas Day dessert, then brainstormed about all the other ways castle could be decorated for other occasions & holidays (dream-fairy castle for a wedding shower, haunted castle for Halloween, Disney castle for a birthday party, etc.) My Suggestion: Search online for the best price. I originally saw the pan in an expensive gift catalog for $40 plus shipping, also found it in person at a large housewares chain store for $35. Then I bought the pan online for under $30, shipping included so if you're not in a hurry, shop it.

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I sprayed the pan well, and the cake came out easily. Since you can't put frosting on the cake, we put it underneath, using white icing dyed blue for water like a moat. First icing on the cake plate, then the cake, then I started clumpping the icing around it with the idea I would smooth it out. But, it looked like waves crashing around the castle, so I left it like it was! I used the spray on blue decorating stuff to put more blue on, and used blue sugar crystals to give it some dimension, and I am not terrible artistic but it looked fantastic! I will use this pan many, many times and my local bakery even wants to take a look at it for some ideas. So worth the 20 bucks!

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Even after having owned this pan for years, I still enjoy it as much as when first purchased. I have baked several types of cakes and used it as a gelatin mold. The pan still performs & looks unused.

Some suggestions:

Follow the directions for flouring and cooling. If you don't, you'll be using a toothpick to clean those details. Otherwise, the cakes lifts out perfectly.

I use Bak-klene spray available at Williams-Sonoma, where I purchased the pan. Then I flour the pan.

Smooth recipes provide the best results. One recipe with crushed pineapple resulted in loss of detail & difficulty removing from pan.

When using as a gelatin mold, follow the instructions for Jigglers(TM). I followed the quick-set method & the finished product did stand up but was very unstable.

Make an Undersea Castle with gelatin and gummy fish & sharks. Do not try to make seaweed using the yogurt gummy rolls. They dissolve in the gelatin.

Make a haunted house or Dracula's Castle for Halloween with Devil's Food Cake.

Dress the cake up for these themes: Christmas Wonderland, Princess, Horse Trainer or Pirate.

Brown sugar makes a great base for your castle. I gave four stars instead of five because this pan can be more difficult to clean than regular cake pans but the compliments are worth it.

Buy Kaiser Bakeware Patisserie Cake Stencils, 10-Piece Set

Customer Ratings:

I don't like to bake, but a few times a year, when I feel the romance meter in my marriage is dropping, I pull out all the stops and open a cake mix from the grocery store. I simply add the proper ingredients and bake up a "love cake". My wife is a very romantic person, so the shape or taste of the cake doesn't matter, so she says. "It's just the thought!", she squeals. (Lucky for Me). But, when I saw these cake stencils, I thought my troubles were over. Now, I could jazz up my pathetic gift by sprinkling sugar or cocoa over the cake through the stencil. That is,if I could get them out of the box without shredding! Popping the stencils out by hand was a total failure and after 4 hours in my garage "shop", using any specialized tools I could get my hands on, the project, as well as the designs were scrapped. The plastic is cheap and the stencils are immpossible to open without tearing. As far as reuse, not with the blood drops still remaining from the paper cuts I received during the "easy preparation". The designs are amateurish and this is one time my wife's love of childish crafts would lose out to her question of, "You didn't pay for these did you"? I'll still give her my silly little gifts of love, but at least I won't have to apologize for someone else's artwork, artwork I paid [money] for! Besides, I think she likes my little scribbles and thinks they are kind of cute. Bruce Hand

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I bought these stencils recently and loved them. So ok, they are plastic and maybe a little hard to break away but their stencils. They definitely get the job done and allow you to create a decorative flair in no time. I use powder sugar or color sprinkles to top off my desserts.

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The bakeware was fine. I only used it once, but I'm sure to get much good use out of them

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Kaiser Bakeware Patisserie Cake Stencils, 10-Piece Set

its good ths item. i used for a cake and looks cute.

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Only wished I had used them more. Used a couple but got stuck in a junk drawer somewhere.

Review of Lodge Tempered Glass Lids

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $26.00
Sale Price: $23.08
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

It looks like a very nice lid. Attractive. well-made, and came very well packed.

Unfortunately, even though the listing says "Fits standard Lodge 12 inch dia pans," it does not. We made the "mistake" of buying the Lodge P12S3 cast iron skillet, and the lid rides on TOP of the skillet rim, not down in the skillet. We bought a 10" model, and the same thing occurs for the 10" model. I don't know what Lodge considers "standard Lodge 12 inch dia pans," but it is surely not the 12" skillet that we ordered and received. This is probably more of a criticism of Amazon and their listing than the product, but we unfortunately don't have a skillet that it DOES fit, so we have no way to tell. We have been very happy with Lodge skillets over the years.

Update:

We bought "Lodge Pro-Logic Pre-Seasoned 10-Inch Skillet" Model P10S3. We bought cover GC10 because it says that it "Fits standard Lodge 10.25 inch dia pans." It doesn't fit.

We bought "Lodge Pro-Logic Pre-Seasoned 12-Inch Skillet" Model P12S3. We bought cover GC12 because it says that it "Fits standard Lodge 12 inch dia pans." It doesn't fit.

Poking around the Lodge website, I find

P10S3 Skillet, 10" dia. P10L3 Cover, 10" dia.

P12S3 Skillet, 12 dia. P12L3 Cover, 12" dia.

I did not see images of the covers or information about whether they are oven safe or not.

Amazon apparently does not carry the lids for the skillets that we bought.

But on models are not listed, either, so one must do some more research just to find what covers fit which skillets.

I selected the L?SK3 series, but no covers were listed.

Further poking got me to glass covers here

Lodge Glass Cover, 10 1/4" dia. Fits L8SK3, L8CF3, L8DSK3, L8DO3, L8DOL3, LCC3 and L8DD3

Lodge Glass Cover, 12" dia. Fits L10SK3, L10DSK3, L10DO3, L10CF3 and L10DOL3

...and at last I know which covers go with which skillets.

I also prefer a lid with a loop handle because it is easier to hang. With the knob on top, storing the cover will not be as easy.

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I bought this lid along with a cast iron lid for my skillets. I use this lid when cooking something I need to keep a close eye on so I don't have to keep picking up the lid as I would with the cast iron lid. The lid is built with metal ring around the edge to prevent chipping and provide for a good fit. It fits the skillet perfectly. Nice and light which is a benefit over the cast iron lid. It is rated to use in the oven (to a certain temp), however when using the pan in the oven, I use the cast iron lid. The only downside I can note is that the glass lid is made in China vs the cast iron lid (and skillets) being made in the USA. This may or may not be an issue for you but other posters had mentioned it so I'm throwing it in.

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Everything I hoped for except it seems to be so light weight (a plus to some people) I wonder if it will hold up to frequent, extended use.

It is great to be able to use my cast iron skillet with a see through lid.

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It fits my L10SK3 skillet and what else does it need to do? I'll be buying one for my 10" pan.

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I purchased a Lodge skillet from Target last year and I love it! The glass lid is not expensive, it's sturdy and I can see my food. I definitely recommend products from this company.

SodaStream 1-Liter Carbonating Bottle, Stainless Steel Review

Customer Ratings:

People, please read what you're buying and look at the picture before yelling at the manufacturer. This is a plastic bottle with decorative stainless steel trim. It's the same bottle as their standard gray/white/black plastic, but the trim is replaced with stainless steel (or perhaps the best word is clad the top is still gray plastic underneath). It looks and feels a little nicer than the other bottle, and the stainless is less likely to crack if hit/dropped. I like these, and they work great on my machine.

If you want glass/metal only, you need to buy the Penguin machine...

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This gives a nice little touch to the other black capped bottles I have I use these steel capped bottles on the table for an informal dinner with guests. Knowing the product is BPA free is very important to me. I only wish these could be washed in the dishwasher, my only MINOR issue with them.

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These reviewers are cracking me up. Maybe the description has been revised, but it clearly states all over the name and specs this is a plastic bottle with a SS cap and bottom.. Its just a little more fancy then the all plastic bottles... but to rate it low on the fact that you bought a BPA-FREE PLASTIC Carbonating Bottle with Stainless Steel Cap and Bottom, because its plastic... really sad.

I would have rated this 5 stars but I got it on a Thursday! UGH

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I don't understand people who order something without reading the description carefully or even going to the manufacturet's site to get maybe more information. This is a great bottle and much better looking than the bottles with black cap & bottom or some other color. The stainless part on the bottom can be screwed off and it can also be screwed back on. Why would anyone want to glue it on. I have had no trouble at all with the caps. They work beautifully. However, I do not wash any of the bottle in hot water. I just rinse them out with tepid water after the contents are consumed. You can buy the bottle from SodaStream for $14.95 plus shipping so the price here is not bad since it includes shipping. You can also buy the bottle at Bed Bath & Beyond for $12 with a 20% off coupon.

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I bought 2 of these bottles in order to have a couple of extra ones chilling in the fridge, ready to carbonate. I'm not sure why some people thought these were going to be ALL stainless... I could tell from the photo that they were clear plastic with stainless bottoms and caps only, which is fine for me. Plus it mentions that they are BPA free which implies that they are plastic bottles. I wouldn't want the bottle to be opaque stainless steel anyway. I like seeing the water level inside so I can tell if it's water that I've already carbonated and how much is left in the bottle. We use these every day... fill, chill, carbonate, drink, rinse and repeat :)

Cheap Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 12 piece Set

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List Price: $817.00
Sale Price: $424.95
Today's Bonus: 48% Off

Great set and perfect for what we need. Also purchased a complete set of nylon cooking utensils to go along with the set. Only downside is the set is NOT dishwasher proof. However, this is not much of a problem since the food just slides off the surface. I recommend this set and would purchase it again.

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I love these Pots and pans. I have used so many other pots and pans out there and have not been happy with them. Everything cooks evenly and they clean up so nice. I do not put them in the Dishwasher but they are very easy to clean. I did buy the cleaner for the outside just in case they get marks on them. I did buy the Wok as well and fell in love with it. I have a smooth top stove and this wok worked amazing. I also purchased the Calphalon 7 piece Cookware Mixed Utensil Set. This set is very nice and works wonderfully on this cookware! I would not use any metal utensil's on this cookware. Very Very Happy with this.

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Described "Omelette Pans". No such thing, unless Omelette is to feed Paul Bunyan. Too many BIG pieces.

Heavy with poor handle design. Hard to hold. Hard to especially with anything in the pot. Fine if you are feeding large family every meal. Otherwise look elsewhere.

Vollrath S/S Plate Cover for 9"- 9-1/8" Plates Reviews

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List Price: $19.00
Sale Price: $15.35
Today's Bonus: 19% Off

Love the plate cover. Perfect size and looks exactly like hotel room service plate covers. will return to purchase a few more !!

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I love this little tool for frying and grilling when you need to melt cheese on hamburgers, chicken, grilled cheese, etc. It works better if you can squirt some water in the hole to create steam. The only downside is that it will get HOT and you have to use the end of a spoon or some kind of utensil to remove it so you don't burn yourself. Pretty handy item!

Cuisinart SS-300 Single Serve Brewing System - Powered by Keurig Review

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $235.00
Sale Price: $119.00
Today's Bonus: 49% Off

I had wanted a Keurig coffee maker, but was not thrilled with the quality of the 'Keurig' brand models available. They seem cheap, mostly made of plastic.

I was pleased to see that Keurig had made the K-cup design available for other manufacturers. Having trust in Cuisinart's quality owning two other great appliances, i figured this compact model would be perfect. Unfortunately, the SS-300 was not available in stores when I purchased it from Amazon, so I was only able to try out the SS-700, the larger, more expensive model, in a local store. The build of the SS-700 is mostly metal and sturdy. Although the two models look like the same build quality in photos, sadly, the SS-300 is made of cheap plastic, just like the Keurig brand models I have seen.

I have used it to make several cups of coffee and it works perfectly. All of the features make it the best model for my 5 cups a week consumption. Although the plastic is BPA free, it is still plastic.

4 stars were given because I had compared it to the SS-700. Perhaps if I had never seen the larger, more durable model, I would be thrilled with this one. I thought the difference in price reflected the lack of a digital display and water reservoir, not the quality of the components.

UPDATE-

I have now made over 12 cups of coffee with this machine. So far so good!

The coffee is consitantly good. Cleaning the SS-300 is so easy. I do not regret this purchas at all and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a single serving coffee maker.

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I wanted the convenience of the K-Cups but have friends who have had bad experiences with the Keurig model coffee makers. Decided on the Cuisinart and it worked great for 3 cups. Now it will not recognize that I have filled it with water and it will not brew. Since it is only 2 weeks old Cuisinart is waving their shipping fee and a new one is on the way.

Update

Looking more at the unit I noticed when I opened the filter compartment for the charcoal water filter, the entire plastic assembly melted down into boiler. Somehow the heating element ran with no water and melted everything. Since this is a fire hazard I am lowering my rating to one star.

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Browsing the reviews, I have to say that some seem not to have read the instructions before use. The manner in which the machine is set up and the order in which you are to do stuff is not entirely intuitive, so best to carefully read the instructions first. I saw one review from a person who plainly was opening the charcoal filter holder and trying to pour the water down in there, then complaining that it was hard to open and close for each cup. Well...yeah. So, Step One is read the instructions; the thing is probably more likely to work properly if you do.

That said, this is a nice light-duty unit. I personally like the fact that you pour the water in for each cup. I don't use the charcoal filter as I have filtered water at my sink. I put as much water as I want to the level that I want on my mug, then just open the flip-top and pour it in. I do check that the amount is between 6 and 10 ounces using the gauge, but that's all I use the gauge for. Family members and visitors do the same, and then you know right up front how much liquid is going to come out and to what level in your cup.

To my mind, the unit is attractive, solid, and easy to operate. It has a smaller footprint that works well for us. It heats the water as hot as I would ever want my hot beverage to come out. It takes less than two minutes to heat the water.

Since Christmas, it has stood up to some significant use. A family member was recovering from an injury, so nurses, trainers, friends and family members were all trooping through the house and were offered hot beverages. We have burned through probably 30 cups of addictive Dunkin' Donuts hot chocolate, 28 cups of Twinings Green Tea (that I bought on Amazon), 28 cups of Dunkin Donuts original coffee, and most of the 35-cup sampler that I bought here on Amazon, as well as the nice little selection of coffees that came in the box with the unit. We just wipe it off and it keeps going.

UPDATE: Well, after 6 glorious, addictive months since Christmas Day, it just quit. It powers up, but it doesn't recognize that you have put water in it and just shuts itself off. I tried the troubleshooting steps in the manual, then called Cuisinart. Yep, it's broken. Nope, no more troubleshooting steps. It has a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. Their procedure is you pay them $10 for "shipping" (uh-huh) by UPS Ground. They send you a new one right away, and ask you to return the old one at your expense once you get the new one, with an RMA Number and a description of what's wrong. Oddly, they asked if this was my first warranty return of this item. I said, "It's only 6 months old." "Right, so is it your first return?" "Yes." "Great." I usually ignore the "It broke after X days" reviews, figuring that 100 percent of the people who that happens to will report it. However, add this reviewer to the pile of folks who were sad to find that their machine just quit on them, much sooner than they expected it to.

COMPARISON: And in the meantime, I purchased for my City apartment the sort-of-equivalent Keurig-brand single-cup unit, only because it came in red. They are very-very-similar designs and maybe even made by the same (Chinese) manufacturer. The Keurig one is smaller. Main differences: The Cuisinart unit starts brewing noticeably-faster and the water is a little hotter, you can put a slightly-taller mug in the Cuisinart one without removing the drip dray, and the measuring thingy in the Cuisinart one is more intuitive. Also the Cuisinart one comes with a put-your-own-grounds-in-it basket, while the Keurig one doesn't. However, there don't seem to be as many Keurig reviews claiming that it met an untimely demise.

Honest reviews on Cuisinart SS-300 Single Serve Brewing System - Powered by Keurig

I originally had the very first Keurig single serve and although it made a decent cup of coffee my husband thought it was a bit weak. Since we use it only for ourselves we didnt need such a big resevoir for water. When Cuisinart came out with the small single server we thought we should give it a try and donated the big Keurig to a friend. My husband said it made much better coffee than the original keurig and it takes up alot less space on the counter. So far we are very happy with the item. Glad we bought it.

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I purchased this today, so please note this only reflects initial impressions. Set up took about 15 minutes. You first run some water through it and also need to soak the filter for 15 minutes. It was not difficult, but I was impatient to make coffee. :) First cup I guessed on how much coffee to use in the filter provided and it came out a bit weak. Second time the adjustment worked out just fine, but I wonder if folks are looking for a bolder brew how this would fair. Perhaps just fine. I ran it several times to use the hot water function and adore this option. I will likely use this as much as brewing coffee. It does not take up much space at all, but this is in part to not having any type of reservoir other than the 1 cup you brew. Hence, every time you want a cup of coffee you will fill it. The machine is indeed a cheap plastic. I feel the need to be very gentle when opening up the compartment that takes the k-cup. It also feels like you are prying it open a bit to get to the k-cup, but this is my first unit of this style so perhaps this is just how it is. Overall though, it does what I hoped it would. I now can crank out a cup of coffee in my classroom with out worrying about a hot pot sitting around and it is ready quickly. From the point you put the water in to the cup of coffee being ready is about 2 minutes. Coffee comes out hot, but not blazing hot. I am fairly picky about coffee temperature and it is hot enough for me. I would be willing to pay a bit more for a better quality machine, but I do not want a larger unit so hopefully the plastic does ok. Not sure if I would buy it again, but like it enough to not return it. 4 stars due to cheap feel.

Update: I have grown to love the machine, and it works beautifully. I use regular tea bags in the filter that normally would hold loose coffee, and the tea is wonderful. Super easy clean up this way, and far cheaper than buying pods. I do adore using the coffee pods, but try to avoid them consistently due to price. I absolutely am glad that I bought this, and will always keep this or something similar at work. I think I will also pick up one at home as well.

Update: I have now used it regularly for a year. Still quite happy with it overall. We bought a Keurig Mini for the house, and it stopped working within 6 months. Glad in retrospect I purchased this model for my classroom. Overall though, my husband and I have decided that once it breaks we will simply use an electric tea kettle and instant coffee. More cost effective, and my Cuisinart is used more for hot water than coffee at this point.

Lodge L7B3 Pre-Seasoned Drop Biscuit Pan Review

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List Price: $37.99
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I'm having so much fun with this pan! Makes melt in the mouth drop biscuits--I use the recipe for buttermilk drop biscuits in the "Cast Iron for Dummies" cookbook--that are just as pretty and fluffy as rolled biscuits. Just don't forget to preheat the pan! I've turned out excellent "spoon" yeast rolls in this pan too, and it works great for baking individual pineapple upside down cakes. I use cast iron for nearly all my cooking and this pan is a welcome addition to my kitchen.

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I don't use this pan very often but every time I do I am left with happy feelings. No rolling is required for your dough when you use ityou are kind of forced to use a recipe with more liquid. If you are one of those people who thinks the dough must be rolled out to make a decent biscuit then I say, "lighten up!" Your biscuits will be easier to make and they will impress everyone lucky enough to be offered one. My advice is to leave the pan in the oven while pre-heating for the most effective biscuit baking experience!

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Great product!!! I was given this pan as a gift. I figured it would go into the cabinet and remain in storage was I wrong. The results using frozen biscuits are wonderful (I don't make homemade drop biscuits). The bottom of the biscuits are a beautiful golden brown and are crisp. I also use this pan for "mini" cornbreads with the same result. And if that doesn't end all, I've put the frozen biscuits in some slots and "beaten eggs for a souffle" in the other slots and baked them at the same time. Makes for quite a quick breakfast treat. It is now on my "gift giving" list.

Honest reviews on Lodge L7B3 Pre-Seasoned Drop Biscuit Pan

I use a drop biscuit recipe for this pan from this great cookbook (if you like southern cooking as I do) Lodge A Skillet Full of Traditional Southern Lodge Cast Iron Recipes and Memories Cookbook. The recipe stated 30 minutes which is way to long at 450. I adjusted the time down to 20 minutes & they come out perfect every time. They practically fall out of the pan if the pan is properly seasoned. Never has a biscuit stuck in this pan, not even a spec. So I rarely roll biscuits now.

As I don't like using sprays, after each use, I rinse with hot water/stiff plastic bristle brush, dry throughly inside/out, heat on low heat on the largest stovetop burner & brush all cooking surface with lard before pan heats up. Allow it to heat a couple of minutes then turn off heat. Brush the melted lard around all of the cooking surface. Let it sit on the burner until it's touchable with a lint free paper towel removing excess oil. If you don't use your pan very often, don't use lard or other oils because they get rancid after a very short time. If you don't plan to use soon, I would recommend using something like expeller pressed coconut oil or palm oil (the organic lard I have is mechanically pressed palm oil) as they will not go bad for a very long time.

One reviewer recommended preheating this pan. I've never done that & find that to be unnecessary. Just my preference I guess. I do preheat the 10" skillet in the oven with lard in it to prepare cornbread which I rarely do anymore since my mom gave me a great recipe several years ago using the 8" Lodge Skillet to make cornbread on the stovetop. I will put the recipe on that item in a few minutes. You may never "bake" cornbread again if you try it.

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First, be sure you preheat and spray generously with Pam. I thought it would be just for biscuits-nope! It can also make muffins, cupcakes (although they'll be shorter and wider than normal), brownies, mini meatloafs, mini quiches, and eggs!

Cheap Farberware P08-034 side handle for sauce pot 836, 838 & 862.

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I have looked high and low for a Farberware replacement handle for my 4 quart sauce pot that my husband and I received as a wedding gift from my sister over 43 years ago. Farberware told me they no longer make that replacement handle. A smaller replacement handle is still available, but no one seemed to have the correct handle for my pot. When I called Goodman's about the handle I found on their Amazon webpage, a wonderful Goodman's representative told me that she thought it was the larger handle and that she thought it would fit my pot, but that I could return it if it didn't (all other companies had absolutely no-return policies). The handle just arrived yesterday and I am pleased to say that it does fit my otherwise perfect pot--and in plenty of time for holiday cooking. Thank you to everyone at Goodman's and Happy Holidays!

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Handle quality appears nice and fits my 4 quart Farberware pot. The only problem is that that the pot has two handles and this item is only for one handle. Two handles is going to cost me something like $25, including S&H. Why buy these handles for $25 when I can but a brand new Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 4-Quart Covered Sauce pot for $32.85, with free postage?

Best Deals for Farberware P08-034 side handle for sauce pot 836, 838 & 862.

The pot handles I ordered came in good time but what the photo barely shows (such that I didn't notice it) and the description does not say is that this handle has two screw holes. It doesn't fit the pot I have, so back to the drawing boards!

Honest reviews on Farberware P08-034 side handle for sauce pot 836, 838 & 862.

I couldn't bear to give up my old faberware dutch oven the new ones are much smaller these days but my handles just disintegrated completely from wear. These handles fit perfectly. One drawback however is that they are bakelite which probably will not stand up to the oven or maybe even the diswasher. Time will tell as I plan on subjecting them to both lol......

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My order arrived quickly and was exactly what I needed. Only vendor I could find who carried replacement handles for a 5qt stainless Farberware pot I've had for 40yrs! Thought I was going to have to throw my favorite pot away but now looking forward to many more yrs of use.