Soo…didn’t mean to cause suspense with that mentioning the ‘gadget’ and then not explaining. I genuinely was too knackered to do it justice. Still a bit blinky eyed this morning, but I’ll give it a go 
What happened was, about two months ago, maybe less, I was on the website of one of my favourite cookery book authors, Bryanna Clark Grogan (I have two of her books and they are in almost every day use*). Anyway, a page on her website caught my eye, her recommendations on different products that she uses in her house. You know how it is when you trust someone and you love their food – imagine them telling you, with all their experience and insight, what they think are the best kitchen appliances – that’s the kind of advice that I take to heart (particularly when the photos she includes shows them sitting in her kitchen, I love that, so personal and welcoming). Then I followed the link to her review of it on her blog and well, my wee heart was stolen by a tiny Brick oven.
So I skipped on over to Amazon on the off chance that it might be there, I didn’t hold out much hope because the company in question aren’t that widely known over here.
To my very great surprise they had it, but alas, it cost a fortune – by the time you took the exchange rate and shipping into account it came to €281.24!!! Not a freakin hope I could afford that, let alone be prepared to part with that kind of money for what it is.
So it went on the same list in the back of my head as the Vitamix, the someday, when it’s raining €50 notes list It was tough to resign it to that list though, I was besotted with the idea of a pizza stone oven – our oven (rented house) doesn’t hold it’s temperature (which is a disaster for baking), nor does it get up to the kind of temperature you need for crispy pizza (along with the fact that the elements are in the sides), kind of a must when you have to make your own (how many pizzas have you seen lately that come without dairy cheese?). Also, the idea of a quick heating oven, for my roast veggies, for the baked tofu I use for sandwiches, for the casseroles/quiches/toasted sarnies/ciabattas/rolls – everything – an oven that heats in 4 – 6 minutes instead of at minimum 15 minutes? Fantastic! And you’re only heating a small space, rather than an entire oven, even more fantastic! Well, Bryanna says it all so much better than me, so I’m probably just repeating what she wrote.
So like I said, it went on the someday list, grudgingly.
And then, on Thursday I think it was, me and Gord were talking about roasting asparagus and it came up that he had bought a little toaster oven and it had completely taken over in his house from the big oven – cheaper to run, faster, perfect for pizza…and I just had to dig out the link to the one I wanted and show him. Doing this obviously led to me routing around on the interwebs to see if there actually were any stockists in Ireland (there aren’t), but I did come across a website that had it for a price that literally caused my eyes to bulge. We’re talking pretty much a hundred euros less than the Amazon price – including delivery!!!!!!
Needless to say I still had to do some major soul searching – would it really be more efficient, would it definitely get used, have I saved enough, and well, yes, to everything. There are a number of regular expenses we’ve not had recently along with me getting a pile of money back on Prsi (a type of tax) (I thought I wouldn’t get back) over the past few months (Okay, so we’re only talking circa €100, but that’s a lot to me at the moment!). I showed Benny the reviews and he was all for it, you will remember of course that he’s gotten big into the vegan baking lately.
So on Saturday evening I took the plunge. And I CANNOT WAIT for it to arrive. Seriously. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
So, what’s your favourite kitchen gadget (or top five/top ten/top twenty!)?
*The books I mentioned can be viewed here and here, I also love this one but haven’t gotten down to using it quite as much as the others yet.
you’re kidding! woohoo!
Wow! That’s a fantastic little oven, Lou! But now that I’ve looked at her page – I MUST start seriously looking for a blender/chopper/mixer/puree gadget.
It’s a really inspiring page isn’t it Kate? Let me know what you get, what you’re thinking about – I love shopping for gadgets, all the comparison, hunting for personal reviews on blogs etc. Oh, yeah, meant to say yesterday, sorry for being the cause of your new found Amazon addiction
Wait until you get into Ebay! (not that I’m really into it, but people fall and fall hard) 
Don’t get me started on eBay, please. My Visa card can’t handle it.
The difference between my toaster/convection oven and Lou’s is a massive price difference. We hadn’t thought of having one until we saw a cheap Black and Decker jobbie at Mall-Wart for $70. We thought we’d give it a go and, as Lou said, it’s literally taken over the vast majority of the roasting/baking chores in my kitchen.
The absolute best part? When the timer goes off, so does the heat. So, ignoring or not hearing it beep doesn’t necessarily doom one to dining on cinders.
It’s specifically designed to handle a frozen pizza. The rectangular box has a rounded dent on the back to allow for the use of a round pan. Frozen McCain pizzas are a regular for dinner at or house, so that was a necessity.
When it dies (2 years old now), we’ll pick up something fancier/nicer.
Whoops, the difference (other than features, fit & finish, etc) between them is price … Silly fingers. B&D doesn’t come close to touching Cuisinart.
No one has been saying what they’re favourite kitchen gadget is! le sniff! indulge meeee!
My chinese cleaver. Hands down. I literally couldn’t work without it. It’s cheap, made from one big piece of carbon steel and needs regular sharpening, but what an edge you get! You could shave with this thing.
The cutting edge is slightly rockered and just flies through anything I put it to. The big blade makes transferring chopped goodies to wherever you need them simple.
Don’t be fooled if you buy one. Go to an Asian grocery store and get a cheap one. Mine cost me about $12 7 or 8 years ago and I wouldn’t replace it with anything but the same. They take a beating, are easy to sharpen and you can easily defend yourself from the zombie hordes as well.
jaypers! that’s a scary looking beast. Where do you get it sharpened Gord or do you use a stone?
I have a steel. Easy peasy. Few swipes of that and it’s ready to go.
There’s a shorter version of the same thing that I’m trying to find. The blade’s the same length, but only 2″ tall. Less scary for visitors when I swing that around the kitchen.
oh, I have a steel too, I always thought you had to get it done on a stone every now and again, not just the steel, but if your having good results, fair’o’nuffskis.
Ah – my http://www.ulu.com/aboutulu.htm I LOVE this chopper. I just have to get a large shallow wooden bowl to chop things in. I refused to pay over $100 for a wooden chopping bowl!
It’s my favorite and I wouldn’t trade it for … well, if you gave me enough money – sure!
In regards to Gordos comment about the toaster oven – my ‘little old lady’ has one of those. It has the rounded back to accommodate a pizza. It’s great – for what I need to cook/bake for her.
PS – I put a blind eye to e-bay. I can’t get started on that. I have my pal look up things for me, if I really want something. He got me a fantastic cast iron skillet, a couple of years ago. I wouldn’t know what to do with submitting ‘bids’ an all.
My brain takes a break – if there is too much information load! lol
A good friend gave me a Henckels “herb set” a number of years ago, but it’s almost useless. Take Kate’s ulu and put a small handle on each end. Bleah. I tried it once and, sadly, put it away.
Oh, when I walk into a kitchen supply store, oh be still my heart! I want one of these and one of those and a whole set of this thingy over here… And when Nancy & I were down at the Smithsonian museums this spring they had recreated Julia Child’s kitchen and I was in absolute lust for her big heavy black iron six burner and double oven 1940′s (50′s?) vintage commercial stove. Oh it was a work of beauty.
Kitchen gadgets…oh. my. dear. ghods. I stay away from kitchen stores, my budget and the rent would be spent in a flash. That said, my kitchen indulgences this year were a Cuisinart food processor (to replace a 10 year old el cheapo) and a Kitchen Aide Pro 600 stand mixer. A stint as a line cook taught me about knives – I own very good ones, but none have the Williams-Sonoma cachet. Nope, they’re the work-a-day knives of several makers, none more expensive than $50. Pots and pans are all from the restaurant supply store – some aluminium, some stainless, some cast iron, two enamel clad cast iron casseroles/dutch ovens. Nothing cost over $75…and it’s been accumulated over years.
Baking dishes and such have been accumulated from yard sales.
I still lust after an Aga cooker or Le Corneau, though.
Ah – I’m with Tom – to wish for an Aga, eh?
Ahhh, a good-sized oven. Is it too much to ask for to be able to fit two cookie sheets at the same time? Please?
I’ve been contemplating a toaster-oven. What I love most is my cast-iron electric Dutch oven, cheapo $25 Korean-made. Has a tempered glass lid and a handle that never gets hot! I am still marveling that I got a stainless-steel hot water kettle for the same price, slightly used, when an expat headed back to the states. And, my rice cooker, which doubles as a slow cooker for everything except beans (cause they foam up).
Thank you so much for the e-mail, Lou! It made my day! I shall go up and check on the little flag, see if it needs renewing.
Hugs and Happy Thoughts from my inner child and me,
~ Sil