Looking for fun ways to use my gift certificates

[Melman]

I have some gift certificates to spend at a local kitchen shop. I've been in twice already just checking out the options. They're not quite like a Williams-Sonoma kitchen shop...but they do have quite an assortment of all kinds of things.

So far, the item at the top of the possibilities list is an 11-cup Cuisinart food processor. I have a no-name food processor that's at least 20 years old...I don't use it often, but when I do, I'm glad I have it. I doubt I could get parts for it if it broke at this point.

I've looked at All Clad, but I'm pretty happy with the pieces I have. I've looked at Wusthof knives, but I already have the specific Wusthof knives I really wanted to get.

Of the typical big-purchase items, I already own a Kitchenaid stand mixer, have a blender that's only a few years old, and have the Cuisinart ice cream maker. I already own a pressure cooker, too. I even got a FoodSaver for Christmas last year!!

There is one item I really want, but I don't have a place to put it. This shop has some of the best-looking hanging pot racks of anywhere I've ever been. They're awesome!! Unfortunately, there's NOWHERE in my kitchen I can hang one. I think because that's what I'd really like to get, my mind goes blank when I try to think of what would be second best.

What am I missing? Are there new "toys" that someone has recently acquired???

Thanks!!!! :D

[little_bopeep]

I've found that I can't live without my bread machine or crockpot...how are you fixed for those?

[lonetree1353]

I second the crockpot idea...I would be lost without mine. I don't use my bread machine very often.

[Jasmine-Rose]

Do you have an immersion blender? I didn't for many years and now I wouldn't want to be without it. I just bought a slow cooker - I've never had one before, and I'm enjoying it very much.

Have fun shopping!

[Melman]

Great ideas!

I've had a crockpot for 20+ years (in fact, I just let my son take my new one to college with him because I couldn't find the old one I planned to give him...it will come back home eventually). :D

I've never had a breadmaker. That's an idea to consider. The downside is that I've been trying to stay away from breads as much as possible. I can see that plan falling along the wayside quickly! :D

I have an immersion blender and love it.

I saw some wild appliance that had various 'plates' to put in it...one looked like a grill (like a George Foreman), one was like a waffle iron, and I can't remember the third. The plates could be washed in the dishwasher. I do like my baby George grill but hate cleaning it, have never had a waffle iron, and, darn, I wish I could remember that 3rd plate.

Please keep those ideas coming! :D

[gabbyh]

Melanie,

Are you SURE you don't have room for a pot rack? I really love the one we have...it finishes off the kitchen...it's green and round and hangs RIGHT in front of my stove...of course for me it's great, but for my 6'3" husband, the pots have to be strategically placed:D

Waffle maker or what about a Pizelle Maker? Both are great to have!
Or how about a rice cooker, or a veggie steamer?

~Gail

[Beth]

Do you have a kitchen window that a pot rack might hang over? I'm considering that since I'm not sure I want the clutter of pans over my island, but I do like pot racks. :rolleyes:

[gabbyh]

I just had to post a picture, I love my rack!But the one I have is green!

http://store3.yimg.com/I/elitedeals_1795_3202978

[Melman]

Oooh...you guys are good. I hadn't thought about above the stove or in front of the window at the sink!! Great ideas. :D Hmmm...nope, the stove is out because there are cabinets there....but the sink needs some investigating!!

That waffle-iron with the 3 plates MIGHT have a pizelle maker as the 3rd plate. After doing a quick search, Villaware looks like a possibility, but I couldn't find the exact grill on their website. Maybe there's one toy, er, tool, that will do both. :D

Rice cookers and veggie steamers are interesting too. I think the store had both.

But what are the thoughts about that 11-cup Cuisinart food processor??

[gabbyh]

Melanie,

I wish I had the 11-cup! I have a smaller model,and complain every time I use it:D

~Gail

[mbrogier]

I would love an 11 cup cuisinart food processor. You can't kill it. You can do pie dough, bread dough, pesto, homemade mayo, quick 5 minute ice cream... The food processor gets my vote. I got a cheap one for a Christmas present...I still use it for doughs even though I can smell the motor burning a little. So it doesn't last 20 years. I'll have my cuisinart long before then.:D

[little_bopeep]

Originally posted by Melman


But what are the thoughts about that 11-cup Cuisinart food processor??

Love it, love it, love it. :cool:

[Melman]

After the suggestions of putting a hanging rack above my stove...or in front of the window at the sink, I went back to study my kitchen. There's one other wall that just might work. I'd have to move a couple of things, but it's no big deal.

SO...now I'm torn between a hanging rack (that's I've always wanted to a) show off my wonderful All Clad cookware and b) put it at a place where I can reach it easily without fighting to pull it out of a drawer...plus the bonus of all the freed up space from where the cookware is currently stashed.......

and a Cuisinart food processor!!! They both sound like things I need for my kitchen. :D

Decisions, decisions!

:D :D :D

[Jasmine-Rose]

This isn't an appliance but I'll throw it in the mix. Not too long ago I bought a second bowl for my KA mixer. I love having a spare and I often use both.

[colleency]

If you're looking for an excuse to get both, buy the potrack now. Then when your current food processor does die, it will be a repair/replace expense rather than a new purchase. :D (Besides, you may just get enough extra time out of the food processor to save up for another one.

[little_bopeep]

So whadja end up with???

[little_bopeep]

Bumping again because I just can't stand not knowing how you used your gift certificate. I love spending OPM, and I'm darn good at it!

[Melman]

Hi!
I ended up with a gorgeous (unnamed) Cuisinart 11-cup food processor. I was really considering the hanging pot rack...but considering our average daily temperature is 90+ degrees, there was NOBODY in my entire life that I wanted to beg to head to my attic to drill holes. The distance between the entrance to my attic and the kitchen is just about the furthest distance in the whole house. :D

The Cuisinart won.

I made pesto this weekend...that was my test run. WOW! :D What a fun toy!!

Now...anyone care to give me ideas on how to use my pesto?? :D :o