Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Review
Posted by: petitisobels on: May 17, 2009
I’m a coffee snob, plain and simple. I have a high end espresso machine, burr grinder, several french presses and an assortment of drip coffee makers along with a wonderful vintage vacuum machine. But, on a recent vacation, the condominium I was staying at came equiped with one of the Keurig machines and there were a few K-containers of assorted blends in the cupboard. Expecting nothing more than ordinary “motel room” coffee, I figured out how to use the Keurig, fired it up and put in a nondescript K-cup of “Columbian” and brewed a small cup while I was getting ready to head out in the morning….I won’t say I was shocked, but I was certainly impressed. That cup was significantly better than it should have been given the pre-packaged, pre-ground coffee and the somewhat “gimicky” appeal of the system. I purchased some additional “k-cups” that day from a local store and continued to have easy, no mess morning coffee for the rest of my stay.
When I got back one of the first things I did was investigate the Keurig and I wound up getting a B-60 along with several boxes of K-cup coffees. Is it as good a 100% Blue Mountain in a french press or Chemix drip maker? No, but it is pretty darn good coffee, that is consistent from cup to cup with literally no mess.
The machine operates pretty much the same way as an auto expresso maker with the K-cup replacing the espresso handle and filter. Hot water from a removable tank is heated and then injected into the K-cup after the machine punctures it top and bottom. On this particular model one can adjust the size of the cup and the temperature of the brew, though this is a rather narrow range. I got the best results from the smallest cup size and a 190 degree temp setting, but LIKE WITH ALL COFFEE MAKERS, BUYING ONLY THE FRESHEST K-CUPS AND USING GOOD QUALITY BOTTLED WATER, will be necessary to get the best results. The bottom line is that one can easily get a good decent cup of coffee in less than a minute (if you leave the machine on all the time) with practically no mess. Do I use it all the time? No, but for a single cup in the middle of the day, or if you only want one or two cups in the morning, it’s a simple, no mess fix. I also, got the available permanent filter and have had good success with my own grinds, though you do have to futz with the settings a little.
The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because of the initial and ongoing cost connected “the convenience”. But it does make very good coffee and is clearly superior to most auto drip coffee makers using store bought pre ground coffee.
Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Reviews.
Posted by: petitisobels on: May 12, 2009
I bought a Keurig after reading all of the reviews about it. I thought to myself, surely this machine has a lot of hype to live up to.
Not only did it pass the hype test, it did so with flying colors.
Let me just say that if you are doing research on this machine, you will discover that people just rave about it. Review after review say it is worth the investment.Easy cleaning: 4 It’s really not that bad, however, you have to take out the filter (the price you pay for filtered water – so it’s worth it, really 
) before cleaning the tank. The filter, itself, should be replaced – not too expensive. The only serious issue I have with this is that its surfaces are multi-level which creates lots of nooks and crannies. This makes cleaning the unit annoying – I have to use a cue-tip…but that’s just me…
Variety of coffee/tea/other available: 1 This is where the Tassimo takes a serious nosedive. I say “criminal” because most of its disks come from Gevelia. Now, if you like Gevelia, then this isn’t a problem. I like Gevelia, too, but I also like others, such as Timothy’s, Green Mountain, Gloria Jeans, etc. And this unit accepts only Gevelia, Maxwell House, Gloria Jeans (I think), and maybe one or two others. Nowhere near enough!
Price (per cup) vs. taste: 3 Okay, if you don’t mind your cappuccino, espresso, and lattes to taste a little “off”. What I mean is, I love coffee, tea, etc. but I’m not a prig about it; so, for me, what the cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes lack in quality, they make for in value. This is definitely a “you get what you pay for” scenario. Keep in mind, too, that the “milk” the machine uses is white…is liquid…but, since it doesn’t require refrigeration, I have no idea what it really is. I’m sure it’s fine – some sort of milk derivative – but still, do you really want to consume that regularly?
Buyer remorse factor: 3 Once you realize all of the above mentioned, you may feel a little buyer remorse. But still, it makes a fairly good cup of coffee.
The machine also does hot water, of course, for tea and hot chocolate….but I tried to take it a step further by placing a regular tea bag (minus the string and tag) into the chamber…and it brewed perfectly. So, loose tea in the “my k-cup” filter would also turn out great, I’m sure.
All in all, this is truly a QUICK, versatile, SUPERB coffee machine. Great for myself, who enjoys decaf and tea, and also for my husband who prefers strong as strong can get. He can have his cup, then I can have mine right after. No mess….no cleaning (except for having to clean the my k-cup filter, which is a breeze), and MANY options from a small, simple machine. Well worth the money. I can’t wait to use it when I have guests….that way everyone can have exactly whatever kind of coffee or tea they want and without a wait!
Cuisinart DLC-10S Pro Classic 7-Cup Food Processor Reviews
Posted by: petitisobels on: April 7, 2009
True to the listing, this little machine does a lot! Baklava requires a lot of chopped nuts. This machine does it lickety split. Beautifully sliced tomatoes, all the same width, in no time at all. Pesto in minutes. Every cook should have this item on the counter. Clean up is simple…put it in the dishwasher (but, not the motor part.) The machine is pretty quiet. The price is good at $99 w/ free shipping & handling. We had a $50 coupon that made this long overdue purchase even sweeter. I have nothing bad to say of this food processor. It’s awesome!
April 1, 2005 UPDATE:
Upon further use of this fabulous machine, I’ve come to rely on it more to save me time. Fry your bacon, dump it into this machine…instant bacon bits! 2.5 lbs of cheese from the warehouse club store…shreds in seconds! Put it in a zip-lock baggie for future uses in recipes, on salads or burgers. Making soup? Sliced carrots and celery have never been so fast! In the mood for fresh shredded potatoes for a meal? It shreds them up in no time. And, doughs really do mix well in this machine!
Background: I bought this Cuisinart after reading all the positive reviews on this site. I bought it mainly for making bread because my mother raves about making bread with hers. I already had a small food processor for chopping, so I wasn’t too concerned about that.
Opinion: I have made great bread with this (rustic style) with no problems, and it really is easy. I actually prefer this one to my smaller food processor for chopping, because the blade sits closer to the bottom of the bowl and so is better for chopping small quantities. So far I haven’t gotten the slicer to work as well as it does in the video (things fall sideways in the tube, etc), but I haven’t tried too hard. I only cook for two, and I do not think it is too big. In fact, it’s much better than the smaller one because I can slice several things into one bowl. Furthermore, I have sometimes found it to be too small (for making cole slaw, for example).
I am here now to get some additional blades. I recommend getting an additional, thinner slicer blade if you want to make coule slaw. The one that comes with the machine is a little too thick,
KitchenAid 700-Watt 12-Cup Food Processors Reviews.
Posted by: petitisobels on: April 5, 2009
I have had the 760 KitchenAid Food Processor for about a month now. It’s my third Food Processor over a period of 25 years or so. My first was a Cuisinart which was a good enough machine that lasted many years, then just wore out. The second was a Black and Decker: much less expensive and boy, did it show. It was LOUD. It danced all over the counter, and worst of all, the plastic housing cracked at the places where the bowl snapped on, rendering the machine useless. So…after doing some research with Consumer Reports, which named KitchenAid as the best brand of the lot, I chose this one.
Honestly, the 12 cup size is bigger than I really need, as I only cook for three now. However, the attachments that come exclusively with this model, make me glad I chose it. I got an extra full sized bowl. This was great on Thanksgiving. I could process in the mini bowl, large bowl, and outer bowl without having to stop and wash bowls in between. Very handy!
I have never owned a stand mixer, so I love the egg whisk on this machine. It means I can whip egg whites stiffly to fold into cake batter without stopping to wash my handmixer beaters.
And…the citrus juicer. My hands are beginning to be arthritic, and when I’m squeezing half a dozen lemons for a recipe, it will save alot of stress and time. (It has a strainer built in to catch large pulp and seeds…I love products that show alot of thought went into them.)I also got the nice accessory box which is extra expense on smaller machines.
This machine is very quiet. Very powerful. All the standard shredders, slicers, etc. work very well. I like the fact that I got two slicers, one for thin and one for medium thin.
I had read in other reviews about the problem with processing liquids. I don’t understand why this is, but I was relieved to see that there is a fill line on the outer bowl, so as long as you’re paying attention, you shouldn’t have trouble, not to mention how large the capacity of this machine is.
There was a learning curve. This machine is a bit more complicated to assemble and run than my other two. But after a half dozen uses, it’s becoming second nature. Not a big deal.
So…yes, it’s big. And if your counter space is at a premium, by all means, get a smaller one. It’s certainly too large to be lifting in and out of a lower cabinet very often. That being said, though, I am glad I bought this model and expect to enjoy it for many years.
Cuisinart 14-Piece Chef’s Classic Nonstick Stainless Cookware Set Reviews
Posted by: petitisobels on: April 3, 2009
This pot set is quite wonderful! i love the cleanability and dishwasher-safe stainless and the nonstick is fantastic! it’s been hard to find a set with both attributes. the nonstick never needs soaking to get off tough, dried-on foods. the lids on a few are interchangeable, so you don’t have to have too many lids. the 2qt. pot lid fits the 8-inch skillet. the 3qt. pot, the 3.5 quart saute pan, and the stock pot all have the same diameter, so any of their lids can be used with the 10-inch skillet.
the only thing i would change is the make the 3.5 quart saute pan a little deeper, maybe by an inch or two. i realize that would also change the capacity for the better. the encapsulated aluminum bottom on all the pots and skillets really provides even heating.
i definitely think it’s worth it to get this 14-piece over the 12-piece. the only difference is the 12-inch everyday pan and it’s lid which has come in more handy than i thought. it’s a great size for 4-6 and possibly 8 servings of meat.
if you’re looking for quality stainless and nonstick, you’ll love this set!
I recently moved to the US from England and had to leave my old pots behind. I was looking for something similar to what I used to have and this seemed to be the closest.
There is a pot size for pretty much anything you could want to cook.
They hold the heat great as they have thick bottoms. The pots are pretty heavy for my weak wrists but luckily, the bigger pots have a second handle to help carry them from the range to wherever you need them. The glass lids are also pretty heavy and the handles do get a little hot but I was able to lift them off without a glove or towel after 45 minutes of simmering. You might want to get a small glove though.
I’m using the pots on an electric radiant glass top and I get even heat throughout.
I’d definitely recommend these pots to anyone looking for a good, solid non-stick pot set.
KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer Reviews.
Posted by: petitisobels on: March 21, 2009
Update: Mixer totally failed. The motor sparked and is done for. I definitely wouldn’t buy another one of these and would downgrade my rating to a two.
The mixer is good for doing an occasional bread recipe, and for other light tasks like whipping cream, mixing mashed potatoes, etc, but if you use it to make heavy or dry breads on a regular basis it isn’t suitable. When I first received the machine I loved it. I liked the high quality metal construction, the provided attachments, and the reputation of the KitchenAid name.
Throughout the first year I had no trouble with it. I used the machine once every month or so; I tried a few of the loaves of bread from the included recipe book. I really enjoyed the machine, and it is quite powerful for its rated 250 watts.
Then I bought this wonderful book, The Bread Baker’s Apprentice, by Reinhart. Only then did I realize how woefully inadequate this machine is for medium use. I started baking bread once a week, from a lighter ciabatta to heavy whole wheat breads and bagels.
The machine vibrates so much while mixing breads that I am afraid it is going to fall on the floor. The pin holding the tilt head on also works its way out, one of these days I am afraid it will fall out and the mixer head will fall off. While mixing dry doughs, like bagels, the motor strains so hard that it sometimes stops for 1 second at a time and makes buzzing noises before it finally is able to knead the dough. This causes excess heat in the motor that I am sure will cause premature failure (it has the electrical burn smell afterwards).
In the last few months the machine has quickly declined, and it is on its last limb. It is only a matter of time before the motor burns up or the gearbox fails. When it does fail I will probably fix it and keep it around as a meat grinder since it has the power take off unit that can run the meat grinder attachment. One of the nice things about these mixers is they are completely serviceable, but I will replace it with a DeLonghi (Kenwood) DSM7 that is better suited for my kneads (pun intended).
As I said, this mixer is excellent for light use, and for a single loaf (or 2 small loaves) of bread at a time. If you intend to bake bread frequently, it would be wise to invest in something heavier duty. If I only used it for light use, I would have rated it a 5.
Char-Broil 08101480 The Big Easy Oil-Less Infrared Turkey Fryer Reviews.
Posted by: petitisobels on: March 18, 2009
First, The Big Easy (TBE) cooks much faster than a “regular” turkey fryer. From start to finish, a turkey in TBE takes a total time of about 8-10 minutes per pound plus about 10-15 minutes to clean (by leaving it on) and a few minutes to cool down. Traditional oil frying may take much less time per pound but you have to heat the oil for an hour and then you have several hours of cooling, disposal, and cleaning time remaining.
TBE not only gives you the same crispy skin and incredibly moist flesh as traditional frying but you can also -
- use a dry rub without having it wash off in the oil
- put some “savories” in the cavity
- use fine wood chips for a light smoke flavor
- make “beer can chicken” or similar recipes
- baste during cooking
I’ve also used it for chicken (whole & parts), duck. leg of lamb, and various cuts of pork & beef and had great results every time.
The only problems I’ve heard about usually have to do with improper assembly, usually not seating the propane valve properly inside the burner tube to allow for proper gas flow. Other than that, it’s pretty much idiot-proof. I’d also recommend you get a decent thermometer (I have a digital with remote alarm) – the one supplied by Char Broil isn’t all that accurate.
I’ve been eating and cooking fried turkey since I was a kid in Louisiana (some 50 years ago when we used cut-down 55 gallon drums and fried the turkey until it floated). I’m totally sold on The Big Easy; it may well be the best cooking tool since cast iron.
Eastman Outdoors 38229 Reveo MariVac Food Tumbler Reviews.
Posted by: petitisobels on: March 16, 2009
The first few times I used this thing, I was NOT impressed. It did not seem to do much. Then I noticed a tiny crack in the black lid. It must have happened in shipping. I called the company and told them it had a hair line crack and didn’t seem to be drawing a vacuum. ‘Nuf said. They shipped me a new lid pronto and it was like a miracle. I threw a few chicken leg quarters in, some Worcestershire, some lemon juice, and some tabasco sauce and history was made.
I think it sucked the juice all the way into the bone marrow. Delish!!!
The thing is, when you get the thing:
1) Put the lid on the barrel.
2) Set the valve to ‘open’.
3) Attach the vacuum hose and run it through a ‘Marivac’ cycle.
4) Set the valve to close and detach the vacuum hose.
Then open the valve and listen…If it goes ‘pssst’, that don’t cut it. Get another lid. If it goes ‘SHHHhhhhhhh’ for about a second, thats the ticket. You got one that works. Guard it with your life! They don’t tell you this in the instruction manual.
I was all set to come here and tell you folks this thing ain’t worth two bucks much less two hundred. Now they will have to pry the thing from my lifeless fingers before I willingly give it up.
