Crown Cookie Cutter

Read First Before Buy ANN CLARK LTD Cookie Cutter

The Ann Clark Crown cookie cutter was a dream to work with. I purchased it to make cookies for my son's birthday favors. They turned out perfect. There was only one cookie at the end of the batch that broke while trying to transfer it over to the cookie sheet. This was NOT the cutter's fault only my own trying to get every last cookie out of the batch. It is about 4 inches tall at the tallest point. This would not be a good sandwich maker unless you use very wide bread. A standard slice of bread would be too small to use with it. Obviously it would need to be wider than 5 inches. Ann Clark cookie cutters have been my favorite cutter to use because they have the handle and they are a high quality of cutter.

If anyone has any questions I'd be happy to answer them.
Amanda

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Compact, nicely designed and effective. Controls take a little getting used to.

Read First Before Buy T fal OF1708001 17 Liter Stainless Convection

I found the myriad settings a little confusing at first so I had a look through the manual. The cooking settings chart is a useful reference although I've developed my own settings for toasting.

Manual says: to toast, use 'broil' at 450 F and flip the bread over halfway through.

I say: to toast, use 'convection' at 425 F and don't flip the bread.

Convection will make a very quick piece of toast (or toasted sandwich) so be conservative with the timer.

In general I like the manual's recommendation of rack height #3 for most purposes. For most items their temperature recommendations will also work fine.

Five months in and we're very happy. Oven is fairly lightweight but seems well-constructed. The little pizza bay is nice, we get Trader Joe's pizzas (which are probably sourced from a name maker like Amy's) sometimes and they cook up nicely. The pull-out crumb tray makes for easy cleanup.

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Classy Appliance, looks and works great

Best Review on Cuisinart SMS 201S Sparkling Beverage Silver

In the past I used a Soda Stream, probably one of the first ones on the market. It was clunky, and I always worried about it tipping over.....not so with the Cuisinart SMS-201S.

I LOVE the Cuisinart, it looks classy, the squared corners make it easy to store, and it fits great next to my other counter top appliances.

The set-up took seconds, (also live the smaller canister size). One thing that may go wrong is the piece on the back of the machine that you remove in order to put in the canister, it's plastic, and the little tabs which hold the door on could easily break if you get 'rough' with it....then the door would not stay in place.

There is a level on the top front of the machine which you pull down to 'fizz' your water, which is very easy to use, the bottle screws in easily, and the Cuisinart seems quite sturdy. The cap for the bottle is stored in the back of the machine, which threw me at first, I thought it was missing...! The Cap/cover is also large, it looks like the black piece on the bottom of the bottle, more of a modern look I guess. The over-sized cap is the only thing that I'm not sure about, but it's not enough that I wouldn't want to purchase the Cuisinart, just not the standard bottle cap that we're used to.

As far as I'm concerned, this is a great product, one that I would buy for gifts, Mother's Day, weddings, etc.

Our favorite drink is the Diet Grapefruit!

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another enthusiast from Redmond WA

Best Review on Cuisinart WM SW2 Dual Sandwich Nonstick Electric

Many reviewers are complaining about only being able to make "thin sandwiches" with this press. I've owned it for 8 months now, and it has worked perfectly for every single sandwich I have ever put in there.

Last night, I made a meatball and marinara stuffed sandwich. The meatballs were about 3 inches tall, cut in half, so 1.5 inches in the sandwich. I put some marinara sauce and mozzarella, the top piece of bread, and it worked perfectly.

I have no idea what these people are putting in their sandwiches, but if you plan on 6 inches of sandwich (vertically, that is), then no this grill may not work for you. However, those 6-inch-tall monstrosities are probably not legally classified as "sandwiches" once they get that tall anyway.

It's a sandwich grill. It fits two pieces of bread, some cheese, some meat, a few veggies, and it squeezes your sandwich together and cooks from both sides. When the green light is lit, your sandwich is done! It's easy. It's fast. It's high quality and still looks/functions like new after 8 months of heavy use (heavy being at least 3 times a week, usually 5-7 times a week. My household loves hot sandwiches.)

Easy to clean - just wipe it out with a moist paper towel when it's still warm (don't burn yourself like I'm wont to do).

Another fun idea: I use this grill to make omelets. Scramble a few eggs in a bowl with a fork; mix in some green onions, ham, and cheese; a few dashes of tobasco sauce; pour the bowl in the grill and clamp down. In 5 minutes, you'll have a perfectly-cooked, square-shaped omelet.

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Better than other omelet makers (see below, also includes our recipe)

Best Review on Progressive International Microwavable Omelet Maker

Bought this one at the same time as the KittAmor Microwave Omelette Maker. This one (Progressive) is superior, mainly because of the two handles. When you pull it out of the microwave, the larger handles are cool enough to touch right away. On the KittArmor model, the smaller handles are hot and uncomfortable to touch. The omelettes they make taste the same.

Interestingly, the KittArmor model included a better recipe. Here's ours: three eggs, two tablespoons milk, lots of mushrooms and cheese. 90 seconds, add toppings, 70 seconds, close lid, 10 seconds, always on high power. Our new 1250 watt microwave is more powerful than most, so you may have to adjust your times accordingly.

The reviewers who said this makes rubbery omelettes probably had low-power microwaves, or poorly functioning ones. They seem to wear out after a while, although our last one made it to 15 years.

Five stars for making great omelettes, no points deducted for not including milk in the recipe.

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Great paninis starting with the first

Read First Before Buy Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Panini Press

I received this as a gift and was so impressed with the versatility of the pan! It works beautifully for years now and I've made many varieties of panini, quesadillas, and grilled veggies. Some of my favorite panini combos are: 1) apple, bacon, brie; 2) tomato, mozzarella, pesto; 3) avocado, pepper jack cheese, tomato.

To get grill marks on both sides of the panini: Put two slices of bread on the heated pan, only put your cheese on one slice, and all your toppings on the other slice. Once the cheese is mostly melted, put that bread slice on top of the toppings slice. Then use the lid to press the pieces together and let it heat through. I like focaccia best because it presses well without losing its texture but I've also used soft wheat bread and sliced white bread successfully.

The pan is also great for quesadillas! I put a tortilla on the heated pan and spread cheese and salsa on half the tortilla. Once the cheese starts to melt, fold the tortilla onto itself and use the lid to press together.

I've used the pan as a grill for veggies like zucchini, red pepper, green pepper, and onions by lightly spraying it with olive oil and adding a little garlic just before I'm ready to take the veggies off.

I rarely put the burner above medium heat. I've found it's best to put your oil on, set the burner to medium-low and let the pan heat up for about 5 minutes before adding your bread or tortilla.

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Sandwich Maker

Read First Before Buy Crazy Cats Media Sandwich Maker

I was looking for a book that showed how to do special effects for food: make a burger look like a Big Mac on tv rather than the sloopy flat thing you get that looks like someone stepped on it at McDs. This book covers all of that and more. I knew quick a few tricks prior to buying this book so I was hesitant to spend $40. After getting this book and flipping through it I would've paid the $75 publisher's price because it's that good of a book. Keep in mind this is food FX, not real food, there is a difference. Much of this stuff is not edible but looks amazing on tv or in photos. If you want to cook a fancy meal and have it look nice then this book is not for you. There are plenty of those books out there but this is the bible for food FX for indie film makers, commercials, photos, etc. Lots of in depth knowledge. I know I will be using this book as a reference for years to come.

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An incredibly in-depth and indispensable book.

Read First Before Buy Food Styling The Preparing Camera

I was looking for a book that showed how to do special effects for food: make a burger look like a Big Mac on tv rather than the sloopy flat thing you get that looks like someone stepped on it at McDs. This book covers all of that and more. I knew quick a few tricks prior to buying this book so I was hesitant to spend $40. After getting this book and flipping through it I would've paid the $75 publisher's price because it's that good of a book. Keep in mind this is food FX, not real food, there is a difference. Much of this stuff is not edible but looks amazing on tv or in photos. If you want to cook a fancy meal and have it look nice then this book is not for you. There are plenty of those books out there but this is the bible for food FX for indie film makers, commercials, photos, etc. Lots of in depth knowledge. I know I will be using this book as a reference for years to come.

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Not simple, but splendid

Read First Before Buy DeLonghi DTT312 2 Slice Adjustable Toaster

If you've done your homework with the reviews on the Amazon site, you know that you can buy a very decent toaster for under $30; so I resisted buying this one because of the price. But we've now toasted enough bagels, English muffins, and bread slices with the DeLonghi DTT312 that I'm convinced the higher price was worth it. You'll get precise control over how light or dark your bagel/muffin/slice comes out, provided that you take a few minutes and read the directions in the manual. It's a pain to give up and read the manual, but it can pay off. One example: look at the photo of the DeLonghi toaster in the Amazon listing: you'll see 4 buttons in a vertical array on the front panel of the toaster. If you want to toast a slice or two of bread, push the third button from the top. If you want to toast a sliced bagel, face the sliced surfaces to the front and push the second button from the top. DeLonghi evidently feels that only a barbarian would want both sides of a bagel to be toasted: when you push the "bagel" button, only the elements on the front side light up. Your bagel will be nicely toasted on the cut side, and untoasted on the bottom. But if you try the bagel setting on sliced bread, you'll see where some of the complaints of "uneven toasting" come from. Take a minute or two to read the instructions, pop in a couple of slices of bread or a sliced bagel, and you should be as happy as we are with this toaster.

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Great Electric Grill

Read First Before Buy Big Boss Stainless Reversible 1500 Watt

This is the first time I have written a review because that takes time and I usually dont have much of that. These toatser bags are absolutely fantastic for simple and quick toastable sandwiches that even kids can do. I taught my six year old to remove the sandwhich from the bag with toaster tongs to avoid burns from melting cheese and she is now the star sandwich maker for the family. She has successfully used the bags on her own more than 25 times. The fact that there is no need for butter or oils on the bread is a huge bonus as well. The bag is simply limited by the natural width of the bag itself as well as the toaster slot size. While I would not make a thick yummy Ruben in the things, I could possibly make an average thin one! In a traditional vertical toaster gravity may also be somewhat of a problem for melting items that are not compressed between two slices of bread. However, the application of frozen food items (nuggests, fish sticks and the like) works just great. I have found them so practical I keep some at work as well as having spares to use as I have a four slot toaster and can make four sandwiches in under three minutes. If the bags are wiped clean with a paper towel right after use there really is no significant clean up. Will deffinetly be buying more when these are worn out!

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buying more for backup

Read First Before Buy Toastabags Reusable Non Stick Sandwich Grilling

This is the first time I have written a review because that takes time and I usually dont have much of that. These toatser bags are absolutely fantastic for simple and quick toastable sandwiches that even kids can do. I taught my six year old to remove the sandwhich from the bag with toaster tongs to avoid burns from melting cheese and she is now the star sandwich maker for the family. She has successfully used the bags on her own more than 25 times. The fact that there is no need for butter or oils on the bread is a huge bonus as well. The bag is simply limited by the natural width of the bag itself as well as the toaster slot size. While I would not make a thick yummy Ruben in the things, I could possibly make an average thin one! In a traditional vertical toaster gravity may also be somewhat of a problem for melting items that are not compressed between two slices of bread. However, the application of frozen food items (nuggests, fish sticks and the like) works just great. I have found them so practical I keep some at work as well as having spares to use as I have a four slot toaster and can make four sandwiches in under three minutes. If the bags are wiped clean with a paper towel right after use there really is no significant clean up. Will deffinetly be buying more when these are worn out!

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Toas-Tite grill

Read First Before Buy Toas Tite 79357 Sandwich Grill

Unlike her sister, Winter, Porsche Santiaga didn't have a chance to evade social services after the police took their parents away. Bouncing from foster home to foster home and following an unfortunate incident, Porsche lands in juvenile prison where she learns the rules of survival the hard way. After linking up with a fellow detainee named Riot and becoming a member of her gang, the Diamond Needles, Porsche winds up on an Indian reservation with Riot and they are taught important lessons that will last a lifetime.

Porsche's initial goals are simple--return to her Long Island mansion and reclaim the lavish lifestyle her family once lived. However, with all of her newfound insight she is still not fully prepared for the fight ahead of her when she is hit with the harsh reality of her mother's new existence; the fate of her sisters, Winter, Lexus and Mercedes; and the realization that life as she knew it will never be the same.

"A Deeper Love Inside" starts off slow, but once it takes off, it soars. I was all-engrossed in what would become of a little girl lost in the system without a real family unit. As is her signature, Sister Souljah showcases strong-willed and determined females against the backdrop of intelligent, nurturing and successful male figures.

Souljah has a way with words as she weaves this emotional story of struggle, growth and true love. From the ending of "The Coldest Winter Ever", I, as I'm sure most of you, had drawn my own conclusions about who I thought Porsche Santiaga really was. Make no mistake, people aren't always who they appear to be and by getting to know Porsche like I do now, you too will find a deeper love inside

Michelle Cuttino
AAMBC Reviewer

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Speechless

Read First Before Buy Deeper Love Inside Santiaga ebook

Unlike her sister, Winter, Porsche Santiaga didn't have a chance to evade social services after the police took their parents away. Bouncing from foster home to foster home and following an unfortunate incident, Porsche lands in juvenile prison where she learns the rules of survival the hard way. After linking up with a fellow detainee named Riot and becoming a member of her gang, the Diamond Needles, Porsche winds up on an Indian reservation with Riot and they are taught important lessons that will last a lifetime.

Porsche's initial goals are simple--return to her Long Island mansion and reclaim the lavish lifestyle her family once lived. However, with all of her newfound insight she is still not fully prepared for the fight ahead of her when she is hit with the harsh reality of her mother's new existence; the fate of her sisters, Winter, Lexus and Mercedes; and the realization that life as she knew it will never be the same.

"A Deeper Love Inside" starts off slow, but once it takes off, it soars. I was all-engrossed in what would become of a little girl lost in the system without a real family unit. As is her signature, Sister Souljah showcases strong-willed and determined females against the backdrop of intelligent, nurturing and successful male figures.

Souljah has a way with words as she weaves this emotional story of struggle, growth and true love. From the ending of "The Coldest Winter Ever", I, as I'm sure most of you, had drawn my own conclusions about who I thought Porsche Santiaga really was. Make no mistake, people aren't always who they appear to be and by getting to know Porsche like I do now, you too will find a deeper love inside

Michelle Cuttino
AAMBC Reviewer

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Soooo good!

Best Review on Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free 20 Ounce

I had to switch to gluten free diet this year because of health reasons. I'm from Europe, used to eating lots of good bread and I was bummed that I will never be able to have a tasty slice of bread. I've been searching for a good gluten-free bread for months; I tried several different mixes from several different brands. None of them tasted good. Then I found this mix and I have to say I'm done searching. This is it. This gluten free bread is just delicious! Doesn't even taste like it's gluten free. It is nice and dark in color with lots of tasty seeds inside. The whole house smells great when the bread is in the oven. When it's done, I slice it and freeze it. Then I just toast the slices I'm going to eat. It comes out great out of a toaster. I'm really happy I found this mix.

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Best small spatula

Read First Before Buy OXO Grips Silicone Cookie Spatula

I love this little spatula. I do not do cookies. I was hoping it would do for turning eggs in a small pan. Oh, yes, and how! It is just great.

I just used this spatula this morning to turn 3 eggs in a very small pan. Since it is small, it can get under the individual egg without disturbing its neighbors. Since it is silicone, the spatula does not stick to the pan or the egg or carry any, what shall I call it, frying pan debris, with it. It works perfectly. I've only broken one egg since I started using it (2 times a week for about 2 months). The handle is short and curved just right for my purposes.

You can see the "base", which is metal, through the silicone. I don't think it will break through, though, as long as you don't leave it resting in a hot pan, maybe not even then. I think it would take a tremendous amount of use for it to wear through. By then one probably needs a new one anyway.

This is a terrific small spatula and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a small compact spatula.

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Product performs very well

Read First Before Buy Cuisinart GR SM Overstuffed Sandwich Stainless

Ok, so I've had this sandwich maker for a while now, I've made various dishes with varied results so I feel I can give an objective review of my experience.

First impressions:

Its a sturdy unit, but not too hefty or bulky. Well packaged, good design. No functionality flaws. I purchased it for my office because I used to have one of those devices that poaches eggs, heats meat, and makes toast all in one, but the build quality was so bad I had to replace them really often. After extensive research into finding a higher end replacement I found a blogger stating how she made her breakfast sandwiches in a pocket sandwich maker. So I figured that this Cuisinart product would be the perfect solution, plus it would expand my lunch options as well.

Let me preface this by saying I always cook on the highest setting. I let the unit preheat completely (until the green light comes on) and then I give the top plates a very light spritz of cooking spray (like Pam). At first I used a small set of bamboo tongs to remove the sandwich pockets, and ate them whole because tearing or cutting them in half wasn't easy. Now I have what I believe to be the perfect companion to this device. Its called The Scizza. Think of a large pair of scissors with a small silicone spatula wrapped around the end. I use it to scoop out the sandwiches (no scratching because of thew silicone) press down lightly to close the scissor on it to grab it, move it to my plate, and then cut it in half!! Then I turn the temp knob to off and use a couple paper towels to give the plates a quick wipe down. Leave it open to cool and that's it.

Cooking Experiences (Positive)

Mini calzones (pepperoni, sausage, cheese, peppers, sauce) using canned pizza dough and recipe that came with the unit. - Amazing! Came out perfect every time.

Hot meat (various) and cheese (various) sandwiches using store bought standard square bread slices - perfect every time.

Omelets (Egg, pre-cooked sausage, peppers) perfect in just a couple minutes

Eggs sunny side up (spray a little Pam in the bottom plates, i did one jumbo egg per triangular section) AMAZING! best eggs ever. Whites cooked, yellows runny. Came out of the plates so easily.

Hot dogs (well buns actually) I cooked up my dogs in the microwave or in a pan then put one bun diagonally on each of the 4 plates, opening side up. I let them sit like that with the unit opened for a minute. Then i take the dogs and place them in the opened buns, then shut the lid on them. After about another minute i open it up and have perfectly toasted buns partially sealed around the dogs. They pop right out. (note that i used standard hot dogs, not bun length). Add my toppings and try not to burn myself with the hottest dogs ever.

Happy accident. I started off trying to use a bowl to put together an egg, sausage, and peppers sandwich. Using some refrigerated pizza dough i had left over from making calzones. I placed the dough in a bowl to hold the shape then added my ingredients. Should have stopped with one egg. Two eggs plus everything else was too much and i couldn't close the dough and it ended up a sloppy egg covered doughy mess. I was ready to just toss it all in the trash, but figured "Hey, the sandwich maker has worked so well on everything else... i wonder...." So i sprayed the bottom plates and poured the egg/sausage/peppers into two trays and plopped the soggy dough into the other two trays. 4-5 minutes later i had two perfect omelets, and two pizza dough croissants.

Cooking Experiences (Semi-Negative)

Cooking with slices from the short fat bread loaves. Had some leakage of the cheese onto the plates. But it came right off of the non stick plates.
Breakfast sandwich - (one of my first sandwich attempts) Tried to make an egg, sausage and pepper sandwich. disobeyed my own rules. turned on the machine to preheat, immediately put first slice of bread down pushed the bread into the plates to make small cups to hold the fillings and to keep the egg from running away. Cracked the eggs into the bread, added everything else, placed the other slice of bread on top. Results - Egg ran out of sides causing sizzling on plates, bottom bread super dry (didn't really burn though) top bread not well toasted, Egg undercooked.

The only really negative things i have found with this unit are:

1. There are two lights on the top of the unit (Red and Green). The instructions say that when you turn the unit on the red light comes on (which it does), and then when it is properly heated the green light will come on (which it does as well). When you open the unit to put in your items to cook and close it back down, the green light is supposed to go off after a couple of seconds, then come back on when your food is ready. The problem is that many times the green light doesn't turn off. This leaves you wondering if the light is on because the food is ready, or because it never turned off in the first place. Its unreliable, but not a deal breaker. I mainly time/eye it anyway.

2. You have to prepare your items BEFORE you put them on the sandwich machine. If you don't you will end up with the scenario above. The problem with that is somethings are easier to move (calzone pockets, pre-made sandwiches) than others, specifically anything with a liquid component.

So, all in all I love this machine. One of the best purchases I've made in terms of cooking appliances.

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Great machine, great bread

Read First Before Buy Panasonic SD YD250 Automatic Bread Dispenser

We tried the Breadman 555 and we were a bit disappointed. The bread was slightly inconsistent and the crust was very dark and thick, even on the lightest crust setting. I liked the very large observation window on this model, but apparently that may not be a good thing for the bread. There were numerous other small problems and worries that we had with it, so we decided to return it.
After a lot of research and option weighing, we decided to buy the Panasonic 250. The deciding factors were performance, construction and ability to replace parts.
The construction of the Panasonic is outstanding! The sturdy die-cast aluminum bread pan has no rivets to loosen and leak. The non-stick surface on the pan and kneading blade is much stronger than on the Breadman model. The Kneader drive components are also much more sturdy. I could go on and on but I'll just say that the construction on the Panasonic is just far superior.
The operation of the machine is also outstanding. It runs very quietly for a bread maker and the motor seems very strong. I was a little worried about the way that the bread pan locks into place (kind of a twist and turn locking system) as-well-as the effectiveness of the yeast dispensing system. I am very pleased that both work great. With the yeast dispensing system you just need to be certain that there is no moisture in it, and all the yeast is distributed just fine. When you start the machine there is a waiting state at the beginning, before the yeast is dispensed, where the ingredients are warmed to the optimal temperature. This adds about 30-60 minutes to the process but apparently it's important. The dough is kneaded very thoroughly for about 15 minutes then the rise process lasts about 2 hours before the ~50 minute bake cycle. The control panel is fairly simple to use. Just select bake options, loaf size and crust darkness (on certain bake options), and that's it. There is also the ability to use custom bake only and dough only settings. It doesn't have the 300 presets like the Breadman Ultimate, but the final result is what it's all about. The bread comes out beautiful. For white bread on the basic bake with light crust setting, the bread has a very nice consistency with a thin beautiful blonde crust. On the wheat setting (which doesn't have the ability to adjust the crust (this also worried me)), the bread is amazing. The crust is obviously darker than the white bread, but not over cooked like in the breadman. A 2 pound bread loaf is about 5 inches wide, 7 1/2 inches long and 6 1/2 inches tall. The height is a little strange but using smaller recipes can adjust this. I did make a wheat bread recipe that was too thick and although the motor seems strong, the kneading blade could not turn. this could have burned up the motor if I had not been there to add water. So always be watchful when trying a new recipe!
The instruction manual has been revised so the measurements are now in weight and standard volume measurements, which makes it as easy and as accurate as you want to be. This is a great machine, and if you think your going to use it often, it's well worth the extra money.
I want to thank everyone who contributed to this review forum for helping me make the right decision in choosing the Panasonic.

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Great

Read First Before Buy GAU 80203 Cuban Style Sandwich Nonstick Surface

I grew up in Miami and have lived in other parts of the U.S. and missed a good Cuban sandwich. Many restaurants, outside of Miami, try to make a Cuban...but they either don't have the right bread or meats. Once you have the right ingredients, (Publix Markets Deli have what you need) Spanish Pork, Ham, Swiss Cheese, Mustard, Pickle and a little butter on the outside of the Cuban bread...there is one other very important part to make a good Cuban...that's where this wonderful sandwich press comes in. You have to be patient and allow the cheese and meats to get hot enough in the middle of the sandwich so the cheese is melted and the meats begin to cook a bit allowing the flavors to mingle. Your bread should now be nice and crispy on the outside. Be patient.

The press itself is great...I'm very happy with its performance, quality and features. This chromed beauty reminds me of appliances made in the 60s....simple, and well made. I love the way the reversible, non-stick grill plates can be easily removed and washed. They are smooth on one side, which is the side I like to use for the Cuban sandwiches, and grill-like on the other. When you take the plates off you can see the workings of this device...robust, well secured heating elements, and a dial type thermostat. Over the last few days I think I have made 6 Cuban sandwiches and they all turned out super!

I'm very happy with this sandwich maker...I think you will be too!

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Florida history you never knew, but need to know.

Best Review on Finding Florida T D Allman

History is a messy affair. We are raised in the Disney version of America where the bad guys always get caught and the good guys always win. If only it could be so simple. In the book Finding Florida, author T.D. Allman pulls back the veil of darkness that encompasses Florida's past. He does so without reserve or ambiguity. In a state whose history is as old as America itself, the perfect delusion has been shattered.

T.D. Allman explains that the Sunshine state was built on blind ambition, by many men and women who were never held back by moral bonds. From the British and Spanish invasions of the 1500s, to the foolish exploits of Deleon and Desoto, to present day Election frauds, this southern peninsular has been at the center of the American conversation. This one state is home to enormous cities of the future and tiny backwater towns which cling to the past in frightening ways. Travelers have altered its landscape with money and vision leaving behind vast communities as well as dead bodies. The written history has been re-crafted countless times and profited from in the strangest of ways but to this very day the oddities have not slowed one bit.

A Floridian himself, the author gives 450 pages of stunning examples of the strange effect that Florida has on people and their intentions. Fortunes have been earned and squandered, vast structures built and then destroyed by nature itself. Allman reminds us that Florida does not resemble the savage beast which we fail to tame, it is the beast and only those who respect her unusual powers will live to tell the tale.

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Gotta love Pretzels and I love this book

Best Review on Pretzel Making Home Andrea Slonecker

OK, I share the author's fascination with pretzels. I grew up with the Phili version (oblong, soft, cold) and ate at a minimum one in the morning and one in the afternoon at school. (Often got the hot version on the way home from school). I'm snacking on one for breakfast (home made) as I create this review.

I can confirm the research the author did from the East Coast to Germany, and even taught some Germans something about pretzels while living there.

Some things for me the author suggest just aren't going to happen (a pro grade mixer). I just use a stupid auto bread maker to knead my dough... Other than that... Everything in the book is spot on.

I like the detail on preparing mustards. I agree that fresh mustard makes a Big Difference, and loved the recipes for mustard sauces as much as the finer details on the pretzel itself.

While I'm not a beginner, the book is a great shortcut on the best flour (and why), etc. The resource section for things like food grade lye was something I had discovered only a month before this book came out after much research. It would have saved me a 1/2 day of research to find the same supplier if the book came out a month sooner.

I really am thankful for all the 'cut to the chase' parts I still was digging out.

An artisan 'pretzel' bread is truly memorable. And yes, I often use the basics to make a sandwich loaf type bread as I first tasted in Frankfurt. This book is helping me refine without the trial and error.

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Handy

Best Review on Norpro Mini Cast Panini Press

I did not want to spend $50-$75 on a large electric press nor did I want to give one counter space so I was pleased to see this small cast iron one. It works wonderfully and the only drawbacks are 1) only makes one at a time which is fine with me and 2) the downside is you will want more than one sandwich as it is so tasty! (Just get up and walk away and do not succumb to temptation!) I do find that I have to turn it over about 1/2 way through or one side gets browner than the other. You are not supposed to have to do that and maybe as I gain experience I will learn more tricks.

You brush just a little olive oil in the pan and on the press and let them sit on medium heat for a few minutes. You make your sandwich with mayo, thin sliced cheese, meat, olives, tomatoes, onions or whatever (no lettuce) and then brush both sides of the sandwich (you are supposed to use bread like a ciabatta bread but I think you could use any kind) with a little olive oil and Italian seasonings. Put the sandwich in the pan and the press on top, heat on medium and wait about 3 minutes. It makes this wonderful sandwich, hot and melted in the center and crisp in the outside.

Makes the ultimate toasted cheese sandwich.

It is little so it does not take up too much storage space.

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Really nice and not expensive

Read First Before Buy Proctor Silex 25401 Sandwich Maker

The only simpler design would be a frying pan on the stovetop - this is amazingly effective. The double-sided griddle makes it much faster than a skillet could ever hope for. The best part is the flat, undivided surface. I hate those sandwich makers with triangle divisions that ruin 1/4 of the bread by compression.

Of course the ubiquitous grilled cheese sandwich is what this machine excels at but it's also perfection on any grilled sandwich; Reuben, Cuban, Tuna-melt, what-have-you. Further, anything that you'd fry in a skillet for a few minutes then flip and fry the other side will cook in half the time on this. Bacon, sausage, eggs, ham, pork chops, chicken breast, French toast... peppers/onion/steak... It does a solid job on a filled tortilla that's been folded in half too. and, my favorite, Monte Cristo variations:

Beat 1 egg into a shallow bowl. Assemble a ham and cheese sandwich using your favorite combination of ham, cheese, and bread. Dip the assembled sandwich in the egg and fry in the preheated PS Sandwich Toaster for 3 minutes. mmmmm

Overall a 6 out of 5 for what it's designed to do and a 5 out of 5 for lots of other things.

Almost best part, after eating the great food; it's very easy to clean and stores upright next to the toaster perfectly.

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Super easy to use and clean! Makes nice waffles.

Read First Before Buy T fal SW6100004 Nonstick Interchangeable Sandwich

The removable plates was a major reason for selecting this waffle iron. I'm very happy with how easy it is to wash the waffle plates since they can be soaked in water or put in the dishwasher.

(With our previous waffle iron, I spent a lot of time trying to get it clean, which I was never able to do satisfactorily with a paper towel or sponge. It would get sticky from the oil and extra things like bananas that we added to the waffles...and it seemed gross to wipe it off and put it away in the cupboard like that).

The quality of the waffles seems very good. My kids like it when we make extras and then they can heat them up in the toaster for a quick hot breakfast on a school day. Waffles with mini chocolate chips are their favorites.

This waffle iron does not have a light or timer that will tell you when the waffles are done. But that is not a problem for me -- as soon as I pour the batter in, I set my stove timer for three minutes and that is just the right time for my waffles to cook. The waffle maker heats up again for the next batch very quickly. I had debated about whether we really needed a waffle iron, since we could always make pancakes. However, making waffles is much easier than babysitting pancakes that have to be watched for bubbles and flipped. Those three minute intervals can actually be used to do other kitchen tasks -- without worrying about burning the breakfast.

I've only made sandwiches a couple of times...and my family seemed pleased with the sandwiches, both their nice appearance and that they were cooked very well (much better than if they had been fried in a pan). We are looking forward to trying a variety of new hot sandwich recipes.

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Bought two!

Read First Before Buy Hamilton Beach 25408 Proctor Sandwich

With the diagonal divider, it seals in the contents into the sandwich
with no oozing out the sides. You do have to completely cut the sandwich
through as it just does the indentation for sealing and ease of cutting.
This makes it great for little ones to hold their sandwich without dripping
all over. This does use the smaller bread, which is no problem at all for us.

It is Feb, 2013 and We've had no problems with the latch as some did in 2011.

I've also noted that with this and others like it folks complain that parts melt.
This is a device that takes about 1 minute to cook a sandwich and does
become very hot! You have to stay with this device. Do NOT leave it
unattended. As soon as the sandwich is done, remove the sandwich,
unplug the sandwich maker and leave the lid open to cool off.

I use a sandwich maker at home, at Mom's, at work and have never had
any problems with any of the devices melting by following the above
safety instructions.

They are fun. Be creative! Enjoy!

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The best yet.

Best Review on Cuisinart GR 4N 5 in 1 Griddler

i am lovin this item. in another review, there is a complaint that it only has one surounding heat coil on both sides. that doesn't matter. this thing heats evenly. this morning i cooked bacon, eggs, and pancakes almost all at the same time. and everything was nicely cooked and delicious. then i took the cooking platforms right off and thoroughly cleaned it in soapy water. something i can't do with my george forman(which is still a nice product, just wish i could submerge it instead of just wiping it off). this item came to me by way of ups with out any additional outer packaging. never the less, it was not damaged during shipping.

this item does and is everything it says to be on informecial.

no smokey flavor, but i hear i only need liquid smoke to give it that bbq flavor.

it's also pretty nifty looking.

with this amazon deal, i got free shipping, no tax charge, and an extra $25 off. i got it for only a total of $105.

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Excellent quick (and no-mess) egg cooker.

Read First Before Buy Nordic Ware Microwave Muffin Breakfast

This product is awesome. It makes cooking breakfast sandwiches completely trivial -- about two minutes (including the time to open the refrigerator, break the eggs, etc.) and you're good to go. I usually do one whole egg and another eggwhite and scramble them together. Put those in the (1000-watt) microwave for about 30 seconds, then open it up, mix the eggs a little more, and throw a slice of ham on top and cook it for another 30 seconds then put it on a toasted bagel with cheese. It's really easy.

Other reviewers have complained about the lid not staying down -- I think this may be a function of trying to poach eggs rather than scramble them. I've never had a problem with the lid staying down, but then I always scramble the eggs. Also, I've found the clean-up very easy -- whatever egg remnants are left don't stick and you can clean the cooker in the sink or dishwasher no problem.

This isn't exactly an item for gourmet cooking, but for getting bagel- or english muffin-shaped scrambled eggs cooked quickly and easily, it's highly recommended.

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Excelent!

Read First Before Buy 10 Pounds Days Celebrity Program

I had two babies. I am 5'1. When I began the program, I was 136 and eating healthy (no carbs/somewhat more like Atkins diet). During Phase 1, I lost about 6 lbs. Phase 2, I lost about 2 lbs. And now just finishing Phase 3, I lost about an additional 2 lbs. Therefore, it's a total of 10 lbs. I started at a size 6/8 and I have found that size 4 is loose on me but I am not yet a 2.

Diet/Food Portion:
I followed the plan pretty closely. I purchased all of the produce/protein and such. The only deviation, was that the book called for peaches. It's not peach season, so I just substituted apples. The meals are costly and for a busy mom and on the go (especially if you buy organic), I couldn't eat all of the in between snacks (like cottage cheese) because we were always out and about during that time. It just wasn't feasible for me to scarf that down while I was out with the kids. I never felt deprived and felt as though I was constantly eating. I was able to eat more carbs than I had prior to the start of the diet (oatmeal, wheat tortillas, brown rice).

Exercise Portion:
Jump rope and weights (6 and 12 lb dumbbells) made up 90% of the workouts. I bought a Nike jump rope and I am glad that I splurged a little (about $25) to buy a good jump rope. I liked having the pictures on each day's workout as a reminder. At the end of the program, I can jump rope for 180 times out of 200 before having to stop. But during Phase 1, I probably could only do 50.

I have seen some of the reviews and comments about typo errors and during the process, I did find some elements weren't exact or clear. For example, at the beginning in Phase 1, I had a question about cooked/uncooked oatmeal and then during the workout a couple of times. But I just error on the side of eat less and do more.

Now that I am done with the 30 days, I am excited yet anxious about maintaining and also continuing my progress. The book gives great encouragement and tips on this...so I am hoping that with 5 days of exercise and eating 1,500 calories I can keep this up!

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Great for making healthy, quick meals

Read First Before Buy Cuisinart GR 1 Griddler Panini Sandwich

I love sandwiches. My typical lunch that I take to work is a turkey sandwich on 100% whole wheat with veggies. While it tastes good, it does not compare to a hot and crispy panini made on this grill. My wife and I have starting eating panini sandwiches once a week for dinner.

The great thing is that there are so many different variations- one day you can do a spicy veggie hoagie with hot peppers and mustard; another day you can do an italian ciabatta sandwich with fresh pesto. And the crispy texture just makes everything taste better, without adding any calories or fat. Grilled Cheeses are amazing using this thing.

If you tend to coat the outside of your sandwich with butter or margarine, try using extra virgin olive oil instead. It tastes just as good, and is much healthier.

The unit is also easy to clean. And the lack of a power switch isn't a problem at all for us. At this price, this is a must-have tool for your kitchen.

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WORKS GREAT

Best Review on Trudeau 4 Inch Egg Ring Yellow

I bought this to make breakfast sandwiches on english muffins. I wasn't really paying attention to the dimensions when I bought this, but it's a 4" circle. I still gave it 5 stars, as that's my fault.

If you make sandwiches on hamburger buns, then it's perfect; however most english muffins have a diameter of about 3.5". Not a big deal, but your egg will hang off the edge a bit.

As for its performance, it's perfect. Compared to how I usually cook eggs, I had to find the right temp for the griddle to let me leave the egg alone to set up enough without burning the bottom. Once I figured that out, preheating the ring on the griddle, using a small amount of butter, there was no leaking under the ring. Reviews that complain about leaking probably don't have a flat pan. I use a griddle.

After 1-2 minutes or so of cooking, I remove the ring with no sticking whatsoever and then I flip the egg to finish cooking for half a minute. If your egg is not setting up enough, you can try covering with foil for that first minute (cut a slit for the handle). Cleaning is effortless.

Happy with it, but if they have a 3.5" version of this, I'll be purchasing that too.

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Absolutely amazing, if you read the instructions correctly.

Best Review on Hamilton Beach 25475 Breakfast Sandwich

This was originally given to me as a slightly nerdy gag-gift. I never really intended to use it; however, one day I pulled it from the cabinet out of curiosity and perhaps a little boredom. Not expecting much, I plugged it in and made my first breakfast sandwich...

Onion bagel
Canadian bacon (pre-cooked!)
Grated cheddar cheese
One egg, scrambled, with freshly ground sea salt, black pepper, additional cheddar cheese, and a small(!) dash of Tabasco sauce mixed in...

!!!SUPER-YUMMY!!!

After five minutes, the egg was perfectly cooked, cheese melted and bagel toasted. The non-stick surface allows for easy food prep and clean-up. I was worried the egg might leak from the top ring before cooking, but the flush ring design works perfectly. I do wish the upper ring were slightly deeper, because I use unusually thick bagels from a local bakery. Most grocery store brand bagels fit perfectly. If you follow the directions (always a good idea when using appliances!) you can easily achieve tasty-breakfast-nerd-vana. I freakin' love this thing!

Om nom nom...

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