Looking back over 2014, I have decided that it shall forever be known in our household as “The Year of the Kitchen Gadget”.
It’s quite funny really. I’ve never been a fan of kitchen gadgets, for a number of reasons. I don’t like clutter, and usually find getting the gadget out and then cleaning it afterwards is more time-consuming and annoying, than just doing the job in the first place.
But this year I seem to have changed my tune.
It all started when a friend raved about the benefits of having a pressure cooker, and how it was much better than a slow cooker. Turned out she was right.
Next, we were given an Airfryer. I was so impressed I not only blogged about it, we also gave one to the in-laws for a 50th wedding anniversary gift (okay, it’s not gold, but we think it’s pure gold!).
Mr 20 got into the gym-thing this year, and started making protein shakes. Soon we had a juice blender – not quite a Nutri Bullet – our version was less than $30 from Kmart, but hey, at least it colour coordinates with our kitchen. Great for his protein shakes, and no-mess, no-fuss, juicing.
Not Another Kitchen Gadget!
Then the hubster asked for a soup maker for his birthday (he knows I’m not fussed on kitchen gadgets, so he figured this way I couldn’t stop him from getting one).
I Must Confess: I thought we already had a soup maker – it’s called a saucepan!
Well, it took just one batch of heavenly homemade pumpkin soup and suddenly I’m a convert.
I love pumpkin soup, but very rarely make it – too much bother. First cutting up the pumpkin, then steaming it, then pureeing it in the food processor, then heating it in the saucepan and adding stock, milk/cream, etc, and stirring until just before it boils. It was very labour intensive and seemed to use nearly every pot in the kitchen.
Now however it’s a different story! We just chop up the pumpkin, throw it into our soup maker with some stock, and press a button. Less than twenty minutes later, we have ourselves the most delicious, fresh, creamy pumpkin soup we’ve ever tasted.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I just have to clear out one of my kitchen cupboards to make room for the next must have kitchen gadget – after all there are still nearly 2 months left in this year, and who knows what Santa is likely to bring me for Christmas …
Do you love a kitchen gadget or two, or are you as resistant as I usually am?!
Linking up with My Home Truths for a cooking-related confession!
I recently won a Airfryer. We used it for the first time last night and I think it may take a bit of getting use to. It takes up so much space, in a kitchen that isn’t really designed for excessive kitchen appliances and yes I have more than most. I dream about throwing them all out and joining the cult that is Thermomix but I’ve possibly been brainwashed here.
You’re right – that’s another downside to appliances – they do take up a LOT of room. We keep most of ours in one cupboard above the microwave. But the airfryer sits on the kitchen counter, and yes, it does look ugly … but as we use it so much it seems pointless to put it away.
I resist them. I really do. Thermomix is like a swear word to me haha. But I do have a mixer for baking and a slow cooker. That slow cooker has saved my butt a thousand times over for lazy dinners!
I’m not a fan of kitchen gadgets myself but we have accumulated some over time. My most recent purchase was a hand held mixer to puree the puppies’ vegetables! I’m also now sold on the soda stream I was given at the Myer Giftorium launch. It is not something that I would have bought myself but we are really getting use out of it. Enjoy your yummy soups!!!
I love appliances. For the first Christmas after I had Dyllan I asked (and received) a food processor blender combo. I used to make food for Dyl and over 5 years later it still gets a decent work out.
I love looking at kitchen gadgets but I’m resisting buying them. I’m lazy and some of them fits my lazy life perfectly, but I know they’re probably going to sit on the shelves for years. I have a pressure cook I bought almost 10 years ago and it’s still in the box!
I resist as much as I can. I can’t do without my stick blender. I have only just this month bought my first ever hand held electric mixers. Saves getting a dead arm 🙂