Posted by admin on April 13, 2009
This is my first REAL stand cuisinart mixer. (I had the Cuisinart hand mixer with stand and bowl before this one) My grandmother has an old Kitchen Aid that has lasted decades, but after reading reviews on those and their failing gearboxes, I decided it was worth it to try the Cuisinart and its superior warranty.
It has done everything I have asked it to. Kneads dough with ease, (thank you 800W motor) creams butter like a champ, doesn’t cause ingredients to launch across the room, (thank you slow-start and bowl cover), and last but not least, it stops when the timer hits 0:00.
Other reviewers were having troubles with the top cover falling off and they were worried that the unit would vibrate itself right off the counter. I have had none of those issues. The beast does seem to shimmy, but I have never seen it actually move across the counter.
I do not have any of the attachments yet, so I can’t comment on those.
Bottom line, if you have mixing to do even twice a month, invest in one of these stand mixers. They save a lot of time and effort and are very easy to clean.
If the warranty doesn’t draw you to this product, the timer function should!
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Posted by admin on April 13, 2009
Rane takes performance mixer design as seriously as performing DJs take their art form. In an effort to provide the best instrument possible, Rane mixer devoted two years of R&D to developing a mixer with unparalleled performance. The TTM 56 is flexible, durable, and feature packed. The audio quality of the TTM 56 qualifies it for use in the most demanding live venue, recording studio or live broadcast applications.Rane’s proprietary magnetic fader is the fastest, most accurate, and long lasting on the planet. The design uses non-contact magnetic position sensor technology previously reserved for the most demanding aerospace and industrial applications. No travel noise - No bleed - ever! Unlike optical non-contact faders, the magnetic fader is impervious to smoke, moisture, temperature and aging. The electrical performance of these faders is totally unaffected by use. The mechanical life of the magnetic fader exceeds 10 million operations.These magnetic faders know exactly what your hand is doing! A proprietary curve-translation module converts your hand motion into precise audio level control. The TTM 56 offers the user more flexible curve selection and fader assignment options than ever before. This technology is used for both Channel Faders and the Crossfader.The Crossfader control includes Reverse switch, Mode switch and independent, continuously adjustable Contours for A-side and B-side. In Mode 1, the Contour control adjusts from smooth blend to extremely fas…
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Posted by admin on April 13, 2009
We bought this Weber genesis gas grill recently from a local home supply store (shipping from Amazon, even though essentially free, seemed a bit much). Works very well. Solid.
One point that needs to be made is the choice of grates. Since this is where the meat hits the road, it is an important consideration. Weber offers three choices, although that is not very apparent from this site. All offer pros and cons.
The stainless steel is certainly the spiffiest looking and cleans up well. Wear is not a problem with stainless steel. Low maintenance.
Likewise the porcelain covered cast iron. Not as bright as stainless. You’re also supposed to use a special cleaning pad, according to the Weber instructions. I imagine that like an porcelain covered cast iron pot, the porcelain may chip over time.
However, temperature is an issue with these two options. Look to a Cook’s Illustrated test of gas grills. They measured the recovery time for these two types of grates as well as cast iron. For the stainless steel and porcelain covered cast iron, the recovery time was slow. This means that the grate’s temperature will drop when you place the food on the grill and not recover very quickly. This could be a concern for creating a crust or carmelization.
The cast iron grate is the third alternative (and the one I chose, after much searching). As the Cook’s Illustrated test showed, the temperature drop for the cast iron was much less than the alternatives. This makes sense if you ever use cast iron skillets on the stove.
Cast iron has some downsides. You must season it and keep seasoning it for awhile. Again, if you’ve ever used a new cast iron skillet on the stove, you know that while the seasoning process is a hassle at first, persistence pays off with a virtually non-stick surface after awhile. Cast iron takes a bit longer to heat up (but retains heat longer). Failure to season or leaving exposed to the elements will result in rust (not the end of the world, just wire brush it off and re-season).
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Posted by admin on April 13, 2009
The Ranch is the Weber kettle on steroids. Do you need to feed a really big crowd? Originally designed for caterers and country club chefs, the Ranch Kettle is also perfect for company picnics, church gatherings, and family reunions. Grill multiple turkeys, roasts, chickens, or up to 19 Cornish hens on the Ranch Kettle.
Rugged, yet easy to use, this 37-1/2-inch-diameter grill features a patented tuck-away lid that slides conveniently into its holder. Two weather-resistant thermoplastic handles remain cool to the touch when you move the lid. A hinged cooking grate gives you easy access to coals and a removable ash catcher assures easy cleanup. With the same solid construction of all Weber grills, the Ranch Kettle has locking casters that allow for easy movement and the porcelain-enameled coating to prevent rust.
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Posted by admin on April 13, 2009
I used the Weber Smoke N Grill for a year prior to taking the plunge into the Weber, and had what I thought were decent results. After constantly babysitting the fire and reading the reviews on the Weber, I decided to go for it and am very glad that I did. I certainly don’t want to knock the Brinkman because it is a great value at $35. It served its purpose and showed me that I enjoyed a smoker. It is not uncommon to maintain a constant temperature over 12 hours and doing nothing more than adding water and possibly tweaking an air vent.
The Weber is certainly a champ and if you are debating if it is worth dropping $[...]+ on it, the answer is certainly “YES”. It is solidly built of high quality components and Weber customer service is untouchable. Go check out this website dedicated to the WSM and you will learn more than you ever wanted ([...]). It definitely added several years to my smoking knowledge just by browsing it. Amazon has the best price out there and delivery was quick. Good luck on your decision and I can honestly say that you will be happy with this one.
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Posted by admin on April 13, 2009
The Component Audio to HDMI converter Adapter is a unique device that allows older analog devices to be integrated seamlessly into the modern home theater. This adapter connects component video home theater devices or analog video graphic cards (VGA) to HDMI compliant digital monitors. This adapter also takes analog L+R audio and encodes it onto the HDMI signal for the full HDMI video and audio effect. With the Component Audio to HDMI Adapter legacy home theater devices and computer systems can be easily connected any HDMI display for the full digital video and audio experience.
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