Red Kitchen Accessories Review:KitchenAid 14 Cup Java Studio Coffee Maker
KitchenAid 14 Cup Java Studio Coffee Maker (mine was Empire Red) is one of the best pots for brewing a great tasting cup of coffee that I ever used. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, it also has a water filter that has to be changed monthly to keep the coffee tasting right. If the filter is not replaced, the coffee starts to taste acidic. At $10 or more for the filter, I personally find it too expensive to replace on a monthly basis. However, for someone who wants a really great cup of coffee and doesn't mind spending a bit more each month, this is the perfect pot. Since it makes 14 cups versus the usual 10 or 12 cup pot, we didn't have to make coffee as often. Recommendation: |  |
Appliance Review: West Bend 77201 Electric Can Opener
The West Bend Electric Can Opener comes in red, blue, black, white, and metallic silver. The cord has a bin so that it is not stretched out over the countertop in the way, but the best feature (other than the fact that it works very well as a can opener) is the button on top that allows you to remove the entire cutting assembly for washing. This greatly enhances the ability of the cook to keep the can opener clean. The assembly easily snaps back into place, ready for the next can. A magnetized arm capture the can lid as it completes opening the can to prevent the lid falling into the can's contents. It is tall enough to open gallon size cans, but slender enough that it takes very little countertop space.
Recommendation: 
(5 of 5 red plates)
Highly recommended: Through the years, I have had several electric can openers. Most of them were difficult to clean, and some were too small to open large cans. The West Bend 77201 Can Opener has neither of those problems. For cooks who have trouble using a traditional can opener, the electric can opener can be a blessing. This particular can opener is both a blessing and a joy. At about $35, it makes a great gift, especially for adults who have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Appliance Review: KitchenAid ® Stand Mixer
When my daughter bought a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer three years ago, I thought she was silly--after all, KitchenAid Stand Mixers are not cheap. Over the three years that followed, I watched her prepare meals using the mixer and was totally impressed. Preparation time was reduced and, best of all, she could run the mixer while completing other cooking tasks. One of the reasons I quit scratch cooking several years ago was that I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. This condition makes mixing batter and dough excruciatingly painful. Finally, I gave in and requested that Santa bring me a KitchenAid Stand Mixer last year.
Wow! What a difference it has made to my cooking. I can whip up Mamaw's Banana Nut Bread in a flash. It is a medium stiff batter, but beyond my comfort level for hand mixing. For the recipe above, I put the ingredients into the mixer, including large pieces of banana, and the mixer had it ready to go in no time. Cake batters come out lighter and moister. Whipped cream (yep, the real stuff) made with Splenda® is fast and easy in this mixer. See My Mom's Whipped Cream recipe by Naomi for instructions.
I have been so impressed with the quality and durability of this product that I have splurged on more KitchenAid appliances and changed my kitchen decor to red to match the mixer!
Recommendation: (5 of 5 red plates)
Highly recommended: Though a bit pricey, this is the perfect mixer for cooks who want to do a lot of heavy batters, such as bread batters or icings for decorating cakes. Consider asking Santa for one this year!
Kitchen Tools Review: Black & Decker CK1500R Cordless
Electric 57-1/2-Ounce Dome Kettle, Red
There is nothing I enjoy more on an early morning than a hot cup of tea—my favorite is Earl Grey. For years, I used a cheap coffee pot heat water for my tea, but a few months ago, I was gifted with the red Black & Decker Cordless Electric Dome Kettle and started using it instead. I must say that in some ways I was delighted, but in others very disappointed. The kettle lifts off the base for filling, with water marks for maximum fill clearly marked. Water boils very quickly, which is great when I want a cup of tea or cocoa right away. Once the water boils, the kettle turns itself off. This is the feature I don't like much. I prefer to keep hot water hot for a while, since I seldom drink only one cup of tea. By the time I am ready for another cup, the water is too cold to make it, but still too warm for the pot to come back on. I was really disappointed until I tried putting the boiling water into a coffee carafe (see below), which kept it ready for my next cup. The pot is fairly easy to fill, but not so easy to clean. In a hard water area like mine, cleaning is mandatory due to hard water deposits.
Recommendation: 
(3 ½ of 5 red plates)
Recommended: If the pot kept water hot until I was ready to turn it off, I would recommend it much higher. As it is, it is a great kettle for someone who is forgetful and might not remember to turn it off. Even though the safety aspect is great, I would much prefer to at least have a switch that would allow me to keep water hot for a couple of hours.
Kitchen Tools Review: Thermos 34-oz. Red Hot Cold Serving Carafe for Coffee Tea Hot Water and Cold Beverages
When I bought the Thermos Carafe, it was on a whim. It was the right color for my kitchen, and I thought that I might use it someday when I had guests to keep coffee warm while another pot was brewing. It was the perfect solution to the problem I had with the Black & Decker Cordless Electric Dome Kettle, since it keeps liquids hot or cold. The first time I tried it, I made two cups of tea, then forgot to empty the carafe. Twenty-four hours later, I emptied it to dry it and put it away (all it had in it was water), and the water was still hot enough to make tea!
Another great feature of this carafe is that it comes completely apart for cleaning and easily goes back together. I threw the previous carafe I owned away when mold grew inside the carafe between the insulated bottle and the plastic encasement, because I couldn't get it apart to clean it.. With this carafe, I don't have to worry about mold! The Thermos bottle inside is glass, so it has to be handled carefully. I have never had a problem with the seal not holding after taking it apart and reassembling it.
Recommendation: (5 of 5 red plates)
Highly Recommended: This is the best carafe I have ever used and highly recommend it to anyone who needs to keep liquids hot or cold for an extended period of time. It would be a great addition to a football game goodie bag with hot cocoa or coffee for cooler or cold nights. A great gift idea for under $20!
Red Kitchen Accessories Review: Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids 24-Piece Food Storage Containers
I have been trying to locate some good storage containers for a while. Most of the Tupperware I have has seen its better days, and it just costs too much to replace. I have bowls without lids and lids without bowls. So I really needed this set of storage containers. I have two favorite features in this set: 1) the lids are red, so they match my kitchen (however, they do come in blue), and 2) the lids snap to each other and snap to the bottom of the container. No more lost lids! With two each of 1/2-, 1-1/4-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7-cup containers, I won't often need any other storage containers. Both dishwasher safe and microwave safe, these containers will provide good service for the busy cook. Occasionally, as with most plastics, tomato based products can stain these plastic bowls. I have been told spraying the bowls with cooking spray before using them with tomato based foods will prevent this, but I have not yet tried it. Recommendation: | |