Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Oh, What A Peeling!


Pretend you hear Lionel Richie when your read that title, okay?

One of my wedding shower gifts was a Cutco pizza cutter and peeler set. After I wash these items (in the dishwasher, not by hand as recommended), I place them back in the navy box in which they came. Then, I put the box into a cabinet that Bub can't easily access.

Both items do their jobs extremely well. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial bimbo, I will say that using the Cutco peeler makes peeling almost fun. It's just so easy!

Or, it was so easy until I lost my peeler. I suspect that it got gathered up with a paper towel full of pear peelings and thrown into the garbage. I actually hope that's the case, as opposed to finding one of the boys playing with the peeler one of these days and making a bloody mess. In case you are worried for my kids, I'm 95% sure the peeler got accidentally tossed.

On Saturday, hubby and I went to Old Orchard (outdoor mall in a nearby suburb) to take my defective laptop to the Apple Store and to get him measured for a new suit during a sale that was going on. Grandma and Grandpa were visiting and happy to stay with the boys so we were out and about for almost three hours all by ourselves. NTB. I even got an Auntie Anne's pretzel and a fountain diet coke. NTB.

Giddy with the freedom and the retail environment (remember, I rarely have time to shop anywhere but Target or Kohls these days), I wondered if I "needed" anything else. Aha! A new peeler! An excuse to browse in Williams Sonoma.

We walk in the store and when greeted by the sales associate, no-nonsense-shopping-buzzkill hubby says, "Show us where your peelers are." So much for browsing.

There were two on offer. One was an OXO that looked similar to the lost Cutco peeler; it cost $14.00. I was thinking about it. Yes, I know "a paring knife can do the trick," but I am not great with a paring knife and my Bub prefers his fruit "with no outside." I prefer my fingers with no gashes.

Then, the sales associates says, "We also have the kind the chefs on the Food Network use." That got my attention. If Ina and Giada have a preferred peeler, then you better believe I want the same one (though, to be clear the associate did not name specific chefs). But, of course, how much would such a special peeler cost?

$3.50!!! That's how much. So now I have a generic looking "clearpeeler" that retails for $3.50 and seems to be getting the job done and supposedly is better at just getting skin and peel, not flesh (of the fruit/vegetable). Though using the clearpeeler did not feel as easy as the Cutco one, it definitely got the job done on the apple I peeled this morning.

So there. Do you need a peeler? There's one for $3.50 at Williams Sonoma and you can brag that it's what Food Network chefs use.

Any kitchen gadgets or bargains to recommend?

16 comments:

Sue and Randy said...

This may not qualify as a gadget, and its certainly not cheap...but I used my new KitchenAid mixer for the first time yesterday making chocolate chip banana bread and let me tell you I had too much fun! I'm hoping a Williams Somona catalog finds its way to my house--I think I need some crazy shaped cake pan to add to my glee!

massagematters said...

I can't live without a peeler! I am NOT good with a knife. It is a safety hazard for me to use anything but a peeler! Glad to hear you guys had a few hours out of the house!
Keri

Cynthia said...

Did they have one that peeled the fruit itself? That's the one I want;)

E... said...

Up until a week or so ago, I would have been raving about a different sort of peeler: the ChefMate apple peeler gadget. You impale the apple on it, then turn this hand crank and it rotates the apple, peeling it as it goes. There are suction cups on the bottom to keep it in place on the counter. As long as I was standing near them to make sure they didn't stick their fingers directly on the blade, my kids loved taking turns operating this. We made an apple pie and batch of applesauce using this, and it was SO easy. My kids like to help me cook, but there are not that many ways they can actually ACCOMPLISH something that do not involve knives or hot surfaces. This was great, and produced fun long strings of peel for them to play with. However, they must have gotten too zealous with the cranking, because for some reason, it has stopped working so well -- the blade doesn't hit the apple at the right spot. However, for the 12 dollars it cost and the two seasons I got out of it, still worth the purchase price.

Anonymous said...

Ohhhhh. I have two favorite kitchen toys!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Beaba Baby Food machine from WS. I love cooking (although I am not that great!) and wanted to make my son's baby food. This machine rocked my world. So easy and fast!! In fact, I wore out my first one after about a year and had to replace it (which I was happy to do...I certainly got my money out of it)! My second favorite toy is also from WS. It is the yogurt maker. I was extremely frightened of it at first - it seemed awfully scientific. But, I have been successful every time and it only takes me about 20-30 minutes once a week to make a batch. I am mad I waited so long to try it!! A little off topic, but I just got a bread machine and canning supplies. Those are my two new experiments. Wish me luck!!
xoox
Leah

Actchy said...

I would die without my Kid & Co small hand food mill. I use it every day to grind up our food for Acey. I'm sure you're not shocked, but he doesn't get a lot of jarred baby food. This thing makes it so easy, and then I know he's getting homecooked meals that are well-balanced.

CaraBee said...

I have a whole host of items that I have purchased and I have been hugely let down: slapchop, Mr. Misto, finger potato peeler, Shamwow. Trying to think of anything that I really love and struggling. I do have a set of chef quality knives that make me really happy. I enjoy cutting things. I sound like Dexter, but I promise it's only foodstuff. Good knives make a huge difference. In fact, probably due to get them sharpened.

LAP said...

I have the same peeler/pizza cutter set. I used the peeler for the first time last month (to peel a squash) and it was delightful...the peeler, not the squash recipe unfortunately. My favorite items in the kitchen are my cutco steak knives, my mini-spatula from Pampered Chef (perfect size for dishing out so many items) and, not to sound like a Pampered Chef commerical, but the plastic steamer thing they sell that can also be used to brown meat in the microwave...I do this when making chili for instance.

I was tempted to buy the apple slicer E described but opted against it as it seemed bulky to store...sounds like I missed out?

PITA said...

I am also a fan of the pampered chef steamer bowl mentioned by LAP. I also enjoy my cutco knifes, and my large, industrial-like cookie sheets.

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Nope. I've got my cheapo one. It worked well enough to peel apples for my pie. Yummmmm....

Anonymous said...

Hey Girls,
I feel I must receive an honorable mention in the Cutco pizza slicer and peeler stories!!! If I had known I could have given an item for $3.50 (are you sure you were at Williams-Sonoma?) I would have been all over it! In the meantime I'll just depend on my darling husband as chief peeler and cutter of the apples! My specialties are the pies using butter for the crusts!

cake said...

food mill. 'nuf said.

Anonymous said...

Hey Mep! Call your local Cutco office and if you place an order for a knife they should be able to replace your peeler for free :)

Anonymous said...

Having worked for Cutco for the last 21 years I've heard many story's about the stuff we sell ( hint don't set the handle on the hot stove) and glad you like the peeler so well but please buy our shears I need the overtime lol
Dennis

Anonymous said...

I love my Cutco gadgets! They have (in my opinion) the word's best kitchen tools! I have the most wonderful ice cream scoop and cheese knife. Not to mention the peeler is spectacular (the blade comes out for easy cleaning). At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I would strongly suggest going to Cutco's website and having a representative show you their stuff!

Anonymous said...

who knew there was anything at WS for 3.50. I love all of my cutco knives etc. Sent them back to be sharpened for free when on vaca and they replaced my scissors and a knife for free. great. Also my kitchen aid mixer was the best gift I ever got. On #2 but 32 years with the first one is not too shabby. m

 
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