Conference turris::cooks

    I'm looking for recommendations on microwave oven turntables. I'm
    looking to avoid noisy clicking ones. What is your experience?
    
    Lyn
    

    We have one and it's NOISY and CLICKY - we've been testing other
    brands on the market with no success at finding a noiseless/clickless
    model.  The newer models are smaller and lower in height (more compact)
    bu are more cumbersome to operate and don't stay wound as long.
    If anyone can find a better turntable - PLEASE tell us where!
    
    If we ever need a new microwave, it'll DEFINITELY be a model with
    a built-in turntable!
    
    Mike

    My wife has been looking for a tool that will Julienne
    vegetables. The only one she has been able to find so
    far costs $30. There must be something cheaper. Anybody
    know of a store within shopping range of Harvard, MA or
    a catalog that would supply the tool with a price of $15
    or less?

    thanks.

THe only thing I have found is called a Mandoline (sp?).  It usually
    has a high price tag because it's very versatile, and may very well
    be worth it.  I haven't taken the plunge to buy one yet, because
    I don't worry about vegetables until summer when I can get them
    from my own or a friend's garden.  I have a few catalogs that have
    them, so if you decide definitely to part with more than $15, I
    can help you out. Maybe you can find and old "Vege-matic" at a yard
    sale..."it slices, it dices, it make julienne fries..."
    Sarah
    

I agree with Sarah.  The only tools I know of that will julienne in one motion 
are mandolines (of course there are food processors, but not for under $30).  
Mandolines are YGWYPF devices (you get what you pay for).  Don't be suprised 
of you only spend $30 on one, and you still are dissatisfied.  The only ones 
that I've seen under $30 are the TV ad devices that I wouldn't trust at all.  
By the way, the COOK'S NOOK on rt 2A in Lunenburg carries the plastic julienne 
devices that are used on the Frugal Gourmet for about $30.  However, the best, 
most flexible julienne device is a good sharp chef's knife, a reliable 
technique, and lots of practice.

						     
							- JP

    I own a Zyliss mandoline that does a good job. I received it as
    a Xmas present, but I think my wife paid about $20. for it. It's
    plastic and can slice also. 
    
    Ken....
    

re:  the heavy-duty model of Kitchenaid mixer

well, I personally think it's worth it...however, I do a lot of baking
during the cooler months, including every bread product we eat and
many gifts for friends, work, etc.

The primary difference is when you like to bake bread, fruited cakes
and bread, etc.  I also like the efficiency when whipping egg whites
for meringues.

Did I need it?  No, I probably could have been happy with the lighter
model...except I would have done more by hand...Do I use it enough to
justify the expense - yes.  Just barely.  I don't use it during the
hot months and that means approx. 4.5 months that it sits on a shelf.
The rest of the time, it often means the difference between baking
bread and not baking bread because it saves so much time for me.
Even though I do the final kneading by hand in order to "feel" the
dough and know what it needs to be "perfect bread.

I'd buy it again.

    The KitchenAide (how is that spelled, anyway, oh well, not important)
    is great, wonderful.  There are other notes here about it and in
    OCTAVE::GADGETS.  I have the 5 qt. model and it's good except when you
    remove the bowl you have to also remove the beater or hook at the same
    time.  I think the 4.5 KA is better in that regard because the head
    tilts.  they both do all of the kitchen tricks of grinding, squeezing,
    slicing.
    
    I don't like extruded pasta-making though I have bought KA's
    plates for doing that.  I think the stainless pasta makers do a better
    job and are easier to work with.
    
    Other gadgets.  The cuisinart food processor is great for many things.
    KA is better for making bread.  The cuisinart comes close to burning
    out the motor if you make a lot of bread.
    
    ed

I think there is an inch or so difference in the height of the 2 models.  As I 
recall, some folks have bought the big one only to find it does not fit on the
counter under a cabinet.  It is worth a check.

    I have the 4.5 KA model and use it each and every week. There are times
    that I wish that I had the heavy duty one, but I can honestly say that
    this one has never given me a bit of trouble. I also have the
    Kitchenaid food processor and I use that every week also. Do I feel the
    cost was worth it?  Definately. The only thing that I would do
    differently if I had to do it over is I would buy the heavy duty model. 
    I wish that there was an 8 quart size also.
    
    +pat+

    Does anyone know of a left-handed model of kitchen mixer? EVERY mixer I
    have ever had or looked at is made for right-handers either by the
    buttons or knobs being on the left-hand side placing the bowl to the
    right. Ever try mixing with a spatula so close to the beaters!!!
    Dangerous stuff!! I can't for the life of me switch the spatula to the
    right hand and can't see the buttons or knobs if I turn the machine
    around. 
    
    They don't even make uni-hand mixer with controls on top. I'm
    considering writing the companines themselves. Maybe I'll get a free
    prototype!!
           
    Andrea

    I'm looking for a tool that will grate large amounts of potatoes.
    Food processors tend to burn out if you doing large amounts.

    I'm curious if the machines that are used in grinding apples and
    grapes  could be used for grating potatoes as well ?

     Any help appreciated.

    Jim

    How about those nifty devices that strain  out the seeds and skins of
    tomatoes before canning/cooking?? Any idee where they can be found in
    Central MA or So NH??
    Also $$$?
    
    Lynn

>    How about those nifty devices that strain  out the seeds and skins of
>    tomatoes before canning/cooking?? Any idee where they can be found in
>    Central MA or So NH??
>    Also $$$?
    
what you describe is a "food mill".  The ones I know about are manual and
not expensive.  If you call around your area asking for a food mill, you
will find one easily in a gourmet shop of cooking supply store.  If you
want an electric one, it may be harder.  Frankly, I know they must have
them, but I've never seen one.  Oh, and try Williams-Sonoma, home office
in S.F. Cal.  - they have catalogs with all kinds of goodies including
fancy chocolate for baking.

    re: grating potatoes.  I'm pretty sure the KitchenAide would grate
    potatoes without straining.
    
    ed

    I use a "SQUEEZO" that separates the peel from the pulp for pumpkins,
    butternut squash & tomatoes but I don't believe it has a grater
    attachment.  It's great for applesauce too.  
    
    SQUEEZO was purchased from Feene's at the Twin City Plaza in
    Leominster/Fitchburg.  Cost:  $50.00???  Can't remember the exact
    price but find that it takes a great deal of time to take it apart to
    clean (not handy for small jobs).
    
    When I make "poutines", I have used a blender which works out very
    well to grate the potatoes.  (no more skinned knuckles)
    
    Mona
      
    
    

    I got the attachments for slicing and shredding, grinding, and 
    straining for the kitchenaide (the big 'un).  These were sold
    in a 3-attachment set, but I think they come separately too.
    I've used the strainer for applesauce and for canning tomatoes
    and it works very well.  I've used the grinder for making my
    own low-fat ground beef.  That works really well, but you have
    to remember not to trim the beef too closely or what you end up
    with won't make good hamburgers - there *is* such a thing as
    meat that is TOO low-fat.  I've used the shredder and slicer
    for veggies, nuts, and hard cheese.  You have to go slow with
    parmasan or romano cheese, but the kitchenaide had no problem
    doing a lot of it.  I think it would be fine for large amounts
    of potato.
    
    The attachments do take up a bit of shelf space in a closet, and
    the mixer is a large counter appliance, but it's still better than
    buying several appliances as far as space goes.  And I haven't seen
    appliances for shredding, grinding, etc that are as well powered,
    either.  
    
    There are other attachments you can get - the kitchenaide begins to
    rival a craftman power drill once you get started with attachments.
    There's a grain mill, a can opener (!), and I think there's an
    attachment for making your own sausage, as well as the pasta attachment
    mentioned in a prior reply.  Also a pour shield, which is nice and
    saves some counter cleanup.  This should keep your Christmas list busy
    for a few years.
    
    --Louise

    RE: .7 (Andrea? I already forgot - what a memory!)
    
    I'm left handed, and I don't have this problem.  I have the 4.5 qt
    KitchenAide and the speed controls are on the left side, the lock
    control is on the right.  I put the mixer front to back on my counter,
    if you know what I mean.  Instead of having the bowl to the side, I
    have the bowl to the front.  This leaves the controls on the left, but
    my left hand is still free to scrape the sides with a spatula.  I can't
    see the controls every minute, but I've never had a need to stare at
    them anyway!  ;-)  Also, with my KitchenAide (the best single purchase
    I ever made in my life!), I really have to turn it off to scrape, since
    the beating mechanism doesn't go around in a circle, but in more of an
    ellipse, covering the sides of the bowl at different times.  Dangerous
    at high speeds!
    
    As for the base note, I often wish I had the 5 qt model, since the
    copper liner for egg whites is only sold for the 5 qt model. 
    Unfortunately, it was out of my price range, and the 4.5 qt meets my
    needs in every other way!  My mother finally bought her own, so I no
    longer have to get little round bruises on my chest from the control
    knob, from carrying it over to her house during the holidays!
    
    Susan
    
    PS:  If I'm wrong about the copper liner, *PLEASE* point me in the
    right direction!

    
    	My latest copy of _The Chef's Catalog_ (Fall, 1990) lists -
    
    	DaDA!  "Copper Liner Bowl for KitchemAid Mixer"
    		#5235, fits 5 qt. mixer   reg $60.00
    		#5234, fits 4.5 qt. mixer now $49.99
                       ($6.50 shipping, $8.50 airfreight)
    
    	If they have it, you should be able to find it locally and
    	probably cheaper.  If not, here is their address.
    
    		The Chef's Catalog
    		3215 Commercial Avenue,
    		Northbrook, IL  60062-1900
        	1-800-338-3232
    	
        I have never bought anything from them, I am just a catalog
    	junkie.
    
    	bob
    	

    My mom bakes a lot of bread and cakes and she swears by her Kitchen
    Aide.

    re .13 
    Susan,
    
    Yes, I normally do put the bowl in the front but the problem is that
    you have to be very careful when using a spatula because you  will
    still place it into the back half of the bowl where the beaters are
    closer to the bowl so there is less "scraping room". I also don't like
    only having access to the controls with my left hand while I've got a
    spatula in my left hand. I end up having to either reach other the top
    to quickly shut off the controls or take out the spatula. If it is a
    sudden stop that is necessary (like with egg whites when they are
    beaten to perfection or when the mixer grabs the spatula because it had
    to be placed to close to the beaters or when the batter is runny), you
    cannot simply just pull the spatula out without making a mess. 
    
    I am surviving with the normal models but I'm surprised no company has
    made a model with the controls on top to suit both left-handed and
    right-handed chefs. I wonder if their tests kitchens have left-handers
    testing the products (more for safety than anything).
    
    I better become ambidextrious. 
    
    Thanks,
    Andrea
                                                         

    
    It's actually not safe to put something into appliance with moving
    parts....
    
    So you shouldn't be putting a spatula into a moving mixer!
    
    Anyhow, I like my kitchenAid - and yes I have the heavy duty one,
    I do alot of baking (in spurts) and heavy/thick batters used to be too
    much for my older mixer that was not heavy-duty. I'd have to let it
    rest between (and sometimes during) batches.
    
    The way the KitchenAid is built with the spatter shield, it makes it
    difficult to put anything in when it's running, unless you're adding
    more ingredients... So it sort of forces you to break those nasty
    habits and shut it off when you want to scrape down the sides..
    
    So, I wouldn't make a decision on how easy it is to do something
    thats not safe, I'd take alittle time and fiugure out what I use
    it most for... If you do alot with heavier/thicker batters, then
    you probably should get the heavy duty one...
    
    I've also got the three attachments, and have used the slicer quite
    a bit...
    			-Annie
    

Remember that unlike most other mixers that have small beaters and big bowls 
that turn to get the mixture over to the beaters, the Kitchenaide has a large
beater that moves all around the bowl.  So, you would be taking a BIG risk 
trying to put a spatula into the bowl without getting it caught.  

My old roomie had a souvenir of the time she accidentally got the spatula caught
in the beaters of a traditional mixer.  One of the beaters broke 2 of the 4 
"blades", flew out of the bowl, and embedded itself in a plaster wall not far 
from her face.

So, if you are going to write to mixer companies and ask them to specially 
design mixers to make it easier for left handed people do potentially dangerous 
things, don't expect them to beat a path to your door with a prototype.

    That's why I always use a size larger bowl when beating ingredients
    that REQUIRE to be scraped according to the recipe. I've yet to have a
    kitchen accident with my spatula and the day they can perfect the
    KitchenAid or anyother mixer to scrape a bowl as it beats, I'll be
    first in line to buy it. Besides, some mixers have built in "clips" for
    the spatula to be placed into so you can scrape as you go.
    
    Try making the 10-minute Gelatin Frosting without scraping as you go
    and you'll have a disaster (not only with the frosting but with a very
    upset child because they couldn't have the frosting they want on their
    birthday cake ;>)       

    
    	Has anyone had any experience with the new Krups mixer.  I just
    	saw a TV advertisement for it over the weekend.  I was impressed
    	with the advertisement.  It showed an English women making cement
    	in the mixer, complete with gravel, etc.....
    
    	Jack  

    Hi There -
    
    I have a Cuisinart Little Pro Food Processor, my problem is that it
    only comes with 2 blades, and I don't think Cuisinart makes other
    blades for that size.  I like it because it's small, but sometimes I
    need a different blades.  Does anyone know if I can get different size
    blades, maybe made by someone else.  Thanks in advance!
    
    Christine

    
    I have the same problem as the previous note, only I have a
    Cuisinart Basic (was given it as a gift).  It has 3 blades, but
    I haven't found any store that carries others for this model.
    
    Jennifer

RE .22 and .23 (Hi, Jennifer!) - I think I have a booklet or something at home
about Cuisinart accessories.  I'll check and post any useful info...

On another gadget - recently I've seen in catalogs and such a new KitchenAid
hand mixer.  I don't use a mixer often enough to warrant springing for the
big KitchenAid, but I could use a new hand mixer.  Since the big KitchenAid
is quite popular, I wonder whether the baby :-) KitchenAid would be just as
good, in its more limited milieu (if that's the word I want)...

						-- Nina

RE Cuisinart accessories - Somehow I got a Cuisinart Accessory and Attachment
Guide, maybe because I got their cooking newsletter for a while.  Anyway,
you can probably get one of these guides by contacting them thus:

	Cuisinarts, Inc.
	Department C-88
	5 Wisconsin Avenue
	P.O. Box 562
	Norwich, CT 06360-0562

	phone 800-243-8540  (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm Eastern time)

This is really a catalog, from which you can order the accessories directly
from Cuisinart.

RE accessories for the Basic model, it says: "If you own the BASIC model, a
detachable stem will enable you to use any of the accessory discs.  A new
cover with large feed tube will allow you to process whole fruits and
vegetables like potatoes and apples, without trimming to fit the feed tube."

The Little Pro isn't mentioned explicitly.  The booklet goes by model numbers
(DLC-10 series, DLC-8 series, DLC-7 series, DLC-X series, CFP series, and
BASIC series).  If the Little Pro has one of these model numbers (might it
be CFP?), then it appears you can get accessories for it...


						-- Nina

    
    	I have a question that may be specific to my mixer, but I'm not
    sure...
    
    	Am I doing something wrong when I make dough with my Oster Kitchen
    Center dough-hooks?  The dough climbs up the hooks and smushes onto the
    mixer.  This makes it impossible to knead the dough with the machine. 
    I looked all through the manual, and this problem isn't mentioned
    anywhere.
    
       

You aren't alone.  I used to have one of the Oster jobs, and the dough always 
climbed up into the mixer.  I think it's a bad design of the "hooks".  On my
machine, they were actually spirals instead of hooks.  Anything tougher than
batter would get pulled upwards.  I don't think the answer is more flour either.
I ended up just removing the dough and kneading by hand.

    Could someone point me in the direction of the nearest 
    kitchen gadget store to Maynard or a store that sell
    cake or candy making supplies.
    
    Thanks
    Carole

    There is one on RTE 20 in Marlboro.  It is in the
    plaza on the corner of Wilson St and RTE 20.
    
    This is not a kitchen gadget store, it is a party
    supplies store but it sells cake decorating supplies
    and candy molds etc.
    
    For those not familiar with Marlboro, this is in
    east Marlboro, the small plaza also has an instant
    photo store, and a convenience post office. A 
    Mobil gas station is across the street, also across
    the street nearby is the Marlboro Cinema.  On the 
    same side in the plaza next door is the 401 Restaurant.
    
    Judie
    
    

    Take Rt 62 into Concord Center.  The Cheese Shop bought the Pot Shop
    and broke through the wall.  The Pot Shop has every gadget in the
    world.  They have a vast selection of baking needs.
    
    Barbara
    

    I have been to the Pot Shop in Concord.  If you love to cook/bake
    it is 'gadget' heaven.  And, don't forget to browse through the Cheese
    Shop - wines, bread, cheeses from all over the world as well as all
    kinds of jellies, jams, condiments and the _hard to find_ food items
    that aren't in local supermarkets.
    

    Paper & More next to Dunkin Donuts, Powdermill Plaza, Acton.
    

    
    
    For lack of a better place to put this.
    
    
    With all the money I spend on seltzer water, I think it's time to buy
    one. I'm looking for any information you cooks might have on them.
    
    thanks
    Bonnie

    Got mine from Williams-Sonoma for about $75.  Cartridges cost about $6
    for a box of ten.  It's worth every penny--the bottle is a work of art,
    it doesn't take long for the cost to even out, and there's no plastic
    involved.  I toss the cartridges in the recycle bin. 
    
    Call them:  800-541-2233, 7 to 7 weekdays, 8-4 weekends, Pacific time.
                Cust. Svc. is 800-541-1262, 8-4:30 weekdays.
    
    Even if it's not in the latest catalogue you'll probably be able to
    order it.  That's what I've done for spare cartridges.
    
    Nancy

    If you're in the Central Mass. area, Spag's has the seltzer bottles and
    CO2 cartridges.  I think there is a discussion about the pros and cons
    of using them in an earlier topic.

   Well, this is an old and silent note, but it seems to be the best
   place to ask this...
   
   My kids eat (or would if we let them) tons of potato chips.  I noticed
   during the Christmas TV commercial blitz a gadget I hadn't seen
   before, called, I believe, ChipShot.  It claims to allow you to make
   your own chips.  It strikes me that this would be a good investment
   from both the $$ perspective as well as the health perspective, but I
   don't know anybody who has one...
   
   So... has anybody here got one?  What's your impression?  Does it do
   what it says it does?  Is it made well enough to stand up to regular
   use?  Are the results good enough to fool my kids?   :-)
   
   Thanks,
   
   - Tom

    Tom, I received a ChipShot as a Christmas gift.  They do a great job of
    slicing potatoes into chips.  The chute holds a good sized potato and
    you get just the right thickness out of the slicer.  You can make flat
    or rippled chips.  The ChipShot makes the slicing much easier and
    faster.  That is only part of the work when making chips, though. 
    After slicing the potatoes should be soaked in cold water, drained, and
    patted dry on paper towels prior to cooking.  I haven't deep fried any
    yet, but did try the microwave recipe in the instruction book.  The
    microwave method may reduce fat and calories, but it takes a long time
    since you can only cook a single layer of chips at a time at about 6
    minutes/batch.  I also ended up going through a sheet of wax paper for
    each batch since it becomes soggy and I had problems with sticking
    despite oiling.

    About 20 years ago I took our old trusty vegetable peeler and began
    slicing across the flat part of big potatoes that I had sliced in half.
    What do you know? Potato-chip-looking slices emerged. I dropped them
    into 360 degree grease, dipped them out just seconds later, and had
    potato chips. It worked so well that I do it routinely now.
    
    They might take 30-40 seconds; I dip them out when they look golden.
    They might be a tad thicker than "regular" chips.
    
    I've paid as much as $1.99 for classy peelers; you can get them for as
    little as 39 cents. When one wears out or begins to look grungy I chuck it.
    
    Art

   
   I'm not interested in deep frying the chips, though, so I'll probably
   try to bake them instead...  with a large cookie sheet or 2 going, it
   might not be too painful a prospect.
   
   re: Art... fancy that.. I just might try it tonight...  I know, I
   know, its just another redundant gadget, but at the rate I'll probably
   end up making chips if this proves to be effective, it will probably
   save me quite a bit of time and probably some of my finger tips as
   well...
   
   Regards,

   - Tom
   

    
    I use a method when making french fries as follows:
    
     - slice potatoes
     - spray cooking sheet with non-stick spray very well (Critical)
     - put sliced potatoes in large bowl, and add 1/2 to 1 tbsp canola
       oil, toss to coat the potatoes with light coating of oil.
     - lay potatoes on sheets, bake 20 minutes in preheated 425 deg. oven
     - turn them over, bake an additional 15-20 minutes.
    
     I would think you could adopt this to work with potato chips by
     reducing the cooking time.  Works great.  I know some folks will 
     be apalled by the addition of the oil, but it's relatively little
     when the batch is consumed by 3-4 people.  Certainly better than
     deep frying, or buying the frozen ones.

    If you get tendonitis or just a sore hand from twisting open jar tops
    (e.g. applesauce, spaghetti sauce, bottled juice) - help is in sight.
    
    At my local housewares supply store (Lechters in Manchester, NH) I
    discovered no less than 3 gadgets to open jars.  I got the least
    expensive one - about $3, and it has worked well.  The real test will
    be applesauce - soon!
    
    Laura

    Back when banks were actually competing for customers, some of them
    gave away some rubber gadgets, they were [floppy :-) ] disks about 
    4" in diameter with a really grippy surface.  I snarfed a couple of
    them, they are great.
    
    And, I ahh, only have one left.  :-)
    
    ed

    we used to have thin textured rubber mat by the door - when we
    moved from our apartment to our house we had little use for it.
    My husband cut out a circular piece (about as big as my hand with
    the fingers outstretched) and it is the Perfect Jar opener.
    (hubby calls it the "screwy louie" - some childhood gadget his 
    mother used to have).
    
    Monica

    I've been looking for a year for those rubby grippers.  Where would I
    look?
    
    My Mom used to have a devide that clamped on to a lid - it was one
    ratched metal piece and an attached moveable lever piece.  I can't find
    those either.  Worked great.
    
    D!

    I'd look around those any/everything for a buck stores.  I'd
    try Lechter's too.
    
    Then again we could hope that banks become competitive again.  :-)
    
    ed

    SPAG'S...





    usually, has everything!

I've seen the rubber 'grippers' at stores that sell RubberMaid products. 
Usually they are on a hook along with other gadgets.

I'm looking for a bamboo brush to clean my wok.  My wok didn't come with one.
Does anyone know where I can purchase one separately?  

Thanks,

Lauren

    Different kind of bamboo brush.  The wok brush is quite large and the
    bristles are made of thin slivers of bamboo.  

    I've seen the brushes as Williams-Sonoma, Kitchen Etc, and other
    Kitchen supply places.  Often they're displayed with the woks, not with
    the other scrubbing utensils.

    I just use a plastic scrubber, the same as I would use for any other
    pot.  Stuff doesn't usually stick to a seasoned wok anyhow, unless you
    are trying to cook at too low a temperature - some day I will buy a wok
    burner and won't have that problem again.  I've seen the bamboo things
    in Chinatown, but I never bothered to pick one up.  My wok is carbon
    steel and gets used several times a week so it is well seasoned.  I had
    a Chinese cooking teacher season it for me when we first got the thing,
    so I don't know how hard it would be to clean when it was new and
    shiny.
    
    /Charlotte

re: .59

>    I just use a plastic scrubber, the same as I would use for any other
>    pot.  

Ah, but the advantage of the bamboo scrubber is that you can use it on a
hot wok right off of the stove.  This is very helpful when you're cooking
more than one dish in the wok.

-Hal

    I've been searching for the following, either
    
    a sausage making attachment to a 'standard' mincing machine 
    
    or
    
    combined mincing/sausage attachment/+whatever package.
    
    Mincing machines I've found in Heelas, Boots cook shop, Carpenters, etc
    but sausage making attachment seemed curiously absent. Has anyone
    in and around Reading encountered a sausage making attachment to a
    mincing machine or combination?
    
    Angus

    If you've got a Kenwood Chef food mixer they do a sausage making
    attachment. You could check their products to see of they do a
    standalone.
    
    Regards
    Caroline
    

Likewise for KitchenAid.

    Further developments.
    
    I went back to Heelas and had a word with a chap in the Kitchen
    department.
    
    First thing is they had a delivery of Meat mincers with a sausage
    making attachment. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the mincer is made of
    of plastic, no doubt some form of high impact polywhatsit. Has anyone
    experience of this sort of mincer? Is it robust enough for the job?
    Does it eventually degrade, especially from UV light, and fall to
    pieces or shatter?
    
    I was more interested in the traditional metal meat mincer. This is a
    cast (iron?) jobbie with a tin coating. The chap at the Kitchen
    department is going to make contact with the manufacturers/suppliers to
    ascertain if they make a sausage making attachment. If they do then I'm
    inclined to purchase the mincer. However, my only concern is with the
    tin plating finish on the mincer. What is the opinion of the team on
    the longevity of the coating? and the possible side effects of the
    underlying metal if it rubs off?
    
    Angus
            

	Don't know where this might belong so feel free to move..
	
	Has anyone seen bought know how it works.. 
	
	I saw an add for this "magic" plate that defrosts food.
	Just put the food on the rack and it defrosts in minutes.
	No electricity to it.
        /don

    It appears to be a plate of material that is extremely heat conductive.
    I'd be interested in finding out if anyone has one and if it works as
    well as it seems to on TV.

     It does appear amazing.  It would seem that everyone would need such
a device.  I'd like to know if it has been checked-out for food safety by
some non-biased laboratory.

                                      Greg