Turn Lemons to Lemonade – Amco Citrus Squeezer
November 17, 2010 by MollyinMinn
Filed under Featured, Home
The Amco Citrus Squeezer
Several months ago, we received an Amco Citrus Squeezer as a gift. I remember wondering how much we’d really use a citrus squeezer. But it was small, compact, and let’s face it, kind of cute and cool at the same time, so I was game to give it a shot.
Oh so cool. I love this thing.
The way it works is that you cut your lemon, lime or orange in half. Then, you place it flat side down in the half circle, clamp it closed and squeeze. It really doesn’t take a lot of strength of squeeze it, either.
Unlike old-school juicers, you don’t get your hands wet and sticky. And, I can report after doing a side-by-side test that I got easily one and a half times the juice that I did doing it with an old-fashioned citrus juicer.
Another benefit is that you don’t get nearly the amount of pulp in your juice as it all stayed tucked in the juicer.
In addition, I swear this thing actually has saved me some money over the past year. Because every time I use it, I am getting way more juice out of the fruit that I would have doing it the way I used to.
It’s easy to clean. You simply rinse it off and, if you have one, it can be placed in the dishwasher as well.
Like I said, I did wonder if I really had a need for this. And I surprised myself when I looked back and realized just how often we do use it. It’s great for making drinks (think mojitos and margaritas for sure), for sauces that call for fruit juices, it was a tremendous help when we made key lime pie, and then there is, of course, fresh squeezed orange juice.
The Amco Citrus Squeezer is available on Amazon.
Love for a Dish Drainer
The dish drainer of my dreams
I. Am. Not. A good cook. Heck, I’m not even a mediocre cook, but when it comes to cleaning up the kitchen I am a whiz. If you trash the joint with a full Thanksgiving dinner, I can clean it up and make like the turkey massacre never even happened. Even though I’m good with the cleaning, there is still one thing I dislike and that’s drying the dishes. After standing on my feet, cooking my mediocre meal, sweeping the floor, wiping down the table and counters, loading the dishwasher, and finally washing and rinsing those gentler kitchen items, I don’t feel like drying dishes. I want them to air-dry overnight and all fit into the dish drainer. I mean, I’m not asking for much, just a dish drainer that fits more than two plates and a couple of drinking glasses.
BEHOLD! The Sterilite White 2-Piece Ultra Sink Set!
Fear not! This fabulous drainer comes in black, as well
I mean, look at that thing! It’s all mine and it’s currently holding the following:
- Large skillet
- Two pots
- Two lids
- Stoneware muffin pan
- Spoon rest
- Various pieces of flatware
- Two drinking bottles
That’s what I typically use to cook a spaghetti dinner. The dishes and glasses go in the dishwasher and the cookware get handwashed. My old dish drainer (I’m not going to name names, but I will certainly provide a hyperlink for your amusement) would have buckled under the weight and size of the muffin pan alone. Do you know how hard it is to towel-dry stoneware? It’s practically impossible. Previously, I would have had towels spread out next to the dish drainer with the muffin pan and one of the pots on the towels. Now, everything is in one spot and drying in the drainer, not on my counter.
The other great thing about this drainer is the tray. Typically, the flimsy, rubber mat under your basic dish drainer sort of hangs over into the sink and sort of pitches the drainer up to an angle to sort of allow water to drip into the sink. Most of the time, said rubber mat would just leak all over my counter top. Grrrr. I’ve had the Sterilite 2-Piece Ultra Sink Set for a week and not a drop of water has leaked onto my counter.
Best. Feature. Ever.
See that lip? Hanging out over the sink? (Ignore Edward! You don’t see him! He’s not there!) That’s where the water is directed. It’s all going into my sink and nowhere else. BLISS!
So, fellow keepers of the home, UNITE! Break out the pudding cups, the chick flicks, and put up your feet. Don’t dry your dishes when the Sterilite 2-Piece Ultra Sink Set can do it for you!
(Unless you have a hunky significant-other who likes to dry dishes. Shirtless. Then, by all means, don’t buy the dish drainer.)
Please note that I did not receive a Sterilite 2-Piece Ultra Sink Set in return for writing this post. I mean, I did get it for free because my mom bought it for me. She knew how much I wanted one and was tired of listening to me complain about my old drainer. Since my Mom doesn’t work for Sterilite, then we’re all good, right FTC?
10 Gift Ideas for a Housewarming Party
April 21, 2009 by Miss Britt
Filed under Gift Guides
Over on my personal blog today, I’m hosting an online housewarming party for a friend of mine who just moved to Florida. Like any internet savvy woman, she’s made an Amazon Wish List for herself so that we all have loads of ideas of things to buy for her new house.
If only ever party invitation we got came with a link to an Amazon Wish List!
Alas, no. More often than not we have to use our own noggins and try to guess what would make the perfect gift for someone else’s new home.
10 Housewarming Gift Ideas:
Alora Ambience Reed Diffuser
The rental company that manages my friend’s new home used these amazing reed diffusers. It was the very first thing we noticed when we walked into the house.
The verde scent smells like fresh cut grass and makes you feel like you’re standing in a clean home on a crisp spring day.
It’s to die for.
It’s also expensive as hell and not the kind of thing most people would buy for themselves. Even in my own home I stick with Bath & Bodyworks Wallflower units. I’m ashamed to say this – but these smell much better than anything I’ve ever used before.
Available online from Alora Ambiance.
Friday Flop: William Sonoma Professional Multi-Chopper
April 3, 2009 by Miss Britt
Filed under Friday Flops, Home
Some kitchen gadgets make life easier in the kitchen.
Some kitchen gadgets look cool.
And some kitchen gadgets are overpriced pieces of crap that are way too much work to use than the original tool they were meant to replace.
I do a lot of chopping and dicing and cutting into little pieces in my quest to use fresh ingredients to make real, healthy food. It’s my least favorite part of cooking.
So, in a moment of weakness in a William Sonoma store in Charleston, I splurged on a $50 chopper.
Kitchen Gadgets I Want (To Learn How To Use)
March 31, 2009 by Miss Britt
Filed under Home
My friend Deanna has the most glorious kitchen. And while her cabinetry is beautiful and her granite counters are to die for, what really makes me swoon are all her kitchen gadgets.
Cooking in her kitchen is like being on a cooking show.
I’m convinced the reason everything she makes turns out better than when I make it is because of her kitchen gadgets. That’s the only logical explanation. Clearly.
