Time for an installment of Weekend Things:
1. In case you’ve been best friends with cookies and holiday treats, here are 12 Simple, Healthy Meals to Cleanse the Holiday Overload
Thanks to Babble for featuring my Creamy Tomato Soup (vegan, gluten-free, microwave-friendly)
2. Apparently that soup is popular because Ziplist featured it in their Top 12 Recipes to Try in January List
3. Christopher Kimball of America’s Test Kitchen, Cook’s Illustrated, and Cook’s Country recommended this Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven 1800-Watt Convection Toaster Oven with Element IQ
, $249 in his Mostly Practical Holiday Gift List for 2012 stating, “This is one of the few toaster ovens that can actually make toast. I use it all the time.”
At 18.5 x16.25 x11.25 inches, the Breville Smart Oven is not too small but not too large. It is larger than most toaster ovens, with space to comfortably fit six slices of toast, a 13-inch pizza, or a whole chicken. However, as a countertop convection oven, it is more space-efficient than a conventional wall oven. A smaller oven means less time to heat up and less time to cook, perfect for preparing a meal in a hurry (or for cooks who like to create in the heat of the moment). This also translates into a cooler kitchen (particularly convenient in the hot summer months) and less energy consumed.
I’ve been thinking of getting one for awhile for all the reasons above, but wonder if just turning on the oven is more practical. There are pros and cons on both sides and if I had more kitchen counter space, I’d buy this in a heartbeat. Given the tight quarters in my urban San Diego kitchen that I believe was made for people who call for takeout nine nights a week, I’m torn.
4. Vintage Flower Storage Bowls Gift Set of 5 – Glass bowls with lids and on sale for $22.50 from Fishs Eddy which I think is a great price, especially because of the lids. You can stack them and lids are so much handier than covering bowls with plasticwrap.
5. Donut Girl Shredded Sweater by Capture, $104 at Threadscene
Makes me want to eat one of these Baked Peach and Nectarine Donuts with White Chocolate Drizzle and Sprinkles
6. How to Make American Cheese according to America’s Test Kitchen. This looks a bit time-consuming and like lots of dishes to wash for a grilled cheese…
…But this looks worth it.
Or try an easy Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwich
7. Starbucks Evening Menu featuring Beer, Wine, and Small Plates expands across the country. I guess five dollar cups of coffee better move over for plates of brie and wine.
8. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup, Williams-Sonoma $32.95 – “Pure maple syrup is a treat in itself, but barrel aging transforms this organic premium-grade maple syrup into something truly extraordinary. Kettle-cooked syrup is aged for weeks in 12- to 18-year-old casks originally used to make bourbon. Richly aromatic flavor, with notes of butterscotch, vanilla, charred oak and bourbon (but without the alcohol). Classic partner for pancakes, but also delicious drizzled over fruit, used as a glaze for roasted meats, poultry and fish or stirred into yogurt.”
I could probably drink this or use the entire bottle over one batch of pancakes or overnight French toast because it just sounds so incredible.
8. Is the Cost of Juicing Worth the Benefits? – “Of course eating raw fruits or vegetables is best, but juicing is a better option than cooking or steaming them. Juicing them also enables you to drink a number of fruits and vegetables in a single glass. Juicers can be anywhere from $75 to $500, and you will get what you pay for in general. Do the benefits outweigh the cost and time associated with juicing?”
I’ve always felt juicing is a royal hassle and an expensive one at that. The time spent cleaning pulverized vegetable bits (kale leaves and orange pulp are the worst) from the teeth of a juicer is cumbersome, tedious, and labor intensive. Juicer cleanup takes much, much longer than rinsing a Vita-Mix canister or or even a food processor. Not to mention, I could juice my way through five to ten dollars of produce per glass or two of juice, whereas I could feed our family for a few days with the same amount of produce if we ate it whole. To each her own, of course.
I love fresh homemade juice and there really is nothing like it. The taste, the energy I get, the purity; I can literally feel the good stuff seeping into every cell in my body, but it’s just not something I do anymore. Maybe 2013 is the year to give it another go.
9. Until then, I’m all about blended beverages for the ease of blender cleanup and their creaminess, like a Strawberries and Cream Smoothie (vegan, gluten-free) – Ready in approximately 22 seconds and cleanup takes about the same.
10. The Best Supermarket Hummus – If you’re a hummus fan, it’s so easy to make at home, literally takes one minuet to make and for pennies on the dollar. I usually make something along the lines of this hummus – four ingredients, fast, and easy.
If you buy it, the results are in. Some brands are hits and some miss the mark.
What are your Weekend Things? Do you have a toaster oven or feel it would be practical?
Do you juice? Do you have any recipes you’re trying to make more of this year or less of?
If you’ve made anything, done, seen, or bought anything fabulous recently, feel free to link it up in the comments.
I love my toaster oven and don’t have a microwave or a toaster. We don’t really have bread that often, so the toaster would just take up space.
It’s slower than a microwave, but the food doesn’t come out with that “I’ve been microwaved!” taste and texture.
That’s good to know and I kwym about that taste! lol
I want the Donut Girl shredded sweater and a batch of your overnight French toast, please! :) (I’d drink up that bottle of syrup too.)
I want that sweatshirt too – we could wear it to the Tori concert. It would be perfect for that scene! (loving your other comment and that reference to her so much!)
Oooh I’ve been wanting to try that homemade American cheese too (but the hassle has kept me away, thus far!)–mostly I just want to make it for the boyfriend…who adores American/velveeta style cheeses.
If you do try it, LMK what you think of it!
I def. will, if you try it first you do the same! :)
I am highly highly… HIGHLY obsessed with Sabra hummus. And that donut shirt from Threadscene. And the photos of your baked peach/nectarine donuts (so freaking colorful!!). And smoothies/blended drinks! I must try a slew of things you referred us to here – like your overnight french toast or the creamy tomato soup. Congrats on those features by the way! I know savory items tend not to get the attention they deserve, so it is your time to shine. I’ve never juiced before and don’t really intend to. While a few of my friends have done juicing fasts and juice a variety of produce, I like to chew my calories. I eat plenty of produce and haven’t felt the need to blend them together in drinkable form. However, I’m always up for trying new things. I wouldn’t ever say no to a juicer, but I don’t intend to buy one either. I’m rambling. :) My weekend things included a crappy photoshoot, a wonderful photoshoot, a relaxing pedicure, sleeping in, a lot of peanut butter, healthy cookies, and a trip to target. Minus the one crappy photoshoot, it was a great weekend! I’m getting sick of this fickle winter lighting. :(
I had a borderline shoot yesterday. It was passable only b/c the subject matter was light in color. Had it been chocolate cake with the shadows, it would have been doomed. I still don’t think they’ll be my best work but some days you just have to go with what you’re given.
Like trips to Target, lots of pb ( me too on both of those!) and re juicing…you would be wayyyyyyy smarter to save your extra cash for camera equipment, another kitchen appliance, etc. I do love the taste of fresh homemade juice – it’s like homemade PB, nothing can come close or compete but it’s just so much hassle! (And expensive). For 3.99 you can make a whole jar of PB that will hopefully last you more than a day :) With juice, you make 1 glass that’s gone in 5 mins and the cleanup takes just as long as cleaning out a food proc!
I’ve been eyeing that exact toaster oven, I love it and will probably get it. I used to use a toaster oven all. the. time. but didn’t have counter space in our last house, so we parted with it. Now, I have counter space, so I think I want one again. I think they’re great for small portion stuff, or when cookies are in the oven and you want to melt some cheese on something delicious. :)
The fact that you used it lots and can vouch for the fact that they really do work and that you get mileage out of them (or your old one) that’s awesome. I have had 3-4 people in the comments say they have this EXACT model and they all love it. I think you should buy it next :)
LOVE my toaster oven. I have a family of 5 and use it daily!! I believe it is more energy efficient during our North Carolina summers so I’m not heating my kitchen up with the big oven.
Oh!! I registered for that toaster oven for my wedding! I hope I get it! I have like zero counter space too, but it would be great to not have to use my oven for easier dinners or baked goods and it would be great to not have to plan my baking and dinner so they don’t clash (because I can only use the oven for one at a time)!
Oh goodness, I need those donuts right now! And it’s midnight. Looks like I’ll have to do some midnight baking :)
I have a toaster oven and use it all the time. It works for toast. It’s a lot cheaper than the one they recommended.
Juicing…I’ve never juiced. I don’t own a juicer. I’ve been tempted many times. But I have so many gadgets in the kitchen already. Toaster oven, rice cooker, crock pot, two pressure cookers, Blendtec high speed blender, food processor, bread machine. I use them all too. And like you…while I expect the juice would be delicious, I’d really just rather eat the vegetables. The blendtec makes smoothies, and you get the fiber.
I am like you with the appliances – although what I have in my rotation and lineup is different than yours, it’s plenty to contend with! Good to know you use your toaster oven lots!
I have a toaster oven, a cheap one, and I have for about 5 years, without a toaster. I have made so may things in it, from breads and toast, to eggs, to cookies, to roasted veggies. I love it and mine is seriously a $10 thrift store find, so that beast up there would be amazing. You’d get your $ worth, for sure.
So the juicer. I got one for Christmas. The next morning I made carrot, apple, orange juice and it was really good! I came home and a couple days ago spent about $25 at the coop and made the classic “mean green” juice – kale, ginger, lemon, cuke, and celery. BLECH! It was awful!!! I know you are supposed to have an apple in there for sweetness, but I am not an apple fan, so I just added a splash of stevia. I made two servings and choked down half of one…the other is in my freezer now, becuase I can’t throw out that much $$ worth of food! I’m thinking I can use it in a soup eventually. Needless to say, I don’t think I’ll be juicing much.
Oh and I want those bowls!!!
You clearly have better thrift markets than I do. No way something that ‘good’ would be $10 here but I digress.
carrot, apple, orange juice = what juicing purists would call candy
kale, ginger, lemon, cuke, and celery = what juicing purists would recommend.
A few things – ginger is very potent when juiced, much more so than when used in cooking and like cinnamon, I can use a mean amount of ginger, but not in juicing. It’s like drinking fire water! And celery is an absolute no-way ever for me in juices. It takes OVER the flavor of the whole thing and basicalluy I can’t taste anything else besides it. And kale, hard to really juice it well – it just gloms up the teeth of the grater IMO.
I would go with romaine, cucumber, a tiny bit of lemon and ginger, and maybe some carrots or orange. Cucumber & romaine are nice to juice with, don’t overpower, and you get a decent bang for your buck. But regardless, one can juice their way thru $20 worth of produce in a day, easily. And have 2 cups of juice to show for it type thing!
Fun post! I got that toaster oven for Christmas from my Hubby! I haven’t used it yet because of my mini kitchen remodel. Now I am excited to use it!! Thanks for the post! Making cheese looks like fun, I’m going to check it out! Have a great rest of the weekend!! Oh and congrats on the soup, it looks amazing!
That’s crazy that you got THAT exact toaster! Ok you’re going to have to LMK how you like it!
And Christopher Kimball is absolutely right: that oven can make a toast, and more. I received this oven as a gift last summer and have been using it every single day since! Especially I appreciate it when it’s hot outside and turning the big oven is a torture. Our kitchen in this apartment is the smallest I’ve ever seen, and this oven is my space saver. I think I use it more often than the stove! :) It bakes perfect breads, cookies, roasts vegetables, makes perfect toasts (for a change!), you name it this oven probably has an option to make it. :) Did I tell you that I love it?! :)
One more thing: tomato soup recipe. Congratulations! I am so happy for you! Drum roll for Averie! :)
I can’t believe you have THAT toaster. You’re the 3rd person to comment saying you have that one! Thanks for the feedback that it does everything and more and you use it tons. That is so helpful and now I want it even more :)
I do have a little crush on all Breville products… :) Some sort of Breville addiction!
I made a post about it too:
https://www.picnicatmarina.com/2012/06/confession-of-non-shopaholic.html
:)
congrats on the tomato soup recipe…it does look sooo good…paired with America’s test kitchen grilled cheese…doesn’t that grilled cheese look like the quintessential grilled cheese ever….i may go for it.
we don’t own a toaster but we have a toaster oven and love it. use it for toast, bagels, heating leftovers…i like it that in the summer especially when you don’t feel like getting a hot oven going for something small.
vita-mix – LOOOOve mine…that smothie YES please!
I linked to a couple in the post that use hash browns instead of rice..he may like that better!
That bottle of syrup comes with a straw, right? ;)
I have that toaster oven and love it! I also have VERY limited space, so it’s not out on our counter all the time, but I’m always amazed at what that little thing can do!
That’s crazy that you have that EXACT model. I am thrilled to hear you’re amazed what it can do! Have you ever tried to bake cookies or bread in it? Brownies, cake? Basically anything that’s a semi-advanced project? I am thinking of getting one for my Aruba place b/c the oven there is hideous and heats up the house for a day!
I got it as a college graduation gift and have loved it! I’ve made cookies, bread and pie in it. In my old apartment with more counter space, i kept it out and used it at least once a day. Everything I’ve made in it has turned out great, and actually probably better than my crazy uneven oven. I think this would be a great option for your Aruba place! Let me know if you end up getting it!
Thanks for the feedback that it does everything and more and you use it tons with results even better possibly than your oven! That is so helpful and now I want it even more :)
I don’t own a toaster oven and since I don’t have the space, would most likely never consider it. I have a toaster that I use multiple times a day and if I need to melt something, I just turn on the oven.
As for juicing. I have gone on multiple juice fasts in my life, last year doing a 21-day one and it is great having a juicer when I want to do that. I eat greens and fruits daily so I don’t feel the need to juice on a daily basis but I like having a juicer when I want to do juices only. I have this one and I love it:
Wow – I just recently sold that exact model. Great minds think alike with what to purchase I guess! I could never ever ever get the pulp out of the teeth properly and because I had a friend who was going to start doing more juicing, and she was going to give me nearly what I paid for it, I figured, why not – so big and bulky if I wasn’t using it. Hearing you talk about juicing makes me want to start again. I still have..ahem…two other juicers :) And could use attachments on my kitchenaid or food proc if I wanted to. Lol