Using those kitchen appliances…

When you spend a week with the Happy Housewife

Just before our trip to Mexico, I was fortunate to spend a week with my brother, his wife (the Happy Housewife) and their kiddos. The kids and I had a fantastic time playing and I also had the opportunity to learn a LOT.

You’ve already seen the impact of the visit on my blog. Now I’m going to share the impact on my kitchen.

Toni has been singing the praises of breadmaking for years. I received two breadmakers as wedding gifts years ago (and yes, I registered for one of them) only to give both away after very little use. But after tasting her bread, and thinking about how much healthier the bread could be if I made it myself, now, I’m ready to try again.

Yesterday Toni emailed me her breadmaker brand of choice: Zojirushi. So off to the store I went to get one. Since I was hosting a few ladies for dinner, I thought I would let them be my first taste-testers.

Here’s what my kitchen looked like just 20 minutes after being home from the kitchen and grocery stores:

My first run was more like a cake, but it was a recipe I got from the Zojirushi site, so it still counts. I was actually using my friends for a first round of tasters because I am planning on bringing a breakfast bread and muffins to a Bible study luncheon this Wednesday and I thought I might need a trial run.

Well, I did need that trial run, because here’s what my Luscious Blueberry Loaf turned out to be:

My failed Luscious Blueberry Loaf
My failed Luscious Blueberry Loaf

I did figure out my mistake. I added the blueberries at the beginning of the knead cycle instead of the end. I thought it was the end because the thing was beeping. I was, obviously, wrong. Oh well. The edges still tasted good.

Hopefully I’ll fare better tomorrow night in preparation for Wednesday. Don’t worry, I am making muffins, too.

But wait, there’s more to this tale of kitchen catastrophe and recovery…

For some reason I am a crockpot failure. (Yes, it’s true. I know it sounds impossible, but it’s not.)

I remember making delicious crockpot meals as a single gal, yet since I’ve been married, everything turns out terrible. I’ve been through several crockpots, wondering if it was the crockpot that was causing the calamities. Four crockpots later, my food still tastes like paper.

So Toni has given me the diagnostic.

“Go home, brown one bottom butt roast on all sides and put it in a crockpot with 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 cup of Worcestershire. Cook at low for about 8 hours. Call with the results.” She said.

Well, I accidentally bought a different cut, but I’m hoping for some success anyhow. Any success would be better than what I’ve expereinced in the past.

All right, the crockpot is cooking:

Toni's crockpot diagnostic
Toni's crockpot diagnostic
And for all you super-observant readers, yes, I did turn it on.

Wanna read more ‘real-life’ stories? Check out Friday Fails at My Blessed Life. You’ll feel better.

 


Comments

17 responses to “Using those kitchen appliances…”

  1. Hi PK! This is one of my husbands fvrtaioes, so I fix it often! I prep it in a crock pot liner, and set in the refrig the night before, and put it on at the time that is needed to have it ready for the meal I am preparing! Happy Crocking!

  2. […] we enjoyed a visit from my sister-in-law. We shared many ideas about cooking, homemaking, childrearing, blogging, etc. After tasting some of […]

  3. Wow! I’m so terrified of bread machines! Someone gave one to me a couple of years ago and I still haven’t used it!

    The picture makes me laugh SO hard! Totally looks like something that I would do!

    Thanks for linking up to Friday Fails! :)
    .-= Myra´s last blog ..A Clean Filter – Friday Fails =-.

    1. Fortunately, it makes me laugh, too. And, I’ve got another one for next week.:)

      PS I LOVE my breadmaker now.

  4. […] they laughed when I took pictures off the carnage, I showed them my failed Blueberry Loaf attempt. Since then I’ve made many delicious (and pretty) […]

  5. […] I am certainly no chef in the kitchen. Really. Just to prove it, here’s a link to my very first breadmaker experience. […]

  6. […] know that last Sunday I bought a breadmachine. Since then I’ve made two blueberry loaves (one a miserable failure), one loaf of white bread and one loaf of […]

  7. That Blueberry loaf still looks good by my standards!

  8. Too bad that if fell apart, but it still looks delicious. Keep trying. I love my bread machine although it is a different brand. I do love the horizontal look that you get though.

  9. Amy you neglected to mention the VERY important fact that, yes, the bread was kinda ugly, but it tasted DELICIOUS!

  10. Lol… what is it about certain appliances that just don’t do well with married women? For me it’s the waffle iron. I can even go home to my parent’s house and make delicious waffles…but at our home? Oh no. I think I’m on my third (or maybe fourth) waffle iron trying to discover the cause, but no luck so far.

    Good luck with your bread machine…I hope your bread turns out delightfully tomorrow!

  11. Somebody's Mimi Avatar
    Somebody’s Mimi

    Oh how amazing that you girls are still using something from the 70’s. I just had to laugh when I say the Blueberry Bread!! What a hoot. You are just too funny. Keep at it.

  12. Another easy way to flavor a roast is to toss a package of dry onion soup mix in with it (and some water). Yum! Good luck to you!

  13. I think Org Junkie might be on to something here. My single gal crockpot was a hand-me-down. Perhaps my brand-spankin’ new crocks are hotter and therefore faster. Maybe if I cut down the cook time I’ll have better results. Hmmm.

  14. Oh dear, but good for you for trying.

    I love my crockpot but be careful that you don’t overcook your meat….blech nothing is worse. If a recipe says cook for 4-6 hours always go with the lower number and you should be okay.

    Good luck!!

  15. We live out of our crock pot because I’m rarely home. The liners are lifesavers!

    Hope your bread (& roast) turn out good!

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