Your latest, greatest buy?!? (or find?) (390 views)
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Post by Catbatty on May 6, 2017 16:13:01 GMT -5
I'll tell you mine.  1. Bright red oil cloth at a fabric store, $11 per yard. Make awesome work tables out of old furniture. So pretty, so easy to clean, so sturdy. No sewing needed, just cut to fit or hang over edges a few inches. 2. 1996 (Nov/Dec) Cooking Light magazine issue. $0.50 (I now regret tossing all back issues out..especially those oldies.) This is TREASURE. 3. More poly cutting boards from Amazon (bright light green or bright red). (Getting rid of most of our heavy wooden block types.) 4. Instant Pot, of course!!!!!!!!!! (One of the best $100 I've ever spent!) 5. A black plastic slant board thing that works perfectly for holding laptop at an angle (on table). Makes it easier to type. ($1.99 at Goodwill...not sure if it's an 'open book' holder or if it is actually for laptops. I like it!) 6. Used Honda CR-V (2014) AWD...still smells new (leather int). Didn't buy from dealer. Instead used new service in Wa and Oregon call TRED. They hook you up with a private seller, they organize inspection, do paperwork, get fee from seller and a bit from buyer. Worked out great. Our seller and us fell madly in love. She's a nurse in midst of divorce. She was super-careful with car. Like new. Have had car about a month and I am so in love with it. (Honda has one negative...road noise. Not as quiet as our Camry, but a delight to drive. Lots of nice features. Big backup screen (7-inches I think, plus nav, etc.) One thing I adore: you open doors and they stay where you open them to, unlike Camry which used to swing back and slam into my legs (on any incline). 7. A constant favorite that I order thru Amazon: Wolfgang Puck's coffee K-cup pods: Hawaiian Hazel Nut. (My favorite hazelnut coffee to date.) 8. Trader Joe's frozen Apple Blosoms -- 1 minute in microwave. Squirt Reddi-Whip. (My latest dessert thrill when too lazy to make anything but crave something.) Keeping lots of them on hand. 9. Trader Joe's frozen tamales - green chile and cheese filled. (Always keep some on hand. 3 minutes in microwave.) 2 per pack. 10. Free ebooks from library!!! (Russian revolution is my latest addiction.) Ebooks plus Kindle plus Kindle for PC sure open up world of reading. I love enlarging FONT feature in order to read with ease...all these various books. 11. Very strange cutting board device I bought at animal rescue thrift store. It is black plastic, handles at both ends, drawers that pull out at each end. Top is removable white cutting board. If you remove cutting board, underneath are various built in shredder and slicer things. So, you can shred right into the drawers below...or use drawers to put discards into. Very odd. Never have seen one before. It was new and in box. Might be great to have in the RV. We shall see. 12. Goodwill: For pie crust tops: decorative crust cutters...apples or hearts. (Set of 2 for $1, plus pie crust edge protector.) 13. To be determined...there's always a 'find somewhere'...just waiting. What about you? Enjoying finding some new-to-you things? (Sorry to be so materialistic but life is for fun and I enjoy finding favs or favs on the cheap.) |
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Post by karenw on May 6, 2017 18:35:32 GMT -5
That's an impressive list, Catbatty. I am having the opposite problem now. I have like $80 saved up on my amazon account from e-gifts that I have received and want to find something to buy so bad, but just have nothing on my "wish" list at the moment. Rare occurrence, I know, but it happens!!
Love my instant pot, too, Cat. Just used it this past week a few times for bean soup (they get so nice and creamy in it) and today again for chicken stock. And I drive a CR-V as well. Love it. Enjoy yours! That replaced my mini van when my kids finally were old enough that I was not "schepping" them all over the place and their friends etc.... so much. Anyway, enjoy all of your treasures. I know my $$ will get spent....it's just a matter of time!
Karen
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Post by wallycat on May 7, 2017 12:19:42 GMT -5
Off topic, but re: insta pot...worth buying if you already have a pressure cooker you like?
greatest buys: H&M linen duvet covers SO much cheaper than rough linen offers on their site...and they were on sale! I'm sure the quality may be different but with cats/nails, I'm thrilled.
Fishing license because...wooooooooohooooooooooo...they did NOT cancel salmon fishing this year!!!
I've been checking out DVD movies or shows from the library and put Netflix on hold till they bring back Longmire; also reading a ton-- I **heart*** the library!
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Post by karenw on May 7, 2017 18:01:50 GMT -5
Wallycat-I would say no to the instant pot if you already have a pressure cooker that you like. While the instant pot does do a lot more, I would not buy if I had a good pressure cooker already. Mine (I had an electric pressure cooker) had died about a year ago and I was looking to replace my old pressure cooker, so when these became so popular, I decided to try it. I really do love it, but I use it mostly for pressure cooking as opposed to its other features (slow cooking, saute, steam, yogurt making etc....). What is convenient is I can start something in the instant pot that requires sauteing first, then finish it under pressure.
Karen
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cafelatte
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Post by cafelatte on May 8, 2017 8:58:19 GMT -5
Off hand I can't think of something recently besides some clothes or shoes that were heavily discounted. However, I do love when I score some deals at Kroger in their clearance section for wines. I've bought some Proseco or sparkling wine for $3 to $4 a bottle. If you buy a total of any 6 bottles of alcohol, you get an extra 15% off. I always check that section when I'm at the store. |
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applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on May 9, 2017 17:51:45 GMT -5
Fun thread.
Catbatty -- great list. I'll try to skip right past #8 (apple blossoms).
Let's see, I bought my first Staub pan and LOVE it. It is a 4 qt "universal pan" with something a bit different -- a glass lid. I got a great deal on it. The only thing I don't like is having to move it (not real heavy) if I'm using another big pan on the stove top (if my LC pan is already on the back burner), but no fault of the pan ... just my kitchen.
Might not be a greatest buy, I'm not usually a big fan of fro veggies but have been buying TJ's fire roasted bell peppers, onions (I like it much better than the plain peppers/onion version). I just tried T's whole grain crispbread (made in Norway). The first few ingredients: sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, wholemeal rye flour, oat bran.... I picked them up after seeing someone buying 5 bags (and she raved when I asked about them).
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Post by swedishcook on May 9, 2017 18:28:33 GMT -5
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Post by Catbatty on May 12, 2017 0:19:35 GMT -5
Oil cloth for laying on tabletop to be used for pattern layout and pinning? I think so, but what about buying one of those fold up cardboard cutting boards designed for the purpose? I used to use one of those back when I sewed a lot. That's interesting that The Container Store sells things like that. I've been meaning for months to hit The Container Store. I've always loved the place and ours moved from near us to across town. |
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Post by Admin-BevE on May 24, 2017 10:53:53 GMT -5
I found a Madeleines pan for $1 at an estate sale and am now scheming when I'm going to make them: www.food.com/recipe/gourmet-madeleine-cookies-199205 Also scored a lovely cookbook for $1 "Boyertown Area Cookery, or The Boyertown Housewife & Kitchen Efficiency Guide & Companion" - Published by the Boyertown Historical Society in 1978, it is a blend of present-day Pennsylvania Dutch recipes (most with contributors identified) together with cultural explanations/context and also word-for-word copies of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes from historic cookbooks (these are typeset in italics). Fun reading. Boyertown is just up the road from me. Lovely book. It climbed to the top of my reading pile as soon as I got home. Flip Jack - Slop Cake, anyone? "When mom had leftover dough, we'd make a pie crust and spread the bottom with 4 tablespoons of flour and 4 tablespoons of sugar mixed together. Pour about 3 tablespoons of molasses over the bottom, fill it with milk. Put some butter and cinnamon on the top and bake at 350 degrees for at least 1 hour, maybe more. We ate the whole pie before it had a chance to cool properly. It was better that way. --- Alverda Kerr." |
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Post by Catbatty on May 24, 2017 16:24:44 GMT -5
Madeleine pans are HARD to find used...good ones. Congrats on your find Bev! I've been looking for one for months. Never have made any, but as I wrote you earlier today, it's on my Bucket List to do.  |
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Post by swedishcook on May 24, 2017 16:40:26 GMT -5
Oil cloth for laying on tabletop to be used for pattern layout and pinning? I think so, but what about buying one of those fold up cardboard cutting boards designed for the purpose? I used to use one of those back when I sewed a lot. Thank you for teaching an old dog new tricks  I would have said fold up cardboard what??? - until I did a search. This is just what I need! Was pinning multiple boarders onto a now 40x60" quilt top. Two side-by-side cutting mats on the dining table helped a bit. Then I had to crawl on the floor basting backing, batting and quilt top together - like I've always done. DH was shaking his head but he knows hand quilting is a hobby I'm passionate about. |
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Post by Catbatty on May 24, 2017 17:31:36 GMT -5
Wonderful! It's nice to see that quilting is still beloved. One would think that with things so fast/electronic/machine made, etc these days that the art of quilting would have become a thing of the past. I remember my mother making lovely, treasured quilts. <sigh>
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Post by swedishcook on Jun 5, 2017 22:39:55 GMT -5
Only one small problem. I'm passionate about cooking too and I enjoy spending a lot of time in the kitchen. All as long as matters beyond my control don't rob me of the hours when I'm not sleeping. That's when t&t express recipes kick in.
Latest "find". Living under my rock I had no idea you could buy ready made pizza crusts in bread or freezer section. Have actually never ever prepared a pizza in my long life. That all changed this weekend.
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emptynestmom
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Post by emptynestmom on Jun 6, 2017 14:23:44 GMT -5
Only one small problem. I'm passionate about cooking too and I enjoy spending a lot of time in the kitchen. All as long as matters beyond my control don't rob me of the hours when I'm not sleeping. That's when t&t express recipes kick in. Latest "find". Living under my rock I had no idea you could buy ready made pizza crusts in bread or freezer section. Have actually never ever prepared a pizza in my long life. That all changed this weekend. Congratulations! I think pizzas are fun...and you can make them good for summer cooking by doing them on your grill (if you have one)... |
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 7, 2017 2:11:58 GMT -5
We have a market here that sells the dough for pizza. It's wonderful stuff. I think you can also buy dough at pizza places...like Papa whatever. Isn't it fun to take on something completely new but it turns out wonderful? I feel that way about TRUFFLE stuff. World Market sells truffle oils and salt and essence of... and CHEAPER than Amazon does. (Not Whole Foods Market -- I haven't checked there.) I thank Trader Joe's frozen mac and cheese with a bit of truffle on top for introducing me to them. |
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Post by swedishcook on Jun 22, 2017 14:17:53 GMT -5
A couple of years ago we vacationed in Oregon. Driving along the beautiful coast we stopped by the Tillamook Cheese visitors center. We knew about the cheese but had no clue they made ice cream. Out of this world delicious ice cream. I picked strawberry, my favorite flavor even since childhood. Back in Dallas I did some searching but found that Tillamook ice cream was not sold in Texas  Yesterday, at my local, not-so-good grocery store I found it! Tillamook ice cream including my favorite - Oregon Strawberry. How long it's been available I don't know, but it was just as good as I remember. |
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Post by PattiA on Jun 22, 2017 15:24:55 GMT -5
swedishcook, I love when I am surprised by finding something I really love in the place I least expect it. And now I want Oregon Strawberry ice cream. (We also visited the Tillamook Cheese center a few years ago on an Oregon Coast trip. I don't remember finding ice cream there, but I was toally focused on the cheeses.)
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 28, 2017 20:30:26 GMT -5
Cordless, wand type vacuum (Dyson brand...and you don't need an animal in order to use it) I bought this several days ago (but I bought at Bed, Bath & Beyond...with a 20% off coupon...so ended up costing $400). www.amazon.com/Dyson-Animal-Cord-Vacuum-Titanium/dp/B06XG7WKKL/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1498698837&sr=8-3&keywords=dyson+v8Do I love it? YES YES YES YES YES YES !!!!!!!!!!! Worth every penny and if it breaks ever, I'm going right back out and am buying another!! I have mostly wooden floors, a few vinyl, and a few throw rugs. I also have car to clean and an RV. This thing is....PERFECT. It swivels like you cannot believe. Gets around everything. Goes under bed. Becomes a hand-held with ease. Attachments work on both the wand part of it AND the hand-held...Two motorized heads for doing floors or furniture. (One big, one small.) You cannot believe the dirt it picks up. Very surprising. This model and the one above it (for another $100) have the HEPA filtration feature. Weighs 5 lbs or so. NO CORD. DELIGHTFUL TO USE!!!!! For the last several years, we've loved our Dyson ball vacuum. Still have it. But this new cordless one is so good that I haven't used the ball one since we got the cordless. I am SO surprised that I love this so much. I was VERY skeptical. It's an expensive thing. I figured it would be all hype and would end up gathering dust like all the other similar kinds I've drug home. NO NO NO. This is a BEAST! It's so lightweight! The suction is very, very surprising. I whip through our house happily vacuuming now. No drudgery anymore. I plug it into outlet each time I stop using it and it recharges. I've only used up the battery once when on a vacuuming frenzy...(and you can make it go longer if you only use the Max setting sparingly). Xtra bedroom, cat likes to go in there and sleep on the white cover. Black cat. Black spot on bed. This vacuum loves to vacuum the fur up. But you don't need to have a pet. Animal is just a name they gave it, I think, in order to say: can suck up pet fur like crazy. Just my opinion. |
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Post by PattiA on Jun 28, 2017 23:23:49 GMT -5
My latest greatest buy is my new bike rack. It is made in the USA by 1Up. It's a trailer hitch mounted rack that I am totally in love with. My new car (another contender for greatest buy, VW AllTrack wagon) just barely fits in my garage bay. I bike a few days a week at 6am on a rail trail that is about 15 minutes drive from home. The 1UP bike rack was pricey, but i can leave it mounted on the car and just have to loosen one fitting and put it in its horizontal position and put the bike on it. It takes about 3 minutes to do. It's a bike rack with a rail for the tires, so no more lifting the bike up high to hang it on the bike rack. (My old rack was a Saris Bones and it was a huge pain to get my step through bike on it.) 1Up Quick Rack Single90% of the time, I only need to transport my own bike, but I got an add-on rack for DH's bike or a guest bike. Buying the single rack, the add-on rack, and a trailer hitch was expensive, but it has made getting ready for biking so much faster and easier. |
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Post by wallycat on Jun 29, 2017 9:48:27 GMT -5
Catbatty, thanks for reviewing the vacuum. Costco had it on sale and I was hemming and hawing. I have a Miele stick, thinking it would be light. Built like a (heavy) tank!
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 29, 2017 14:06:38 GMT -5
They did? Wonder what price? I haven't joined Costco in several years. If you need a vacuum, you might REALLY want to test this Dyson wand out! The video they have for it does NOT begin to do it justice. I remember several times seeing their video and being completely unimpressed. They need ME to make their video!! haha The first time I used it I had this phantom thing happen: I kept fighting with an invisible cord. I mean, I kept THINKING I was going to fight. I kept reaching to move the cord, etc. And there WAS NO CORD. Finally, after that first bunch of times, I got used to having NOTHING slowing me down...tying me down. It's so freeing. And then, I don't think they really show how impressive the SWIVEL part of it is. This is hard to explain, too. But envision that you are pointing the wand to a small small...like maybe you are working in a closet...with corners...and you go forward but then, rather than back out and turn and come at it from another direction (to do up the opposing wall), you just let it SWIVEL itself sideways...and you keep on keeping on. Boy...that is really lousy explanation. But anyway.... Here are things I am doing that I never did before easily: bottom shelves, inside cleaned out cupboards, UNDERNEATH bookshelves and cabinets (even the Dyson ball regular vacuum's retractable stick thing wasn't all that good at going underneath cabinets and beds), any gaps in anything -- stab on the attachment -- what do you call that narrow attachment...name escapes me...but you know. That one. It attaches to the end of the wand, OR can be used on the portable part of the unit. I'm getting dirt out of places I never have before! haha My neighbor was over and I demo'd it for her. She wanted to see what EMPTYING it was like so I showed her. Then I did a couple more demos of minor stuff...like a crack that sits just inside my front door (until we finally get around to installing a new wood floor...long story)...and one or two very nothing places... and SURPRISED US BOTH, we saw that the see through container showed that it had picked up lots of stuff. We both gasped. We didn't know how that could have happened but it did. And I've read other people's reviews saying similar stuff about that. The thing sucks up dirt that you can't even see. I have lost all hate of anything vacuum! We have a 4 bedroom house, a 34 foot rv, our beloved new car--my baby that I want to constantly clean. I can go to them fast...carrying the thing without ANY effort at all. FIVE POUNDS!! Even I can do that!! The attachments and heads and tube thing are SLICK TO ATTACH. No battles with little buttons, etc. Changing parts out is a breeze! I have damaged right shoulder and messed up right clavicle...so lifting and cleaning give me pain because I'm right handed. The hand held part of the vac is harder for me, because I have to hold it up...but even that isn't bad...and it's not like I'm holding it up for 30 minutes. Instead, just a few minutes at a time. The OVERHEAD stuff that can be done with this vac I've yet to spend much time testing ... because of shoulder pain, etc. BUT, the little I've done has seemed really easy. I think I'll save the overhead stuff for my husband to do. (And what's neat is: asking anyone to use this vac FOR you ... it's a fun tool and the person will be happy to use it! A toy-like experience!! Fun fun!) LOL Catbatty, thanks for reviewing the vacuum. Costco had it on sale and I was hemming and hawing. I have a Miele stick, thinking it would be light. Built like a (heavy) tank! |
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Post by wallycat on Jun 29, 2017 16:55:05 GMT -5
Wow, that is high praise. The $70 off just ended. Their purple one like you linked with amazon is 449.95 includes shipping/handling (and OUCH on the tax out here) before the $70.00 off. I thought I saw it for around 380ish which would be about right. I'll keep my eyes peeled. What a great sales gal you are! The Mauve-y-fuschia colored one is "until supplies last" on their site for 269.99 (the 70 off is there)....if HEPA is the only difference, I may just jump on it! off to research...and with costco's visa card, you get 2% back, which sort of takes the bite out of the tax. --editing again---I guess the v6, v7, and v8 make a difference in battery lifespan and beater stuff....back to research. THe orange one sounds like a dream, but who needs 40 minutes to vacuum  |
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 29, 2017 17:48:16 GMT -5
V8 for newer models and more somethingerother. The others are older models, I think. 40 minutes yes, but if you use the super setting (MAX) that can eat up your time. You can get overly excited and want to vacuum for an hour, ya know! Bed, Bath & Beyond, 499 for the 'Animal' and use 20 percent off coupon OR they will match Amazon, I asked, but you can't do both. So, I used the coupon. The V8 Ultimate (I think that's it's name) looked very tempting. People sure rave about it. Look at the Amazon reviews. BB&B is great about returns. So, you can test and return if you don't like...for long long time. BTW: a fellow who works at Best Buy told me he uses an older model at his apt and loves it so much that he bought his dad the fushia colored one. Dad loves it, too. PS: I am a good salesperson. haha When I love something, I can't stop raving. I used to sell Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen |
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Post by wallycat on Jul 3, 2017 16:45:27 GMT -5
I have to add the carbon steel pan here. So much more than I thought it would be! Better than the best teflon I've ever owned. So happy I built the bullet and bought it.
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applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on Jul 3, 2017 20:34:01 GMT -5
I have to add the carbon steel pan here. So much more than I thought it would be! Better than the best teflon I've ever owned. So happy I built the bullet and bought it. Good to know that you are a big fan! I've heard great things about those carbon steel pans and have thought about getting one since we talked about in an old thread. Thx. Everyone -- enjoy the new goods. This thread make me want to vacuum. |
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Post by wallycat on Jul 4, 2017 18:58:59 GMT -5
I meant "bit the bullet" --sorry for the typos.
I think the potato peel method to season was the charm. I've had carbon steel woks and never got it this slick before. Eggs literally glide on there!
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applecrisp1
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Post by applecrisp1 on Jul 5, 2017 13:50:29 GMT -5
I meant "bit the bullet" --sorry for the typos. I think the potato peel method to season was the charm. I've had carbon steel woks and never got it this slick before. Eggs literally glide on there! I saw the video on the potato peel method and it made me think, how did they come up with that. It is certainly a different way to season a pan. I wonder if it is so much slicker because of the smooth surface (unlike the newer say Lodge cast iron) or if it is something about the carbon steel? If I had the room for it, I would be so tempted to get one. I saw on a cooking show their sunny side up eggs just rolled around in the pan just like you said --- that would't happen in my Lodge It is always great to buy something that you end up loving. Enjoy. |
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Post by wallycat on Jul 5, 2017 14:23:04 GMT -5
I have some very well seasoned cast iron and it doesn't do as well as the carbon steel. I wonder if I had seasoned it with the potato skins if it would act the same. HMmmmmmmmm, do I need a test pan? LOL!
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I would have said fold up cardboard what??? - until I did a search. This is just what I need! Was pinning multiple boarders onto a now 40x60" quilt top. Two side-by-side cutting mats on the dining table helped a bit. Then I had to crawl on the floor basting backing, batting and quilt top together - like I've always done. DH was shaking his head but he knows hand quilting is a hobby I'm passionate about.
