Thursday, April 15, 2010

Three Strikes

As we have become more dependent on gadgets that chop, grind, slice, dice and even cook for us while we're out, we also become a little out of sorts when they mysteriously stop working.  

Strike one, my twenty-something crock pot gives up the ghost and turns a normally tender chunk of chuck into something akin to a boiled owl.  Mom used this phrase to describe various over-cooked proteins as being tougher than a boiled owl.  Not having any personal experience with this, we'll just assume it was.

Strike two? The "I-can't-live-without-it" food processor we bought 10 years ago.  Little by little, the bowl and cover were wearing out.  A piece would break here and crack there, but it still worked fine.  That is until I tried to grate my wedge of Parmigiana Reggiano, and the bowl kept rising up on the base because it had broken to the point that it wouldn't stay latched in place.

Strike three.  I decided to try a new tapenade recipe, but with the processor out of order, I pull out the blender, and start piling stuff into the container.  I slap on the lid, push the button and what do I get?  A big WHIRRRRR, but no blade action.  Hubs calls "turn it off" from the other room and comes to check it out.  So I regroup while he takes the blade downstairs to oil it - something about the bearings and did it go into the dishwasher?  No, dishwashers are evil!  Well, only the first time or two, I swear.  Is it toast?

Now for Plan C (don't you hate it when it comes down to Plan C).  In my desperation, I used my immersion blender's chopper unit, and folks I don't recommend this for expediency's sake.  It's wonderful for small quantities of something like nuts for a pie or to whiz up a can of tomatoes, but for a batch of tapenade, it was quite the challenge.


Fortunately, all the food processor needed was a few replacement parts.  Can't say the same for the crock pot, and I haven't gotten the prognosis on the blender.

Meanwhile, here's Sophie enjoying her "present".


It's just what I wanted.  How did you know?




2 comments:

  1. Had to laugh - been married 36 years, and I need a "shower" again to get some new kitchen gadgets!

    BTW, my kitty enjoys boxes too, they all do! Cute picture!

    Visiting from TB!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Cindi,

    That was the packaging from my food processor parts. Give a cat a box and she's happy! Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete

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