I’m unofficially dubbing this week “Gadget Week”, in which I will introduce myself and you to some of the lovely and fancy kitchen gadgets we received for our wedding, hopefully concluding with the behemoth that is our 5.5 qt. artisan KitchenAid mixer.
Yesterday I introduced you to our lovely (yet sort of intimidating) mandoline. The mandoline was something that always fascinated me, but I never thought I’d be “enough of a cook” to own, let alone use one. Today’s gadget is one that I have always wanted, but never could justify. Why have a rice cooker? Uncle Ben’s makes completely passable “quick rice” and boil-in-bag is just a convenience I had to indulge many a time in bouts of laziness or well…laziness. When I started my last adventure into losing weight, I was introduced to many different grains, all of which could be cooked either on the stove top, in the microwave, or in a rice cooker.
Wait, what? You mean I can make my steel-cut oats in the rice cooker? And quinoa? Those dopey little balls don’t have to go all over the kitchen? Yes, other grains could be cooked in the rice cooker! Then my wanting started. It took years of messy microwaves, burned and ruined pans, and finally the prospect of a wedding registry that got me truly thinking about getting one. It was one of those things we registered for but never in a million years thought we’d get. My amazing coworkers pooled together for our work wedding shower and, among other things, got us the rice cooker! It sat in the box until last week, and when I removed it, I was amazed at how pretty it is… just look:
I want a rice cooker! I forgot to register for one!
I was so excited to get my kitchenaid mixer and a margarita maker. I just wish our apartment had more room for gadgets! When we get a house, I am totally going gadget crazy.
MMM chipotle burrito bowls! YUM
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat)´s last blog ..Couch to 5k is back!
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I got a rice cooker when I was about 17 after BEGGING for one. I never used it, then gave it away! Little did I know how much I’d want one later in life . . .
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I had to google brigadier – oops!
Mmm that rice does look good! Completely different than when you cook it in a pot! That’s cool that it makes all the other grains, too! It looks surprisingly similar to our ice cream maker from Cuisinart! haha
I think I’d like to get a Kitchenaid mixer. I have a bit of an issue w/ just using it as a mixer though (I’m weird) but I love all of the attachments, I think those would be super handy!
Christina´s last blog ..Pasta a la Philly
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I love my rice cooker! I just got a new Cuisinart blender that I am obsessed with.
campinggirl´s last blog ..Relaxing Night
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Oh baby. That right there is definitely in my dream kitchen. It’s a beauty! I never even thought that you could cook other grains in a rice cooker though…genius!
Lara (Thinspired)´s last blog ..The Best Chili
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Getting married really does help you get everything you need for the kitchen, now we need counter space. Does that count?
Beth (Mackattack)´s last blog ..Shepherd’s pie recipe
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A Vitamix lives in my dream kitchen!
Rice cookers are so awesome – but I didn’t know you could cook Steel Cut Oats in them! I’m definitely going to try that
Allison (Eat Clean Live Green)´s last blog ..Make Ahead Breakfast
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I can’t go without a rice cooker….Being of Taiwanese descent it’s a must have! I would LOVE to have a kitchen aid standing mixer.
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yay!
Im feeling really proud Mara as this is something I actually own and use all the freakin time.
*skips away proudly*
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I love rice cookers! My mom used one all the time when I was younger! Perfect rice all the time! I’m a huge fan of rice!
I wanted a food processor for as long as I can remember! Then I finally broke down and bought one. Love it.
Karla´s last blog ..Fabulous Lunch for a Boring Day
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I have a rice cooker, and I love it! Does yours do brown rice? I can only seem to make mine cook white rice. the brown rice wasn’t fully cooked when it said it was done. I’m thinking I have to adjust the liquid somehow, but I’m not sure how.
megan´s last blog ..Braising – a few thoughts and a recipe
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Mara @ What's For Dinner? Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
The first time I used the rice cooker, it messed up the brown rice. I found that even though my little book for it says to use different proportions than white rice, it’s not the case! I used 2 c. of rice and then filled the water to the “2″ marker and it was perfect!
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Double ovens in the wall FTW! Or is that technically an appliance? I would really like to have a mandolin as well and a Vita-Mix or blender of such strength.
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Mara @ What's For Dinner? Reply:
January 20th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Oh would double ovens be NICE! Or heck, a single one that works well…
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Oh, that’s a nice rice cooker. I love it and the dish looks great.
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I love my rice cooker. Although we use it mostly for steel cut oats! haha! My favorite kitchen gadget is a toss up between my toaster oven and my george foreman grill! Love them both and use them almost everyday each!
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Well, I think like many, it’s my KitchenAid mixer…so great! I don’t have a rice cooker…..I’d take a brand new kitchen though:)
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Some people might think this is crazy, but we really wanted a deep fryer for our wedding. I’m terrible at making fried chicken on the stovetop and my husband makes wonderful crab rangoons that are just so much easier in a deep fryer. This is the one we got:
http://www.myregistry.com/kitchenstore/details.aspx?pid=3961
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I have a billion kitchen gadgets but I don’t have a rice cooker. I would love to buy a Vitamix mixer!!
By the way…I nominated you for a Beautiful Blogger Award…you can check out my most recent post.
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I love my rice cooker, it frees you up to do other things. Love it.
Diana´s last blog ..Anti-Valentine Cocktails by Three Olives
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