Kitchen Reviews

I bought this pan and use it weekly. I put a pan in the bottom of the oven with boiling water to get the chewy texture for the crust. I also spray water in the oven several times while it is baking. What I get is a nice crunchy crust. I use my bread machine to make 2lbs of dough, then I divide it and make two baguettes.

I've been working on making the perfect French bread baguette. (It's delicious with goat cheese and some artichoke-lemon spread, but that's another review.) I have an excellent bread machine recipe for the dough but letting the bread proof on my pizza stone before cooking it resulted in slightly "squashed" loaves that were more like narrow ellipses than circles. Although I love my stone's effect on a loaf's crisp crust, I finally ordered this baguette pan.

Mindful of the recommendations in other reviews, I sprayed the pan with cooking oil before using it. I also tossed some corn meal on it. (What can I say? I like its effect on the crust.) I laid the dough in the pan's "troughs," let it rise, then moved it to a preheated oven to bake. Unable to part with the stone entirely, I placed the pan on top of it. The loaves turned out beautifully. They're almost perfectly round, about 2" in diameter; the crust was even crispier than when I used my stone, and it's fairly even all around--slightly more brown on top than on the bottom, perhaps because of the stone being underneath.

Since my kids ate them all, I had to make more the next day. This time, I didn't stretch the dough as much so they came out as 3" baguettes. I also reduced the heat a little, as the pan's instructions recommend. The loaves touched when they rose, so I pulled them apart after about ten minutes of baking. That wasn't a problem though, and they came out even better than before.

Cleanup is easy, especially if you spray the pan, but the perforations are a bit harsh on a sponge, so you might want to use the recommended nylon scrub or a paper towel instead. (Cleaning corn meal out of those holes is a little difficult, however, so I'm reconsidering using corn meal.)

If you bake baguettes frequently, I heartily recommend this pan! (No offense to my pizza stone.)

I USED THE BAGUETTE PAN FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY AND WAS A BIT APPREHENSIVE AFTER READING THE REVIEW ABOUT DOUGH GETTING STUCK IN THE PERFORATION HOLES, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. IT REALLY DID A BEAUTIFULL JOB ON MY BREAD! BEFORE PLACING THE DOUGH IN THE PAN I SPRAYED IT WITH A NON STICK COOKING SPRAY AND THEN DUSTED IT WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF FLOUR. AFTER THE BREAD WAS DONE IT SLIPPED RIGHT OUT OF THE PAN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A REALLY GREAT PRODUCT.

BEV BAKER

for $20 how can you possibly beat this ice cream maker? its price alone should sell it, never mind the fact that it works flawlessly. i never made ice cream before i purchased this, and was very sceptical about spending nearly $200 for the really good makers, so i decided to go with this as a starter to see how it all went. it just doesnt get any easier than this! as far as some people saying that it doesnt stop automatically, it stops by itself just fine, as long as the ice cream is hard enough to slow down the dasher. and as a tip: if the ice cream never gets hard enough, simply add more rocksalt and pack down the ice with a knife a bit. the only gripe i have, is that maybe the motor could have been stronger or the dasher made of a stronger material, but for the price you do get what you pay for. i also purchased the ben & jerrys recipe book and highly recommend it as well. do yourself a favor and dont think twice and buy this great machine. you wont be dissapointed

I received the Rival ice cream maker as a special gift for X-mas from my son. He and everyone else knows that I am a complete ice cream fanatic. However, I either misplaced or did not receive instructions with this product. Feeling guilty, as he splurged on this gift and I still have been unable to try it out. He is 18 years old but was financially "strapped" at the time. Also, I would love to try it out as I am at my wits end when I run out of ice cream and all the rave reviews I have read here are making me even more curious about this delicious-sounding ice cream! Mmmmmm, Mmmmmmm good is what I am sure I will be saying if someone would be kind enough to send me the complete instructions so that I can (finally) begin to use my ice cream maker! My son purchased the rock salt and ice cream mix and I have a bag of ice (im)patiently waiting for just this purpose in my freezer. So..any and all help would be greatly appreciated. And as I ALWAYS say...I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM....we ALL scream

I have never made ice cream before, nor did I know much about it. My first batch (I did not use the pre-bagged stuff) was awesome, although it did take longer than the directions said. A bit of freezing and the taste couldn't be beat - and I used skim milk, evap skim-whole milk rather than cream, etc! Once you get the hang of adding enough rock salt and ice, and as long as you ignore noise, this machine is great! I've used it about 5 times and each recipe I've used (I found them on the web, and one on the box) turned out great! YUMMY and delicious and cheap, too! ENJOY! Lisa

I was looking to replace a cheapy Dirt Devil that wasn't picking up like it used to.

As we recently added a dog to our family I wanted one with HEPA filtration. I also have a lot of hard floors (tile & wood) so I wanted something that would work well on bare floors.

Out of the box: It's easy to assemble and get started. You will be vacuuming in less than 30 minutes. Its important to read the instruction manual about the filters and cleaning schedule.

It's a heavy solid piece. All of the plastic feels solid and well built. The wand attachment is wonderful but I have to use it too much (more on that in a moment). The headlight is dim and doesn't really light much on the floor. More like a headlight letting the pets know your coming. The motor is very quiet and a nice change from the less powerful vac I upgraded from. The Power switch is oddly placed but you get used to it pretty quickly.

However, the "Hard floor" switch is difficult to use especially when transitioning between rooms with/without carpeting. Hard floors are the weakness of this vac. On tile it is practically impossible to pick up small particles and cat litter. Wood floors are only slightly better.

There is no provision for picking up in corners. That is unacceptable in a vac of this price. My old cheapy picked up very well in corners on the right side. So you are forced to use the wand a lot. Since my house is mostly hardwood I must use the wand for at least 50% of the vacuuming. Not fun.

On the plus side it does an excellent job on carpets. However, throw rugs are an issue as the vacuum is so strong it sucks them off the floor. I love the HEPA filtration. I truly do see a small reduction in the amount of dust in the house.

The bagless feature is great and is of sufficient volume that you don't have to dump it after every room. I usually get two full vacuumings in before I dump the canister. The filters are holding up well and haven't needed to be cleaned or changed yet. That's good because the replacements are expensive as compared to a bag. Of course they are filtering a lot more dust & dirt than a bag can.

Overall I am very happy with the quality of the product. However, it really isn't up to the task on hardwood or tile floors. I would be ecstatic with this vac if I had wall to wall carpeting.

Pros:
Quality look and feel
Strong motor
Quiet
Very stylish design

Cons:
Doesn't work on hard floors
Heavy
Weak headlight

Carpet/hardwood switch difficult to use

Before I purchased this vacuum cleaner, I looked up several on Amazon.com and read the reviews. I was most impressed with the reviews and ratings for this one and also the 4885 which has a couple more bells and whistles but is apparently the same model, otherwise.

I tried to find the 4880 locally, and no one had ever heard of it! I was told it was an "old model," things like that. Actually, according to the Eureka WEBsite, it's quite a new model. Anyway, I decided to purchase from Amazon.com so I ordered, and it came in just a very few days, faster than promised.

Well, everything the other reviewers have said is absolutely true! The first time I vacuumed my house, I got three cupfuls of dirt and pet hair; I had to empty the dirt cup and rinse out the filters three times! I didn't know whether to cheer or throw up! By the way, the dirt cup is large and both the cup and the two filters that are removable are easy to get out of the machine, rinse out, and put back in. Be sure to use your spray attachment on your sink to get all the dirt out, and also let all the pieces dry COMPLETELY before you put them back into the machine.

The Hepa filter is the third filter. It's not removable/rinsable, and should be replaced about twice a year according to directions. Not much gets clear through to the Hepa filter, though, because the two other filters precede it.

Here's another tip. Run the cord up through the looped handle before you plug it in. That will hold the cord up and out of the way better than you can achieve with most other vacuum cleaners. I figured that out myself; it's not in the instructions. By the way, the instructions are clear, simple, and well illustrated.

As others have said, the machine is heavy, but the rollers seem to pull it forward though it is technically not self-propelled. It is smooth and quiet to use. It does not have edge-clean so you will either have to use the attachments for that purpose or use your handvac which is what I do.

This is a VERY satisfying product to use, quite fun, actually. I was suspicious about what my last vacuum cleaner was leaving in my carpet, and now I KNOW!

After reading the many previous reviews, I was sure this was the vacuum cleaner I wanted, and now that I have used it for a few days, I know I was absolutely right. If you have pets or a woodstove as we do, two dogs and a cat, plus bringing wood in through the house, this vacuum cleaner is one you should consider very seriously. My husband was annoyed with me for wanting to replace our old vac, but he is believer, now.

Amazon.com reviews of products really help keep the buyer from making bad purchase mistakes. It's a wonderful service. Thank you, Amazon.com!

I purchased this vacuum cleaner about half a year ago, and it is still working extremely well. I previously had another Eureka Whirlwind vacuum cleaner (some earlier model I purchased about 5 years ago); well, my previous model kept clogging, and clogging so I definitely needed something new. So, as you can imagine I was a little bit apprehensive about purchasing another Eureka; however, have no fear... this machine is awesome.

To be quite honest, I put a lot of credence in the reviews and opinions of other reviewers... and I think most everybody was dead-on right. This vacuum definitely has good sucking power. I think that a price you pay for this is the fact that the machine really wants to go... albeit it is not really 'that' difficult to handle. Weight wise, it is a little bit heavier than my previous vacuum (but realistically not that much more)... besides, with that weight you definitely get really good stability while vacuuming and utilizing the accessories.

The carpet/hard floor switch is an awesome shift when you need to do hard floors. I must admit, though, that this is not the best unit for getting edges. The accessories are easy to use. And most important, I've had absolutely no problems with the unit; someone wrote about a suction problem... they should probably check to ensure that they seated the canister properly.

The Dyson DC07 was a little heavier than I expected but maneuvers easily. Transitions well from hard floors to rugs. Cleans better than any upright vacuum I've owned. I was disappointed with the refurbished sweeper when I tried to empty the collection bin, it wouldn't.

I phoned customer service and was pleased to learn that they would replace the chamber/bin no questions asked. I received the part within the week and now the sweeper works fine. I am disappointed that the warranty is only for 6 months, but don't expect to need it again.

I have purchased other reconditioned products at Amazon.com and have been very happy each of them, but this Dyson reconditioned exceeded all my expectations. The unit was in pristine condition, almost better than new. As usual with Dyson the performance was unsurpassed. I could not be happier.

On Monday, I Steam cleaned the carpet with our hover steam cleaner. On Tuesday our reconditioned Dyson arrived in almost new condition, there are a few scuff marks on it. We vacuumed the carpet and got a full canister of dog and cat hair along with some very fine dirt.

I am sold, this thing is just flat impressive. Another nice surprise was that it is not very noisy compared to some other vacuums we have had. I have called Dyson and ordered the turbo brush to go with our Yellow Dyson. I think that would be helpful on furniture. Bottom line, good price when compared to the new ones. Reconditioned one is in like new condition, and it picks up stuff you would not believe. My friend has a Bissell turbo type vac. and not only does he have to empty the dirt bin he also has to clean the filters out. This Dyson picks up dirt his machine left behind, and it was all in the bin, the filter looks new.

I would not hesitate to recommend this machine to my friends!

We bought these glasses eight months ago because we liked the simple style of the glasses, and the price was cheap. Of the original six tall glasses, only two are remaining. Of the six short glasses, only four are still being used. All six broke on the top shelf of our dishwasher. Buy them of you intend to wash them by hand or if you do not plan to have them over a year. I won't buy them again.

I have to say I bought these glasses based on the simplicity of the style and I wasn't disappointed with the way they look. But I was upset that most of the tall glasses shattered easily, one even broke in my hands as I tried to wash it. I think for fairly gentle use this design is fine, but I would disagree with the description of them as heavy duty.

I've had these glasses for about three months and I have not had any break in the dishwasher or otherwise, and I run them through at least every second day.

I like them because the bases are really heavy -- great since I have a cat that tries to tip glasses over if you leave them alone and he notices.

The only problem I had was that one glass was slightly defective when I bought the first set, but Target let me exchange with no problems.

It came with a scratch on the front and is flimsy, but serves its purpose.

I purchased this breadbox in white. It's pretty,but not tall enough for the bread I make in my bread machine. It will be perfect for anyone needing it for store purchased bread though. I am a regular customer of Target Store's and have been pleased with everything else I have purchased from them.

I bought this box via online. I was so dissappointed. The box arrived scratched and dented. The packaging didn't protect the box well enough during shipping. My mom purchased me another and it to was scratched. I have given up on getting this box and am looking for another now.

This was free with a Le Creuset pot I ordered, so I wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised! I used this for a vegetable dish and decided it was attractive enough to serve in. It kept the veggies hot throughout the meal and they were still piping hot when I cleared the table. The looped handles made the saucepan easy to manage, both on and off the stovetop. They make it easy to carry when it's full, and it's nice not to have another handle in the way when I'm using all the burners. The 18/10 stainless steel is high quality and won't react with foods. Although it's not non-stick I found it easy to clean. The 3 quart size is just right for a lot of dishes, so I expect to be using this often. You won't go wrong with this one!

I own Cuisinart pans. And, I own this saucepan. If you bring everybody into you kitchen and want to show of the Cuisinart logo on your pots then this isn't for you. But, they have to look for logos to see a "quality" difference--this little pot has class too. Just don't tell `em what you paid for this pot and I bet they don't catch on.

If you are looking for something that works every bit as well for a fraction of the price then the Cuisine items are for you. Sadly, there are only a couple of items in the Cuisine line.

Someone mentioned the handles can get hot. That is true. But, I have had to use hotpads on my long handled Cuisinart at times too. So, it sure isn't a deal breaker.

i love this little pot. use it every day, mom saw it so now she's getting one for christmas. i have been using mine for about 2 weeks now. it doesn't stick , sturdy easy to use, dishwasher safe, and is small enough to go in the fridge(leftovers). it is SO cute too. cant' ask fo a better little pot! i just bought a second for myself, thanks Amazon!

A nice product, although small--it isn't big enough to cool a full tray of cookies. Also, no protective feet as listed (no big deal, but the product listing should be changed). I returned mine, to buy the bigger size ...

When this rack arrived, it was already missing a foot. But that was okay with me, because the first thing I did was remove the two that were still on, and take them and the loose one in the box, and tossed them into the junk drawer.

This rack fits perfectly in a cookie sheet, and makes a great draining/cooling rack for my deep fried foods and my roasts. The non-stick grid means all it usually needs is a quick rinse, but it's sturdy enough for a ride in the dishwasher.

This is much larger than it looks in the picture and that is why I love it. It is perfect for cooling cookies, a cake or just about anything you are baking that needs to be cooled down.

Since I usually sit at my dinning room table to ice cookies, I love the covered feet, they don't scratch or ruin my wooden table top.

Cleaning this nonstick cooling rack is a breeze. All you do is basically wash the grid with soapy water, rinse and you are done. It is so easy to clean.

Sometimes I put a few pieces of wax paper under the cooling rack and drip icing all over little petit fours. That can get a bit messy, but this rack can handle just about anything. What I love is that when I rinse it under hot water, all that icing just melts off very easily. On normal metal racks, it tends to just get glued on.

So, I think this "Cooling Grid" is just superior. Sometimes you find an item that you could not live without...this is just one more item to add to that list!

I have been rolling out tortillas for years and finally decided to buy a tortilla press. I can whip them out in NO time (my grandson helps me and has a great time!). The only downfall is that they are small - but still taste as delicious!

My husband loves fresh corn flour or white flour tortillas and now eats them 3-4 times a weeks as opposed to once every few months now that I have this press.

I checked out tortilla presses at Williams Sonoma and Sur la Table before getting this one. The others were crusted over with cheap chrome jobs, one that looked like goopy silver spray paint. One display model's finish was even chipping in the store - there's no way nasty flakes of chrome are going in my fresh tortillas! This press is cast aluminum and just beautiful. It works well and, if you use wax paper or plastic wrap when you press the dough, it doesn't require cleaning at all.

Take it from a tortilla trial and error survivor - get this press.

I thought it would be pretty easy to buy some Masa Harina, mix it up and roll out some nice tortillas... WRONG! It's pretty easy to make flour tortillas without a press, but trying to make corn tortillas requires a press - no two ways about it.

Save yourself tons of time, frustration and make some fresh corn tortillas - buy this press

I thought it would go well with my new Cuisinart Coffee Maker. It seems to take longer than my old Krups unit. If you overfill it simply won't grind the beans. Once you get the hang of the amount of beans to place in, it works OK but still seems to take longer than other grinders.

This grinder has been rated quite high among the blade-style coffee grinders due to its well balanced grind consistency and performance. Although it isn't a Burr grinder, it does its job quite well. The only problem I have, is that the capacity seems a little small. I also haven't used it for that long, so I cannot make any comments on the durability of this grinder.

Let me say I abuse my coffee grinders. The ones I have had in the past have died young because I have dropped them in a dopey morning pre-coffee daze. I have dropped the Cuisinart numerous times and it is warped on one side from me leaving it on the gas stove with the oven on...IT STILL WORKS..just as well as the day it arrived. Best purchase I have made yet and I would buy another but I don't need to.