keeper - only because it's small

I finally got around to using the Benriner today. I picked up a few round-ish sweet potatoes yesterday in anticipation of the experiment. I'm not sure this dusty gadget actually felt loved, more than likely it just feels used.

I am a clutz. I used a hot pad to hold the potatoes initially. Once they were smaller pieces, I switched to the guard.


Here they are, all nice and uniform in thickness.


Ready for a little flavor addition.


The big kid sprinkled them with cinnamon sugar (maybe they did feel the love?)


I had to fight the kids off to take this picture.


They weren't all crispy. Many were chewy. Some were overdone. Usually, baking on stone helps prevent some of these issues. I'll need to dig around and find another recipe. For now, this is going back in the cupboard. Thankfully, it isn't very big. Perhaps it's more of a summer salad and slaw tool, in my kitchen.

challenge: love your kitchen gadget(s)

After some thought, I am going to pick only one item to pamper this week. We are having a garage sale this weekend and I need to resist the urge to toss a bunch of things in the pile. I've done it before. Then I ask the Baron where my M&M shaped cookie jar* went, forgetting we sacrificed it the year before.

I am going to make a point of using my mandolin. It was a much appreciated gift from a friend but I've found it cumbersome to clean. I'm a bit of a clutz, too, and washing it makes me nervous. I like having 10 fingers.

I am first going to read about my lovely Beriner mandolin. Then I'm going to hunt for recipes.

So, what are you going to dig out of your cupboards this week? Any plans for how you'll use it? Please post in your own blog and link back in the comments section. I hope we have a good turn out for this little challenge as I'd like to make it a regular thing.

*I do not, nor have I ever, owned an M&M shaped cookie jar.

want a challenge?

There must be somebody reading this because I see some of you have opted to follow my boring blog. I am proposing a kitchen challenge unlike most others.

In doing my regular Thursday kitchen cleaning, I've come across little treasures. Poor, neglected gadgets and novelties, covered in dust, live among my beautiful Fiesta. I want to make them feel loved. I already know which THREE items I am going to liberate next week. I challenge you to find at least one, maximum of three, of your own unattended cooking do-dahs and give them life. I'd love pictures, but a simple explanation in the form of a comment will work.

I'll post a reminder on Monday, which is when I am starting the challenge (and so are YOU.) I'll take snaps of mine, sitting sad and alone, as well as in use. I'm issuing a BOLO for fondue pots, bread machines, pasta makers and the like! Please, be my friend and participate.