Years ago I found myself in Bali, chilling. I visited every corner of that island, from the artist friendly towns in the mountains to the beaches and smaller islands a few miles off the coast. One thing that I found to be consistent during that whole trip was the appearance of a ‘jaffle’ on most menus.

Not knowing what it really was, I went ahead and ordered one. How bad could something be if the varieties included ham/cheese or banana/honey (among others). A ‘jaffle’ as it turned out was a grilled, sealed sandwich, and, delicious. At one bed and breakfast I managed to spy one of the cooks making one. The thing was an iron round press on a long handle that sat over an open fire. Much like this thing:

Minus the embossed logo in the sandwich and the round shape (the ones in Bali were square) and add a bit more of a primative look.

Anyhow, the point I am trying to make is that I enjoyed the hell out of those sandwiches enough to make me want to recreate them back home.

Once I got back to the states, the closest thing I could find to make some jaffles was the Toastmaster Sandwich maker, which I quickly picked up and put to use. First off, the name itself is a misnomer as the thing does not make the sandwich for you, but simply grill the thing. Let’s be real here. Aside from that little nitpit, I found some key differences - once being the seam in the middle that split/seals the single sandwich in two pieces. That split center really limits the amount of ingredients per sandwich. Sealing it off like that allows for less inside. Additionally, if you want to put anything that does not separate by heat alone, say, ham, then you have to make sure that you do not intersect that seam, otherwise you are still going to have to pull out a knife.

Second issue is that is it not big enough for a standard slice of bread, which means that you have to prep the bread first and slice off the crusts. Major pain in the ass when all you want to do is slap some bread, cheese and ham in the thing. Also, if you accidentally cut the bread too small, you screw up your sealing.

Which brings me to the last problem with this device. Sealing. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It all depends on the ratio of bread surface area : ingredients. If you do not have a perfect ratio, be prepared to have a poorly put together sandwich.

Overall, I do not recommend this item as it has too many rules to stick to. I wish I had seen the Diablo stovetop sandwich maker before getting this Toastmaster, but such is life before high-speed wireless. Maybe someday I will check the Diablo out, but for now, a pan works just fine.

Status: Used about 4 times over 6 years. Eventually given to a friend, where I am positive it remains dormant in her cupboard.

For love? Money? Babies?

Nope.

Appliances!!!!!

Marriage was never a goal of mine. I did not have my wedding planned out since I was 6. It seemed useless to me for most of my life. That is, until a found myself coveting my friends’ new kitchen appliances. Everytime I asked her where she got whatever it was I was drooling over, the answer was always the same: Wedding Gift.

“Damn,” I thought, “I need to get married!” So married I got, dragged my beloved into my crazy ideas, but took on the task of creating our registry alone.

One of the first things on my list: Bialetti Cappuccino Maker, an Italian stovetop cappucino maker.

I love coffee, and I love even more lattes. However, twice daily runs to ‘bucks is not great on the finances. On top of that, most *affordable* home cappucino machines really make a lousy drink. When I saw this baby, I had an idea that maybe it was the answer to all my coffee-related issues.

Boy, was I right.

When it arrived, I dutifully read the directions cover to cover while my husband decided to just make a cup. Turns out, reading the directions were important. By the time I had a chance to correct him, coffee and milk covered half of the kitchen walls, and some of the floor and ceiling. Turns out, there are right and wrong ways to use this little doohickey.

However, when you put the correct amount of water in the bottom, place the basket of non-overflowing ground espresso in the basket over it, screw the top on nice and tight, press and twist the pressure value on correctly and fill the top portion with milk, and place over a burner on medium heat, you will end up with a perfectly delicious cappuccino with froth!

Now, I admit that while I do love this thing, the results sometimes vary. I have, at times, gotten a very watered down capp or a sour capp, but I do believe that this is all due to several factors - most pointing at me. User error be damned! It still does not deter me from enjoying a nice lovely coffee every single morning without ever having to stop on the way to work and drop $5.

Status: It’s a keeper! In use daily since it arrived.

I went into appliance-covet phase early. The first time I laid eyes on the Snoopy Sno-Cone Maker I knew that I needed to have it. Fortunately for me, my father fully supported my Snoopy obsession and was usually willing to get me anything with that beloved dog plastered all over it.

When I finally got my hands on that thing, I made Sno Cones but found that it was too much of a pain in the ass to make the syrup. Usually we just used whatever soda, juice, delight was in the fridge and that was what flavor sno-cone I enjoyed.

After a couple of weeks I grew tired of cleaning up the mess and also realized that the sno-cones tasted kind of manky. It sat in my room, on the window sill for the next 5 years untouched.

Thus began my journey as an appliance whore. One at the front door, another out the back.

Status: Most likely (shamefully) sitting in a landfill somewhere