Home & Garden Blog

Fourth of July Deals - Corn on the cob picks, patriotic plates and pin striped table decorative table cloths

West Elm Furniture - Check out the great designs and discount rates on quality West Elm bedroom furniture

Julie Meyer Cleaning Gloves - Up the fashion quota next time you wash the dishes or clean the bathroom with adorable gloves from Julie Meyer

Happy Fourth of July!

Discount Summer Kitchen Appliances - Cool off with Cuisinart’s Ice Cream, Sorbet or Frozen Yogurt Maker

It sure is getting hot in here! When you are lounging this Fourth of July weekend at whatever backyard boogie you end up celebrating at be sure to cool off with some refreshing fruit sorbet, some soothing ice cream or chilled to perfection frozen yogurt.

Product Features:

* Heavy duty motor is strong enough to handle frozen yogurt, ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, and frozen drinks.
* Double insulated freezer bowl makes up to 1-1/2 quarts of frozen desserts.
* Easy-lock transparent lid.
* Ingredient spout for adding ingredients at end of cycle.
* ON/OFF switch.
* Rubber feet.
* Cord storage.
* Recipes included.
* Dimensions: 10 x 15-in
* 3-year limited warranty.

Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker - $49.95

Enjoy celebrating this Fourth of July, be joyous and safe everyone!

If you take the sound advice I gave the other day about getting an espresso machine, then this Cuisinart coffee grinder might come in handy.  It was originally $29.99 but has come down to a very doable $17.99 at iKitchen (which will let you take an additional 5% off all this month).  Grinders are nice because you can buy beans in bulk, freeze them and use ‘em at your leisure.  Does the money saving ever stop?

This one is stainless steel, comes in three colors and grounds up to 12 cup’s worth of coffee beans.

You know you want it.

I am a dedicated cheese lover. So much so that anyone reading this who knows me is thinking “Oh, no, is she going on about cheese again?” This undying devotion is what compels me to do a post on fondue sets.

When was the last time you fondued? It’s probably been awhile, but it’s so much fun. I know that fondue parties were a trend in the 1970s, and they had a resurgence a couple of years ago, but I have yet to be invited to one. That has to change. Come on, everyone, lets bring fondue back! All you need is some crusty bread, some Emmental cheese,  a fondue pot, and a few good friends.  Some wine might help, too.

Oh, and if you’re anti-cheese or lactose intolerant, don’t worry, fondue isn’t only about cheese. Some like to fondue with chocolate (although I think those pesky chocolate fountains stole the thunder on that tradition) and others like to dip bits of meat into flavored oils. It’s all fair fondue fodder.

Swissmar Lugano 9-Piece Set, $79.95
Emile Henry Flame Top Set, $89.99
Cuisinart Electric Set, $49.99

Frieling Porcelain Chocolate Fondue Set, $25.95

A friend gave me this Frieling set a few years back, and it works great. It’s good if you have a small group. And I know they call it a chocolate fondue set, but I’ve done cheese in it and there weren’t any problems to speak of.

My mother-in-law recently bestowed upon me this beautiful Smart Stick hand blender from Cuisinart. I think she felt compelled after watching me whip cream by hand during a recent visit–cramping did occur. I have to say, this is one of those appliances you don’t even know you want until it starts working quick miracles.

It helped me make a luscious cucumber dip just this weekend, blending to perfection! I was also thinking that it would make great smoothies in an instant. I may never use a blender again.

At $49.95 , this kitchen gadget is a fair price considering it comes with a whisk and chopper attachment, a measuring beaker that you can mix in, and a three-year warranty. I couldn’t believe all the stuff that was in the box and such great quality.

What more can you ask for?

Cuisinart Mix It In Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker, $99 

Who wants soft serve ice cream?  Just about everyone I know would scream “yes!” to that question–its so good. The only problem with most soft serve is that it only comes in chocolate or vanilla, which are both great, of course, but sometimes don’t you just want some mint chip soft serve?  This Cuisinart Mix It makes 1 1/2 quarts of soft serve, sorbet, and sherbet in as little as 20 minutes, and it comes with a recipe book so you can experiment with your favorite flavors. Not bad.  Plus it has that little chute that unleashes sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts or any other topping you can imagine right onto your cone or bowl. Mmmm…now, I really want an ice cream.  No, really.