by Patti Hager (pattinky)

My husband, Ron, knows how much I love to entertain.  He also knows that my dexterity in handling kitchen utensils to prepare food has deteriorated.  So he is always on the lookout for gadgets or ways to make food preparation easier for me.  Of course my biggest help is Ron! 

 A couple of years ago Ron brought home a gadget that I just glanced out and stuck away like I’ve done to so many of his purchases.  I didn’t think about again till Thanksgiving of that year.  In our family, we each have a holiday that we prepare the food for the entire family, around sixteen.  Thanksgiving is mine.  This particular year we had sixteen plus with other family members and friends in town.  For Thanksgiving, mashed potatoes are a must and I cringed at the thought of peeling all those potatoes.  It would take me hours to do.  That’s when I remembered Ron’s gadget.   I pulled it out of the cabinet, read the directions and thought, “Yeah right, this is going to work”.   I put my first potato on and in no time it was peeled.  I went through twenty potatoes in no time.  They are not perfect but it really cut down on the time and frustration.  This gadget is very similar to the apple peeler/corer but is much easier to use and clean.  It is made of plastic so it’s lightweight and cleanup is easy, just run it under water. You don’t need to clamp it to anything either.  Just recently I used it to peel apples for three apple pies for an Apple Pie contest.  I still had to core the apples but that wasn’t so bad. 

The item is call a Starfrit Rotato Potato Peeler and can be ordered online for around $15.  Ron found it at a discount store for $5.00.

Perfectly peeled potatoes in seconds! Peel potatoes, fruits and vegetables with one easy motion! Built-in potato eye/blemish remover! Robotized arm adjusts to different heights and widths to hold food securely! Virtually eliminates food waste! Dishwasher safe! Non-slip base! Built-in compartment with two extra stainless steel cutting blades! *Note: This is not an electric machine. It is operated manually.

 

 By The Way:  I try Ron’s gadgets right away now before passing judgment.  Some help, some don’t.  And no my apple pie didn’t make it to the finals but it was still good.  Try it for yourself.

 If you would like to share any of your tips, tricks or easy recipes please e-mail them to me at patti@eos.net. 

 CARAMEL APPLE PIE

 Pie Crust

1 – deep-dish piecrust – I buy mine at the store

 Preheat oven to 375^o

 Filling

1-14oz can sweetened condensed milk

1 – oz container Marzetti’s Old Fashion Caramel Apple Dip

6 to 8 cups of sliced apples of choice – I used golden and red delicious

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

3 tablespoons flour

 

Combine sweetened condensed milk with caramel apple dip in large pot over low heat until thoroughly mixed.  Combine apples, sugar, cinnamon and flour.  Mix until all apples are coated with mixture.   Add to caramel mixture.  Coat apples with mixture.  Pour into piecrust.

 

Topping

¼ cup flour

3 tablespoons butter

¼ cup brown sugar.

 

Mix these ingredients until well blended.  Crumble over pie.

Tent aluminum foil over pie for first 35 minutes so crust does not burn.  Remove and bake 10 minutes longer.

  

DID YOU KNOW?

In a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers tested people who ages ranged from 65 to 90 and discovered that the people with the best ability to memorize words and do mental arithmetic were those whose diets included the most fruits and vegetables.

Coincidentally, the same group of people ate the least artery-clogging saturated fat…people who take vitamin C regularly, consistently score higher on memory tests.  http://www.pinnaclenature.com/brain.html