Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Induction Cooking!

 The old stove that came with our house finally bit the dust last weekend.  It's been going for over a year and I couldn't wait for it to finally kick the bucket.

After much deliberation and cost estimating we decided induction would give us the benefits of gas and electric without the hassles of hooking up new gas lines and a super-vent.   A new vent is in the works, but the microwave/vent combo we have right now will do while we save up for the installation of a new hood.

We managed to score a deal - the last (floor model) Samsung at Lowes.  This puppy retailed at $2300 when it was introduced in 2010 and we paid less than half that.  Wooot!




I don't understand why these stoves aren't more popular.  It works on electro-magnetism, which means the top doesn't get hot like a radiant heat or gas stove.  Okay, so we did have to go out and purchase new cookware since our old (I won't say how old!) cookware (Revereware, Faberware and Macy's Tools of the Trade Professional) didn't pass the magnet test.  Contrary to some internet information, stainless steel pots, particularly older stainless steel with copper, do not work on induction.   If the magnet won't stick, the pot won't work.  That means aluminum, stainless and copper won't work.   Aluminum foil is a bad thing to leave on the stove.  John's cast iron and my Le Crueset work great.   As luck would have it, Macy's was having a cookware sale and we found another bargain in a set of Calphalon Tri-ply Stainless with 2 free bonuses.  Another WooT.

A stroll to one of my favorite stores, Crate and Barrel, also turned up this adorable two person pasta pot.  Just right for us empty nesters.   If a pot can be sexy, with it's sleek curved lines, this one certainly is.  So adorable!

2 Person Pasta Pot in Pieces

2 Person Pasta Pot Together
And just because I had the camera out, I took a picture of my chicken tchotchkes.  Gotta love collectibles!  (Please ignore the dust.)




Sunday, August 18, 2013

Sad News...

My favorite rooster, Houdi, was killed by something.   Why is it always the favorites?

He was one of our most far ranging chickens so I wasn't too surprised when he didn't come running when I got home from work as most of the flock does.  (I'm the one who feeds and they know it's dinner time when "mom" gets home.)

When he didn't return again yesterday, I went looking but didn't find anything.  Today I found the grisly remains.  He had been partially pulled through our perimeter fence.  Yuk.

I am so sad.   He was our only Houdan cock bird and I was planning to set up an autumn breeding pen with him.  Now we will have no Houdans for at least another year.   This sets my Houdan project back...again.  At this point I have given up on the Houdans and have removed them from our breed list.   The girls will become part of the layer flock.

R.I.P. Houdi boy