CFF is pleased to post the following information with the kind permission of Linda Rehberg. This is a review of some items seen at a show of products. Linda along with Lois Conway are the authors of 3 books on Bread Machine cookery. Link here to read more about their terrific books, The Bread Machine Magic Book of Helpful Hints, Bread Machine Magic, and More Bread Machine Magic. Also, be sure to stop by their web page! Our thanks to our CFF subscriber, Beverly Schneiderman, for bringing this information to our attention and corresponding with Linda!

We're both very excited about the new Breadman "Dream Machine".  It's a 2 lb machine with a vertical loaf that has a unique touch-activated screen.  You just touch the settings you want on the screen and away you go!  It's also programmed to display some basic bread recipes on the screen. There are 110 different bread setting combinations. Two of our favorite features:  a 10- minute pause which allows you to remove the dough, roll it out, fill it, roll it up, place it back in the machine and bake it, without losing rising time...and the sourdough cycle which allows you to actually ferment a sponge for 16 - 18 hours at a perfect 85 degrees then add the rest of your ingredients to bake up into a yummy sourdough bread. Another innovative machine we think rates a good look is the Toastmaster combination Toaster Oven/Bread Machine.  It solves the counter space problem for those who can't find room for their bread machine.  Toastmaster has put it inside a toaster oven!  You'll find them at Walmart and K-Mart for about $139.

Toastmaster also has a new machine called the Dessert Bread Machine.  They've gone just a bit farther with the cake/quick bread cycle and you can now bake cheesecakes and fudge, as well.  With all the samples they set out, it was hard to stay away from their booth! Just when we thought we'd seen all the latest bread machine innovations, we stopped at the Regal booth and discovered they've added a "super rapid" cycle to their best-selling machine.  It now bakes a loaf of bread in 1 hour! Incredible!  And though the wonderful Zojirushi V-20 has been on the market for a year now, it's still worth another mention.  We've been testing breads in it for the past few months and feel it's a worthy replacement for the much loved S-15.

BREAD RELATED PRODUCTS:

We spotted something new this year....gorgeous ceramic bread boxes that are works of art...with a price tag to match!  They are rectangular, the lid has a handle for lifting and they'd look fabulous on any kitchen counter or tabletop.  There are new versions of the Fiddlebow knife....one is adjustable and they now have knives for lefties.  Sanyo has come out with a very clever toaster that's sure to be a child pleaser.  Put in a slice of bread and out pops a piece of toast with a panda's face on it!  And for spreadable butter to put on that piece of toast, you need a Butter Bell Crock.  It's two pieces...a crock and a lid which has a bell-shaped cup attached underneath it.  Press a stick of fresh butter into the cup then place the upside-down cup/lid into the crock which is partially filled with water.  It keeps butter fresh and spreadable at room temperature for up to a month.

ODDS AND ENDS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE:

Gourmet Sizzlers - very large, round, shallow electric fry pans/griddles for cooking pancakes and serving hot hors d'ouevres at parties. Cordless appliances - mini food processors, salt and pepper mills, cheese graters, can openers, and hand blenders.  No more bothersome cords...they all use the same rechargeable battery.  Sanyo had the largest selection of appliances and you can purchase them in sets or separately.  Super wedding gift! Picnic knapsacks - cloth-lined backpacks loaded with all the picnic necessities: plates, glasses, utensils, checkered tablecloth and napkins, etc. plus a separate compartment for food and beverage.  One-pot pasta and sauce cooker - it's a large pasta cooker with an insert that holds the sauce for heating in the same pot. Oil spritzers - fill with the oil orsalad dressing of choice, give it a few pumps and you have an oil sprayer without propellants or additives...a great way to cut calories and also save the ozone layer! Onion Blossom Maker - Now you can make those wonderful "bloomin' onions" at home.  It's a circular plastic cutting guide that holds the onion as you slice it into perfect segments, then dip it in batter and deep fry. Spice carousel - It's an attractive circular spice caddy.  Each container holds a different spice or herb which you can shake, pour or measure out 1/4 tsp at a time with each click of the built-in dial.

"Crushgrind" Spice Mill - Each spice jar has it's own small spice grinder built into the cap.  It's perfect for gourmet cooks who crave freshly ground spices and herbs.  Fill the jars with whole spices and herbs such as basil, oregano, thyme, pepper, cloves, cumin, and dried chilies. Lastly, something we didn't see at the show but read about in one of the trade magazines that definitely caught our attention...the dishwasher in a drawer.  It's called the DishDrawer and I want one! It's modular with two compartments that slide in and out as drawers and you can operate them together or separately.  You can also install extra drawers or place one drawer on each side of the sink, if desired.  If you're single or newlyweds or empty-nesters you can wash dishes in one drawer and stack dirty dishes in the other, which in essence gives you additional kitchen storage because the clean dishes can remain in there until used.  If you have a large family, you can wash dishes and glasses in one drawer and pots and pans in the other. The manufacturer is Fisher & Paykel, a New Zealand firm, but I suspect American manufacturers will soon pick up on this new design.

That's about all we recall that was new and exciting.  If anything we described caught your fancy, inquire at your favorite kitchen store. You should be seeing these items on the market very soon.

Linda Rehberg
http://www.breadmachinemagic.com
BreadMagician@prodigy.com