Ice cream

[greenishfing]

I have the cheapo Kenwood, bought in a sale at Argos. I don't use it often but it does a good job. My favourites are vanilla rippled with either homemade cherry jam or homemade Lemon Curd.

[Alison]

There are certain things that I feel are necessary, a free standing ice cream machine, top of the range gas BBQ, a gas hot smoker, 2 bread machines and 400+ cookery books.

I think value depends on how much you'd use something too, I eat icecream once a month, tops, don't really have a sweet tooth. It's nice to be able to make sorbets etc with my fresh fruit and homemade is delicious but for that sort of frequency, a bit too of manual effort isn't a big deal and it's a huge thing to store if you're not using much. I debated about a bread machine for a few years before buying a high end one which has been used several times per week for 9 years now so that's well worth the money and counter space - can't see a need for a spare though . Not got as many cookery books (and some are second hand) but don't think you can have too many of those but would never buy a gas BBQ (just not a BBQ to me) and don't actually know what a gas hot smoker is! To be honest I'm not really a gadget girl and often do things the old fashioned way as it often results in less clearing up which I really do hate. Things really have to earn their place in my house, I hate the feeling of disappointment you get with an expensive impulse buy that doesn't get used much or gives minimal to no advantage

[SaraJH]

We have a basic breville one where you stick the bowl in the freezer, I think.... Ive never used it LOL.
When OH uses it we get decent enough ice cream but it obviously doesn't freeze as well as the more expensive makes. It does for us.

[Scarlet]

There are certain things that I feel are necessary, a free standing ice cream machine, top of the range gas BBQ, a gas hot smoker, 2 bread machines and 400+ cookery books.

I love all things kitchen but I'm not keen on gadgets....a gas BBQ is just a cooker outside. a BBQ for me is cooking on charcoal, I love books but the internet has changed that for me. I have two bread machines, they are all cast offs from peeps that no longer want them though I must admit good quality kitchen appliances last. My OH gave me a dualit toaster for a birthday present over 20 years ago...it's still working - totally good as new

I have other obsessions to spend my money on. Chilli's, poultry & rocks!

I'm with you on the chillies and poultry, but rocks??!

[sparrow100]

The Mrs Bee Cookery Library is a thing of wonder - I have some of the cast offs and use them regularly.

I am thinking of an ice cream maker too. I adore ice-cream but most on the UK market are too sweet for my tastes. And I'd like to try other flavours. I do hesitate over gadgets though. My flat's too small for many of them: our fabulous pizza oven lives under our bed for example, as does the dehydrator when not in use.

Oh for a large kitchen and also a walk-in pantry!

[veggiechicken]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ker_84626.html
I bought the Andrew James one last year, with spare bowl. Used it twice and now it lives in the garage, unused! Too much faff - I'm lazy by nature

[Small pumpkin]

I'm with you on the chillies and poultry, but rocks??!

Semi precious gems

I've got sapphire, ruby, silver, opals ( big fan of opals) to name but a few. All in their natural form. You can keep your highly polished, faceted cut jewellery peaces. Hence rock collection

[Small pumpkin]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ker_84626.html
I bought the Andrew James one last year, with spare bowl. Used it twice and now it lives in the garage, unused! Too much faff - I'm lazy by nature

What flavour did you make VC?

[veggiechicken]

One was blackcurrant - can't remember the other one. Its the cream & custard thing because I had to plan ahead to buy cream and I'm not a custard (or milk) lover so that also wasn't in stock!
I'll probably try again this year but I have no great expectations.
The gadget worked fine - I didn't.

[Mrs Bee]

The Mrs Bee Cookery Library is a thing of wonder - I have some of the cast offs and use them regularly.

I am thinking of an ice cream maker too. I adore ice-cream but most on the UK market are too sweet for my tastes. And I'd like to try other flavours. I do hesitate over gadgets though. My flat's too small for many of them: our fabulous pizza oven lives under our bed for example, as does the dehydrator when not in use.

Oh for a large kitchen and also a walk-in pantry!

Hallo darling! Didn't realise it was you, with your new name.

My offer of a preserve making day still stands, or we could make it a play with my ice cream machine if you like.

Would have to be worked around my baby minding which will start soon. And I can do nothing for the next 2 weeks as I have been landed with jury service.

[Mrs Bee]

Totally agree that gadgets that are not used are a waste of money.

So I do think long and hard before I get a gadget; some are definitely more trouble and work than the old fashioned way.

Been thinking about a tandoor oven for a couple of years now and still haven't taken the plunge on that one. Also have bouts of considering a sous vide too.

The gas BBQ gets huge amount of use, and is much more than an outdoor cooker. You cannot get the smoky lusciousness of grilling on a BBQ from an oven. And I often use it every evening in the Spring and Summer. Use it regularly all year really.

My BBQ has trays to fit in so I can use it as a charcoal BBQ, but with the ease of lighting with the gas. And if the charcoal dies off you can use the gas as a back up. Quite useful when cooking for 30+.

The gas hot smoker is brilliant for cooking and smoking at the same time, which means I can do the American style BBQ with more control than using the charcoal hot smokers. I make a mean smoked chicken as Sparrow 100 will confirm.

2 bread makers are essential so I can make bog standard, hole in the bottom loaves for Mr Bee and I use for bread dough. Much easier than using a mixer or doing it by hand as I can bung the ingredients in, and slope off and do the next job. It is no point having the oven on and only doing a couple of loaves.

In my younger days I used to make by mixer and by hand, but as you get older the joints start to ache.

I used to have 3 but my son took one when he got married. But when he and his wife lived with us I needed 3.

[skeggijon]

Out of curiosity I've just Googled the Gaggia Gelatiera. I'd have to be making a heck of a lot of icecream to justify spending £250!!

I bought mine when I had a restaurant, so paid trade and got it for business use. The fact that it got more use at home is beside the point!

[Alison]

It would appear that some people on this forum must have very very big kitchens to find enough space to house all these gadgets . Mine is probably bigger than average and I'd not be able to get in it myself if I owned half this stuff .

[Scarlet]

No, sorry, I like where I live. But I could come and visit for a couple of weeks. LOL

My boys wouldn't mind a visit either

[skeggijon]

Lol our kitchen is virtually non existent at the moment. We have to wait til September for our hand built kitchen to be built and fitted.