Gadgets and such
I found out yesterday why I must never go to any of the big weekly markets like Mirepoix, Limoux or Lavelenet.
Our neighbor, Hélène from Perpignan is here this week on vacation and she went to the one in Mirepoix with her cousin Monique on Monday. She found the coolest gadgets. The one I want (and finally had to track down online because I'm too impatient to wait for next Monday) is a little ceramic saucer with sharp ridges in the bottom. You put a tiny bit of water in it, then rub a garlic clove (works with shallots, almonds, nutmeg, ginger also) and it makes perfect garlic paste. So much easier to use than a garlic press (at least the ones I've tried) and much finer than you can chop with a knife.
She also bought one of those rubber things that you use to peel garlic, but those I've seen before.
The garlic saucer is just too, too cool though. The ones I found online were actually less expensive. I'm not going to put a link up until I get them though, just to make sure that they're nice and also that the service from the place I ordered is good.
I just love all the gadget tables you find at markets. It's like being in a giant infomercial. The sad thing is that most of the things don't really work all that well once you get them home; but they always LOOK as if they are the thing you've been waiting for your whole life.
I'm probably the perfect patsy for that kind of stuff, but I'm saved by the guilt of spending money in general, and the knowledge of how many gadgets I've bought over the years that have just not lived up to their reputation (what was I thinking when I bought the "egg wave" for the microwave),
Still, it is fun to look. Perhaps I can go to Lavelenet on Friday if I leave my wallet at home.
Ciao for now.
Randy
Our neighbor, Hélène from Perpignan is here this week on vacation and she went to the one in Mirepoix with her cousin Monique on Monday. She found the coolest gadgets. The one I want (and finally had to track down online because I'm too impatient to wait for next Monday) is a little ceramic saucer with sharp ridges in the bottom. You put a tiny bit of water in it, then rub a garlic clove (works with shallots, almonds, nutmeg, ginger also) and it makes perfect garlic paste. So much easier to use than a garlic press (at least the ones I've tried) and much finer than you can chop with a knife.
She also bought one of those rubber things that you use to peel garlic, but those I've seen before.
The garlic saucer is just too, too cool though. The ones I found online were actually less expensive. I'm not going to put a link up until I get them though, just to make sure that they're nice and also that the service from the place I ordered is good.
I just love all the gadget tables you find at markets. It's like being in a giant infomercial. The sad thing is that most of the things don't really work all that well once you get them home; but they always LOOK as if they are the thing you've been waiting for your whole life.
I'm probably the perfect patsy for that kind of stuff, but I'm saved by the guilt of spending money in general, and the knowledge of how many gadgets I've bought over the years that have just not lived up to their reputation (what was I thinking when I bought the "egg wave" for the microwave),
Still, it is fun to look. Perhaps I can go to Lavelenet on Friday if I leave my wallet at home.
Ciao for now.
Randy
