Forgetting What Makes You Sad

Even though I struggle with depression, I pride myself on staying above the worst of it. Most of the time, that is. But I think that winter is starting to get to me because it's been a rough start to 2022.

Maybe what makes this latest struggle so troubling is that I don't have one of my main champions with me this time. And maybe that is what's causing this struggle?

My best friend is having a hard time with her memory and motor function. She can't even properly explain to me what her doctors have told her. I think it is dementia or a cousin to that horrible disease. I just hope that it helps her to forget to be sad.

These days, my buddy forgets to call me. It's hard for me to get in touch with her because she thinks all her callers are telemarketers. I get most of my news about her via one of her family members but I know that she would hate that. She would be really bothered to know that we are discussing her and her health issues. So I try to restrain myself. 

When you have a best friend, you develop what I call "friend reflexes". You hear some interesting news, you call your best friend. You get a weird feeling that something might be wrong with them, you call to check on them. You feel down, you call because you know they will understand. You feel especially happy, you call to share the joy.

My best friend and I were always laughing about something. We might start a phone call feeling grumpy, sad, or mad but we usually ended up laughing like silly 10-year-olds.  I swear that half the time when talking, we'd forget that we are supposed to be adults or "seniors". Once, we got to giggling about something and I ended up dropping my phone on the floor as I hightailed it to the bathroom before I wet myself. And my friend was laughing so hard when I got back to the phone that I thought she might hurt herself.

I've talked a lot about how my friend was there - as a friend, nurse, therapist - when I was going through the worst of my really bad marriage and separation. When I think back on the time she took me in and nursed me for 5 months (while I was unknowingly really sick and on the edge of losing my mind), I think of verses out of  Matthew 25

'..For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ (Matt 25:35-36 NASB)

Years before, when my mother died, my friend was there for me and my sister. Later in my life, when my oldest brother died, my friend was there for us. When my sister died, she was there for me and even sent a book to help us talk to my 3-year old nephew about death. 

Now that I don't get to talk to her multiple times a week, I miss her so much. When we do talk, she might not even remember that we did. One day before she got started ignoring all phone calls, she called me three or four times in the space of an hour. She didn't remember each call so she would call back "just to talk to my sissy".

She was the one person alive who knew the "before sick" me. She could understand what I hate so much about my sarcoidosis and why. She knows what I was like before so she understands. Or understood. I never felt like I was fighting my illness alone because I had my sister and when I didn't have her anymore, I had my friend.

Since I don't get to talk to her unless someone else is around to tell her that it's not a telemarketer, I text her. I don't know if she reads them or if someone else just sees them. I text to tell her I love her. I'll text her a joke I've heard. I will text to just tell her how much I miss her.

And I am sure that she is sad. Once, when she still called, she had a very lucid moment when she told me how much she hated the feeling of being lost to herself. She knew that she was losing her ability to remember things. I hope that she has forgotten now what is happening to her. I hope that all she has are peaceful thoughts or the peace of not knowing what is happening to her.

Yesterday, I was feeling really med sick. I couldn't sleep so I sat up all night, just thinking about wanting to call my friend. I miss her. I miss my big sister. I miss my mother and my brother. 

Today, I was trying to remember the recipe for a soup that my friend always made. It had cabbage and sausage and tomatoes. I cannot for the life of me remember all the ingredients, ratios, and tips for making it so delicious. I didn't even bother trying to cook. I just sat in the living room and cried.

So, yeah, this weather isn't helping. It's been off-and-on crazy cold. Cold like the North Pole.  And there is so much misery in the world, it's all starting to get to me. But I am going to try to remember everything that my friend would say to me to make me laugh or to make the world a little better.

For now, I am sitting here, unable to sleep and just missing people.

Peace

--Free

Update on the Ninja Foodi

 Well, I have been cooking away using that fabulous Foodi. I thought I would come back and update you on my experiences with it.

Since having the Foodi, I have fixed:

• Boiled eggs (all the time for egg salad and tuna salad)
• Roasted game hen (once but it turned out pretty well)
• Dehydrated sugared ginger
• Baked potatoes (russet & sweet)
• Potato chips (taking neighbor's word that they are awesome)
• Frozen fries (still my favorite, especially crinkle-cut fries)
• Take & Bake style pizza (yum!)
• Hot chocolate (delicious but a bit messy)
• 
  Toast (awesome but easier in a toaster)
• Reheated turkey, baked potatoes, etc.
• Fish (perch, salmon, and tilapia)

I have not yet fixed rice, beans, or desserts in this yet. 

The saddest thing ever was when I managed to do the most beautiful potato chips and then couldn't eat any because of my jacked-up teeth! My neighbor liked them so much that I've promised to make her more.

One thing I am learning is not to trust every recipe. A great thing about using most of the functions on the Foodi is that I can interrupt the cooking cycle to see what's going on with the food. I do that often when using the Air Crisp function. The recipe for the game hen had a suggestion of crisping breast side down for 10 minutes, flipping the hen, then crisping for another 15 minutes. The total time I actually needed to finish the bird was 15 minutes. It would have been burned to a, well, crisp, had I not checked. 

I know that some people think I was joking about not using my stove and oven anymore, but that's real. I even got one of those burner covers to turn my stovetop into a little more counter space.

The one and only thing I have cooked on the stove recently is scrambled eggs. That's it.

Once I get some of the word done on my poor teeth, I will try making a bigger variety of food in the Ninja. Right now, I'm on a diet of softer, kinder meals. Ha!

(By the way, I keep forgetting to take pics when I cook something in the Foodi. I'll start eating before I remember that I wanted to show the appliance at work.)

I have to admit that other than cutting down on cooking time, my top favorite benefit of the Foodi is the easy cleanup. Since I use mostly only the Ninja pot (or Crisping pan) for any messy foods, the only other dishes that need washing up are my plate, utensils, and maybe a dish used to season or prep the food. The next best thing is not having to use as much (if any) oil for a lot of foods. I feel like I have cut back on at least 99% of the oil for any foods I would normally pan fry. 

You can see why I am still in love with this thing. And, no, I have not had to buy any more accessories. Okay - I did get a dust cover for the Foodi but it was only 7 bucks.

So I have zero regrets about getting this appliance. Between the Foodi, the toaster oven, and a cheap little waffle machine, I have no need for anything else. And I only use the toaster oven when I already have something already cooking in the Foodi. 

My tiny kitchen is now complete.

Peace

--Free

Today I Learned

 That Reddit... Every time I stroll down the page, I find something that sends me off on a hunt for more information.

In a Today I Learned (TIL) post, there was this:

TIL Music is a 'Cultural Universal', which means it is a thing that is common to all known human cultures worldwide. These include: Personal Names, Sexual Jealousy, Proverbs, and Incest Prevention or Avoidance. 

The post linked to the Wikipedia page "Cultural Universal".  

And, as is often the case, I learned more from reading the comment section than I did from most other sources. For one thing, I never imagined that there are cultures where birthdays are not a thing.

Of course, everyone has a day of birth - a birth day. Just not everyone uses them as life markers the way we do in our society. This never occurred to me.

One commenter noted that "birthdays are not a thing in Yemen." Another commenter (North African) noted that they don't know their grandmother's birthday and "can’t even really guess anything other than the month and year. its not really important to us once the new year comes you are that new age, doesn’t matter if you were born december or january".

Shut. Up. 

People, this needs to be a universal thing. 

Probably the ONLY time
I will agree with Yoko

Just think of the negative issues this would eliminate in so many areas of life. Jobs, dating, education of all types - just to start.

So, I'm not going to dive deep into it here, but please do go running down all the rabbit holes you want. Right now, I am just busy thinking about the entire idea of not being defined by the number of years I have been alive.

I will leave you with the first article I saw while doing my own info-dig. This one caught my eye because it reinforces why I think birthdays have a life-stifling effect on us. This article is about a specific place - one apparently known as "the world's happiest place". The reason for that happiness?

The country believes that ‘’leading a happy life is much more important than how many years you’ve been alive on this planet.”

If there isn't a biblical reason for tracking our individual age (and I'm not talking about Jehovah's Witnesses here), I will start with the practice today. 

Peace

--Free

Homemade Cold-Steeped Coffee (with recipes)

As I promised in my Jot coffee review, I am here to share my take on homemade cold-steeped/cold-brew coffee and concentrate.

First of all, let's clear up something: you don't have to drink cold-brewed coffee cold. I rarely drink mine cold. I prefer to heat it up and add creamer to drink as I would my machine-brewed coffee.

So why bother with steeping coffee in cold water? Three reasons:

1.  For the flavor. Cold-steeping coffee produces a smoother, richer result. This is why I often use my stronger or harsher coffees for cold-steeping. (Some people claim that it doesn't cause them the acid reflux problems they get with regular brew.)
2. I can serve it cold or hot. My brother likes to drink his cold brew with sweetened whole milk. I usually drink my brew heated with creamer. I do plan to try my next brew Thai-style, with a little sweetened condensed milk added in. (Let's all say "Calories!")
3. Convenience. I can keep cold brew coffee in the fridge and use it as I want. I mentioned in my Jot review that coffee concentrate is great for sick or lazy days.

So.

Now, if you want, you can buy one of the many, many devices for making cold-steeped coffee and concentrate. I saw so many on Amazon that it was ridiculous. I saw all kinds of jars and filters. There are plug-in machines that will "rapid steep" your brew and containers of various colors, sizes, and shapes that come with built-in filters. It can be overwhelming. And I was once really tempted to try one of the plug-in items because you look around and start to think that you just must have special equipment for making a good brew or concentrate. Not true.

Basically, other than the coffee and water, you need a container that you can tightly cover or seal to keep in the refrigerator. That's it.

For the longest, I was pouring the steeped brew through coffee filters. That was a big waste of the filters I use for my coffee machine. Making a one-time purchase of a filter that will fit into your mason jar is probably the smartest buy. I already had some bags for tea that I'd not used up. They work great for my cold brew until I get a mesh filter to go inside the mason jar. That's if I can find something for under 10 bucks but... good luck with that.

Right after I sealed the jar &
grabbed my phone,
I snapped this pic

More like after about 27 hours

I should get actual
"Not Jot" labels! 
(Just kidding, Jot lawyers!)

There are recipes everywhere online and off for making cold brew - concentrated or not. Here are a couple of recipes I found to start you off:

• From myrecipes.com this is an easy cold brew. 
• thekitchn.com has a Starbucks' style cold brew recipe.

And here is my recipe for a concentrate (that I pieced together from one online combined with some trial and error on my own:

1. About 3 cups of cold water (I use bottled spring water) and roughly 1 3/4 cup of coffee that is coarsely ground. You can also buy coarse ground coffee, by the way. (I also have used regular ground coffee when I had nothing else. Just adjust the measurements, scale back on the steep time, and be prepared to do a LOT of filtering.)
2. Stir or shake this mixture (I use a mason jar)& shake it) so that all the coffee is fully wet and mixed in.
3. Cover/seal the container as tightly as possible (this is why I like using a mason jar). You can use plastic wrap and a rubber band if you don't have a good lid.
4. Put this in the fridge and let it steep at the very least for 12 hours - unless you used a finer ground coffee. I like to steep it for 24 hours. The longer the steep, the stronger the brew.

Honestly, when I only steep for about 12 10 14 hours, I consider the result to be almost regular brew. I might add a little water to it before heating to drink as hot and zero extra when adding the result to milk. A steep of 24 hours or more is, for me, the absolute best for a "concentrate".

I've seen suggestions in forums for leaving the brew out of the fridge for a few hours before finishing the steep in the fridge. I have not tried that yet.

Some coffee drinkers don't like the longer steeping times because they say that it makes for a bitter brew. I say that it sort of depends on the coffee. I have done a shorter steep with espresso coffees and a longer steep for something like 8 O'Clock coffee. If a brew does come out too bitter for me, I will use it in Thai-style coffee or some other milk- or cream-based drink. It could probably be amazing with something like coconut milk...

By the way, another thing that I like about cold-steeping coffee is that I can use up a coffee that I find too strong or acidic when brewed normally. I don't know if I mentioned here the Medaglia D'Oro Italian Roast Espresso Style Ground Coffee I tried several months ago. It's not horrible coffee but it's just not my favorite espresso blend. It does make a tasty cold-steep & dairy brew..

Right now, I tend to go back and forth between machine-brewed hot coffee and cold-steeped brew. There are times when I get burned out on coffee in general and just do one cup regular-brewed in the morning so that I don't go into withdrawal. And coffee withdrawal is a real thing, people. It's like PMS that is not gender-based.

At any rate, if you plan to try making a cold-brewed batch of coffee or a concentrate, I will suggest a few things to start:

• Practice with small amounts of coffee. This way you can learn how fine or coarse you like, want, or need the grounds to be. You don't want to waste a lot of coffee on your practice.
• Don't spend money on a lot of unnecessary equipment. Get good filters and a decent container for the start.
• Don't listen too much to other people telling you what you need. There are comments in some forums insisting that you must use a certain grind or type of coffee, or that you absolutely have to stick to definite coffee-to-water-to-time ratios. Just practice and find what works best for your desired result.
• Enjoy the process. Because this isn't a quick way to make coffee, if you find it to be too much of a hassle, don't bother. If you only like using a cold brew or concentrate occasionally, then just buy a good and affordable ready-to-use brew. I listed a bunch of brands with prices in the Jot review.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I have to tell y'all that I did go ahead and use my Amazon Shopper Panel credit.  I got this while it went on sale the other day after I started writing this post, last week. Y'all know how I do.

The video for the product showed someone making the world's weakest brew of coffee. Ugh. I will be steeping the heck out of mine and hope for much stronger results, but I this price was almost cheaper than buying more filters:

The app I talk about here is this one

I have, to date, made over $50 in credit from receipts and surveys. I spent most of mine on the Ninja, but the last gift card pretty much paid for the Bodum. It was either that or more of the tea filters so I took a chance on the brewer. Of course, y'all know that I will be back to tell you about the Bodum.

**REVIEW** Jot Dark Concentrated Coffee

 So I was finally able to try Jot coffee concentrate. 

I have mixed feelings about the product.

Pros:

• The taste is not bad. 
• It's convenient. I can program my coffeemaker so I get that first cup in the morning when I want it. However, if I have to run out for appointments or errands, it was nice to have Jot. I could put the dose of Jot in my travel mug and hit it with the hot water when I got where I was going.
• It makes a good cold brew coffee. I liked it chilled for a while with milk or vanilla soy.

Cons:

• For the price, I expected the taste to be amazing - not just good or decent or "okay" but awesome. Alas, it really is just "not bad".
• At $24 per 6.8 ounces, it costs over $1.71 per cup. And that is only if you stick to the weak (for me) tablespoon per cup. By "cup", they must seriously mean 8 ounces of water. No one I know of drinks just 8 ounces of coffee for pleasure.
• It has to be refrigerated. 
• Because of the seller's suggestion of "Once opened, we recommend consuming within 2-3 weeks for maximum quality and freshness. We also recommend storing both unopened and opened bottles in the fridge to help preserve freshness" this means I can't just hold onto it for use only on special occasions outside those parameters.
• It doesn't produce a strong enough hot brew unless I increase the dose of concentrate. There goes the original price-per-cup. 
• It's no better, in my opinion than homemade concentrate.
• There are other, cheaper brands that some customers review as being as good or better than Jot.

By the way, the sellers recommend that:

"Jot should be consumed within 90-days of when the coffee was brewed (each bottle is stamped with a "best by" date on the shoulder). Once opened, we recommend consuming within 2-3 weeks for maximum quality and freshness. We also recommend storing both unopened and opened bottles in the fridge to help preserve freshness." (my emphasis)

 So, would I actually buy a bottle? Nope. It's just not for me however, n my opinion, you might want to use Jot if:

• You value (and can afford) convenience over budget.
• You like a mild-to-medium brew of coffee, or
• Really like a decent (and convenient) cold brew coffee drink.
• You want the better-known brand of concentrate.
• You don't have the time or patience for making a homemade cold brew or concentrate.
• You only want the occasional cold-brew or concentrate - not often enough to go broke buying ready-made - and don't want the bother of making it.

As for me and my house, I find Jot to be a bit pretentious and budget-foolish. But maybe that's just me and my broke behind.

I do like using coffee concentrate but I have made mine in the past. I use my homemade stuff when I know that I am going to be down sick for a while and don't want to bother with trekking back and forth to the kitchen for coffee.

As mentioned, Jot is not the only player out there. I have heard both positive and negative reviews for Jot and its competitors. There are many that come in on Amazon alone with reviews at 4-star and up. By product description, price per ounce, and price per cup : 

• "Javy Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, Iced Coffee, Arabica Coffee Beverages, 30X Liquid Coffee Concentrate "
• (6oz $19.49 or $3.24 per oz) As for the price per cup, this is from the seller's product details: "BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Want the same great cafe taste right at home without the expensive price tag? Each bottle contains up to 30 servings of coffee concentrate which is 3x more servings than our competitors. With Javy Coffee, you're only spending around 60 cents/cup meaning you get to enjoy premium specialty coffee every day without breaking the bank!"
• "OneBy Coffee Make Cold Brew, Hot or Iced Coffee in Seconds  17 Cups per Bottle with 24x Liquid Coffee Concentrate"
• (8.5oz $19.97 or $2.35 per oz  or $1.17 per cup)
• "JAVA HOUSE Cold Brew Coffee, Colombian 4:1 Liquid Concentrate"
• (32 Ounce $21.99 or $0.69 per oz)
• "Q: how many servings in a 32 oz bottle? A: There are approximately 20 servings in one 32 oz bottle. In other words, you can make approximately 20 8 ounce cups of cold brew coffee with one 32 ounce bottle of 4:1 concentrate." By Amazon Customer on January 7, 2020
• "Wandering Bear Extra Strong Organic Cold Brew Coffee On Tap, Straight Black,  - Smooth, Unsweetened, Shelf-Stable, and Ready to Drink"
• (96 fl oz $33.94 or $0.35 per oz) 
• There is some dispute among customers about the 16 cups. But at 16 cups, that would be $2.12 per cup.
• One customer in Q&A claimed they only got 6 coffees from one box.  " No way you get 16 cups." By Olivia Hammond on November 15, 2021
• This stuff is great, and keeps me out of the Starbucks drive thru, but no way does it contain 16 cups. I got six coffees out of one box." (That would come to $5.66 per cup)
• "Cappio Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate"
• 16oz ($9.30 or $0.58 per oz)
• Indicates o use 1 part Cappio to 2 parts water or milk "depending on tastes". Since there is no definite measurement given, I will assume that 2 tablespoons - or 1 ounce- to be used per cup (as with Jot) and that would be the same as the bottles per ounce price of $0.58 per cup then.
• "Top Roast Colombian Coffee | Ultimate 64:1 Coffee Concentrate | Makes 100 Cups | Includes Pre-Measured Pump | 15.2 Fl Oz | Just add 1 pump to water or milk"
• Shown as being to "Add 1 pump TO 8-10oz. hot or cold water"
• ($34.95 or $2.30 per oz & $0.35 per cup) 

I didn't bother with links. You can literally copy/paste the description in and bring up the items. But you see that there are options.

Everything as to price really depends on how strong (or not) you prefer your coffee. Also, I notice that there is a lot of wiggling from sellers on shelf-life, You have to read their information carefully. They will say that the shelf life is a million years but that once opened, the product must be consumed in 5 seconds. You know what I mean. Pay close attention.

Again, I prefer to make my own brew. Stay tuned because I will be doing a post very soon on just how I make my homemade version.

Peace

--Free

If You Need a Good Printer

 I won't call this a review because I'm not going to go into details but... I love this printer:

Brother HL-L2300D Monochrome
 Laser Printer with Duplex Printing

I bought the first one almost exactly 6 years ago in January of 2016. That poor thing was carted all over the place - from Alaska to Iowa, back to Alaska, and back to Iowa. I probably could have treated it better because I had a habit of just stuffing it in a packing box with bath towels and crumpled newspapers for shipping it everywhere. It survived cold weather, extremely hot and humid weather, and being thumped on like a drum by my little nephew. I once dropped it (onto carpet) when I was moving it to a different corner of a room. I even spilled coffee on the top once. And it just kept going.

Sometime last spring, it shut off (I usually kept it powered on) and wouldn't turn back on. I was panicked because I was trying to print some important documents to mail off. I searched for possible problems and solutions online and found something from a man who'd had the same thing happen to his machine. 

Don't ask me how the guy came up with the solution but it was specifically for this model of printer. His fix? Unplug the power cord and pull out the paper tray then plug the cord back in - and this is important - while you are holding down the Power button.

The dang thing powered up like new. 

This solution worked until a couple of weeks ago. Once again, I was having to print out a bunch of really important documents - a lot of them - and found that nothing worked to power the printer on.

~Sigh~

I went online and found the exact same printer model. Yay! But the price had gone up quite a bit. Boo! I happen to have a credit card with a flexible payment plan for purchases over a certain dollar amount. I got the printer (and a protection plan) and re-vamped my budget for groceries and any extras for the next few months.

The new printer arrived and the set-up was easy. The old one donated the USB for connecting to my computer and the toner tray - just in case. I will be putting it into the special garbage bin we have for electronics.

I hope the new printer is as reliable as the old one. That thing was a workhorse. Also, the toner cartridges can be found on the cheap and they last forever. 

If you need a good, basic printer that can take a beating, this is the one. It's fairly lightweight and does not eat up a lot of desk space. Of course, it's monochrome so only black print is the only option. I don't mind that because I don't need color.

Here's a shot of it on my desk across the room:

I use the USB to connect to my laptop that doesn't have a CD-ROM drive. However, the printer does come with a set-up disk if you go that route. It also comes with one toner cartridge. Nice.

Keep in mind that you can probably find the same model in a refurbished state for a cheaper price. But for 6 years of service under rough treatment, I don't think that $120 is too much to pay. 

This time, I will treat the printer better. I think that the whole Power-off issue was due to damage to the end of the power cord that connects to the back of the printer. I didn't always do a great job of packing the printer for shipping.

 Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** I Love the Ninja Foodi (FD401 Model)

 The first thing I want to say about the Foodi is this:

Do NOT get one!

(not if you are going to use it only as a pressure cooker!)

There. I feel better having gotten that out of my system.

She's a big 'un.

There she is, folks. Meet the Foodi Deluxe 400 series. I've had this bad boy about a week before Christmas and I have not turned on my stove or oven - not one time. I'm not kidding when I say that I am thinking of getting one of those wooden covers so that I can use the stovetop as more counter space!

For those who hate my long-winded and sometimes overly-detailed reviews, here's the short and dirty version:

Question: Is having the Foodi 12-in-1 8-quart any better than having the Instant Pot Duo80?

Answer: Yes. Yes, it sure is.

Question: Why?

Answer: Because it has more power, it has a crisping feature, it has a better shape & design (in my opinion), and the control panel is more detailed.

Now - on to the long and windy details...

This might be a tasteless way to put it but, if the Duo was my gateway drug to pressure-cooking, then I have certainly graduated to the hard stuff with the Foodi. If good sense (and a tight budget) had not prevailed, I would have cooked up everything in my kitchen in just the first couple of days. 

The first few months that I owned the Instant Pot Duo (IP Duo), I only used it to pressure cook foods. After almost forever, I finally got around to steaming and sauteing a few times after I couldn't ignore those functions any longer. I never did use the Yogurt or the other functions. Ever.

And, ignoring those things on the Duo was acceptable. Because, in my opinion, most of the Duo functions are one and the same. Most, not all. The Yogurt setting was the one you might not want to fudge around with. But I didn't need to cook my beans differently from soup or porridge. Not really. And the Duo was a cheaper purchase - very much worth the pressure cooker function alone for anyone afraid of the scary stove-top monsters like the one my mother used... 

Q; Is the Foodi worth the price? 

A: Yes & No & It depends.

I managed to get mine at a huge discount - which I think I explained in another post. I paid less for it than I would have to for a good blender. I got it cheap enough that I could get away with using only the pressure function if I was just plain silly.

But if you pay full price for the Foodi... Sis, use those functions, all the functions. As often as you can. Besides, they are very much separate functions:

• Pressure - definitely one to be used for probably 60 percent of my meals.
• Steam - if you consume a lot of vegetables like I do. Also good for delicate meats and fish and seafood.
• Slow Cook/Yogurt - Yes and Yes. There is a reason I won't miss getting the Crock-Pot. Why have just a slow cooker when I can have all the other functions? (Also, I wouldn't ever make yogurt on the stovetop. That's just the truth.)
• Sous Vide - well... maybe not so much use for this one yet, but I might explore it down the line. I would like to test this out on vegetables and fish.
• Sear/Saute - the Sear will be a sometimes kind of thing and the Saute is a definite more often kind of thing. I've used it for onions and garlic because I love onions and garlic on almost everything.
• Air Crisp - okay, I am already using the life out of this function! I may never eat greasy, fast-food fries again.
• Broil - I'm not sure if I will use a lot this since I like the Air Crisp so much. Maybe when I eat the occasional steak or cut of pork? Maybe.
• Bake/Roast - I can't wait to try baking cookies and other treats and you know I like to roast chicken and turkey. So yes.
• Dehydrate - I am pretty excited about this function. I've made beef jerky in the oven and this has got to be easier. My SIL wants to dry some herbs and flowers. I have already done some apples and I have just finished making some candied ginger.
• Reheat - Uh... more on this in a moment, but, yeah, it's a keeper.

As I said, these are all pretty distinct functions. The Duo seemed to have a lot of differently labeled buttons that did much the same thing. Generally. But as I also said, at 80 dollars or so, the Duo was worth it just for the safe, no-fear, dummy-proof pressure cooking. (And it has such a nice, large pot. I still use the pot from my dead Duo for marinating chicken and turkey.)

But the Foodi? At anywhere from 200 to 250 dollars, you'd be crazy-stupid-weird to only use it as a pressure cooker. That would be like buying a top-value computer just for the document editors.

 

What were my first impressions of the Foodi? 

Some 

(´♡‿♡`) pros & cons (╯_╰)

So. This is what all came in the box. I don't know if you can see them but there are a couple of wire racks shown in the photo.

Took up the entire entryway to my tiny apartment!

Pro - As with most of today's multi-cooker appliances, one huge benefit is the timer/auto shut-off. Cooking on the stovetop means you have to remember not to burn something or boil a pan dry. Oftentimes, I only feel well enough to get a meal started and just don't have the energy to stand and monitor the stovetop or oven. The only concern I really have with the Duo and Foodi is letting something over-cook - but I don't have to worry about burning down the building. It's like that old Ronco commercial says: you can "set it and forget it".

Pro - The Foodi is a decent-looking appliance and it has some "counter appeal". It's big but it's not ugly. (Another Amazon reviewer who upgraded to this one described an older model as an ugly R2D2-looking thing. LOL)

Pro -  As I said when I started this post, I have not used my stove since I got it until I made the ginger syrup to dehydrate ginger pieces today. Other than that, no conventional stove or oven was used. (I could have done the syrup in the Foodi but I was testing a new recipe so needed a couple of pots to experiment.) 

Pro - I have also cut way back on cleaning because I don't have to deal with all the various pots and pans. I can either wipe the Foodi pans out or swap them out during cooking. And the pots clean up pretty easily, especially the non-stick main inner pot.

Con - It's a heavy machine. I have a bedside table that weighs less. At just over 26 pounds, the Foodi is more than double what the Duo weights. And, yes, they are both 8-quart capacity. (By the way, the crisper pot is 5 quarts.)

Con - It's going to be trickier to store than the Duo. It's a chunkier, more squat appliance and it does have those 2 lids. When I got the Foodi, friends and family members sent a few accessories. One is a "lid-holder". The other is a steam diverter.

Lid holder covers crisper lid

Without that lid-holder, I either have to store the pressure lid separately or leave the crisping lid in the upright position. That makes opening cabinets a problem...

Pro & Con - Without the lid-holder, that whole double lid situation is... interesting. Cumbersome and... yeah, interesting. Actually, I could have pitched a tent and sold tickets to the comedy show that was me learning how to put the pressure lid on. No kidding. I had to search out a YouTube video to figure it out (instead of just looking at the manual...).

Con - For basic Instant Pot (and perhaps other brands) users, it's a bit more intimidating at first. In addition to the 2 lids, there's the unusual (to me anyway) control panel.

Looks simpler than it is

Pro & Con - That control panel was terrifying at first and it took me a while to get used to it. Once I did, I love it so hard. I have more control over the individual functions, settings, and it's easier to fine-tune.

Pro - I really like the reversible rack that comes with this. It took me a Lucy and Ethel moment to figure it out, but now that I have, it really comes in handy. It was especially useful for layering the ginger I candied and dehydrated. I don't have the dehydrator racks so...

Pro - The quick-start pamphlet, manual, and recipe book that came with this are top-notch. The quick start is a handy reference for the main functions. The manual is very detailed, and the recipe book is next-level. The recipes not only include step-by-step instructions but some have photos of those steps. To beat all that, at the back of the recipe book, there is a pretty exhaustive set of charts of times and temps for various foods done with most of the functions. 

By the way, it's a good thing the manuals are so good. I have noticed that there are not as many recipes out there online for the Foodi as for the Instant Pots. Of course, most recipes will work with any brand but it would be nice to see more things specifically for the Crisper and Dehydrator functions.

Pro - It comes to pressure faster than the Duo. It comes to pressure faster than some lower-model Foodi's also. I watched a video where a Foodi took almost 8 minutes to come to pressure during the 3-cup water test. This one was good to go at around the 4.5-ish minute mark.

Con - Just as with the Duo, the steam valve is much too close to where the steam shoots out. Because of the size and lid design of the Foodi, it's harder to maneuver the steam away from the cabinets. That steam diverter comes in handy. The lighter-weight Duo was easier to turn/move away from the cabinets.

Pro - Something that always annoyed me about my Duo was that cup for collecting condensation. You know, the little cup on the back? Well, that thing was a major pain in the rear to remove and replace. I once had a really bad brain day going on and ended up throwing that thing across the kitchen in a rage. Ugh! The cup on the Foodi just slides right in and out, with no hassle or fumbling. 

Con continued - And the lids again...

Okay, so let's talk about the lid situation & the size

What makes this Foodi so useful is that crisping lid. However, that lid adds height. The height makes it harder to stow this away in the bookcase where I was able to put the Duo. Without the pressure lid (and holder), the Foodi does fit the bookcase. (I will try to remember to add some photos here somewhere.) So the Foodi will fit but too heavy for me to move it every time I want to use it. I have decided to (for now) just leave it out on the counter since I am always using it anyway. Thankfully, with the lid-holder that is not much of a problem. Also, I keep a heat-safe plastic cutting board underneath the Foodi so that it's easier to slide from one part of the counter to the other.

The only other solution in my small place is to get a rolling table that will fit somewhere in a closet or corner. Then I can roll this near a plug-in when I want to use it. 

As I said, the manuals and guides are really impressive. The one thing I had trouble with is learning how to use the Reheat function. It took a bit of practice. I think the function must be a really new addition because the Amazon product photo doesn't include it. I didn't even know it was a thing until I got the actual appliance. It doesn't seem like a big deal but it would be nice to have some guidance.

Look, Ma - no Reheat button

What do I think after using it the first time?

There is so much I like about this appliance and cannot believe the difference between it and a lower model like the Duo. The quality is better and the design is really nice. I owe an apology to my friend and all the other Foodi owners I previously trash-talked. I thought they were just being so "extra" when they went on and on about the precious Foodis... Now, I am one of those fanatics.

Oh! I forgot a huge Pro: the sound.

Thank goodness that someone with sense was in charge of regulating the volume of the indicator sound. I could be standing next to the Duo and not hear the beep if I wasn't listening for it. The Foodi lets you know when it is done. It also makes a loud beep when you set any of the functions. Not loud enough to disturb my neighbors if I am up late cooking but it would probably wake someone sleeping anywhere in my shoebox of an apartment.

I like how much more useful the indicator panel is. It shows the progress of the machine coming to pressure. There is a better countdown of time. There is an actual button that lets me start the process. (On the Duo, once you set the pressure level and time, it just starts.)

The errors are clearer and tell you to "add lid", "shut lid", "open vent", etc.
There is a Power/shut-off button. I always hated that the Duo just had that Cancel button. And when you power down, you get a cute little "Bye" message. 

The Air Crisp function is perfect. I just cannot stop raving about it. The first thing I made was frozen fries. I didn't want to use anything more pricey the first time out, just in case I messed the food up! Let me tell you something - I will never fix frozen fries any other way. Ever. I didn't have to spray the fries with oil as I do with my little toaster oven. Zero oil and I ended up with amazingly crispy and tasty fries.

Clean-up is quick and easy. Because the inner pot is coated, all I had to do was wipe it clean with a rag. None of the crumbs stuck. For any stickier foods, I will use my trick of heating some water right in the Foodi to clean that up.

Although both the Duo and Foodi are 8-quart machines, the Foodi seems wider and less deep. The Duo inner pot always seems very deep to me. That is really strange because you can see the dimensions compared in the photo below and it doesn't seem that it would be so very different.

Like I said before, I got this at huge savings. Because I had problems with another order and emailed Andy Jassy (and his assistant was so kind), I was given some credits - on top of some credits I already had accumulated from an app I use. After using all the credits, I was able to get this Foodi and a 4-year protection plan while only having to use around 30 dollars of my Christmas gift money. 

Now, would I be as happy if I'd had to pay the entire 200 to 250 dollars for this? The answer is a solid, no-hesitation yes. I mean, if I had that kind of money to spend, that is.

Am I still in love after the honeymoon?

I am even more in love with this appliance. (By the way, I've named 'her'; I call her Franni Foodi.)

Normally after I have an appliance for a couple of weeks, I will calm down about it. I might even run out of excitement and start taking the machine for granted. That has not happened with Franni.

After the first couple of days, when I had gotten to know her and how to use all the buttons and such, only weekly meds or looking for other things to cook could get me out of the kitchen and away from her. 

One of the first recipes that grabbed my attention is for fried pickles. And I found the recipe from this YouTube channel (a channel that I really like., by the way. You guys need to check it out). 

Don't laugh because... Have you ever had fried pickles? Sooo good! Have you ever had fried green tomatoes? Green tomatoes are hard to find where I live now. This is why I am excited to make fried pickles. The first time I had fried pickles was while visiting a little country diner with my niece when she lived in the Dallas area. I think that fried pickles are the closest thing to fried green tomatoes.

Anyway. I will have to take photos when I make the pickles. Every time I fix something with the Foodi, I forget to take photos of the process. I'll remember when I am eating or drinking the final product. Still. I have cooked more with Franni in a week than I did almost the first six months of having the Duo. I didn't even name the Duo...

For New Year's, I was down with a bad toothache because all these years of weekly methotrexate injections have done some damage... I did get up long enough that night to make hot chocolate - in the Foodi. Yes, I sure did. 

Homemade, true-cocoa hot chocolate

Just tonight, I made clove oil using the Foodi's saute function. I made a kind of double boiler setup to speed up the process of leeching the cloves into the oil. I told you, these teeth of mine... 

So, yes, I am still very happy with the Foodi. It is 

worth every nickel and then some. It is fast and powerful, runs quiet, and is even worth the precious counter space. So far, I have fixed frozen fries, bacon, beans, and a small bird. I plan to make yogurt for the first time ever and I can't wait to make beef jerky. Everything my Duo lacked, this Foodi has. 

By the way, I a finding that the biggest pro to having this appliance is the motivation to try different foods and different ways of cooking.

Just as when I got the Duo, I had never, ever even considered pressure-cooking. Mainly because I remember those death machines from back when my mom had the stove-top version.

12-24 hours to dry on counter
took 4.5 hours in the Foodi

With the Foodi, I am excited about dehydrating fruits and herbs with my SIL and I think I already mentioned more than once about wanting to make yogurt.

When I started with the Duo, I didn't feel that excited to do much past using the pressure-cooker function. I think that if the Duo had been designed differently, I might have. The Foodi is set up - the design of the machine and the user interface - to make all those functions seem more doable. It helps that it comes with such detailed books and manuals to get you started on different recipes. And, to give credit where it's due, the baby steps I took with the Duo was a nice introduction.

I joked to my best friend (who has owned a Foodi for a few years) that between the toaster oven, Foodi, and the little waffle maker, I don't need my stove for almost anything. 

If I could only have one appliance...

If you have or know of someone living in a dorm or other small quarters, tell them about the Foodi. If I had a kid in college and had to choose between this and the Duo or a toaster oven, I would spend the extra to get the Foodi instead. It provides more cooking options (and more healthful ones, in my opinion) than anything else I've seen. If I was forced right now to choose between every appliance I have - bread machine, mixer, toaster oven, Duo - I would choose the Foodi without even taking a break. It's the most versatile appliance I have. That makes the expense worth it but...

only if you use it for more than pressure cooking!

Otherwise, just go for a basic pressure cooker or slow cooker with some extra functions. There's no sense in spending money on something you won't use to the fullest

Peace

--Free

P.S.: Sorry if this post was bouncing all over the place. I started on it just before I had a couple of things come up (I ran into a wall and just about knocked myself out, then I lost a tooth... 2022 is starting out with so much drama) and I had to space the writing and editing and adding photos over so many days... I am doing better now and my brain is trying to behave. Maybe I will be able to post again with just photos of Foodi foods? 

**DISCOVERED** Bisto Gravy Granules

 People, you have got to try Bisto Gravy Granules.

Years and years and years ago, while briefly living in England, I could not get used to some things: cold toast; warm cola; tiny fridges, kitchens, and bathrooms; very polite but slightly stand-offish people; dry humor; and underseasoned food.

(Granted, I'm Texas-bred and Southern-fed so we tend to like our salt and butter.)

When I had dinner with someone in England who made a roast chicken so tasty that I wanted thirds, I asked what they had seasoned it with. That was the first time I heard of "gravy granules". 

Gravy... granules. Huh?

My mama always made gravy from pan drippings and flour. And nobody makes a gravy like anybody's country-born mama! But the gravy I had at that dinner was lip-smacking delicious.

Fast forward about a million years. In a forum online, I run across something called "Bisto". I learn that it is made in the UK and immediately, my tastebuds flashed back to that amazing roast chicken dinner.

Honey. Child.

Now when you live in a place like where I live - with no diversity in shops, people, or culture - and you want to find international foods, seasonings, or beverages, where do you look? You know where: Ama-gonna-have-it-zon©.

I easily found the Bisto for chicken. There is a Bisto for various dishes and in several 'flavours' (see what I did there?) but the chicken is all I think I will ever need. So that's what I got.

The first thing I used it on was fish. Yummy. 

Next, I used it on the first turkey I have ever made all by myself. Actually, it's the first one I ever got near enough to do more than call dibs on a leg or wing. (Oh, how I wish I had paid more attention when my mother and sister were making all those holiday dinners!)

Let me tell you what: my turkey didn't look beautiful like Mama's or Mike's but it was so well-seasoned that I would have served it to them or any chef you can name. I  thawed the bird overnight in a salt and cold-water brine that I rinsed off.

 For cooking it, all I used was butter, Bisto, a little black pepper, a tablespoon of salt, and a tiny touch of Liquid Smoke. I injected that mix into the turkey and basted it around the outside before wrapping it in foil to do a low-and-slow roast on 280F for about 7 hours*, then broiling for about 10 minutes. I could have broiled it to a browner shade but got nervous about going too brown. My mama and sister would be proud.

Not the prettiest
but so tasty!

It had that savory hit of a yummy-licious rotisserie-style bird. I didn't eat sides or bread - just turkey.

Another thing I like about Bisto is that it is lower in salt than most (if not all) of the other seasonings I use. Keep in mind that I used very little table salt.

You know how when you cook something for the first time and want someone's opinion but worry what they will say? That was me. Even though I loved the turkey, I wanted someone else to taste it. 

I took a little bit over to my neighbor. I made sure to include both white and dark meat. It is said that the test of a good turkey is how juicy and seasoned the white meat is.

My neighbor loved it. And, trust me, this woman doesn't do polite white lies. She once let me know that I need to stop wearing so much gray and go with colors like blue, red, and pink. According to her, I tend to wear dull colors. Uh, okay...

Before I let her taste the turkey, I did that whole nervous dance about how I've never made it before and can she tell me if it's missing something. 

She took a teeny-tiny bit of white meat and tasted it like she was a judge on one of those reality shows where amateur cooks compete for prizes. Then she took a bit of dark meat.

How happy was I when she declared that I didn't need to add a thing. ("Not one thing.") My turkey was perfect. I was even happier when she wanted to come down and see the Bisto - and get more of the turkey! (The only down turn was that she couldn't believe that all I had made was the turkey!) By the way, she was happy to get a baggy of Bisto to take home with her.

The thing about Bisto is that, if you just put a granule on your tongue to taste it, you will be underwhelmed. But when the granule melts - oh! That is when the bells ring.

What I like most about Bisto is that it's so flavorful without being over-salty. It reminds me a little of the mushroom seasoning I use - and even looks like it - but it's better for fowl than mushroom seasoning, in my opinion.

As far as price: I paid $15 for 3 of the 170g packs ($0.83/oz). That's not bad, considering it's the real deal from the UK. It doesn't take a lot of the granules to season anything. For using it on vegetables, you can grind or mortar it into a powder and sprinkle it on in very small amounts. (By the way, if you "powder" it, the powder tends to clump and won't sprinkle easily.) For meat and fish. I just sprinkle the granules whole.  For 3 frozen tilapia filets, I used just slightly more than a teaspoon. I also added a little bit of Old Bay.

So, people, at least give Bisto a try.  In my opinion, it will change the game for seasonings.

Peace

--Free

* The timing of the turkey depends on the size of the bird. I didn't track strict time but made sure to achieve the suggested finished temps here at Butterball. And, yeah, I could have done more browning but... 

Another tip: You don't have to cook them low and slow but that's what my mother always did. Since I didn't have a roasting bag, I wrapped my turkey tightly in foil and it was very moist and fall-apart tender.

Finally, I want to mention that I made that turkey the day after what would have been my late sister's 70th birthday. Happy birthday, Mike❤

The Saga of the Instant Pot, the Express, and the Foodi

It seems an eternity since I was just starting to cry about my now-dead Instant Pot. So much has happened in 10 days that it sounds crazy. Let me run this down for you:

The CrockPot that I was (and still am) so in love with is no longer in my immediate future. I was still at war with the awful seller - Unbeatable Deals is their name although they should change that to Undoable Deals - when I gave up and went straight to the top. I reached out to the highest customer service team I could find and Amazon came through like a champ.

The CrockPot is currently up-priced to $150 (from the 60-odd dollar price I snagged the first time) but... Amazon issued some credits and I got almost a hundred and fifteen dollars to apply toward whatever they sell.

I was going to get the CrockPot - because I am kind of in love with that oval shape - but I refuse to even think about the $150 price tag. Keep in mind that a 4-year protection plan is just about 30 bucks so... $180 for an item that I had in my cart at 60 bucks? An item that will most likely go back on sale at some point? An item with a Keepa app price history of as low as $49?

No thank you, ma'am.

Best Buy has it for about $89 but they only offer these weird 2-year protection plans. I don't know how I feel about Best Buy...

The Crock-Pot Express is all over eBay from 70 to 120 bucks. I don't know how I feel about eBay. I've never used them and don't want to start with a major (for me) purchase.

I must have sat and thought deeply for a good hour about what to do.

While I was thinking, I scrolled around the Amazon site, looking for anything else with an oval shape. Or anything with such great ratings. Or anything that-

Wait. What is this?

This was, as it turns out, the perfect machine (or so I've heard). It was just staring at me from the product page.

The Ninja FD401 Foodi 12-in-1 Deluxe XL.

In an 8-quart size. Eight- not 6 or 6.5.

Price: $179.00

Let me tell you something. That beautiful Ninja Foodi began talking to me.

Foodi: I'm so much better than a Crock-Pot. And so, SO much better than that laughable pretender to my throne - the Instant Pot. 

Me: Yes. Yes, you are. You are the greatest. You are the Cassius Clay of small kitchen appliances. You don't float like a butterfly or sting like a bee but you air-fry, pressure-cook, steam, dehydrate, crisp, and-

Foodi: Yeah, yeah, I know. So what are you gonna do? Sit there and look at me all day or...

Me: Well, I don't know. You see, I am a little on the low-income side of things.  And you are, well, a bit 'highbrow' - or at least upper middle brow. What would it look like, someone like me having a pricey appliance like you when I am on such a meager budget?

Foodi: ~rolling its- well, you know~ So, what? You can't afford to spend maybe 80 bucks or so out of your Christmas-gift money? 

Me: 80? Hah! Your tag prices you at 179.99, my friend. Not including taxes.

Foodi: And Amazon gave you over113 bucks. That means you will have Amazon credits worth about, oh... 125 bucks, give or take.

Me: Yeah but- Wait. What? How did 113 become 125?

Foodi: Don't you use that app that gives you a credit of 10 bucks every time you submit 10 receipts?

Me: ~remembering and smiling~

Foodi: And you still have some unused credits from the past couple of months from the app. Unless you accidentally spent them when you ordered coffee-

Me: I. For. Got!!! I did not spend those leftovers. 

Foodi: Go on, get out your calculator. Do some math - if you can manage that.

Me: ~Can't manage because my brain is having a hissy fit this morning so I call my brother and he plays with the numbers.~ 

Foodi: It's not calculus. Whatta you come up with?

Me: Well... I would have to pay another 30 dollars for a protection plan. Oh - and I did spend the last of my Christmas gift money. I paid off a credit card balance. So that's- 

Foodi: Yes? Think, girl, think.

Me: I am basically just paying for the protection plan.

Foodi: ~dusting its hands~ See. You can do this.

Me: But still, 30 dollars. Spending 30 dollars is spending 30 dollars.

Foodi: ~looking indignant~ Spending it on me - a Ninja Foodi. The Cassius Clay of-

Me: alright, I get it, I get it.

So I added the Foodi to my cart. Then I called my niece to get her opinion. She was almost as indignant as the Foodi had been.  ("It's a Foodi! I paid almost $300 for mine! And you don't want to spend thirty?!)

I called my brother back and didn't even get to say hi before he was asking when it was going to be delivered.

Yeah. 

I can have a Ninja Foodi. And not just a Foodi, but the deluxe model. And a 4-year protection plan. All just for just about 36 dollars.

I hit the purchase button.

I called my best friend's granddaughter (who I talk to when my friend is not at her best, which is a lot lately) and told her all about what I'd done. She heard the doubt in my voice and had some advice. She sounded kind of serious so I was worried.

A friend of a friend had recently died - a woman in her mid-forties. This woman had long been a steadily employed, well-compensated, white-collar professional. She had been a very frugal person because she was divorced and had to plan for her future on her own. She sounded a lot like me - other than the "well-compensated" part. She had become more pennu]y-pinching since the start of the pandemic, like many money-conscious people. And then she had died of something - not even COVID-related.

My best friend's granddaughter's advice was to be money-wise and frugal but not to pass up the little every-now-and-then treats for yourself. She reminded me that her friend's friend had died with quite a bit of money to her name - and she won't be spending a nickel of it wherever she is going.

Yeah. That is all true. Still, I had a residue of guilt over spending the money.

Fast forward about, I don't know - maybe 3 hours or a little more? 

I'm checking my email. The first new one I see is from someone at Instant Brands. They are "as a one-time, goodwill gesture" sending me a replacement Instant Pot and they need to verify my address and phone number.

It was so weird and funny that I had to laugh out loud. 

I called up my niece to ask if she knows anyone who needs an Instant Pot. She was immediately shaking her head so hard, I could hear it over the phone. 

"No! Sell it on Poshmark or something and put the money on a bill."

So. 

Yeah. And, you know something, I still kind of want the Croc-Pot Express Oval...

That's the saga of the Instant Pot, the Express, and the Foodi.

If 2022 has to be any kind of weird, let it be this kind of weird.

Peace

--Free