2011-12-23

Lodge Logic Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle

Hailed as a 'Best Buy' by Cook's Illustrated Magazine, the Lodge Traditional Dutch Oven with Wire Bail handle has been popular for over a century, and is perfect for camp and hearth cooking. 5 Quart Specifications: Dutch Oven with Spiral Bail and Iron Cover, 10-1/4'dia., Depth: 4', 5 qt. 7 Quart Specifications: Dutch Oven with Spiral Bail and Iron Cover, 12' dia., Depth: 4-3/4', 7 qt.






Getting in the kitchen, and cooking is very popular these days. Especially with the advent of cable, and the plethora of channels showing cooking, and food travel (i.e. Food Network, Travel Channel, PBS, etc.,) people not only want to try cooking new things, but desire having the latest greatest cooking utensils. With that said, you can not possibly consider your kitchenware complete without at least a basic cast iron dutch oven, an iron skillet, and a cast iron fryer. 


I don't care how much you paid for your caphalon, all-clad, anolon, or scan pan... NOTHING DUPLICATES CAST IRONS HEAT RETENTION AND DISPERSMENT QUALITIES! Some things like browning beef for chili, frying good old fashion chicken or catfish can be done with other cookware, but not even close to the same taste or appearance. 


It use to be that cast iron was too much of a pain, due to the long tedious seasoning process. Logde Logic has not only done that for you, but whatever process they use, makes it work like nonstick, and cleans up with hot water and a nylon brush. 




All American 921 21-1/2-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner

This heavy-duty pressure cooker's large capacity is probably best utilized for canning (though it would also be great for a number of cooking tasks). A pressure cooker is generally recommended when canning vegetables and nonacid fruit, since the high heat that can be generated will kill more bacteria than a regular hot water bath. Made from cast aluminum, with sturdy screws to seal the lid to the pot, this pressure cooker requires no rubber or plastic gaskets or rings. Its 21-1/2-quart capacity holds 19 pint jars or 7 quart jars. A three-setting pressure regulator valve is included, and the pressure gauge gives a clear reading. Made in Wisconsin, this is an American classic.





This is a great product. I've used it several times to put up beans from the garden. This model allows me to put in seven quarts at one time. If I wanted, I could stack fourteen pints into the canner. The metal to metal seal works great and it is easy to get the lid on evenly. The weighted pressure valve is a very safe way to regulate the pressure. I would highly recommend this type of pressure cookers to anyone.

If you want to pressure can food at home this is the business. Well made and easy to use it offers you the opurtunity to effectively and safely can food. If you just use it as a large saucepan you can also use it for hot water bath canning as well. All in all a great bit of kit that should last for years (great that it uses a metal to metal seal on the lid/body so no gaskets to perish). 

Note that a litre kilner jar is not the same dimensions as an American quart jar so you can only fit 6 in at a time not 7 as per quart jars. 


Victorinox 47547 10-1/4-Inch Wavy Bread Knife, Black Fibrox Handle

From the inventors of the famous Swiss Army knife comes a line of fine cutlery designed for accomplished and aspiring chefs at work or in the home. Each blade in the Stamped collection is expertly made in Switzerland from high-carbon stainless steel and undergoes a special tempering process for an edge that can be resharpened again and again. The result is a knife that can keep its original sharpness throughout the entire life of the blade. Each blade is conical ground throughout its length and depth, and laser tested to ensure optimum cutting power and durability. Ergonomically designed to minimize wrist tension, the unique, patented Fibrox handles are slip resistant when wet. Plus, all Stamped cutlery with Fibrox handles is approved by the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF). Although cutlery steel is naturally sanitary, materials and construction details of these handles minimize crevices that may otherwise offer hospitality to bacteria. The Victorinox Stamped collection is an extensive range with open-stock pieces as well as handy and versatile sets.
This bread knife features a 10-1/4-inch wavy-edge blade that is 1-1/4 inches wide at the handle. A specialty knife with a wide variety of uses, its scalloped-edge teeth can cut through harder crusts or peel without squashing tender insides. The specially designed wavy edge provides 40 percent more cutting edge in contact with the product than with a traditional plain-edge knife. Made to the same exacting standards, the wavy edge is designed to provide the perfect cutting-edge profile for cutting items such as bread, gateaux, and pastry products. The edge requires no sharpening, so is ideal for fast-food outlets, busy canteens, and restaurants. All Stamped cutlery should be washed by hand for best care, and Victorinox covers each piece with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.







Excellent knife. Well balanced and exceptionally sharp. It cuts through hard bread and soft items easily.

People not used to handling large knives should consider the 8" version of this knife as it takes practice to hadle such a long cutting edge.

Although the blade is very thin and a bit flexible it's not flimsy.

I have owned a Forschner Fibrox handled chef's knife for years and it's my everyday knife. This bread knife is equal in quality and will become part of my standard tool kit.

This knife will cut through a crusty bread with very little effort. The handle is comfortable and light, but well balanced. I agree with other reviews that the 8" Forschner bread knife is a great alternative if you are looking for something a little smaller. Overall, the Forschner line offers the best blade for the price, hands down.


Nikon 8072 Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

The Nikon cleaning cloth is made of micro-fiber material that is also anti-static for easy cleaning and use. It is the perfect way to safely maintain and clean your lenses, camera and binocular optics. Also included is a clip-on carry case.






The small wrapping bag works very well to carry this little tool and give it use whenever and wherever you need it. You can even use it a keyring. it cleans fast and good. Recommended!

Just a good cleaning cloth in a nice container you can carry anywher (even on the your coat zipper). Very good quality but a little bit small. You can use it for everything like camera lens, laptop screens ...

Very convenient...easy to hang on and remove from your bag for easy access. Great product.

This is a great item to clip onto your camera strap or onto a zipper on your camera bag. Throw it in the washer when its dirty.


Nikon EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery for Nikon D7000 and V1 (Retail Packaging)







It's a battery so there's not too much to say, although this battery has enormous performance gains over the D90's EN-EL3e, I'm rockin' two of these suckers in my D7000 and I don't know when I'll actually need to charge them again since they've barely gone down at all after a week of heavy usage.

Bought this to have a back up battery for our two week trip to Greece. Ended up forgetting the battery that originally came with the camera and had only this one. Only had to recharge it once during our trip and we took approximately 1500 photos and 2 HD videos.

Works great, it's the same as the battery that came with my dSLR and I enjoy having a reliable backup.