five things we learned last week
Bright ideas we gathered from your comments.
1. You are huge fans of rice cookers. At this writing, Angela’s question about buying a rice cooker has been answered with 48 comments, 36 of which are emphatically in favor of buying one. Says Rebecca, “I laughed at my boyfriend when he wanted a rice cooker — why on earth spend the $15.00 on another appliance when you can use a pot on the stove? However, tonight I was cooking rice in that very same rice cooker — and the boyfriend? No longer around.”
2. Rice cookers are good for more than just rice. Who knew? Lots of you, including Daffodil: “I use my rice cooker to make rice, because it would take an act of God and Congress for me to be able to come out with anything that even resembles rice using the stovetop method. So I love it for that. But since we had our son 19 months ago, it has also been a big help in feeding him. He ADORES steamed zucchini. It’s no trouble to slice up a zucchini and throw it in the veggie steamer part of the rice cooker. Takes about six minutes.”
3. Brown rice, though, can be tricky in a rice cooker. mj says, “I have the exact rice cooker that you pictured and if it’s brown rice you like to eat, don’t buy it! I have been so disappointed because that particular appliance sputters water out over the top and leaks a slimy mess all over the counter when cooking brown rice… more work than it’s worth for sure. It works just dandy for white rice though…” Other readers offered their opinions on white vs. brown rice, which cookers work best, and what else you can cook in a rice cooker. See this very popular post here.
4. Here’s the best use for that stimulus check yet. “I’m going to build a bunker,” says Chad, our resident funny commenter/beekeeper/husband to Angela/pro-rice cooker lobbyist. Well, if those 4,000 bees ever turn on you, Chad, a bunker just might be a sound investment.
5. We love the little insights we get from our readers. Two small comments that make us happy: PQ has this tip on making bourbon balls: “Gingersnaps in place of Nilla Wafers make the balls nice and spicy…” Yum! Meanwhile, Ellobie has this tip for bouquet-making: “I also love to split up a grocery store bouquet amongst my many tiny vases. The other good part: after dinner’s over, you can add little bits of happy to every room in the house.” Share your tips on May flowers or read Angela’s bourbon ball recipe.
