spamtrap wrote:
>Janet wrote:
>> tweeny wrote:
>> >
>> > What item(s) do you own which you balked at, price seeming high, but has turned out to be a great tool?
>> >
>> > Me: Rubbermaid high heat rubber spatula.
>> > Bread machine
>>
>> The first kitchen tool I ever bought, in 1966, which was a stainless
>> steel cheesegrater. It cost 7/6 old money (in UK, before
>> decimalisation). That was 40 pence UK new money, or 63 cents US.
>>
>> I was a student, struggling with my conscience; could I really afford
>> to splurge a quarter of the weekly rent, on a cheesegrater? I passed
>> that shop window cheesegrater every day for weeks until I finally
>> weakened and bought it.
>>
>> It was a great grater but after only 45 years of frequent use, it
>> went blunt so I had to buy a new one.
>
>I was just thinking, that the Microplane grater was ridiculously
>expensive for what it was. But it grates hard cheese in no time at all,
>cleans up easily, and takes up next to no room.

The problem I found with microplanes is that they don't grate, they
shave, and shave so finely that they turn hard cheese into powdery
snow.... I much prefer grated cheese, not powdered cheese. After many
tries at grating various foods (it won't zest citrus well either, does
a lousy job on garlic, and turns ginger root into ginger slime) I
comandeered my microplane for pedicures, does a fantastic job of
removing calluses and smooths feet wonderfully well... after every
shower I spread a towel on the floor while sitting on the edge of my
bed and have at my foot bottoms with that microplane. Then massage in
a generous amount of Udderly Smooth foot cream, excellent products at
fair prices: http://udderlysmooth.com/
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=udderly%20smooth