Do you remember “The Pampered Chef?” About 30 years ago, I bought several Pampered Chef products.
One was a pizza stone which I used for all kinds of baking. It lasted for years.
I also bought a large stone casserole dish which I used for years until it broke.
I bought the expandable wooden trivet to put the stone casserole dish on when it came out of the oven. I still use the wooden trivet.
And I also bought the Apple Peeler, Corer, Slicer with Stand. I used it recently when I made an apple pie for Thanksgiving. The Apple Peeler still works great. The only issue I had was when the two little red, plastic pieces which are wedged between the tool and the wooden stand became so brittle they broke. When this happened, I could still use the Apple Peeler, but it would slide all around. I could kind of manage by trying to hold it steady, but it was a trick.
I decided to let that Apple Peeler know who’s the boss. I got out my hot, gorilla glue gun. I put dabs of hot gorilla glue (the gorilla part being critical here) where the red, plastic tabs had been. Problem solved. Now that Apple Peeler knows I am the boss. Wish I could convince Dan just as easily.
The pie was delicious with the apples being sliced into perfectly sized pieces. Another one of my favorite dishes to make using the Apple Peeler is “Curly Cheese Potatoes.” This is a Pampered Chef recipe. I leave out the onion, and I use garlic powder rather than a garlic clove. Just like my apple pie, the curly cheese potatoes win the gold ribbon at the Chambers Country Fair every time it is served.
By the way, The Pampered Chef is still around today as well as the Apple Peeler, Corer, Slicer with Stand. It costs $63, and it still has those two red tabs.
About a year ago, I bought a “Spiralizer” from Aldi. I used it to made Zoodles – you know, noodles out of zucchini. My Sprializer hasn’t worked out as well as my Apple Peeler. The zoodles are hard to get just right; they can be soggy and mushy if not done just so. The Spiralizer can’t do potatoes; the potatoes revolt and get stuck in the tube going down. I can’t use the Spiralizer on the apples; it doesn’t peel and core them. Who wants to eat apple pie with the skin still on the apples?
So, I’m looking at this Spiralizer. It is on my kitchen counter taking up precious real estate. Everything I want it to do, I can do more quickly and easily with my good ole’ Pampered Chef tool. Clean up is easier, too. I’m thinking of giving it the boot. Anyone have a last reprieve for Old Curly?
What would you do?
Chambers on the Road 
I had one of the Pampered Chef pizza stones. Sometime ago it broke in half. I still have a 2 quart glass measuring / mixing bowl with a lid that I use all the time. My son gave my daughter a spiralizer for Christmas several years ago. She has been a nomad since then, so I have the spiralizer until she has someplace to put it. The first time I used it I cut myself on the sharp blade. This one has 2 different blades for different type of cutting. I have only used it a few times. Not sure if I would bother to go out of my way to have one of these, but it has it’s uses.
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I did replace my Pampered Chef pizza stone with a knock-off from Aldi. I still use it often but not for pizza. I going to research a bit more uses for the Spiralizer. However, if I don’t come up with some good uses, I will, at least, relegate it to the basement for some time before giving it away. Thanks for reading, and have a great week ahead!
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Ah yes, age often has no bearing on the usefulness of an item. Sometimes the older the better. At least that is what I keep telling my wife! Have a great day.
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An oldie, but goodie! Hope you have a great day, too!
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When I left Florida, I left almost everything with the house that we sold “including contents”. I brought the necessities with me: Kitchenaid, Instant Pot, Coffee Pot, Vitamix, Cast Iron Pans & Pot, Toaster Oven, and a bunch of utensils. Outside of a couple of plates, coffee mugs, and drinking glasses, I haven’t “needed” anything else in nearly eight months! That shocked me! I truly hope the new owner is enjoying all those cupboards full of stuff!
So, if he lived with me and was just taking up space, Old Curly would have to go. Sigh.
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When we are out in our travel trailer, there are many things we don’t miss. We are just too busy living life. 🙂 We do have a slow cooker in the TT. Now, the KItchenAide lives in our stick and brick, but that is one kitchen appliance I do love. I want to be sure before I kick Old Curly out, but he’s been given notice. Enjoy your day!
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I admire your ability to use these gadgets. We have an apple peeler similar to the one you pictured, but I don’t know who makes it. We decided it is too much trouble to use unless there is a bushel to peel. Even then I wonder if it’s worth the trouble. I will just use the hand peeler and apple corer.
We have a spiralizer too. Only used it once. If we want zoodles, we will buy them precut at the local grocery. It’s much easier that way.
Both gadgets live somewhere deep in the cabinet with the vegematic, but we haven’t seen any of them for some time now. Not sure why the wife needs all these kitchen gadgets.
If I say anything though, she will point out all the tools in my shop. She thinks I have too many useless tools. I assure you that is not the case. One never knows when you might need a brake spoon or yankee driver. Have a great day.
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Sounds like you have uncovered the secret for a long and happy marriage. 🙂 I do like our apple peeler. I peeled, cored, and sliced 8 apples for the pie in, I don’t know, 10 minutes. Then I just rinse it off. Pampered Chef is very good quality. I do not have any idea what a brake spoon is or a yankee driver, but it could be fun to write a post making up my own definitions! Enjoy your Monday!
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The Apple Corer/Slicer may be the only Pampered Chef tool my mother never bought, but I love the mandoline slicer and the kitchen knives! Send Old Curly on to greener pastures is my new motto.
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I think Old Curly will be happier there. My mom used to say, “Everyone wants to be needed.”
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Over the many many years of my adult life I’ve collected more Pampered Chef items than one could ever need or use. I’ve told my daughters that their biggest inheritance from me will be a vast number of lightly and/or never used PC. I do not have the apple peeler, however! And I have recipes that call for spiralized zucchini on my current eating plan but alas, no spiralizer. Thanks for the review on the Aldi one. I love all things Aldi but I’ll skip the spiralizer if it ever pops up in the “this week’s finds” items. Back to the zucchini, I found frozen spiralized zucchini at the local Kroger store so that’s the route I’m taking. We shall see. And, Betty!! I just looked at that picture you posted!! NORWEX!!! I love Norwex and talked my daughter into selling it!! It is the BEST. Have a great Monday and maybe you should bid that Aldi spiralizer adieu at your local donation center. Maybe someone else will be thrilled with it.
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I really do like the apple peeler, and I’ve used it quite often through the years. I think I will try the frozen spiralized zucchini before deciding, but my spiralizer is one curl out the door. Do you have any favorite recipes using the spiralized zucchini? I remember seeing the frozen spirals and thinking they were expensive. But – so is Norwex; however, I love it, too! There are a few Norwex products I am not totally thrilled with (i.e. wouldn’t recommend for one reason or another), but several of them are just great! Perhaps that will be a future post. . . P.S. I love all thing Aldi, too! Enjoy your Monday!
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I have been pleased with all my Norwex items. I could live without the laundry stain remover. But that’s really the only product I’m not happy with. And believe me, I have quite the collection. As for the zucchini noodles recipe, it’s just saute the noodles in a little coconut oil with halved cherry tomatoes and a little salt and pepper. To serve with turkey/spinach meatballs. We’ll see how that all goes. 🙂
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Sounds good! Thanks!
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I have an electric spiralizer which I love and use a few times a week. These days I live on buddha bowls. I couldn’t work the spiralizer by hand as well as the electric one operates. Try it!
As for the apple peeler, I had one, but never used it. One of the many things I left behind. A pizza stone is a great thing to have, even if you don’t use if for pizza. 🙂
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I have not heard of Buddha bowls; although, there was a quinoa bowl at Panera that I loved. It was good, and it seemed to be so healthy. I will have to check out Buddha bowl recipes before I give Ole Curly the boot. You’ve given him a prayer. 🙂 I do use the pizza stone often, mostly for baked biscuits.
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Great post, Betty! I have several Pampered Chef items and I love them all. My favourite has got to be the Mix n Chop Meat Chopper. It’s my go-to tool for all ground beef recipes. I know other companies make them, but I’ve had mine for years so that’s a testament to the product quality. As for your spiralizer, I’ve never owned one so can’t help you out with suggestions.
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Thank you! I haven’t see the Mix n Chop Meat Chopper, but I do know PC is top quality. I may ask on a Spiralizer Facebook group to see if there are any recipes/suggestions to make mine more useful. Hope you have a great week!
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I love Pampered Chef! Their products are expensive, but good quality. Do you have Kitchen-Aid stand mixer (I seem to remember a post about it). Look into a spiralizer attachment for it. It is heavy duty and I think it will peel potatoes. I have one on my list to buy when I can find a good price on one.
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I love Pampered Chef, too. I totally agree – The products are expensive but last for years and years. I do have a KitchenAide Mixer and have considered the spiralizer. I’m not sure about it as my PC apple peeler does just fine on potatoes. I do know KitchenAide is also top quality. If the items are used, it is worth it to buy the best quality one can afford. Hope you have a good week!
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What funny things. I do still think I am faster to peel an apple with my hand peeler. The more gadgets, the more you have to clean. It does look funny thouhg. I wonder if you can peel potatoes with it too?
If you don’t use something or it is not to your liking- throw it away, what is the point of keeing things which clutter your kitchen. Here is my answer to to the spiralizer. (I was once drawn to buy it but never got round to it. I know I don’t really need it) I like things simple as you surely have gathered. 🙂
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Oh yes. I agree simple is much better. And yes, the apple slicer does peel and slice potatoes. However, when I make the curly potato recipe, I use the apple slicer to just slice the potato. I pull pack the peeler arm as I want to leave the potato skin on. The potato recipe is really good. It is amazing fast to peel and slice an apple, probably about 10 or 15 seconds. I don’t peel apples except when I make a pie. Unless I find a good use for the spiralizer, I don’t think it’ll be around much longer. Thank you for your comment, and I hope you have a great day!
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I have made a couple Pampered Chef purchases, nothing like what you have purchased. The one thing I do remember purchasing is a cheese cutter that cuts cheese into fancy slices.
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So, I wonder if you used it much and if you still have it. If I remember right, some friends had the parties, and I bought one or two things at each. Hope you have a great day!
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I did use the cheese cutter often, when I first got it….not so much now. I haven’t been buying a lot of cheese blocks, though 🙂
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I have two items from Pampered Chef: an apple corer/wedger and a potato masher with an end that folds down so it fits better in the drawer. A couple of years ago, Kenn did a simple thing that has been such a game changer for us: he set up an empty box on a shelf in the basement. Anything that we want to go to Goodwill goes in the box and when it’s full, we drop everything off. If I had your spiralizer, it would be going in the Goodwill box, LOL.
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I think Ken had a good idea! I am sure it would be more useful if I end up donating it to Goodwill! I need to reorganize many areas in my home. Thus, a Goodwill box would be well … Good!
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