The newest addition to our family Christmas celebration shook his head in wonder as we opened presents. "Do you guys give each other anything except kitchen gear?" he asked.
Well, I also got Guitar Hero World Tour. But mostly, no.
This year, my sister got me a Rotato express. For years, I've joked about buying one--in that not really joking way where you knew that some day, I was going to stagger home from a discount kitchen warehouse with a Rotato in tow. My sister got tired of waiting for the inevitable denouement.
I am pleased to report that for an "As Seen on TV" product, the Rotato Express is surprisingly useful. I do not honestly expect it to last all that long--the plastic construction does not exactly scream "heirloom quality". But it was awesome during Christmas dinner prep, peeling an entire bag of potatoes about as fast as I could stick them on the bottom prongs, adjust the peeling arm, and press a button. The vats full of scalloped potatoes traditionally consumed by my family at Christmas have never been so painless. If anyone has any advice on prologinging the life of their Rotato, I will be an avid listener.
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Yeah, get yourself a Back-to-Basics Apple and Potato Peeler.
You peel potatoes? You're throwing away the best part...
Go to an antique shop and find a real apple and potato peeler. If you're too lazy to crank the handle, get a handy friend to fit a small electric motor.
So far, my reaction is that the character animation in World Tour is worse than in legends of rock (I assume you're playing on the wii). On the other hand, I have hopes that the songs might be better. At least my ears perked up for Nirvana & REM.
But aside from mashed potatoes, why would one even peel potatoes to begin with? Potato skins are delicious.
The fact that you got World Tour instead of Rock Band II is disconcerting.
I have no good info on the Rotato, except to say I try to stay away from specialty kitchen appliances as much as possible. If something more basic can do the trick and/or the item only provides one function, I'm really hard pressed to keep the thing around.
Like a zester. Really? Why not just use a cheese grater? Or a quesadilla maker--now that's the worst offender.
I don't mind specialty items, they often work
better than generic ones. I try to get antique
tools though, when they are available, and avoid
electric ones, except when they do a better job.
Antiques are often better made than new tools,
especially non-electric tools, and retain their
value better.
I recently got a sausage stuffer cheap - but I
need to braze on a new foot before I can use it.
I want to try it as a small cider press - I
haven't actually made sausage since I was a kid
on the farm (and don't really want to, it's a
lot of work).
Invest in Rock Band 2 - you will be happier and more popular. If you got the full GHWT kit (drums, etc..) the peripherals will work with RB2 and you only have to buy the disc. Why RB2? "No Fail" mode - tonic to the shy drunk friend who wants to sing "Psychokiller", but doesn't want to pull down the band.
Ignore all if you have a Wii.