I <3 kitchen toys!

I realize this maybe a little difficult to believe, especially given my lack of ANY cooking posts at this point (forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned...), but I love cooking as much (if not more) than crafting!

I am completely psyched (hello '90s!) about the most recent addition to my collection: the Cuisinart Griddler!

These babies usually come with a pretty heavy price tag, but I was able to snag this one from Woot! for only $39!

Now, you may be asking yourself why I might be so excited over such an appliance... 

One word: panini.

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Isn't she beautiful?

(Please excuse the horrible white balance in these photos... I was too excited to worry about it...)


You have the option of using it closed (grill plates sandwiching your sandwich) or open-faced!

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The other side of these grill plates are flat (sorry, I didn't take a picture - but it's just like an actual griddle surface).

I'm seeing pancakes and french toast somewhere in the near future!

You can also purchase waffle iron plates - incredibly tempting...  (I adore that I can use this in so many different ways - saves on storage!)

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There was no way I was waiting for breakfast, though - Thursday night snack seemed as good a time as ever to take her for a trial run!  (Not all of my kitchen appliances are women, FYI.)

One of my favorite types of paninis?  Soppressata, provolone, and pesto on Italian bread.

Yummmm!!!!  Now, just heat up the griddlerrrrr.... aaaannnddd...

Green means go!!!  Sandwich IN!


(I realize "red means hot!" is also logical... too bad... we're sticking with green on this one...)

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*sizzle*sizzle*sizzle*

Ohhhhhh yeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhh........

(I realize this was a semi-lengthy post, full of excessive photos, given that the end result is just a sandwich... but it was a damn fine sandwich.)

And may it mark the beginning of future food posts to come!