<p>my2sunz - I have a Hot Shot that makes about 2 cups of hot water in a minute or so. Also a tea drinker 
Gotta luv having tea that quick! Have you tried the Teavana teas? So good they make regular tea seem totally inadequate.</p>
<p>BTW - I always feel guilty buying bagged torn lettuce. Glad to know other people have similar failings ;)</p>
<p>My brother LOVES the griddler I got him last Christmas, and he is really tough to shop for. Got one for my D this year, for her “dorm-apartment”. I want one! But a coffee machine is something I can’t imagine life before.</p>
<p>I’ll chime along with those who love Costco rotisserie chicken (man, those are the biggest chickens ever! One makes about 4 meals for the 2 of us) And just found the pre-chopped butternut squash there. I drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with fresh chopped Rosemary and sea salt and roasted for just a short time in a hot oven. Yummy!<br>
We also love the individually sealed frozen meats like chicken breasts and salmon filets. Thaw in a bowl of cold water in 20 minutes.</p>
<p>One convenience food that we have stopped buying is the “baby cut” carrots. They are not baby carrots, just carrot chunks tumble-shredded into baby shapes. Convenient, but if you go back and buy real carrots and compare, the baby cut ones taste like nothing. (maybe that’s why kids like them?)</p>
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<p>hey, my griddler ad is on the left - am I better or not as special?</p>
<p>Fresh pasta plus fresh pre-made alfredo sauce (not for every day/heart!)</p>
<p>Stoneground flatbread, canned pizza sauce, fresh basil, mozz, a few sliced veggies and you have delicious homemade pizza!</p>
<p>My electric kettle (I’m also stickler for properly prepared tea.)</p>
<p>Dessert: pepperidge farms frozen raspberry turnovers. Just bake!</p>
<p>My cheap mandolin slicer is my latest toy. But, yeah, love store-bought julienned carrots and thin, thin shredded cabbage. And, panko- love panko.</p>
<p>Bagged, cleaned spinach. I tend to use it cooked, in omelets, stir fries, pasta, etc.</p>
<p>I drink tea and instant coffee. The instant hot water boilers-electric kettles- are wonderful. Mine is Black&Decker-though I know the Asian ones, my2sunz. Even for cooking pasta, rather than waiting for a pot to boil, I tend to put most of the water in the electric kettle, as it is faster.</p>
<p>mandolin slicer is a must, just got one for Christmas and now don’t know how I lived w/o it. Also got a vidalia onion chopper ( think that is what is was called) and also recommend it</p>
<p>*I have an electric hot water dispenser that stays on all the time and is really hot enough to brew tea (we had one that was connected to the sink, but I had it disconnected because it just didn’t get the water hot enough.) *</p>
<p>Which one do you have? I looked on Amazon and there are a variety…ranging from rather inexpensive …on up.</p>
<p>I always feel guilty buying bagged torn lettuce.</p>
<p>LOL…no guilt here…and even my very economical mom buys it, too.</p>
<p>And…Garland…If I had an H who would do that…well…give your H a kiss from me…what a gem.</p>
<p>The Keurig is hot enough to brew tea. I don’t know whether they are in the price range you are looking for.</p>
<p>Appliances - Crock pot, rice cooker, microwave (of course!) </p>
<p>Produce - prewashed lettuce, baby carrots; jars of minced garlic, ginger; tubes of minced basil paste etc </p>
<p>Other food - boneless chicken breasts; frozen meatballs; lean cuisine frozen meals (for lunch at work); breakfast bars (sometimes from Amazon grocery); microwave popcorn; canned tomotoes; Chunky soup</p>
<p>mom2 - This is the one that I have:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Panasonic NC-EH22PC 2.3 Quart Electric Thermal Hot Pot: Kitchen & Dining](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-NC-EH22PC-Quart-Electric-Thermal/dp/B0013O8J6Y/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-NC-EH22PC-Quart-Electric-Thermal/dp/B0013O8J6Y/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)</p>
<p>Mine is about 6 years old and still works great.</p>
<p>Now I’ll have to try the Teavana tea! :)</p>
<p>Teavana tea is wonderful. Such a lovely luxury. </p>
<p>I received a lovely gift certificate from my daughter for W&S. I was considering a mandoline (sP?) slicer -is it a good purchase?</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids–I’ll pass the kiss on… He really, truly likes chopping vegetables. It seems to be a kind of zen thing for him.</p>
<p>OTOH, this Saturday, he went out into the back waters of Wildwood and collected enough clams in gale force winds to feed a bunch of people over for dinner…so clearly he is crazy.</p>
<p>Lucky for me…!</p>
<p>"I received a lovely gift certificate from my daughter for W&S. I was considering a mandoline (sP?) slicer -is it a good purchase? "</p>
<p>A mandoline is a good purchase, but if you order from WS (assuming Wm. Sonoma), get something you want on sale!</p>
<p>My favorite green tea says to steep at 170. Don’t those undercounter dispensers come in about that hot? I’d love to have just hot enough water and I hate waiting for boiling water tea to cool (since unlike my UK friends, I don’t add milk)… research, research…</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>The under counter instant hot that I had for years had an adjustable temp thingy underneath…you had to remove a face plate on the unit (that’s under the sink). Some people don’t realize it’s there. My mom complained that hers didn’t get hot enough, so then adjusted the temp for her. I don’t know if they come pre-set at a temp that is too low for safety reasons.</p>
<p>my2sunz…thanks for the link…not a bad price at all. :)</p>
<p>My brother LOVES the griddler I got him last Christmas, and he is really tough to shop for.</p>
<p>I hear you. I had been tempted to buy a George Foreman all these years, yet never did. Then I had that Costco coupon for the Cuisinart Griddler and thought I’d try it. I just love it. I put the meat on, close it up, set the timer for about 4-6 minutes depending on the meat, finish gathering other side dishes and voila! Dinner is done! …I do spray the plates with Pam so that the plates will easily clean in the D/W.</p>
<p>Do love my George Formans- one has the removable plates that can go in the dishwasher. About mandolins- the chefs talk about getting an expensive version- but they use them more than I do. Mine cost $10 at an upscale kitchen place and has lasted about 3 yrs, so far.</p>
<p>Also can’t live without the thermal coffee carafe. And, Good Earth Tea.</p>
<p>shredded broccoli slaw…comes in a small bag where the bagged baby carrots are.</p>
<p>I love it.</p>
<p>I not only use it on salads, but I also will cook it. I’ll saute onions in olive oil, throw in the slaw, sprinkle on some Emeril’s seasoning and some extra garlic and pepper, saute and serve. My mom thought I was nuts for cooking it, but she liked it when she tasted it. Sometimes I add a bit of soy sauce to it while cooking.</p>