Just before Christmas I was browsing through the Walmart seasonal section and noticed way up on a shelf a whole rack full of Char-Broil BigEasy infrared cookers with a price tag around $55.00. I grabbed my cell phone and did a quick search for some reviews to see what the deal was with these cookers and why they might be so cheap. The majority of reviews looked good and the price was certainly right, so I went to customer service to get someone to help me get one down and I walked out with one.

Fast forward to Easter and I finally put it all together and got it ready to cook our Easter turkey. I am happy to report that this was a great purchase! Our turkey took roughly two hours to cook and it tasted absolutely incredible! It was nice and crispy on the outside and the inside was juicy and tender. It could possibly be the best turkey we have ever cooked. My wife is making a list of other foods to try in it over the summer.

Not only did the turkey turn out great it made the whole neighbourhood smell delicious. I am sure our neighbours mouths were watering the whole time it was cooking. We might have to invite some of the neighbours over for a turkey so they can find out how good it is.

Cleanup was also easy. I let the cooker run for a little while after the turkey was out to cook off what ever was still in the bottom. The cooking basket fit in the dishwasher and was washed up with the rest of the dishes. Certainly much easier to clean up than cooking the turkey in the over in a roaster.

We can’t wait to try other things in our Char-Broil Big Easy. It was certainly worth the $55.00 or so dollars I paid for it around Christmas time. Still not sure why it was so cheap but if you can find one at that price I highly suggest you pick one up. It will make the best turkey you have ever tasted. Even at over $100.00 that Amazon has it on sale for it is worth the price.

The cure for the common cold is Taco Time! That is right, Taco Time. I have discovered this after many years of testing knowing that when I start to feel ill with a cold that a visit to Taco Time, and a simple order of a Super Beef Soft Taco, Mexi Fries, a drink and copious amounts of hot sauce will send the cold packing. So the next time you are feeling a little under the weather head on out to Taco Time and show that cold who is boss.

Of course everyone has their cure for the cold. What do you do?

A couple of places that I have found a real good cup of coffee include the Broadway Roastery in Saskatoon and in Rosthern you should check out the Station Arts Centre Tearoom.

Since moving back to Regina I have not gone hunting for the best place to get a real good cup of coffee, but there is a new place that has opened not far from the Home Depot here in the north end. Got a flyer in the mail for it recently. It is locally owned and I would prefer to support a local person and their business.

The best place that I have found to get a real good cup of coffee no matter where I have lived is at the Cafe Robertson. We buy fair trade coffee from Level Ground Trading and I have been very pleased with how good it tastes. That first cup in the morning just makes me feel nice and warm all over. Not only does it taste good, I can feel like I have helped do a small part in supporting fair trade and the people that grow and produce such a great cup of coffee. If you want a great cup of coffee give fair trade coffee a try from Level Ground.

So after a little experimenting here is what my sister and I came up with to create potato dumplings that are as close to what my mother and my grandmother used to cook.

Ingredients:
1 Cup Mashed Potatoes
1 Cup Flour
1 large pot of boiling

1 cup mashed potatoes.
You can use left over mashed potatoes or cook fresh and mash them. I suppose you could use a potato ricer but mashed works fine. If you cook fresh potatoes there is not need to add milk or butter to them, just mash them up. If you are using left over potatoes don’t worry about there being milk or butter in them.

1 cup flour
Mix the mashed potatoes and flour to a small granular consistency with a fork or spoon or whatever is to your liking. The mixture should stick together like wet sand when you pick it up and squeeze it. To make the dumplings just grab a handful of the the mix and squeeze together in your hand.

Drop dumplings into boiling water. You remember the approx size of grandma’s dumplings. Dumplings will sink then float to the top.

After dumplings float to the top, boil for a further 10 minutes.

Drain from the water, mix with oil or butter/margarine.

I like to eat them with sour cream and some salt and pepper.

It only took 18 years to figure out how to make them again. They might not be exactly the same, but they are easy to make and my kids love them.