Oh Cuisinart, you so crazy

I purchased a set of Cuisinart cookware a couple of years ago and I really have been happy with it.  The other day, though,  my 2-quart saucepan started bowing on the bottom, complete with some scary cartoon sound effects that made me wonder if one of the metal rivets had shot off the back of the pan.   Nope, it was just the pan bottom swelling up.  If you think that isn't a scary sight, let me tell you that the photo above was taken when the pan was cold.  When it's hot, it rolls around on the stove like a top, making cracking and popping noises.  No, I don't use it anymore; it'd be useless anyway since only a small part of the pan actually touches the cook top now.

So I contacted Cuisinart about this and received an email asking me to call them to set up an evaluation. Well, okay. It's supposed to be a lifetime warranty, but clearly they need to know if I went at it with a hammer or something, right? I mean people do that to their cookware all the time, don't they?  (Actually I fear some people do, but that's a whole 'nother rant.)  I phoned and got a decidedly casual response telling me to mail it in (I pay shipping... again okay, I suppose that's fair. A steel pot with a bottom that blows up like a balloon might be my fault, right?. /sarcasm) and to enclose a check for $10 for return shipping. If it's a manufacturer defect they'll replace it.

Whoa there, old hoss, sez I. I understand paying to ship it to you. I don't like the idea since I think you all should stand by your products 100%, but I understand it. However paying you to ship back a new one? I don't think so. If it's your fault, you pay the shipping. If it's not, and I want the pot back (I do not) then I'll happily pay you to ship it back. I don't think I should have to pay shipping on a new pot if the defect is your fault.

Not surprisingly this suggestion met with a less than favorable response. Even less surprisingly their response met with an even less favorable response on my part to the tune of, I think I'll just pass and buy from a different manufacturer in the future. The rep's reply "Okay," with a distinct note of "Whatevah, we already have your money."

So no, Cuisinart, I will not be paying to send it to you and get it, or a new pot back from you. I will be leaving it out for the metal scavengers, and in spite of the fact that I actually liked this set of pots and pans -- I've never had problems with things sticking or anything else -- my next cookware purchase will be from a company like Le Creuset which though pricier has always proved completely dependable. Thanks so much. Have a nice day.

Related articles

• My 30 Year Affair With ..... Le Creuset (wineonmymind.wordpress.com)
• What's The Best Cookware For Your Health? (nutritionalberta.com)

 

The Pantry Project -- Jan 27

As Glinda quite rightly pointed out to me last night while we were waiting for the bread to bake (Fair loaf, can't say I'd do it again.) the month is nearly over.  That means that unless I want to continue on with this project, I don't have to after next Monday.  The thing is, I'd like to.  It'd have to be a modified project; I really will have to buy some new stuff to replace what I've used or tossed (about which, more later) but I'm willing to give it my best shot.  I think what I'll do is limit my grocery spending; I'll need to check my expenses for this month to see what I'd need to limit it to.  Anything would be better than my normal spending.

I'm working on getting dishes and food swapped.  There's a load of dishes in the washer right now, and the counters are covered with packaged food.  In one case I mean covered covered.  The black rice bag was open.  I didn't realize it.  Yeah.  I'm also tossing out a prodigious amount of food, which chaps my hide.  But I had stuff that had "Use by" dates of 2006!  That's before I moved here!!  I'm so embarrassed.  I was going to make bread today but I'm thinking it's not going to happen, which is fine.  I do still have part of that so-so loaf I made yesterday which is a bit of a reminder that I need not to muddle up my work space, and my brain, when I'm trying to bake.

However, before I went to bed last night I made homemade chocolate syrup.  Why? you ask, when there are perfectly good syrups on the market.  Well... thing is, most of them use HFCS, which I try to avoid for a lot of reasons.  (I'm not really up for a debate on this subject either.  Let's just assume that everyone has the right to use or not use as they choose.)  So I googled on "homemade Hershey's syrup" and found a recipe that seemed cheap, easy and fast.  It took me a couple minutes prep time, and five minutes to cook.  Then I left it to cool, bottled it and put it in the fridge.  I have to tell you that this is the best damn chocolate syrup I have ever tasted.  The cocoa I used was a raw cacao powder from Navitas, and the flavor is just superb.  Yes, it's expensive but the two pounds I bought in July of 2008 have lasted me quite a long while.  I still have a cup or two left before I have to buy more, but I won't hesitate to purchase Navitas products again.  It made a glass of chocolate milk that was heavenly.  I'm going to guesstimate that even with the very pricey cacao powder, my 16 oz (approx.) bottle of syrup cost me less than a dollar.  Caveat: It cooks up thin.  Really thin.  Trust me, if you follow the instructions, you'll have a nice, thick syrup when it cools.

Tomorrow I'm buying really good vanilla ice cream.  The experience makes me think that giving a shot to homemade Nutella (which can contain palm oil, the thing that makes me not want to buy Girl Scout cookies in spite of wanting to support them.) would be a good idea.  You can control what goes into the things that you snack on and snack more cheaply.  The only thing that could be better is to not snack at all.  And honestly? I'll stop snacking when I'm dead.

Keep your fingers crossed that I can get my fridge cleaned out over the weekend.

 

 Related articles

• How To Reset Your Taste Buds With Chocolate (chocolatechateau.wordpress.com)
• Turning green (myeatsandtreats.wordpress.com)
• Power Superfoods: Naturally Soy free, Gluten free (sprinklesandallergies.wordpress.com)
• Decadent Dark Hot Chocolate Mix (jackielopina.wordpress.com)
• Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar (chefforfeng.wordpress.com)
• Homemade chocolate syrup, much healthier and easy to make! (craftycitizen.wordpress.com)