to airfry or not to airfry?

Close on the heels of yesterday's blender-related bewilderment, I am now facing yet another kitchen dilemma! Should I buy one of these nifty looking Philips airfryers or not?

The revolutionary concept is that the gadget uses hot air to fry foods, using minimal oil - so cooking in the airfryer is healthier than deep frying.

If I were setting up my kitchen once and for all, I'd get one without a second thought - although it is substantially more expensive this side of the world than in the U.K. or the U.S. (No discounted prices yet - it's too new!) But given that I may have to sell it/give it away in two years, I'm wondering if it's worth the price?

I like the idea of being able to make healthy chips once in a while, but I'm not a big fan of eating potatoes too frequently. I'm more excited about using it to airfry other things we traditionally deep fry: okra (ladies' fingers), cauliflower, spinach, bitter gourd... Otherwise, in our attempts to eat healthy, we rarely consume these vegetables in fried form - even though they're super-tasty!

I heart the white model and it would fit in perfectly with my planned kitchen colours, but I suspect it's an older model because I can't seem to locate it on the Philips website. The black is super-sleek but would look terribly out of place.

Plus, people who've used it have mixed feelings about it. (I've been reading the reviews online, especially on Amazon.) Some say it's the best kitchen investment they've ever made, while others say it's an expensive mistake!

Unfortunately, I don't know a single person who owns one. I'd love to get more user info about the kinds of food you can cook in the airfryer and whether it turns out well. Most of the U.K./U.S. reviews are focused on chips and chicken nuggets.

At its high price point, I think I'll give this item a skip until I hear some feedback from people I know or Philips offers a discount in my area. (The husband is also going to check out the pricing in the Dubai Duty Free Store on his way back from a business trip. Perhaps we'll get lucky!)

PS - Whether or not my husband and I buy the airfryer, both sets of parents are definitely getting one each as a present from us! My mom and my mom-in-law have elevated cholesterol levels, and both find it hard to steer clear of yummy fried foods. So this will be a PERFECT addition to their kitchens.

Picture source: Philips

bewildered by blenders

Since my last place of residence was a hotel, my (now extremely limited) kitchen supplies are currently in storage at my grandmother's house in New Delhi. I plan to get a few things from there when I next make a trip (March 2013 in all likelihood), including a cherished waffle-maker, a great electric kettle, and a brand-new sushi set. 

As is obvious from the items above, the soon-to-be-mine kitchen needs to be set up pretty much from scratch! One of my key purchases is going to be a countertop blender, so I'm learning how to choose the right type.

I don't need it it to be too fancy; just something basic and reliable to make soups, smoothies and ice-blended coffee drinks. (There are no Starbucks or CBTL outlets in this town!) Perhaps I could use it to chop veggies as well...?

Philips is a great brand - my mum's bought their stuff for years and it's served her well. I've been going back and forth between these two Philips models:

The no-fuss single unit (on the left) has a 1.5 litre jar so I can use it even when I occasionally cook for guests. It has a five-star serrated blade and multiple blending speeds. It comes with a tough and efficient mill for grinding hard things like coffee beans. The whole unit requires little space for usage and storage.

The downside? There's a single jar for all functions. Plus it looks rather dull! (But it's pleasant enough to look at. Does boring really matter if it gets the job done?)

The mini-blender (on the right) has a 600 ml jar so it's primarily meant for a two-person household like mine. It also has a separate vegetable chopper and a smoothie beaker to carry. I love the fresh, funky colour - I've already bought some lime-green accented cutlery and assorted kitchen items, so it'll fit in perfectly.

The downside? It has only 2 speeds (do I really need more?) and a three-star blade. It will also require slightly more space for storage.

The prices of both are more or less the same so that's not a deciding factor.

Sadly, writing this down hasn't clarified my thoughts at all - I'm still as torn between the two blenders. I'm going to put off the decision for a few days and come back to it!

Picture source: Philips

glassy goodness

A brief note about my profile picture and why I chose it. I came across this beautiful photograph on the Good Housekeeping website. It's part of great write-up about a few simple ways to dress up your home.

For me, this idea captures the essence of my whole Domestic Goddess project. It's easy, it's economical, it's environmentally responsible, and it looks absolutely lovely. It's going to be the first way in which I decorate my own apartment -- a few glass bottles with green moneyplants and dry grasses (if I can get my hands on them here). 

I'll place them on the windowsill of the open, so that the light filters through them and they get the luminous quality you see in the photo above!

Picture source: Good Housekeeping