TV Top Ten

If you're a pasta fan but lead a typically American life, then you might want to consider a cooking aid that's going to make life easier.  After all, isn't that what we're all after?  The beauty of the Pasta Express is that once you boil water, your commitment to your pasta ends. 

Using the Pasta Express tube is simple. There are four steps to making pasta with a Pasta Express:

1. Fill Pasta Express up with your pasta (whatever variety it may be--I tried some ricotta and chicken tortellini and then spaghetti);
   
2. Pour hot water into Pasta Express;
3. Go watch TV  or attend with your screaming children or prepare garlic bread/pasta sauce/salad;
4. Don't stir, don't watch your pasta boil, don't strain the water out of your pot and don't take the chance of scalding your hand and get a face full of steam while doing it.  But keep in mind that the water you're straining is still boiling hot.
   

Pasta Express claims to take seven minutes to completely cook pasta.  My recommendation is closer to about eight or nine minutes for most pasta and 15 minutes for spaghetti to be thoroughly cooked.  Your cooking time depends on your personal preference.  Once that amount of time has elapsed, screw off the top lid and pour the water out.  This makes life in the kitchen easier because you don't need to dig out your strainer or colander and eventually give your undivided attention to cleaning it later.  Next, pop off the bottom lid and pour pasta onto your plate.  Done and done.

We confess that there are a few shortcomings of the Pasta Express.  For those people considered vertically challenged, the 13-inch tall Pasta Express tube will prove to be somewhat of a challenge to put the lids on initially if the Pasta Express is set on a countertop.  The bottom lid takes a little work to properly put on.  We recommend using a dish cloth to apply even pressure on the bottom lid to snap it closed.  You don't want the lid to come off when you are straining your pasta.

All in all, the Pasta Express tube is a convenient way to make pasta.  If cooking a full meal for your family is a daily challenge, especially with younger children, then Pasta Express will give you back precious time to focus on other parts of your meal or other needs around the house.  But you still have to warm up sauce and add vegetables--Pasta Express never promises to do these things though.

If you consider yourself an Italian chef but are constrained by your American reality, Pasta Express is definitely worth the $19.95.  Italian cuisine has never been easier.

PASTA EXPRESS

TVTopTen.com Price: $19.95 + $9.95 S&H
Comes with: FREE Personal Size Pasta Express

<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/pasta+express" rel="tag">pasta express</a>

Posted by TV Top Ten at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In our society of having to look good all the time, cutting one's own hair might seem like a bit of a faux pas.  But you can't argue with the financial and time convenience of cutting your own hair. Salonists charge anywhere from $40 to hundreds of dollars and even barbers charge at least $14 plus a tip. And it's at the very least a half hour of your time, gone. Buying the Just A Trim isn't going to stop you from having to visit either the salon or the barber shop eventually, but like the TV commercial says, you can stay looking great for a "few more weeks".

Admittedly, I was a little apprehensive before trying out the Just A Trim on myself.  I didn't have anyone else around to help me with it and all I had to work with was a mirror in front of me and a mirror to the right of me (typical bathroom set up if you have a medicine cabinet).  Yet, I didn't do too bad a job with the Just A Trim.  It's a little more complicated than just 'combing it through your hair'--most of my hair, along with everyone else's that I know, flows down the side of my head. Just A Trim will require the user to brush against the grain to get the most effective use out of it.  Combing across hair that flows downwards will take a few extra passes, but your hair will come out even if you are patient enough.  I'm guessing that your hair is fairly important to you, so I'm sure you'll have the sufficient patience.

The Just A Trim comes with a couple of guides so you can choose different lengths for your hair. You're fairly limited with only the two guides, but like I said, "good for a few more weeks".  Just  A Trim is most effective when you keep in mind that it is meant primarily to hold you over until you have the time and opportunity to finally get to the barber shop.  When do you garner up the courage and finally start trimming, make sure you have a towel or sheet under you, 'cause all that hair has to go somewhere.  You'll be amazed at the mess you'll make.

Overall, the Just A Trim did a pretty good job on simply taking a 'little off the top and sides'.  I managed to walk around for exactly two weeks before I broke down and went to the barber.  I would recommend that guys have someone else that they trust help them out for the back side of your head, being that it's hard to trim what you can't see and still make it look good.  It's easy to manage, good for reaching the back of your neck or back.  It's a little noisy. But for less than the price of a haircut, Just A Trim is definitely worth the time and money.

JUST A TRIM
Current rank on TVTopTen.com: 9
Price: $14.95 with Free 10 piece Grooming Kit

Just a Trim

Posted by TV Top Ten at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)