Way back in 2008, I blogged about how I wanted a GT Express 101 counter top cooker thingy. (And if you missed that post, you can read it here.) It was being sold on an infomercial for $40 (for two) with an astronomical shipping price. Suffice to say, I didn't buy it. I figured I probably couldn't use two of them and didn't have anyone to give the second one to.I must've watched that infomercial at least 100 times. I could practically recite along with the hostess Cathy Mitchell and her pal Joe, who cooked all kinds of omelets, cakes (with bite-size Snicker bars in the middle), enchiladas, cornbread, and all kinds of neat stuff -- in ten minutes or less!
Boy, I really wanted one . . . but I got over it and moved on.
Earlier this summer, I saw a used one at a yard sale, but it didn't have the recipe book. I came back a second time and looked at it longingly . . . but decided that at $3 and no recipe book, it wasn't going to come home with me.
And then ... last weekend I saw another one, BRAND NEW IN THE BOX for $5. You never saw anyone peel off five bucks as fast in your whole life. It had everything, the little flipper-overer, a bottle to measure pancake batter, and best of all, the recipe book full of 101 recipes. Woo-hoo!It was with great anticipation that I fired that baby up. Since the infomercial touted it as great for using up small quantities of leftovers, that's where I started. I beat a couple of eggs, tossed in some leftover parsley potatoes and a half a slice of Swiss cheese to make my very first omelet.
The booklet said it would take 7 minutes to cook. I peeked halfway and shook my head. It was going to take a LOT longer. But then the 7 minutes was up (I used my handy dandy kitchen timer) and gosh darnit if that little omelet wasn't done to a turn. Of course, then it was time to get that baby out of the GT express 101. The flipper overer looks like it should be easy to use, but it felt awkward in my hand. I had to use my left hand to get the omelet out of the left hand side of the cooker.Was this omelet any better than I could have made in my omelet pan? Probably not. Was it easier to use? Yes, because I didn't have to stand there and baby it. Did it taste better? I would've tasted a lot better if I'd cooked it in a big gob of butter, but they tell you NOT to add more than cooking spray, and therefore you get healthier food.
Was it everything they advertised? I'd say yes. Of course, I've only used it once, but I have a feeling I'll use it again. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon. Will I ever use it for anything other than an omelet? That's debatable. But it is easier to clean than my omelet pan, so ... what the heck.Have you ever used an AS SEEN ON TV product that worked?
