For those of you who may not already know, I moved recently (late Summer 2022) from my city apartment to a separate dwelling located on my daughter and son-in-law’s semi-rural property. I have spent the fall waiting not-so-patiently for my kitchen to be installed and become workable. Thankfully, I am on good terms with my new landlords ๐, and had access to their kitchen while mine was being worked on. My kitchen is still not finished – backsplash, range hood, and under-cabinet lighting has yet to happen – but it is a fully working kitchen now, with brand new appliances. In December, I gave my new range a workout one Sunday as I prepared a meal for my landlords family. This post is about that momentous day, when I officially “broke in” Blue Steel, my navy blue Samsung range.
The inspiration for my range’s nickname:
Blue Steel is very smart (and chatty). He sends me messages all the time, on all my devices.
But how is he at actually doing the stuff he is built for? Let’s see, shall we?
The meal’s menu consisted of the family favourite: Greek potatoes, with a simple salad and air-fried chicken. I also made an almond cake.
Blue Steel came with an air-fryer function and also this tray, for that purpose:
For the “fried” chicken, I used this KFC dupe seasoning recipe, with some modifications: I didn’t have buttermilk so I soured a cup of milk with 1 tbsp vinegar; I used gluten-free flour; I only added 1 tbsp white pepper; I skipped the MSG; I used garlic powder instead of garlic salt and added an extra tsp salt (I figured that was close enough). Instead of deep-frying, I air-fried the chicken for 20 minutes at 400F, then turned the pieces and air-fried them again for another 20 minutes.
To finish off the main meal:
And the cake?
Blue Steel, you did me proud. (And you were worth the 4 month delivery wait.)
You’re welcome, Widow Badass.
Please share with Donna and/or myself whatโs on your plate this month, in the Comments! Please check out her post on the delicious soup she made me, here! And hereโs the Link Party, if you are so inclined.
Rock on,
The WB
Iโm drooling for that meal and will be copying those recipes as soon as I finish typing this comment.
As for the new stove, youโve done my husband proud. He would love an oven that alerts you when itโs time to eat!
Uh ohโฆyou might find one under the tree next year! ๐ Thanks, Rivergirl ๐
Looks like a great stove!!
Hi, Deb – I can (gratefully) attest to the awesomeness of Big Steel and your fully working kitchen.Youmade a wonderful choice!!
Thank you, my friend ๐
So far I am very pleased with how it is performing. Thanks, LA ๐
Love the Zoolander reference. Love that you named your stove!
Wait till you meet my new fridge, Robert Plant (โcos heโs a Tall Cool One) ๐. Thanks, Donna ๐
Double laughs for today!
I absolutely adore your new stove/oven! He is very handsome. I also name inanimate objects. (Victor, my robot vacuum say hello)ย
I especially like how your stove can send you Text messages! Technology is rad.ย
It is kinda rad, although my place is small enough that I can hear the timer from anywhere inside. But in the fair weather, when I am out in the yard itโs gonna come in handy! Thanks, Kari (and Victor) ๐
Uplifting and drool-worthy post! Does Blue Steel tell you when a pot is about to burn? That’s a function that’s long overdue.
Wouldnโt that be great?! I donโt think so and I donโt want to experiment to find out for sure ๐. Thank you, LS ๐
Hello Deb! Blue Steel is pretty impressive. Of course, you are too. Blue Steel couldn’t have made any of those delicious items without you! Thanks for sharing them with us!
Why, thank you very much Christie ๐ It was my pleasure.
As much as I could do without my oven messaging me, it looks like Blue Steel does a great job! I would be happy to have this whole meal prepared for me. Oh, and Blackberry Ginger Balsamic… yum! I’m a great fan of balsamic of all flavors, but I’ve never tried that one.
I did enable the messaging, which should mean I can disable it again. So far it is still a novelty and not at all annoying. Plus I can turn on/off my oven from the app on my phoneโฆwhich would have been kinda handy when I was a โslave to the manโ. Thanks, Janis ๐
Wow — fancy dancy appliance!! I am not sure I’d want notifications but then I guess I wouldn’t miss the timer going when the bread is cooked. It came with an air fryer. Interesting. Our oven is/was on the fritz but they found a part for $72 so we are just getting it repaired but now I want a new oven!! Or I just want the convection part to work again! The meal looks outstanding. KFC without stomach pain — might be worth a try. I love the taste. Interesting cake. If I can get my own words to flow I have an awesome dessert to share for the challenge. Bernie
That chicken recipe is in steady rotation at Chez Badass and #1 on the kidsโ hit parade. It is a keeper for sure! I would love to see your dessert recipe, Bernie. Thanks ๐
Wonder how the chicken would work in a regular oven. Working on my post!!
I think it would work great!
Oh and I recieved a bottle of Blackberry Ginger Balsamic for Christmas.
Lucky you ๐
I haven’t tried it yet but will soon.
How lovely to have a new oven…though not sure about the messaging!
I had to download an app and enable a bunch of stuff so the messaging is purely optional on these new โsmartโ stoves. So far, I donโt mind it and I think it will come in handy this summer when I am out in the garden. Thank you ๐
Blue Steel will never be the same again for me. Your post is mouth watering!! Well done and hope your landlords were impressed!
My landlords are quite jelly, as the kids say! Air fryer KFC has been requested for the supper I offered to cook tomorrow night. Itโs a hit for sure ๐. Thanks, Debbie ๐
Blue Steel looks very classy indeed…and that balsamic vinegar? That really would be da bomb.
I highly recommend that balsamic if you can source it. Thanks, Jo ๐
Nice looking, cooks and sends messages – what more could a gal want.
A self-cleaning bathroomโฆperhaps still to come in my lifetime?๐ Thanks, Suzanne ๐
Wow Deb! I wish I lived closer than half a world away as I would invite myself for dinner. I’m definitely trying the cake and the chicken. I bet Blue Steel can even think of recipes and prepare the meals as well LOL ๐ Thanks for co-hosting What’s On Your Plate? and looking forward to linking up again in 2023. x
I donโt know if Blue Steel can provide recipes (quickly pauses typing to check the Blue Steel app on my phone)โฆ.ummm, yeah, apparently I can get personalized recipes and meal plans to use with my new oven!!!! Well, whaddaya know โbout that! Thanks, Sue ๐
Love the new range! This week was pork and sauerkraut here. New year’s tradition handed down through the generations. My sauerkraut includes apples, onions and some brown sugar. Delicious!
Ooooh, that recipe does sound good! Thanks, Kate ๐
Technology can be great. I’d like a stove that comes with a cook some days! Like the coffee in the morning – I always say that the only thing that would make the first cup of coffee better is if the houseboy would bring it to me in bed! FYI – there is no houseboy! I’ve been using up bits & bobs of leftover veg & freezer treasures – beef dip with raw veggies; homemade crockpot beans with stuffed meatloaf; fried rice with veg & packaged ginger beef & dry ribs; pickle soup; fried cabbage & pork chops with mashed potatoes. It’s always a shock to the system to have to do the meal planning/prep after time away at my son’s. I get home and no one puts food in front of me but me. What the what?! Happy New Year to you and Blue Steel.
That would be a shock to the system, for sure! ๐ All of your bits and bobs sound great to me. One of the favourite nights at my house growing up was leftovers night. Mom would fry up leftover boiled potatoes until they were brown and crispy and serve them alongside leftover meat and fresh veggiesโฆand if she thought there wasnโt enough to go around, sheโd make a stack of Dutch pancakes (super thin like crepes, that tasted just as good rolled up cold the next day) or a pot of oatmeal cooked in milk so thick the spoon stood up in it. Thanks, Mona ๐
What a beautiful looking stove! Never heard of blue steel but for me it was love at first sight. Is your landlord your daughter and her husband or someone else? Either way they are lucky to have you cook for them.
Yes! My landlords are my daughter and son-in-law. I’m lucky to have them cook for me too, from time to time. Thanks, Jean ๐
Deb, that dinner looks downright perfect! I’m so impressed and I’m sure your Landlords enjoyed it as well. I’ve never seen a Blue oven before and I’m so intrigued. When will you show us the entire kitchen? You know we all want to be voyeuristic regarding your new place…which I’m SO happy for you and your family to be so close.
Haha! Yes, I will be happy to show you the entire (super tiny) kitchen when it is done. Still needs backsplash, undercabinet lighting, and range hood. It is hard for me to find people to do stuff on this little island; so hard I was even thinking of tackling the tiling myself for a hot minuteโฆand then sanity returned ๐คฃ. I think I can be pretty handy, but a bad tile job is forever and I donโt need to be cursing my work every time I walk into the kitchen, now do I? Thanks, Suz ๐
Sounds like patience is the key.
Why oh why do I keep getting lessons in patience?!?!? She says while drumming her fingers and jiggling her footโฆ๐คฃ
Yay! You got a wonderful appliance, even if he is chatty. Our new cooktop and oven [purchased in the spring] don’t talk with us. Of course I’ve not named them so that might be on me. Here’s to you and Blue Steel having a long and productive life together.
Thank you, Ally ๐Same to you and your new appliances!
Split pea soup from Mitchells soup of Duncan, with smoked pork hocks from a victoria meat producer, made in instant pot. pita bread from a Victoria baker. I am amazed at how much local produce is available.
Itโs a good thing we have some local food. A friend of mine once told me that his group had done a study on food availability on the island and found that if we were cut off from the rest of the world, the grocery stores would be cleared out in 3 days. Planting a garden this springโฆ๐คฃ
Deb
I havenโt enabled anything on my stove. Havenโt even read instruction manual.
It might be better that way ๐คฃ. Thanks, Ann ๐
Deb, you must’ve had such a lot of fun planning your kitchen, even if the waiting for stuff to arrive bit tested your patience and enthusiasm. Soooo pleased your first meal went so brilliantly. And yes, great names for your appliances. I have mega kitchen envy ๐
It was mostly fun, although it’s dragging out more than I’d like. Thanks, Debs ๐
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Miso in cake? I am intrigued. Thank you, Ju-Lyn ๐
Hi Deb – this all sounds such fun … so pleased Mr Blue Steel is working so well – that looks a magical cooker. Cheers – go enjoy those holidays! Hilary
Thank you, Hilary ๐