Catalina Island

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socal78

socal78

Well-known member
Anyone who knows me knows that, aside from slow cookers, I am obsessed with Catalina Island.

Here is a tip worth passing on. The Catalina Express runs a birthday promo where you get a free, round-trip ticket for your birthday. I just booked my reservations and saved $76.50 using the promo. Not bad!! There are also many birthday freebies on the island once you get there. I hope this gives TI'ers some ideas.
http://catalinaexpress.com/birthday_promo.html

 
Thanks for the tip!

And speaking of slow cookers - I am currently in the market for one - which (brand..crockpot,hamilton beach? automatic? manual?) do you recommend? I wanted to buy one earlier this year our current kitchen doesn't have much counter space (and with two blenders and a rice cooker - I just didn't have space for one).  Now that we are moving to a new home with much more space I can't wait to get one!
We could start a slow cooker thread..:)
 
whome said:
Thanks for the tip!

And speaking of slow cookers - I am currently in the market for one - which (brand..crockpot,hamilton beach? automatic? manual?) do you recommend? I wanted to buy one earlier this year our current kitchen doesn't have much counter space (and with two blenders and a rice cooker - I just didn't have space for one).  Now that we are moving to a new home with much more space I can't wait to get one!
We could start a slow cooker thread..:)
Click to expand...

I have tried mentioning them before, however, I was informed it's not asian enough. Maybe a thread about woks would generate more interest on T.I.

The type of slow cooker you should get will depend on the size of your family and what you mainly plan to cook in it. That said, if I could only choose one slow cooker to use for the rest of my life, it would have to be:

- 4 quarts. The majority of recipes are based off of this size.
- Digital
- Programmable in 30 minute increments (rather than 2 hours)
- Automatically switches to warm
- Preferably has a 3rd temp setting: Simmer
- Glazed ceramic insert
- Heating element surrounding it rather than only on the bottom

If anyone wants to create a thread, I can help answer any and all slow-cooker related questions. I know a lot of useless trivia about them and have a lot of experience.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
You forgot WiFi!
Click to expand...

The WeMo is actually not on my wish list. I plan to go back to the good ol' days by looking for one from 15+ years ago, so long as there are no glaring defects. The WeMo marketing centers around being able to delay the cooking process when life happens. If it was an older model, that wouldn't even be necessary.

What's happened over the years is that manufacturers began making changes out of "safety". One change is the electrical cords got a lot shorter (just as housing codes changed to make outlets closer together). The other change is the temp settings were bumped up higher to get the food through the "danger zone" more quickly. Slow cookers from years ago would have never boiled on Low and probably not even on High as they do now. Even as recently as 15 years ago. Now they are so hot that they have added a steam vent to the lid. All slow cookers are this way now -- minus the steam vents, however, I believe Crock Pot brand is the hottest (that is the brand which makes the "WiFi" slow cooker). I've read articles where people compare temps and they are. It is frustrating. I've tried solving this in the past by getting a slow cooker with a 3rd temp setting: Simmer. Cuisinart is the only brand I've found like this. Soon, I'll be filling my newest one with water and taking its temp including on Warm. When it sat for 2 hours on Warm last night, I swear the unit felt as hot as it did on Low. It's probably the same temp nowadays!! Ugh.
 
SoCal said:
irvinehomeowner said:
You forgot WiFi!
Click to expand...

The WeMo is actually not on my wish list. I plan to go back to the good ol' days by looking for one from 15+ years ago, so long as there are no glaring defects. The WeMo marketing centers around being able to delay the cooking process when life happens. If it was an older model, that wouldn't even be necessary.

What's happened over the years is that manufacturers began making changes out of "safety". One change is the electrical cords got a lot shorter (just as housing codes changed to make outlets closer together). The other change is the temp settings were bumped up higher to get the food through the "danger zone" more quickly. Slow cookers from years ago would have never boiled on Low and probably not even on High as they do now. Even as recently as 15 years ago. Now they are so hot that they have added a steam vent to the lid. All slow cookers are this way now -- minus the steam vents, however, I believe Crock Pot brand is the hottest (that is the brand which makes the "WiFi" slow cooker). I've read articles where people compare temps and they are. It is frustrating. I've tried solving this in the past by getting a slow cooker with a 3rd temp setting: Simmer. Cuisinart is the only brand I've found like this. Soon, I'll be filling my newest one with water and taking its temp including on Warm. When it sat for 2 hours on Warm last night, I swear the unit felt as hot as it did on Low. It's probably the same temp nowadays!! Ugh.
Click to expand...

Thanks SoCal Yes- that's what I'd read too - that nowadays the slow cookers run too hot.
I'll look into Cuisinart.  I was leaning towards getting a 'crockpot' but was worried about the temperature issue.
I wanted one to cook beans/chilli, lentils, soups - that sort of thing. My rice cooker works great for lentils but not so much for beans.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
yaliu07 said:
socal, we are thinking going to catalina island.  what's the fun to do?
Click to expand...
Hiding from SoCal. :)
Click to expand...

Why? I like Yaliu. There is nothing to fear. I've always felt that he does not truly understand how shocking his posts come off nor why. "Forgive them for they know not what they do."
 
whome said:
Thanks SoCal Yes- that's what I'd read too - that nowadays the slow cookers run too hot.
I'll look into Cuisinart.  I was leaning towards getting a 'crockpot' but was worried about the temperature issue.
I wanted one to cook beans/chilli, lentils, soups - that sort of thing. My rice cooker works great for lentils but not so much for beans.
Click to expand...

DRIED BEANS ARE THE ONE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE!!! Be very careful. You can get very sick from undercooked beans, especially red kidney beans. They need high heat and plenty of time. A crock pot being too hot does not apply here. Most recipes will actually substitute with canned beans to prevent people from getting sick.
http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Food-Poisoning-from-Undercooked-Beanshttp://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/crockpots-slow-cooking-dried-beans-phytohaemagglutinin/

Fun Fact: Did you know that Crock Pot actually started out as a bean cooker? It was originally the "Naxon Beanery All-Purpose Cooker". The Naxon was purchased by Rival (the original manufacturer of Crock Pot) in the early 1970s, renamed, and re-purposed!

m40o9QjbkIyHFu3DJdV7T0Q.jpg
 
yaliu07 said:
socal, we are thinking going to catalina island.  what's the fun to do?
Click to expand...

There is SO MUCH to do! It is impossible to see and do it all in one day or even one weekend.

Off the top of my head:

- Parasailing
- Snorkeling
- Scuba Diving
- Three Palms Arcade... Duck Pin Bowling
- Segways
- Zip Line
- Watercraft Rentals, paddleboards, tubes
- Miniature Golf
- Day & Night Jeep Tours of the Interior... See Buffalo
- Casino Tours - beautiful Art Deco murals, ballroom
- Movie Theater @ The Casino - absolutely beautiful theaters
- Flying Fish Boat Tour at night (yes, fish fly!)
- Wrigley Gardens
- Submarine / Watch & Feed Fish
- Astronomy Tour
- The Airport & DC-3 Grill. Watch private planes land, live band
- Ice Cream @ Lloyd's candy shop or Big Olaf's
- Trolley
- Ghost Tour  :)
- Buffalo Burgers
- "Buffalo Milk" (Vodka, Kahlua, creme de cacao, bananas blended w/ ice, a dollop of whipped cream)
- Throw peanut shells at each other @ Antonio's Pizzeria
- Beach Bingo on Thursdays

This will be my 3rd time. I've done much or most of this but still not all! Will be staying there a few days soon.
 
whome said:
Thanks for the tip!

And speaking of slow cookers - I am currently in the market for one - which (brand..crockpot,hamilton beach? automatic? manual?) do you recommend? I wanted to buy one earlier this year our current kitchen doesn't have much counter space (and with two blenders and a rice cooker - I just didn't have space for one).  Now that we are moving to a new home with much more space I can't wait to get one!
We could start a slow cooker thread..:)
Click to expand...

Slow cookers are like Tatung Rice Cookers, they last a long time.  Ask around to see if anyone has one collecting dust that they'd let you have for free.  Or check craiglist.  People buy them or get them as gifts and maybe use once or twice before putting it back in the box.  You can get them for $10-20.

Don't really need anything fancy, vintage style crock pots with off - low - high settings work just fine.  Mine is over 20 years old and I use it for ribs.  Dice an onion in the pot, season ribs, brush sauce on ribs, set to low and let it cook for 8-10 hours.
 
Catalina's waters is not always good to swim in (pay attention to signs).  Good fishing but make sure you don't keep anything that looks reddish or orange.

Girls from mainland take the ferry to Catalina to work and stay there for weekend or few days at a time.  If you're young and single you can try hitting on them.
 
SoCal said:
irvinehomeowner said:
yaliu07 said:
socal, we are thinking going to catalina island.  what's the fun to do?
Click to expand...
Hiding from SoCal. :)
Click to expand...

Why? I like Yaliu. There is nothing to fear. I've always felt that he does not truly understand how shocking his posts come off nor why. "Forgive them for they know not what they do."
Click to expand...

even though me and socal have different view on many subjects.  but i DO think she is a nice person and i DO LIKE her.  i also called her OC Sandra Bullock.

yaliu07 said:
Holy S***, So Cal is Sandra Bullock!!!  Here is picture as proof. 

All joking aside, are you an IUSD teacher?  Preschool teacher?  Can you transfer to Beacon Park K-8 School or Portal Spring HS.  I would love to have my son go to your class.  :)

MV5BMjEzOTE3ODM3OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzYyODI4Mg@@._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg
Click to expand...
 
yaliu07 said:
even though me and socal have different view on many subjects.  but i DO think she is a nice person and i DO LIKE her. 
Click to expand...

"Many"? I thought it was just the veteran's cemetery topic. If you hate Crock Pots, we can not be friends.
 
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