MARCH 2024
Sunday 2024.3.31
Happy Easter
Today is Easter Sunday. When I was a child we always went to church on Sundays. The "holy days," AKA "holidays," were the most important.
Highly Anticipated
Boys and their toys. I love my Quest 3 virtual reality headset. Don't ask me to help you with the pros and cons of buying one. One con might be the price. Maybe another con is that you might not get your chores done. Otherwise, there are dozens of reasons why I'm glad I got mine.
If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know my favorite game is Walkabout Mini Golf. Not only is it fun to play, but it's a multi-player game. By means of WiFi I can join friends more than 2,000 miles away. I think that is especially good for my mental health.
I play sitting in an office chair in my living room. Sitting down, there is no risk I might stumble over something and fall down. However, this past week I ordered an accessory that might make golfing a little more fun.
It's a golf club handle that holds a controller. Supposedly, it works like a regular golf club. In a game of regular golf you can swing hard at a ball and launch it down the fairway. I don't play regular golf. I prefer mini golf. So this club will be used exclusively as a putter.
I will be standing, of course, but there is no need to walk around. A button on the controller automatically locates me at the ball, ready to make my putt. A tap of the golf club on the floor should work fine.
I can't judge it yet. It was supposed to be delivered tomorrow, but I see it is out for delivery today. In Wednesday's blog I will have more to say about this Quest 3 accessory.
A Little More About Chaffles
I've been using a cheese blend I bought at Costco. It's a combination of mild cheddar and Monterey jack — "cheddar jack." The chaffles are too salty. I've been seeing many recipes that use mozzarella cheese. This week I bough some. It makes all the difference in the world. The chaffles are not salty and they have a more neutral flavor.
But I don't understand. The cheddar jack has 170mg of sodium per ounce. The mozzarella has 177mg. It has more salt, but tastes far less salty. The mozzarella has about a third less fat. Could that be the difference? I'm not a chemist, but I do know this: Salt is water soluble, not fat soluble. The mozzarella is "low moisture." So, maybe the lower moisture makes the salt less deliverable to the tongue.
I'm sure it's all done with smoke and mirrors. The bottom line is: The chaffles made with mozzarella taste better. I made six yesterday to test freezing. I see I can fit a dozen in a ziplock bag.
And another thing: Yesterday I saw on Amazon Vine a waffle bowl maker. I ordered it. I'm not exactly sure how I'll use bowl-shaped chaffles, but I'm thinking they might make a less messy soft taco shell.
The Tomato Chronicles
How are the tomato plants doing? They continue to grow, albeit slowly. They never grow fast enough for me. However, the uppermost leaves of the Early Girl are now above the rim of the planter. The Big Beef is slightly shorter, but it is progressing well. It appears it is about to sprout another branch of flowers.
Expecting rain on Friday through today, I again pruned off the lowest leaves. I then added another layer of soil and a light sprinkling of gypsum. The planter is now two thirds full. As I've discussed in the past, this will encourage more root growth. Probably in early May I'll add the final layer of soil, nearly filling the planter. Then I'll cover the top with some wood chip mulch to discourage weeds.
I expect to harvest my first tomato in early July. That was what happened last year. So, patience is required through May and June. As for the rain, about an inch fell where I live. Another storm is expected this coming weekend.
Wednesday 2024.3.27
Discouragement
I try not to become discouraged, but let's face it, it's inevitable sometimes. I've been trying to think positively about this new eating program and my A1C not being closer to 5.
I'm 72 years old. I have been cooking the same way since I started living on my own at age 19. I've always loved pasta. And why not? My mother's parents were from Italy. My grandmother taught my mother to cook. We were Roman Catholics and therefore we didn't eat meat on Friday. Occasionally we had fish, but more often it was something like spaghetti without meatballs.
I learned to cook with garlic and olive oil. I often made my own Pasta from scratch. If I had an egg and some flour, I had a meal.
I've been making my own Marinara for most of my life. I learned from my mother the brands of canned tomatoes not to buy. One brand, Pope, was too acidic. Hunts was just plain awful. She preferred Contadina. I learned to love Cento certified San Marzano tomatoes.
Now I'm supposed to cut carbohydrates out of my diet. What good is spaghetti sauce without the spaghetti?
More difficult still is learning to cook with ingredients like pork rind flour (I think pork rinds are disgusting), xanthan gum (what?), oat fiber, lupin flour and almond flour. I've used almond flour to make Almond Cookies, but during more than 50 years of cooking I never used any of those other ingredients.
I think the most discouraging part is trying to make alternates to the foods I love. Rather than flour tortillas, make cheese tortillas. Blech. Rather than standard Belgian waffles, make chaffles using cheese and egg. Really? Are there satisfactory alternates? Or are we just fooling ourselves?
I know I can do it. I learned to ride a skateboard in the basement of our home in Connecticut. I think back to when I taught myself to be a programmer. The bookstore had a software package that didn't work for us. I took home a modem and dumb terminal and during a two-week Christmas vacation I read line after line of code in subroutine after subroutine. None of it made sense. Then, finally, the light came on and I started to see the logic. I fixed the program so that it would work for us. I formatted our purchase orders and shelf labels. After working with the developers in Utah for a while, they gave me full developer rights over their software.
So, yes, trying to learn a new way of cooking at age 72 isn't easy. But I'll get it eventually.
I just hope it won't be like trying to learn to eat keto. I tried it and I lost some weight. But after a while I really craved carbs like pasta, rice and bread. A scrambled egg doesn't take the place of a bowl of spaghetti.
All I can do is try. Meanwhile, I continue to look through my diabetes cookbook for recipes that will really satisfy my cravings.
Encouragement
There is light at the end of the tunnel. I wasn't delighted with my "chaco" idea — taco shells made of cheese — because the flavor of the cheese is a little overpowering. As usual, research.
I found a recipe for crispy keto taco shells that are made with almond flour, xanthan gum, unflavored protein powder and salt, along with some hot water. I can use my tortilla press, which makes the task more enjoyable. The protein powder has been added to my Amazon wish list. And I think I'll cut back the almond flour by about a tablespoon and add a tablespoon of vital wheat gluten, which will give the dough a little more glue. Someday I'll have all these oddball ingredients.
Meanwhile, I read something encouraging in my diabetes cookbook. The author wrote about someone with type 2 diabetes. "Today, Nancy weighs 147 pounds, she has an A1C of 6.4, and she is glad to report that she is free of medications." On Monday morning I recorded my lowest A1C yet — 6.2.
Downsizing Reversal
I've been on a downsizing kick lately, and I'm doing well. I ordered a leather sheath for my Japanese chef's knife and tossed the old sheath in the recycling bin. It didn't give me the best protection. Meanwhile, I wanted a sheath for my Chinese chef's knife. I looked on Amazon and saw some that looked the same as the one I discarded. Maybe needless to say, I recovered it. It fits the Chinese knife perfectly. I couldn't be happier.
More About Chaffles
It took a while. After receiving several ideas for chaffles of all kinds, I thought, "Why not simply get a chaffle cookbook?" I did. That will keep me busy for a while and I feel like my chaffle recipes are now organized in one place.
I made my first chaffles yesterday. I wanted a hamburger bun to use with my cheeseburgers, but not one made with wheat flour, which is high in carbs. I used the waffle maker I talked about in Sunday's blog. It arrived yesterday.
For a first attempt, they came out quite well. I did use them as a hamburger bun. I didn't put cheese on the burger because there is cheese in the chaffle. However, I think I would have enjoyed the burger more if I had added a slice of American cheese. Next time. And, yes, I like my burgers plain — no pickles, no mustard, no ketchup, just the cheese.
Sunday 2024.3.24
Chaffles
The possibilities seem endless. The basic chaffle is about the same — cheese and egg, maybe a little almond flour or xanthan gum for texture. But the toppings! Most recent thought: smoked salmon and cream cheese. I added salmon to my Costco shopping list.
Foodie friends are more than generous as we go down the rabbit hole, as one friend put it. I'm left with thinking: Anything you can put on a piece of toast can go on a chaffle. The big difference is: You probably wouldn't bake the bread yourself, but you can make your own chaffles easily if you have a waffle maker.
I can't list all the possibilities, but I'll mention a few. They can be as simple as a little peanut butter and jelly on top, or some marinara topped with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. This summer when my tomato plants start producing I might try making BLTs with chaffles.
What about making cheese taco shells? "Chacos" or chaco shells? I came up with the name "chaco," but I am probably not the first one. They are a simple spread of shredded cheddar cheese baked on parchment paper until they are bubbly and then removed from the oven and draped over either the handle of a wooden spoon or shaped with a taco form. I ordered a form.
Friday was the day. The waffle maker and taco forms were out for delivery, along with two other items, all of which I paid for; they were not free Vine items.
Meanwhile, I did some experimenting with what I had on hand — a skillet, parchment paper, eggs and cheese.
Alas, when the box arrived it was badly beat up. That's a problem with UPS here. They are not averse to throwing things. I've seen them do it. The waffle maker had a broken housing.
I immediately sent it back. And here's a thing: Returns to Amazon are now even easier. You start the return on the product order page. They send you a VR code thing. You take that and the item to the local UPS store. They'll box it and print a label, all from the VR code.
Meanwhile I ordered a different one. It was a lot more expensive and it is quite simple — it doesn't even have a "Ready" light to tell you when it is heated. That's not a problem. I have one of those laser-like thermometer guns I can use to measure the surface temperature.
There are a few things I really like about this model. It makes whole waffles, not the ones that have dividing lines that can separate a waffle into four piece. The waffles can be five inches wide, which is the size of the beef patties I want to use with waffles for the bun. And it makes two waffles at one time, the top bun and the bottom bun. The plan is to make chaffles.
More Downsizing
I spent a little time out in the shed yesterday consolidating things and pulling items to either recycle, toss in the trash or give away. It was a little self-help.
I like having foodie friends. They try to be helpful, which I appreciate. However, there are times when I feel a little overwhelmed as they toss ideas at me faster than I can think about them. This new type 2 diabetes thing has resulted in many helpful suggestions, such as the chaffles mentioned above and keto pasta.
I cleared an entire shelf in the shed. That will be my place to store foods that don't need to be refrigerated, including keto ingredients that are healthy for diabetics. All these new foods are confusing to me, but as I told a friend, "I didn't come out of the womb knowing how to cook. It took years." I'll eventually master this type 2 diabetes lifestyle. Speaking of which…
Glucose
I ate properly yesterday. This morning my A1C was 6.6. It isn't the lowest I recorded, which was 6.0, but it is among my best.
Wednesday 2024.3.20
Happy Spring
Yesterday was the first day of Spring. Winters are not harsh here in Southern California. The days are pleasant and nighttime temperatures rarely fall below freezing. The weather is the reason I moved from New England to SoCal nearly 50 years ago. I love it here.
The Tomato Plants Chronicles
My tomato plants are finally getting some sunlight as the sun moves more toward the north. They are still not large enough to be worthy of a photograph, but they're thriving. The first hopeful sign I have been waiting for is a flower.
And yesterday I saw the first flower buds on my tomato plants. Both the Big Beef and the Early Girl had buds on them, which surprised me. The Early Girls are so named because they produce fruit early in the season. But the Big Beef is just as early.
I'll prune those early flowers off in favor of plant and root growth. The plants can put more energy into fruit production later in the season when they are much taller. Besides, the stems and stalks are too thin and weak to support the weight of tomatoes. And speaking of tomatoes…
More Cooking
Yesterday I made another batch of Marinara. It is something I almost always have in my freezer. Those who know me will certainly know I try to use only true San Marzano tomatoes. I buy them by the case on Amazon.
There are fakes out there. Some growers call any plum tomato a San Marzano. They are not the same. The real San Marzanos are grown in a region of Italy near Mount Vesuvius where the soil is particularly good for growing flavorful tomatoes. I've been cooking with Cento brand for years. Yes, they're expensive, but you get what you pay for. They make an excellent marinara.
One 28-ounce can of tomatoes, one 12-ounce can of tomato paste, some water and some garlic powder, onion powder and oregano yielded five one-cup portions of marinara. One went into the refrigerator. The other four were put in the freezer.
Plus, I have plenty of canned tomatoes in stock. I'm set for a while.
Fun Weekend
Two items will be arriving by UPS on Friday — a waffle maker and a taco form. I want to experiment with alternatives to bread, in an effort to reduce my carbohydrate intake. Waffles seem counterproductive. I won't be making the traditional variety people typically top with butter and syrup. I want to try making "chaffles", waffles made with cheese and eggs. There are plenty of chaffle videos on YouTube. The plan is to replace the wheat buns I use for cheeseburgers.
The taco form is for cheese taco shells. Supposedly you can bake little bundles of shredded cheese until it starts to bubble, then transfer them to a taco form to make shells. I want to experiment with those, making a sort of Flauta taco. It could be fun. And it could lead to a video.
I'll probably do an unboxing video for My Kitchen Vlog and test the waffle maker on camera. The ultimate goal is to reduce carbs and maybe get my A1C down, speaking of which…
Glucose
A1C was 7.6 this morning. I'd like it to be 5.0, but at least it's not dangerously high.
Sunday 2024.3.17
Happy St Patrick's Day
If you're into the wearing of the green, today is your day.
Cooking
This week I made something I never tried before — Beurre Blanc. It's a simple buttery sauce that includes lemon juice and heavy cream. It isn't as thick as a Hollandaise, but it's just as delicious.
The idea came about after tossing a few ideas back and forth with a foodie friend. A local grocery store put "extra jumbo" shrimp on sale; so the question of how best to enjoy them was asked. I settled on Beurre Blanc.
I used vermouth instead of white wine and garlic in place of the shallots. I thought that combination might go better with seafood. The sauce was delicious.
Supposedly it can't be kept and reheated later. Sensing a challenge, or at least a learning opportunity, I put the remaining sauce in a jar and refrigerated it.
Another Gadget
The same foodie friend sent me a link to a video in which the cook makes her hamburger buns in a waffle iron. She uses shredded cheese and egg. That would be low-carb and therefore good for my diabetes diet. I ordered a waffle maker.
Two factors were important. The waffles need to be the same size as the beef patties I buy at Costco and I didn't want the dividers that separate a waffle into smaller pieces.
It's another gadget when I'm trying to downsize, but I can live with a little compromise.
Not Another Gadget
For several years I've been wanting rain boots. I had a pair, but they were old and eventually cracked. Yesterday I saw a pair on Vine that looked good enough for my needs.
I don't go far anymore, thanks to my age and medical condition, and you know it rarely rains in Southern California. However, something I can use when the ground is wet and I need to get the mail or put the trash bins out for pickup might suffice.
Maybe worth mentioning: Most of the time there is nothing on Vine I want. I've described it as schlock in the past. There might be 50,000 items to choose from (no exaggeration), and I request nothing. However, occasionally there is something I've been wanting. Getting it for free (those boots retail for $70) is even better.
Chicken
Yesterday I deboned two chickens, portioning the meat to freeze and saving the trim, also frozen, for making chicken stock this fall. With the way I cut up chicken, I got eight portions from each one — two thighs, both drumsticks as one portion, and five portions among the breast meat, all boneless. I really like chicken, but I don't like large portions.
Then a foodie friend sent me a link to something called Pepperoni Chicken. That gave me a way to use up some light meat, which isn't my favorite part of the chicken. Basically, it's a flattened piece of chicken breast, sautéd until lightly browned on both sides, then topped with marinara, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni before going under the broiler for a few minutes to brown.
It was easy and quite delicious. I might do a video of this soon. And without the pizza crust, it is better for my A1C, speaking of which…
And, Finally, My A1C
I test my blood glucose each morning, sometimes when fasting and sometimes when not. It has been mostly in the 6 to 7% range. Anything above 9% is dangerous as it can lead to nerve and organ damage. So, although I'm not down to the 5% where I would like to be, at least I'm out of the danger zone. It was 6.7 this morning.
I need to eat fewer carbs, thus that waffle maker. My downfall is pasta and rice. I don't like to waste food; so I'm using them up as best I can without eating so much as to cause a spike in my blood sugar.
The breast meat I saved from the chickens mentioned above will mostly be used in vegetable stews. Those play nice with my A1C.
Wednesday 2024.3.13
Downsizing
I am still trying to downsize, despite the occasional procurement of items from Amazon Vine. On Monday I gave an office chair to a neighbor. I offered it to two others, but they didn't need it. I went to offer it to a third, but one look in his yard told me he had no room for it. I thought I might be tending toward hoarding, but compared to that neighbor, my place is almost stark.
These days, if I request anything at all from Vine, it needs to be something small, like a set of steak knives (to replace some old ones that went into the trash) or something disposable, such as nitrile examination gloves (used when cathing) or napkins and paper towels. I really don't want more stuff.
My latest effort is the result of watching the movie Grey Gardens. My home does not look like the house in the film. However, there are times when I look around and wonder: If someone walked into this room right now, what would they think? I'm looking at the desk in front of me. Most of the stuff on it can be thrown away. The rest should be put away.
I brought a large bin inside from the shed and literally threw away everything in it — old trousers and some clean rags I cut up for hand rags during the pandemic. I kept none of it. There was a time when some of it might have been useful, even necessary, but not anymore.
I filled a second bin with items I really wanted to keep — the pilsner glasses I use as water glasses when I have guests for dinner, two oil lamps and my spare impulse heat sealer. I printed a label, listing what is inside, and then that bin went out to the shed.
I opened some small bins I keep beneath the bathroom sink. Some things are simply forgotten about and thus get saved. I no longer have a keto test meter, but I forgot I still had some test strips. I threw out most of the stuff in those bins, which made room for my blood glucose test meter and supplies.
There is so much more to do and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. There are so many nooks and crannies, drawers and cabinets, cupboards and shelves where "potentially" useful stuff can be tucked away. The best way I found is to pick one space, pull out everything, sort through it and only save the items that I really do need. All the rest can go in the trash. If I am undecided about an item, I consider the cost of replacing it. If it's not expensive, toss it in the trash; if I need it in the future, I can buy a new one.
Sunday 2024.3.10
Happy Daylight Saving Time
If you live in an area where we turn our clocks ahead one hour this time of year, hopefully you remembered to spring forward.
When I was a child I really liked Daylight Saving Time. It gave us an additional hour to play outside in the evening.
It seems every six months there is a debate whether to permanently remain on DST or discard it altogether. Personally, I don't have a preference. My only complaint about the time change every six months is that some of my clocks don't automatically switch between DST and Standard Time. It took about 15 minutes to adjust all my clocks this morning.
Vine Voicing
I rarely order anything on Amazon Vine these days. I stick to my wish list. However, on Friday I ordered my maximum of three items. A new desk clock replaced one I threw in the trash because it stopped working. There were more blood glucose test strips available. I ordered those — a 90-day supply — because they have a shelf life of one year. And I saw another office chair that looked better that the one I already have. If I like the new one, I'll place a "FREE" sign on the older one and put it outdoors, maybe on the side street next to the park. It will find a good home.
I wasn't sure how effective the desk clock might be. It's LCD. So, on a different day (I am limited to three items per day) I ordered a wall clock that is LED — the numbers light up.
Both clocks arrived yesterday. The LED clock came with a remote control. Both clocks and the remote use AAA batteries (the LED clock also has a power cord), a total of seven. When I saw a pack of eight rechargeable lithium AAA batteries available on Vine, I grabbed it.
SOTU Address
I watched the State of the Union Address this week. I like that President Biden appeared strong. I sometimes worry that he is becoming a doddering old man. Well, he is, but he can still serve as president.
The Address disappointed me in some ways. Not the President; the Congress. Why can't they set a good example for Americans? Members of the GOP refused to be photographed with the President. Marjorie Taylor Greene wore a MAGA hat, which is a violation of House rules. There was more than one outburst and in one case a man was removed from the chamber for heckling the President.
I've been saying it for a long time, and I still feel the same way — too many people love to hate. They absolutely love it. Give them something to hate and they will jump in with abandonment. President Lincoln said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Little by little I see this country continuing to fall into decline.
No empire lasts forever. History is full of accounts like the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. Where is the Viking Empire? Where is the Ottoman Empire? Although there are some things about getting old that I do not enjoy, I find some solace in the fact that I probably won't live long enough to witness the collapse of this country. It might be many decades away, but truly, no empire lasts forever.
Wednesday 2024.3.6
The First Tomato Plant Chronicle of 2024
I cleaned out the planter. Thankfully, it was only potting mix. I had no qualms about taking it outside the park to a place at the end of the side road where I could dump it, one five-gallon bucket at a time. It's better soil than the dirt that's already out there.
I bought two tomato plants yesterday, along with a large bag of potting mix and some ground cover wood chips. I bought another Early Girl. The second is a Big Beef. Both are indeterminate, which means they should produce fruit all season. They cost about $5 each.
The Early Girl will grow taller and produce more fruit, but I wanted to see what the Big Beef would yield. Supposedly the tomatoes can be as large as 1 pound (454g) each. I'll know more when we get into summer.
As planned, I filled the planter only about a third full. For those who didn't follow my Tomato Chronicles last year: The trick is to start the plants in shallow soil. As they grow, trim off the lower leaves and add more soil to the planter. Those fuzzy hairs on the stems are actually roots looking for soil. New roots will form, adding to the health and vigor of the plants. Continue building up the soil until the planter is nearly full, then top off with a thick layer of wood chip mulch to discourage weed growth.
Soil preparation includes gypsum to add more calcium to the soil, a necessary component for healthy tomato plants and to prevent end rot on the leaves and fruit, and some rock phosphate, which only needs to be placed in the bottom of the hole before the plants go in.
More rain is expected today; so I transferred the seedlings to the planter yesterday. Rain water is better than tap water for plants. There is a 100% probability of rain today, ½ to ¾ inch predicted; so I expect the planter to get a thorough watering.
This year will be a little more interesting. I have an electronic meter with two sensors I can embed in the soil. The sensors will send a signal to the meter inside my home, letting me know when my plants need watering.
Easter Eggs
The creators of the Walkabout Mini Golf courses often include some Easter eggs for those who like to explore. In the Atlantis course there is a whale, two sharks, two stingrays and a tortoise swimming around. It is possible to hop on the back of those and ride them around the course.
Having done the Atlantis sea creatures, I went to the Around the World in 80 Days course and, sure enough, it is possible to hop onto some of the many balloons that lazily circle around the Eiffel Tower. I even rode on the back of an elephant that was being transported by balloon.
They also like to hide things. In the Laser Lair course it is possible to fly down to the very base of the volcano where there is a skeleton hidden. Deep in a ravine in Atlantis there is a destroyed diving bell. Those don't change the way the game is played, but they're fun to look for.
Diabetes
I tested my blood for glucose this morning, after fasting for about 12 hours. It's the usual pin prick method and then testing with a meter. My A1C was 6.2%. It isn't where I want it to be. My doctor would like me to be down around 5%. However, at least I'm out of the danger zone. With an A1C of 9% or higher, there is the risk of permanent nerve and tissue damage.
Sunday 2024.3.3
Tomato Time
I've had "buy tomato plants" on my March calendar since the beginning of the year. As you all know, I live in Southern California. Although frost does occasionally happen, it's rare. Maybe once or twice each winter the Weather Service predicts temperatures at 32°F or lower. I can't recall when I actually saw frost on the ground in the morning.
Last year I enjoyed an abundance of tomatoes. I ate most of them in salads. At the end of the season I harvested so many tomatoes, I made a big pot of Tomato Soup, which I froze. I still have one portion remaining in the freezer. I will probably eat that later today.
This week I'll start the preparation for a new season of growing my own tomatoes. My "garden" is a large planter in my driveway. I will dig out all the old soil and bag that for tossing in the trash. I calculated the volume of the planter to be about 27 gallons (100 liters). This week I'll also go to the Garden Center at the local Home Depot store to buy the plants, new potting mix, and ground cover wood chips.
Last year I bought three Early Girl plants. I like those because they start producing fruit early in the season. However, I thought they crowded the planter too much, which discouraged air flow and therefore encouraged leaf mold growth. This year I'll buy two plants. One will be an Early Girl, the other one is yet to be decided.
Foodie Friends
I really appreciate having foodie friends. Sometimes we bounce ideas off each other. Sometimes they inspire me to try something I hadn't tried before. On Thursday evening I made a kind of stew with homemade chicken stock, some cut up Italian sausage and a few handfuls of mixed vegetables. I added a little tomato paste and some flour. I cooked it in my pressure cooker for 5 minutes, then let is depressurize naturally.
The stew was simple, quick, and delicious. I will definitely be making this again.
Pleasantly Surprised
I request very few items on Amazon Vine Voices now. There isn't much I want. I have more than enough vacuum sealer bags and rolls, napkins and paper towels, bed linens and nitrile gloves.
There was one item that intrigued me — an ultrasonic cleaner. What interested me the most was the way it supposedly cleans eyeglasses. Cleaning the lenses isn't difficult. I little liquid cleaner, a lint-free cloth, what could be easier? However, it's the bits around the nose pads and hinges that are not easy to clean.
I gave the ultrasonic cleaner a try. It works. And it's quick. After only 3 minutes in the solution (warm water and a little dish detergent) my glasses looked great. They haven't been this clean since the day I first put them on. I'm delighted with this product.
Next I did my electric shaver heads. I didn't even need to disassemble them. Just drop them whole into the solution and let it clean for three minutes. It makes a quiet humming noise while it's working, which I appreciate; it helps me know it's running. I doubt I'll clean those parts by hand ever again.
It's not very often a product really delights me. This one certainly did.