Popcorn, Spirooli or mandelolin?

[Mysticalwoman]

Hello all I need some help. Okay I need a substitute for popcorn, I use to eat it a lot because I good eat it with one tooth. But now I would like to know of a raw substitute for popcorn snack. Please remember I only have one tooth and I like something crunchy. Okay second question I am on a limited budget so I need to know the best type of slicer, something that slices very thin. I am not sure which one is better Spirooli or mandelolin? Any help would be appreciated. Mysticalwoman

[exurb]

if you're on a budget here are some ways you can avoid both...

to make pasta, I take a zucchini lengthwise and just run it down my grater lengthwise, then you get longer spaghettis out of it. you can also use a veggie peeler as suggested to make "fetuccini".

For a mandoline, it's nice on occasion (I tend to pull mine out when company's coming, but rarely use it for myself unless I'm feeling fancy.) What I seem to use the mandoline for is to make cute crinkle crosscut veggie slices, and some mandolines don't have the wavy blade you use for that. I'd only get a mandoline with a wavy blade (you turn 90 degrees between cuts and get those nice "waffle" slices").

The spirooli I got at a discount store for $9.99 I use it occasionally when I make pasta from carrots or parsnip (or butternut squash), but those might be too unpleasant for you to eat anyway. I find it makes a little too much juice out of the zucchini when it's fresh from my garden.

Don't think you have to spend all this dough getting all these fancy things... I would probably prioritize blender, food processor, dehydrator, nice cutting board and knife, and that's about it.

If you can ever find one, my absolute favorite use-all-the-time kitchen cutter thingy is what I call my redneck mandoline. I don't think they're legitimately sold anymore. It's just a simple open blade on a base that adjusts to give you the thickness. In this litigious age, you can't sell something like that or you would be dogged with lawsuits. It was a gift, and came from a flea market. So maybe I would use the mandoline more for slicing if I didn't have that thing (LOL maybe I'd have more fingertips too!)

popcorn, only substitute I've found it not munching on it and getting over it. :o there have been threads on here with suggestions, you can use the banana above and do a search for popcorn. the search feature works GREAT on this site compared with many other sites. :)

[carolg]

What's best mandolin out there? Buy where? Thinking lasagna or eggplant, but trying to figure out a low cal lasagna too. Maybe I need to start a thread for that, but for mandolin please reply. Thanks.
carolg

[tvillemom]

I am scared to death of my mandoline!! My DH and a good friend of mine cut the end of a finger off trying to use it. I also think the mandoline is hard to use on veggies like cucumbers and zuchini (they're too long). I use my spirooli alot to make angel hair pasta from my zucchini. I don't really make chips, so I'm not sure how the spirooli works for that....but I love it otherwise. I bought mine online at "kitchen gadgets" I think...it was only $12.99 if I remember correctly. Best of luck.
Wendi

[tvillemom]

Oh yeah...if you have a dehydrator (even a cheap one) I dehydrated kale...marinated in vinegar and oil.....and it was light and crispy....I LOVE KALE CHIPS....a great alternative to popcorn....you can even salt it some! ;) And you can get a cheap American Harvest at Walmart for about $40 (with temperature control)....it works great for lots of stuff!
Wendi