hhgregg FINE LINES

Four new robots were recently installed at the Electrolux manufacturing plant in Dudley Park, South Australia, increasing production by 10 percent. The facility can now turn out 2000 high-gloss oven and grill cavities each day. Using robots to control powder coating gun movement, the automated process also saves energy and improves working conditions.

By replacing linear reciprocators with the six axis articulated robots, the system is flexible and allows different types of cavities to be processed at any time, which is critical as the site manufactures over 120 different oven models. The total investment in the powder coating facility will be returned through savings within two years.

Electrolux has been able to achieve substantial energy savings of up to 15 percent when compared to the old production line process. The automated powder coating solution not only saves energy by eliminating the need for the drying process. It also reduced water usage and is helping to increase productivity, achieve savings and improve the health & safety in the workplace.

Electrolux has set their goal to reduce factory emissions by 15 percent by the end of 2012.

According to Electrolux manufacturing engineer, Colin Thomas, “Installing ABB’s robotics equipment on the new coating process has been instrumental in our sustainability success and made a huge contribution to the site’s achievement in reaching its emission reduction goals for the year.”

Electrolux is one of the featured brands of exceptional appliances at Fine Lines.

• Electrolux Savings Promotion Now thru Feb. 21
• Electrolux Leads Smart Grid Trial in Italy
• Electrolux Design Lab 2010: The Second Space Age

Electrolux hosts media event for Cook It Raw, an international culinary project focusing on green cooking techniques. Like the perfect food and wine pairings, Electrolux sponsored chefs demonstrated food and green pairing is equally appealing in today's eco-sensitive world.

With the participation of a group of avant-garde chefs at Electrolux Professional headquarters in Pordenone, Italy, Cook It Raw was presented to journalists and food critics last month.

The U.S. was represented by  Chef Daniel Patterson of Coi in San Francisco and Chef Dave Chang from New York's Momufuku and joined by chefs, Renè Redzepi from Noma in Copenhagen and Claude Bosi from London's  Hibiscus for  a live demonstration of the cooking concept

“If Cook It Raw is synonymous with cook it green, Electrolux Professional couldn’t be left out of this wonderful initiative”, says Alberto Zanata, Head of Electrolux Professional. “Electrolux Professional has been chosen as one of the preferred partners of this project because our company stands for social responsibility and a sustainable approach. The Green Spirit range is an evidence of it, thus including the most energy efficient and environmentally-sound professional products.”

In its second year, Cook It Raw redefined raw as meaning fresh as well as strong and wild. “Innovation and technology in the kitchen can become tools to highlight the taste and quality of raw ingredients, without altering or manipulating their nature and in compliance with an environmental concern," continued Zanata. "This is just the way we want it to be at Electrolux”.

Electrolux appliances are available at Fine Lines stores.

Find out more about green cooking every Wednesday at hhgreen.com

There are 40 concessions stands at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, plenty of food choices for the more than 75,000 fans who will fill the stadium on Sunday. You can bet Stadium Nachos will be a favorite.

Bring that perrenial game day favorite home. Sure to be a crowd pleaser, inexpensive and easy to do. This version from Thermador is a snap to make. Brown the meat ahead of time and reheat covered with foil  with about five minutes to go in the second quarter of the game. When the whistle blows for halftime, proceed with the assembly, a quick heat in the oven and it's on the table before the third quarter starts. Feel free to add additional toppings like sliced olives, diced fresh tomato and sliced avocado.

Nachos Supreme with Three Cheeses (or 4!)
Preparation Time: 20 min.
Oven Mode: Convection Roast/350 degrees F
Rack Position: 3 (third from bottom)
Total Cooking Time: 8 to 9 min.
Servings: 8

8 cups tortilla chips
1/2 lb. ground beef or turkey
1/4 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 cup each shredded Sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella cheese or Mexican 4-cheese blend (1 ½ cups total)
1/3 cup sliced green onion
2 Tbsp. minced, drained chilies (fresh or canned), such as green chilie, Jalapeno or Serrano.

Optional toppings: Prepared salsa, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro

1. Place oven rack on position 3 (third from bottom). Preheat oven on Convection Roast/350°F.

2. Arrange chips in a single layer on a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan with sides. Heat for 5 minutes; remove from oven.

3. In a skillet, brown ground meat with seasoned salt until no longer pink; drain well. Sprinkle ground meat, cheeses, onion and chilies over chips.

5. Return nachos to oven. Continue to bake just until cheese is melted. Immediately serve hot nachos with desired toppings.

The full line of Thermador appliances can be found at Fine Lines locations.

The 44th Annual Pillsbury Bake Off in Orlando is right around the corner. On April 11 – 13, 100 finalists from 36 different states and the District of Columbia will compete for the $1 million Grand Prize plus $50,000 in additional cash and prizes, including GE Profile appliances. This is the 37th Bake Off to include GE appliances, both in the contestant kitchens and as prizes.

Beginning next week, Electrolux has a special way of sending thank you to consumers who buy any washer or dryer in the Laundry Collection.

For each purchase (limit two per household or one pair), Electrolux will send the purchaser an American Express Gift Card worth 10 percent of the purchase price. With five inspiring colors to choose, even laundry chores may become a little more pleasant.

The Electrolux reward runs February 4 through February 21, 2010. See a Fine Lines Sales Associate for details and the mail-in rebate form.

As hhgregg looks forward to opening new stores in Virginia, it seems appropriate to offer the staple of Virginia entertaining, ham biscuits. As a recent transplant from the west coast, I was unfamiliar with this essential southern buffet item until I got my first taste at my young daughter’s preschool reception in Middleburg. Easy finger food and equally appealing to children and grownups, the ham biscuit is now a family favorite. 

Beginning February 4, Electrolux has a sweet deal for appliance customers. Electrolux will give an American Express Reward card for 10 percent of the purchase price on an Electrolux kitchen appliance.

Qualifying appliances include refrigerators, specialty appliances like refrigerator drawers and wine coolers, cooktops, wall ovens and both built-in and over-the-range microwave ovens.  Think of all the Valentine's Day treats that could be prepared. This delightful offer from Electrolux is good through February 21.

To receive your reward card from Electrolux, simple mail in a completed claim form available from a Fine Lines sales associate with a photocopy of the Fine Lines receipt dated between February 4 and February 21, 2010. Be sure the to mail before April 21, 2010 to:

Electrolux Rebate Center
Kitchen 10% Rebate
Offer # EL70004
P.O. Box 91
Bensalem, PA 19020-0091

Time to put that beautiful Fine Lines kitchen to work again. After a decisive victory over the Baltimore Ravens last week, Colts fans are ready for the next step this weekend. Division championship game against the Jets begins at 3:00 p.m. ET this Sunday.
 

Cleaning a traditional cooktop with burners can take quite a bit of strength, and more than a little ingenuity to take the components apart, clean and then reassemble. An induction cooktop simplifies the process with a single surface for cooking―no separate parts so cleaning can be easy. However, special care must be taken to avoid scratching or otherwise marring the ceramic glass surface.

Wolf's video, Electric and Induction Cleaning & Care, offers the following guidelines that apply to any ceramic glass cooktop. The cooking surface should be cleaned before using for the first time. Use a damp cloth, not a sponge, and wipe the surface clean with one teaspoon of non-abrasive cleaner. Use a second dry cloth to remove any residue or moisture. Repeat this process after each use.

Drips and spills are inevitable. Once cool, wipe a spill with a damp cloth. If the spill has hardened and does not wipe off easily, Wolf recommends using a razor blade to lift the spill from the surface.

Critical don'ts: Do not use a sponge, use a dish cloth instead. No harsh cleaners that contain ammonia or bleach, or any abrasive ingredients.

Induction cooktops by Wolf, Electrolux, Thermador and GE are available through Fine Lines. For more information about induction cooking, try The Science of Induction Cooking in the hhgregg Learning Center.

Just when you thought entertaining season was behind you, here we are with the AFC Division playoff game: Indianapolis versus Baltimore. Quality problem.

If you are not fortunate enough to have a ticket to this Saturday's sold out game at Lucas Oil Stadium, you'll want to invite family and friends to come to watch the game. With a Fine Lines kitchen and these quick recipes, an impromptu game party is simple.

Oven Fried Potato Skins
Serves: 10
Compliments of Thermador, one of the Fine Lines brands of exceptional kitchen appliances

Leslie's Notes: Potato skins made easy without deep frying. Easy to eat and delicious. You can drop the raw, prepared potatoes into ice water to prevent discoloration several hours before the party. Thoroughly pat dry with paper towels before proceeding with dipping and baking.

Ingredients
4 large russet potatoes, baked and slightly cooled
4Tbsp butter or margarine, melted
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
½ tsp. black pepper
½ tsp. dried rosemary
½ tsp. salt
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
sour cream as desired

Preheat convection oven to 400°F; regular oven to 425°F.
Cut baked potatoes into quarters lengthwise. Carefully scoop out potato to within 1/4 inch of the skin. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, olive oil, garlic, pepper, rosemary and salt. Dip the skins in the mixture and place on pan.

Bake in preheated oven on 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan until golden brown and crispy, approximately 15-20 minutes for convection and traditional oven.

Sprinkle with parsley and serve with sour cream.

Classic Chocolate Brownies
Makes 16
Compliments of Thermador, one of the Fine Lines brands of exceptional kitchen appliances

Leslie's Notes: A delicious halftime or after the game celebration treat. Perfect for this occasion: No utensils required, but put out plenty of napkins.

Ingredients
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cold large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup walnut or pecan pieces (optional)

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F. Line the bottom and sides of the 9 x 12-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides. Place the chocolate and butter in a medium heatproof bowl set in a wide skillet of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and hot enough that you want to remove your finger fairly quickly after dipping it to test. Remove the bowl from the skillet.

Note from Leslie: Alternately, you may microwave on high for about a minute. Remove from the microwave before the chocolate has completely melted and stir. The residual heat will complete the melting process.

Stir in the sugar, vanilla, and salt with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until the first one is blended in before adding the next. Stir in the flour and beat with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the batter is smooth, glossy, and beginning to come away from the sides of the bowl, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the nuts, (optional). Scrape the batter into the lined pan and smooth to even it. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the brownies just begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. The surface of the brownies will look dry but a toothpick inserted in the center will come out very gooey.

Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath: Fill a roasting pan or large baking pan with ice cubes and about 3/4 inch of water. When the brownies are ready, remove the pan from the oven and immediately set it in the ice bath. Take care not to splash water on the brownies. Let the brownies cool. Remove the pan from the ice bath, lift up the ends of the parchment or foil liner, and transfer the brownies to a cutting board. Cut into 16 or 25 squares. (The brownies can be stored, airtight, for 2 to 3 days.)

For those of us who are not lucky enough to have a ticket to the game at Lucas Oil Field, we'll be watching from the comfort of our own homes, perhaps on an energy-saving LED TV. Kick-off is at 8:15 ET. The game has been SOLD OUT and will be televised locally on WISH-TV Channel 8.

Even though it's technically after dinner, fans will be hungry. Try these recipes that all have some element of green cooking.

Chickpea Cilantro Dip with Grilled Pita and Fresh Veggies
Serves: 4 (can be doubled, tripled, etc.)
Compliments of Bon Appetit

Green Cooking: Take the cooking outside, whenever possible use your grill instead of your oven. Just don't forget a warm coat. Pita can be quickly grilled early in the day and wrapped in foil, serve at room temperature.

Ingredients
1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 small garlic clove, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 (7-inch) pita loaves with pockets, split horizontally
1/2 lb fresh, local vegetables, suitable for dipping.

Puree chickpeas with yogurt, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, water, and salt in a food processor until smooth.

Prepare grill for cooking. If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill and on lid.       Grill pitas on lightly oiled grill rack, uncovered, turning once, until golden, about 2 minutes total.

Serve dip with pitas and veggies. Note: Dip can be made a day ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Peppery Baked Penne with Vegetables
Serves: 6
Compliments of Thermador, one of the great brands at Fine Lines

Green Cooking: This dish requires no boiling of the pasta before baking, an energy-saving technique. Feel free to add some sautéed chicken if your crowd prefers meat in their entrée. Also, this dish would be improved in flavor, appearance and texture with the addition of vegetables beyond celery and carrots. Try a variety of bell peppers, zucchini and fresh mushrooms.

Ingredients
8 ounces penne pasta, uncooked
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 rib celery chopped (1/2 cup)
1 to 2 medium carrots, grated (1/2 cup)
4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons crushed dried basil
1 tablespoon crushed dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
Grated Parmesan cheese

Place pasta in large bowl; pour olive oil over pasta. Toss to coat; let stand for one hour.

Set oven to convection at 375°F; conventional oven at 400ºF.

Drain pasta, reserving oil. Place pasta in 3-quart shallow casserole dish. In a large non-aluminum skillet, heat reserved oil; add remaining ingredients except tomatoes and parmesan. Sauté over medium heat until onion is translucent (about 5 minutes). Add tomatoes to skillet; mix well. Pour sauce over pasta to cover completely. Do not stir in. Cook in preheated convection oven for 10 minutes or a conventional oven for 30 minutes,  then stir pasta and sauce together. Return casserole to oven and continue to cook for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring well every 10 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Can be made the day ahead. Cover tightly with foil before reheating.

 

Known the world over as a "seal of outstanding design", the iF product design award honors outstanding achievements in design and offers a platform to have a wide variety of product's professionally validated by an international jury of experts. Only manufacturers and designers of mass produced products that have not been on the market for longer than three years are eligible to compete for an iF product design award 2010. The annual contest covers 16 categories including computers, audio/video and kitchen/household.

The premium vacuum cleaner was launched in 2009. According to Electrolux, the jury’s decision makes the UltraOne the best vacuum cleaner the company has made to date. The UltraOne was selected for its innovative sound level reduction, wheels, nozzle, tools, performance, materials, shape, color, design details, and its ability to meet consumer needs. Since the launch, the Electrolux UltraOne vacuum cleaner has received “Best in test” in consumer reviews in five European countries – Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Czech Republic.

Between March and August 2010, the UltraOne, and other award winners, will be on display at the iF product design award exhibition in Hannover, Germany. If a trip to Germany is not on the agenda for spring, visit a Fine Lines showroom for Electrolux products.

Other popular hhgregg brands also participate in the iF Design awards including Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, LG Electronics, Inc., and ASUS.

A Gossip Girl favorite, Butter restaurant in NYC will soon be opening a second location in Charlotte, NC. Staff interviews took place earlier this month, so we're hoping to see an opening date after the first of the year. 

Electrolux offers three recipes from Butter’s executive chef Alex Guarnaschelli on their party planning site Kelly Confidential.  All three look good, but the coconut pecan macaroons are by far the easiest of the three. Serve with glasses of bubbly on New Year's Eve, the perfect accompaniment to a whispered round of gossip ... "Can you believe she made that New Year's resolution?"

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk, whip the egg whites until they start to form peaks. You will see the trace in the whites left by the whisk as it spins. Gradually start adding the sugar, whisking on low speed.
2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Gently fold in the pecans and coconut into the egg white and "drop" large spoonfuls onto the trays. Take care to leave a decent amount of space between each cookie.
3. Place the trays in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. The cookies should be light brown. Do not allow them to get too dark. Remove the trays from the oven and use a flat metal spatula to life them from the paper. Allow them to cool a little before eating.

Wolf and Sub-Zero have just posted the rough cut of the HGTV Dream Home 2010 on their Facebook fan page. The home is located in the high desert of New Mexico, an isolated site that sets this classic Pueblo home in high relief against the desert sky. Although we won't find many examples of Pueblo architecture in the midwest or south, lessons from this home may be applied to any contemporary style.

"Modern design has to be complemented by applilances with modern functionality," says spokesperson for Dream Home 2010. For the past five years, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances have been selected for the HGTV Dream Home, and the tradition continues with this year's choice of appliances.

The Dream House kitchen has more than 60-inches of cooking surface including a gas cooktop, an induction cooktop that uses 50 percent less energy than its gas counterpart, and a steamer for healthy food preparation. In addition to the expected warming drawers, the kitchen has a microwave drawer. Not sure how practical that would be for liquids, but I like the idea of a "hidden" microwave.

The kitchen also has two Sub-Zero refrigerators with under the unit pull-out freezer drawers. Each refrigerator uses less energy than one 100 watt light bulb.

I was struck by the exceptional use of glass tiles set in aluminum in this kitchen, design techniques that could be applied to many kitchen styles. Note the trio of colors: vanilla, aqua and grays. They're easy on the eyes, reflective, and add a welcome splash of color that blends well with the view through the windows. The tiles are used liberally throughout the space, from backsplash to accent wall. I also liked the lower island which provided seating and workspace at the height of standard chairs, rather than stools which would have blocked the view.

Fine Lines is the place for a comprehensive selection from Wolf and Sub-Zero. Better yet, each Fine Lines location features fully built-out kitchens, so visitors can see how the appliances fit into a living space, often difficult to do when your kitchen remodel is at the bare stud stage.

When my children were young, they attended a French school in California. Their teacher, Madame Jolivet-Johnson, was delightfully strict and adhered to the standards of international schools. Yes, every 6-year old should write in cursive and carry a callier for his schoolwork, no nasty American backpacks at this ecole.

But even Mme. Jolivet cut loose on the holidays and offered every traditional treat, from an orange and candy left in a child's shoe from Père Noël to a towering croquembouche for dessert.

A croquembouche can be any size, limited only by your engineering skills. It consists of a carefully built tower of cream puffs, "glued" together with caramalized spun sugar. Translated, croquembouche means "crunch in the mouth" and the spun sugar is indeed crunchy.

Though creampuffs are not particularly difficult to make, and they can be frozen, but every minute counts at this time of the year.

Here's the trick: Order as many creampuffs as you'll need from your bakery. Figure two or three for each serving. I prefer a smaller sized creampuff. Refrigerate until ready to build the croquemboche. Happy Holidays!

You'll need about 4 dozen small creampuffs for the tower. Serves 10 - 12.

Caramel "Glue"

1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Heat the ingredients in a small nonreactive saucepan over low heat. Pick up the pan and swirl it around several times until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes until the syrup turns a medium amber color. Swirl occasionally to color evenly. Remove from heat and set in ice-water bath for a few seconds to stop the cooking. Use immediately.

Dip a creampuff halfway into the caramel and place on a serving plate. Form a ring with 9 creampuffs, each one touching the one adjacent to it. Repeat with more puffs, creating a graduated tower 6 layers high. Use on cream puff for the top.

As a finishing touch, make another batch of caramel with 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons water and 2 tablespoons corn syrup. Using a candy thermometer, cool the caramel to 250 degrees and use a fork to spin the sugar around the outside of the pyramid. Voila! Dessert is served.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a list of the 12 fruits and vegetables with the most pesticide residue. Billed as The Dirty Dozen by EWG, the list includes some of our favorite fruits and vegetables.

Few salads are made without lettuce, and what mom doesn't rely on carrots and celery with a tempting cup of peanut butter or ranch dip to entice her kids to eat their vegetables? If decisions are to be made on which produce items deserve the extra budget for organic, these items may be worth the extra cost.

EWG assimilated results from more than 87,000 tests by the USDA and selected the 47 most popular fruits and vegetables consumed by Americans. Each fruit or vegetable received a score from 1 (least amount of residue) to 100 (most residue). Peaches are the only item to receive a discouraging score of 100.

EWG concluded: In a simulation of thousands of consumers eating high and low pesticide diets shows that people can lower their pesticide exposure by almost 80 percent by avoiding the top twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead.

Note that the U.S. Department of Agriculture says "measured residues on most products, both organic and nonorganic, do not exceed governement-defined thresholds for safe consumption." To be certfied organic, growers must be certified under federal rules established in 2002.

The EWG's Dirty Dozen
(ordered from most pesticide residue to least)
Peaches
Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Imported Grapes
Carrots
Pears

The EWG also published a list of their Clean 15, those fruits and vegetables with the least pesticide residue.
(ordered from least to most residue)
Onions
Avocados
Sweet Corn (frozen)
Pineapples
Mangoes
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Kiwifruits
Cabbages
Eggplants
Papayas
Watermelons
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Sweet Potatoes

The lists are available for download as an iPhone app or in a PDF document.

For all product, proper storage is essential. If it's time for a new refrigerator, visit hhgregg for a wide range of options and Fine Lines for other top of the line appliances. And, take advantage of free delivery and haul-away on appliances $497 and up.

Electrolux announced it will consolidate its U.S. corporate office operations and support functions into a single North American headquarters location in Charlotte, N.C.

Electrolux has been an outspoken force for CO2 emission control, a hot topic at the United Nation's conference on climate control in Copenhagen this week. Calling for a government incentives for consumers to replace their older, less efficient appliances, Electrolux posted a handy app to calculate the energy savings by European country and city for replacing household appliances. We hope Electrolux adapts it for the U.S.

Copenhagen is a beautiful city, one I hope to return to soon for another visit. Tivoli Gardens, shopping along the walking streets with irresistible signs advertising 'Salg' and one of the most memorable meals I've ever experienced. Dad and I wandered up the stairs of charmingly nondescript building with a menu perched in the front window. It claimed the chef went to the market each day to choose the freshest ingredients for the evening's seven course meal. No choices. We returned that night for dinner. We were not disappointed.

Get a taste of Copenhagen for your next party with these Blue Cheese Gougeres, using Danish blue cheese, a less expensive alternative to Roquefort. This easy hors d'oeuvre is perfect for holiday entertaining.

Danish Blue Cheese Gougeres
Makes about 24