In this article I will list different things that you can make in your sandwich maker. If you don’t have a sandwich maker, I recommend you go buy one. They are great for adults and kids. My kids use our sandwich maker all of the time. You can make so much more than just sandwiches in it. Sandwich makers range from $10 to $25. So here are some of the things that we use our sandwich maker for.

Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwich

We use the sandwich maker to cook hot ham and cheese sandwiches. We just make a ham and cheese sandwich and place it in the sandwich maker for two to three minutes. My husband likes mayonnaise on his but I don’t. So, you can add mayonnaise if you want. This is very easy to make if you have a panini maker.

Jelly Sandwich

Jelly sandwiches in the sandwich maker are great. It’s like having jelly on toast. Just simply make you a jelly sandwich and place it in the maker for two to three minutes.

Pizza Pockets

We also make pizza pockets in our sandwich maker. We take a slice of bread and spread pizza sauce on it. Then we lay cheese and pepperonis on the bread. Then we lay a piece of bread on top. We place it in the sandwich maker for three to five minutes until it is golden brown. These are so delicious and the kids love them. You could add more ingredients if you want too.

Brownies

We also make brownies in our sandwich maker. Sounds weird doesn’t it? It is a very quick and easy way to make brownies and my kids make the brownies on their own. We just mix the brownies according to the box. Then we grease the sandwich maker with Pam and pour some brownie mix in each slot of the sandwich maker. I haven’t timed it to see how long it takes to cook so I’m guessing about 6 – 8 minutes. You’ll know when they are done. If you’re not sure, use the tooth pick method.

Cupcakes

We make cupcakes the same way that we make brownies. We mix the cake according to the box. Then we spray the maker with Pam and pour our cake in the slots. Then when they are done, we take them out, let them cool, and then we ice them. My kids make these on their own too.

Pancakes

Have you ever thought of making pancakes in the sandwich maker? This is a quick and easy way to make pancakes. This is how I made pancakes before I learned how to make them in the frying pan. But the kids make their pancakes in the maker. Just mix the batter, grease the maker, and pour the pancake mix in the slots. It doesn’t take long to cook. I’d say about five minutes. If you have them real thick, you may want to let them sit in there a few extra minutes.

There are so many things that you can use your sandwich maker for. These are just some of the things that we do with our maker. We also make liver pudding sandwiches and muffins. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jasmine_starr_1208@yahoo.com

Offseasons can be tough on a baseball blogger.

During the grind of the regular season there’s always something to write about, but the offseason’s a different story.

Of course, this past week’s been a blogger’s dream. There was the signing of Francisco Rodriguez and the big trade for J.J. Putz. On the other side of town the Yankees launched the opening salvos in their bid to sign every available pitcher. Down the interstate Cole Hamels said some pretty unnecessary things. There was no shortage of topics to cover.

The rest of the offseason figures to be more of a mixed bag. The Mets figure to have at least one more big move in them, most likely signing one of Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez. Beyond that, they may sign a leftfielder, trade their second baseman and sign a replacement, sign another lefty for the bullpen, or do something none of us see coming.

So there will be plenty of exciting days left this offseason, but we all know those will be the exception to the rule. We all remember the dog days of winter, those short February days when the hot stove’s gone cold and there’s little going on by way of the Mets.

With three offseasons under our belts here at the site, I’ve finally learned a few lessons. This offseason, I decided to call in some back up.

A month or so ago I ordered a copy of Matthew Silverman’s “100 Things Mets Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die”. What it means going forward is every now and then you’ll happen over to the site and see a headline like the following:

7: Gil Hodges
33: Cleon Jones
78: Cast of Characters

Pretty simple concept — I’ll read the installment in Silverman’s book and write a response.

Now rest assured, this won’t be the only type of post you’ll see on the site this offseason. If and when the Mets sign Lowe or Fred Wilpon goes completely broke, we’ll write about that too.

But for those days when there’s not much doing and the writer’s block starts creeping in, that’s when we’ll go to the list.

Anyway, that’s the game plan. If the book sucks, well, pity me.

– A.F.O.M.G.