Sunday, January 11, 2009

Avoidance - As Seen on TV

I'm avoiding thinking about THE THING. I just can't deal with it right now - I'm not sure why. I may deal with it tomorrow, but not yesterday and not today.

So, since I don't have anything to report about THE THING, I figured I'd update you on how all the As Seen On TV product testing went this past week.

For those of you who missed it, the original post is here.
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I actually got around to using all three of my fabulous presents, and got a pretty good idea of whether I liked them or not, this week. This is their performance appraisal, with photos if I can get them to work. (am I the only one who has trouble posting photos without weird spacing and other issues?)
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THE PANCAKE PUFF MAKER - I made plain pancake puffs, and some filled pancake puffs, and I must say they tasted good. Like regular pancakes. EXACTLY like regular pancakes. I think this is because they ARE regular pancakes - only cooked in this weird shaped pan. The big problem was that the demonstration on TV makes it look so easy, which is completely inaccurate. You know how that cute lady takes the little wooden skewers, and gently nudges one side of the puff, and it oh-so-easily flips over perfectly? And then, when she tosses them into the dish, they're all perfectly round? Mine? Not so much.
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Here we go. So far so good. I learned with the first batch not to fill the wells so full (they said 3/4 full in the recipe, and I think it should have been more like 2/3).
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After I flipped them over - not so good. It looked so easy on TV!
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Second attempt. A little better, but you can see a couple of them didn't want to turn. Trying to get them to flip over exactly halfway was impossible. And it seemed like if you waited until the middle was cooked enough to not make it spill out when you flipped them, they were overcooked on the first side. And those itty-bitty wooden skewers? USELESS!
. Here were some of the finished products. With syrup, or with strawberry filling, they were yummy. Just like pancakes. Imagine that.

DEBBIE MEYER GREEN BAGS - As an experiment, I bought a bunch of bananas and put half of them in the DMGB, and the other half I left in the basket I keep on my counter, and left them there for a week. I am thrilled to report that the bananas kept in the DMGB were in MUCH BETTER SHAPE after 7 days. They actually looked just perfect for eating. Which someone did. So I didn't get a picture. You'll have to take my word for it, and I haven't gathered a LOT of evidence yet, but I'd have to recommend these. If they work this well on all the other produce, they're worth it. I have brocolli and mushrooms in bags right now, so we'll see how those hold up. These bags will come in really handy during the summer when I have more fresh fruits and vegetables around.

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THE SHAM-WOW - I have wanted one of these things forever. I can't tell you how excited I was to try it out. I have to tell you, though, that Sham Wow Guy is a BIG FAT LIAR. First of all, who would have thought that you would have to read the directions on a SHAM WOW??? I mean, it's a rag, right? What exactly would the instructions say, "use like a rag?" Silly me. Have you noticed on the commercial, when Sham Wow Guy says, 'you can wash them right in the washing machine' and they show them being thrown into the machine? Well, evidently, you can wash them in the washer, but you're not supposed to dry them in the dryer. 'Cause if you do, this is what happens.


New, thick ShamWow on left. Washed and dried, much smaller, much thinner, much less thirsty Sham Wow on right.
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Even when it was new, it really never worked for me the way it looks on TV. It's not as thirsty as I was expecting. You can't drop in onto a spill and have it just suck up all the liquid and leave the surface underneath all dry. It does sop up liquid - maybe not as easily as shown, but it does. It works like a rag. Like a really good rag. I wish I hadn't laundered three of them before I found out I wasn't supposed to dry them.
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Sham Wow Guy, you let me down. But you're good at what you do, because I totally bought into it (and convinced somebody to actually BUY them for me). I have to admit, I still get a little charge out of it every time I pull one out to use...in my head I'm thinking, "sham-WOW!!!" just like on TV.

24 comments:

Joanie said...

I never saw those puffy pancake thingys on TV, but I don't watch a lot of TV lately. The pancakes in the 2nd picture look like hamburger buns! I'm sure, with practice, you'll get the flipping part down pat!
I do want to try those bags though. I think they sell something like that in the grocery store, maybe by Glad?
So Sham Wow is a sham after all, huh? Whoduh thunk it?

Nonna said...

This was so fun to read and confirmed what I already knew...easier on TV to do !

BTW, I wanted to downsize my huge purse and bought a shoulder bag from AS SEEN ON TV...I had my doubts everything would fit, but it did except for an oversized wallet ( I need a new one anyway) and a trial size of hairspray. It also weighs half of what my other purse weighed ! LOL and thanks for "Advoidance Alert" !

Laura Marchant said...

This is great! I totally get hooked on these things too and once I get it in my head I have to have it. The Shark...totally got me and it totally sucked! I had high hopes for that pancake flippy thingy...man what a disappointment.

Unknown said...

ME...You buy, try and post...then I will buy (or not) based on your ratings!
The Sham(NotSo)Wow is a disappointment! This was the one item I came closest to buying!

~AirmanMom returning to her blog...

Laura ~Peach~ said...

i always wondered how you could wash a sham wow if it soaked up liquids like advertised...we rarely eat pancakes so that would be a waste for us anyway... and must get the green bags now.
keep product reviewing so i can figure out what to buy LOL
HUGS Laura

Kim said...

Sounds like a paper towel will do in place of the Sham Wow!

I will have to try the Green Bags. My five year old is always telling me to buy them when he sees our bananas are brown and I am throwing them away.

knittergran said...

Well, I'll try the green bags. I would LOVE not to throw over-ripe things out. Of course, it would help if I would stop forgetting that I've bought stuff until it's too far gone to eat....
But the SHAM-WOWS! Big disappointment. Thanks for the reviews!

kim-d said...

I am so incredibly happy the Debbie Green Meyer Bags/Debbie Bags Green Meyers/Debbie Meyer Green Bags work, because those are the things that I keep looking at. I must admit, though, your little pancake pucks are sorta cute. Another one of those things that I really do need to have more of in my diet--pancake pucks. BWAHAHAHA!

I'm so sorry about the Wow-It's-A-Sham. I know you had such high hopes for them. So, I'm sorry.

And I won't mention THE THING at all...

Odette said...

The pancake puffs look perfect! Great job! I tried a sham wow like thing that I got at a trade show and I had the same result. The only thing I use it for is washing (well actually drying) the car cause a regular cloth can do everything else! :)

Mrs4444 said...

I showed your post to my Kendall, who is a BIG Sham Wow freak (just from watching the commercials, of course.) Now, not so much. Thanks.

Eternal Lizdom said...

YAY!!! I am very excited because the ONE product that I was interested in- the bags- gets a thumbs up! Now I have to get some!

claudia said...

Thanks for commenting on the "As Seen on TV" stuff. ShamWow(NOT) too bad, those could have gone far in my house. The pancake thingy I never saw on TV. Cute but like one of your other commenters sadi, I rarely make pancakes so...I'll pass. But those bags! I just saw them on TV again and Ikept thinking I should order. Can't right now, I am so broke. But perhaps when I am rich and famous again I will give them an order.
Fro commenter Under The Influence: Do Not throw those bananas out! I have a great recipe for over ripe bananas. Your family will love it. But now that you have the bags, you may not need the recipe. Let me know if you want it.
I hope your week is great M.E.
Thanks for the reviews!

As Cape Cod Turns said...

I am totally showing this post to my kids so they don't ask me to buy EVERYTHING they think is cool on tv!

kimmy said...

I've always wanted a SHAM WOW too. That guy is very convincing!

And, Hallie really wants a PedEgg!

Kimmy

Merrily Down the Stream said...

So sorry for your Sham Woes!

for a different kind of girl said...

I've never seen the puffy pancake maker commercial before, but I'm so in love with infomercials that I WISH I could find it to watch!

When I was in Walgreen's a couple weeks ago, I spied the ShamWOW! near the register and I almost bought them because the commercial both scares and delights me. Thanks for the heads up on those - and for the DBGB, which I'm also fascinated by and am tempted to buy.

Unknown said...

ah, I'm stunned...I bet Oxyclean doesn't work as well as Billy Mays claims either!!!

katy said...

Those puffy pancakes look kind of like creme filled donuts...or maybe I am just really hungry.
I may have to try that thing.

Proud Mom said...

I was laughing so hard when I read the sham wow part that I was snorting, which totally drives my kids nuts. M.E., you kill me!

p.s. You can get the DMGB at Hannaford.

Robin said...

right now, i'm wondering about that round thing you use for hair removal. i'm ALWAYS looking for a new hair removal system...anyone have any results on that one?

becca - oxyclean does work but i buy the sun brand at dollar general. big tub for $5. i use it in every wash load.

Tonjia said...

I LOVE the green bags! we should all critique our ASOTV items and then we would know if they are good or not. That gives me an idea for a blog post!

Cupcake Blonde said...

Did you get a defective batch of ShamWows because ours work wonders! They suck everything up like pros! And I had to laugh after getting your messages about not drying them, because when I looked at the box it was right there in big bold RED letters DO NOT DRY IN DRYER! Hee hee. But I already knew that thanks to your warning. :)

Heather said...

I have all the items you reviewed and can agree on all items. Though my pancake puff maker is actually a Takoyaki maker. Hmmm...

Kathy Ireland said...

My daughter was SO excited to buy me those Sham Wows for Christmas. She was so proud of herself. Every time I use them I say "WOW! These are great!"