One reason I chose a Foreman grill was that it did not have coils behind it to catch dirt and grease. Greasy air flows out from the griddle and over the coils and dirties them. Review sites say that if you use it for bacon the grease overflows onto the coils as the sides are not very high to contain it and let if flow into the drip cup. The coils are steel, not aluminum right? I've used oven cleaner to clean the metal parts on the outside of my waffle maker and this trick might work for the coils. Just spritz the coils. Let sit. And rinse.

I have one of those bigger capacity Cuisinarts and I use it all the time. I don't have that problem, but I'm in agreement with the others that it probably has something to do with not getting used very much. I had trouble with mine a couple of times with the blade getting torqued onto the post. When that happens you can't get the bowl off the motor because the blade is what holds it on. I had to send it to the factory and now is a bad time to send something in because they shut down for awhile about this time.

An addition to your toaster oven meals... When I relied on a toaster oven a lot, I would portion breads like dinner rolls, cornbread or muffins two per foil sheet and keep them in the freezer. I buy pre-cut foil sheets in a pop-up dispenser box at Sam's Club just for this purpose. They are the perfect size for the task. The breads can be added the last 10-15 minutes of baking time for a "nearly fresh" hot bread for your toaster oven dinner. As already mentioned, some good small baking pans and dishes will help a lot. A 6-muffin pan is great to have as well. You can cut a 12-muffin recipe in half and make just six muffins. Bake meatloaf in the muffin pan for individual portions. Small cakes and brownies can be baked in loaf pans. I often found these recipes in cookbooks designed for cooking for one or two people; and those books work great for small portions that are perfect for toaster oven preparation. WALNUT FUDGE BROWNIES (Source: Better Homes and Gardens Cooking For Two) 1/2 c. sugar 1/4 c. butter, cut up 3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder 1 egg 1/2 t. vanilla 1/3 c. all-purpose flour 1/4 t. baking powder 1/8 t. salt 1/4 c. chopped walnuts 1 recipe Cocoa Glaze (optional) 1. Line a 9x5.3-inch loaf pan with foil, extending foil over ends. Grease foil; set pan aside. In a small saucepan stir together sugar, butter, and cocoa powder. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat; cool for 5 minutes. 2. Add the egg and vanilla to cocoa mixture. Using a wooden spoon, beat lightly just until combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in walnuts. Spread the batter in the prepared pan. 3. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Using the ends of foil, lift brownies out of pan. If desired, frost with Cocoa Glaze. Cut into triangles. Cocoa Glaze: In a small bowl combine 1/2 c. powdered sugar, 1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 T. softened butter, and 1/4 t. vanilla. Beat in enough hot water (2-4 T.) to make a glaze of spreading consistency. ------------------------------------------------ Here are some recipes from Better Homes and Gardens TOASTER OVEN Cookbook you might find helpful. Check your local library for toaster oven cookbooks. I have another one that has really great recipes, "The Gourmet Toaster Oven" by Lynn Alley. Foil-wrapped dinners also work well in a toaster oven. If you've never used the new RELEASE Reynolds Wrap (non-stick foil), foil-wrapped dinners is a great use for this product. You can Google recipes for those - Reynolds Wrap has a bunch of them. CHICKEN a l'ORANGE 2 chicken thighs 1 T. dry white wine 2 t. brown sugar 2 t. sliced green onion 1 t. finely shredded orange peel 1/8 t. dried rosemary, crushed Place chicken thighs on a 12x12-inch piece of foil. Turn up edges of foil. Combine wine, brown sugar, onion, orange peel, and rosemary; spoon over chicken thighs. Bring up sides of foil, folding twice to seal, seal ends. Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 45 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove from foil packet to serve. Serves 1. ---------------------------------------------- BARBECUE CHICKEN 4 chicken drumsticks 2 T. catsup 2 T. water 1 t. vinegar 1 t. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese (2 ounces) 1/4 c. finely crushed corn chips Place chicken drum sticks in shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered in a 400 degree F oven for 15 minutes. Combine catsup, water, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon over chicken. Turn chicken pieces to coat evenly with sauce. Bake 20-25 minutes longer or until chicken is tender. Sprinkle with cheese and corn chips; return to oven. Bake for 3-5 minutes more. Serves 2. ------------------------------------------------ COCONUT-MOLASSES MUFFINS 1 c. all-purpose flour 2 T. sugar 1 t. baking powder 1/4 t. ground ginger 1/4 t. salt 1/4 c. shortening (or butter) 1 slightly beaten egg 1/4 c. milk 1/4 c. light molasses 1/2 c. flaked coconut Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, ginger and salt. Cut in shortening/butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg, milk, and molasses. Add to dry ingredients; stir just till moistened. Fold in coconut. Line muffin pan with paper bake cups; fill 2/3 full. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 6 muffins. There are a lot more recipes at the link below. Happy toaster oven meals... -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: Toaster Oven Recipes

Well, I hope that you all got a good laugh or at least a smile out of seeing the craziness of Easter decs exploding all over our place. I did end up getting them placed a bit here and there which, I admit, does look very festive, although more than a bit busy (LOL)! DD heads back to her own place on Monday morning and will continue to counsel her clients online from her own apartment. I'm trying to talk her into taking at least some of them with her. The problem is that she doesn't have much storage space in her apartment. She's inherited my love of interior design and of decorating for holidays, and that hasn't left her with very much extra storage space . . . for the time being. And, while my DIL has a degree in interior design, they live too far away to ship decorations. Someday, though! Arcy: you have wonderful Easter decorations, how pretty! This is the first time I've ever seen a three dimensional scene of the crucifixion! I had no idea that was out there! Cawaps: It sounds like you stay really busy throughout this season, though! KSWL: what a pretty Easter table you have! I love the idea of using the vintage-looking postcards! Lonestar: OMG, well I'm in good company with you and holiday decorating!!! Christmas is still my biggest decorating season. It used to be followed closely by Halloween but, like Easter, I've backed off a lot in recent years. You'll have to share some of your various holiday decs with us as each season approaches. BBSTX: that is soooo funny . . . I love it!!! Chispa: LOL!!! Fun: I know! Part of me really wants to donate a lot of them. I did that a couple of years ago with many Christmas decs. DD will be moving into a much larger apartment at the end of May. If she can't take more then, I probably will. I have no desire to have this many Easter decs cluttering up our house again next year! Jojo: Our DIL is Jewish and they celebrate both Passover and Easter, as well. I wish both to be meaningful and happy for you this year! Zalco: thank you :~ ) Nutsaboutplants: yep, you said it (LOL)! Joanie: that's what we're having for Easter dinner, too! Steaks out on the grill, fresh asparagus, risotto and a nice bottle of wine. Happy Easter! Zinnia: that sounds like a nice amount of decs. And your Easter wreath is wonderful!!!! Thank you for sharing that with us all! Detired: good idea! I usually put a bow on my 5' tall Native American shaman statue and on my Mexican goat pot out front, but completely forgot them both this year! 3Katz: not even one? Well, I sure can envy you right about now (LOL)! Well, whether you celebrate Easter or Passover or not, I wish you all a very happy and beautiful holiday weekend. Stay safe! Stay healthy!