Bargain hunt for grinder drives consumer nuts

It snowed last Sunday night in Bangor, but a Monday jaunt to Belfast felt like spring, especially when I walked into Renys and saw the beautifully glazed plant pots on sale for $1.99 to $3.99 apiece. My mind turned to gardening, even if it meant moving my African violets from their humble plastic pots into more posh digs (pardon the pun).

The planters, some with built-in water saucers, come from New England Pottery, a Foxboro, Mass.-based distributor. I’ve seen the pots sold recently at discount and hardware stores for between $5.99 and $15, depending on size. I scooped up six of them, but there were plenty left.

On the way back to Bangor, I stopped at Molly’s in Winterport, which is having its seasonal half-off sale on winter clothing (which makes that Diana von Furstenberg wrap dress even more appealing). But the real draw was the girly-girl stuff in the front room, which was very suitable for Valentine’s Day gift giving (take note, guys).

I couldn’t wait that long, though, so I took home a pink cat note pad and matching magnet that read “A very stylish girl.” The best part? The $4 price tag. So cute. So cheap. So much like those fun little gifts

my mom used to give my sister and I every Valentine’s Day. Nothing extravagant, but enough to make us smile.

Molly’s also had matching jewelry boxes for $10 and $12 apiece, heart-shaped French-milled soap, decadent chocolates, rhinestone channel rings (very in this season) – pretty much everything for the woman in your life whose idea of a perfect afternoon involves sipping champagne and eating bonbons.

My idea of a perfect afternoon involves shopping (though bonbons are always nice), but I had to cut it short. It was a Monday, after all, and deadlines were calling. Besides, I had found enough bargains and goodies to last a whole week – at least until Valentine’s Day, anyway.

Dear Shop Girl,

I’ve looked high and low and have come up empty-handed every time. I’m looking for a nut grinder to make homemade peanut butter, cashew butter, almond butter or any nut I can butter. I’ve found commercial grinders, but they’re too expensive and too big for a small home kitchen. I’ve used my food processor and it overheats my blade and I can’t get a good creamy blend without adding a lot of oil, which is the purpose of home nut butter making – to be able to control oil and salt in my nut butter. I would appreciate any help you could lend me.

Thank you.

– Cindy of Caribou

Dear Cindy,

My phone search in the Caribou area proved fruitless (or nutless, as the case may be), but if there are any nut-grinder retailers whom I overlooked, I hope they write in to let me know.

I had a little luck at Rooster Brother in Ellsworth and The Good Table in Belfast, however. Pamela at Rooster Brother said she can order a fine nut grinder, but she would recommend using a blender or food processor instead. Vicki at The Good Table said she used to make nut butter quite frequently, without added oil, in her food processor. She said you may need one with a stronger motor, which would eliminate the overheating. Cuisinart and Kitchen-Aid received high marks from both women.

During an online search, I found a hand-operated nut mill that attaches to your countertop with a vise, much like a meat grinder, at www.beprepared.com for $29.99. If you really want to splurge, the Electrolux Magic Mill (sort of like a food processor on steroids) has an attachment specifically for nut butter. The Magic Mill DLX 2000 costs $498.99 at www.magicmillusa.com, and the nut butter attachment costs $21.95, though I think you need to attach the attachment to another attachment: the Magic Mill’s meat grinder, which would cost you another $109.95.

Good luck, Cindy. Please let me know if you need any more help.

Dear readers,

ShopGirl inadvertently omitted a retailer when answering a query for a white-linen ring-bearer suit. Ruth Foster of Ellsworth can special-order an outfit that fits that description. Her store, which carries children’s specialty clothing, can be reached at 667-2593.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you. Send questions, comments or suggestions to: Bangor Daily News, Attn: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor ME 04402-1329 or e-mail kandresen@bangordailynews.net.