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I think some of you have commiserated with me before about small living spaces and over-reactive smoke detectors. In my humble apartment, one of my smoke detectors is located directly above my oven, which therefore leads to the predictable and very inevitable alarm going off anytime I cook something over 425 degrees. Which excludes most pizzas, melty sandwiches, or anything really tasty.
So it was serendipitous when Panasonic contacted me to see if I would be interested in their Panasonic #InaFlash FlashXpress Toaster Oven giveaway. I had actually been researching various types of toaster ovens (I research kitchen appliances like it’s a second job-took me almost a month to decide on a coffee maker.) because I figured that I’d be able to make some of those delicious meals in a smaller, confined space.
Now, I’m picky, but I really love this little appliance (P.S. It’s available in silver and white!). I’ve made a few things in it now, and I have been incredibly pleased. There’s a few major bonus points: it’s tiny, so it doesn’t take up much counter space (which is high-end real estate in my kitchen). It has a dual infrared heating system (which means it cooks/heats food much, much faster) which I like-this bagel melt only took about 3 minutes! And I love that there are different settings for toast, pizza, and even a quick reheat option for leftovers (anything to make life a bit simpler, right?) I love that when you use the broiler, there is an automatic light that switches on so you can actually see what you are cooking (decreasing the chances of over-cooking or burning!)
I know most of you love cheese out there. And, to me, nothing is better than an ooey-gooey melty cheesy open-faced sandwich. Back in my college days, we used to have a “bagel melt” night-which was a much simpler (and probably less healthy) version of this one. Here I used a cream cheese base, some fresh veggies (play around with your own on-hand veggies!) and some creamy Provolone cheese.
Want to win one of your Panasonic FlashXPress Toaster Ovens? You can win via a few ways (and multiple modes of entry are encouraged!):
-Leave a comment on this post telling me what you would make in your FlashXPress Toaster Oven.
-Tweet a picture of your own #InaFlash meal with both handles: @HomePanasonic and @thecurvycarrot (make sure you are following @HomePanasonic and @thecurvycarrot, though!)
-Share this #InaFlash giveaway via Facebook.
I’ll keep the giveaway open until 12 am (Central Daylight Time) on Sunday June 1, 2014. The winner will receive one FlashXPress Toaster Oven. Good luck!
Garden Vegetable Bagel Melts
Servings:4
Ingredients
Two bagels, sliced (I use Everything bagels….because they are my favorite!)
One 1.50-ounce package ranch dip mix (I used this one from Simply Organic.)
One 8-ounce package of cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
1 large tomato, sliced thinly
1 avocado, pit removed and sliced
4 slices Provolone cheese
For garnish: sliced black olives, basil, etc.
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, using an electric hand mixer (or a large spoon), beat together the ranch dip and cream cheese until thoroughly combined.
2. Spread about 1-2 tablespoons (or more, if you like) of the ranch/cream cheese mixture onto each sliced bagel.
3. Top the cream cheese with about 1/4 cup spinach, followed by a couple of slices of tomato, avocado, and a slice of Provolone cheese. Repeat with each bagel slice.
4. Broil the bagel until the cheese is melty and lightly golden brown, about 3 minutes or so. Garnish with fresh basil and black olives, if desired.
Source: A Curvy Carrot Original.
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” Panasonic compensated me with my own Panasonic FlashXPress Toaster Oven to test recipes as well as cash to cover ingredient costs. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.
Megan - Quesadillas!!! More yummy gooey cheese!
Stacey - My kids love quesadillas- this would make it oh so easy!!
Carrie - Everything!! We choose not to use a microwave, so we go through toaster ovens like crazy!
Tracey - NACHOS!!!!! (dear self try to be cool, don’t just blurt out…)
NACHOS!!!
(seriously, they don’t need to know how deep your love of…)
NACHOS NACHOS NACHOS!!
I’d make a giant plate of nachos. AND I’d toast the chips first, then add the toppings, lastly with 2 kinds of cheese (cheddar and pepper jack) and toast some more until it was all ooey gooey golden perfection.
NACHOS!!!!!
Chris - I would make cookies. Not a healthy meal, but yummy!
Em R. - I love making little english muffin pizzas for my toddler, that would be perfect!
Jacy - Ooh, I would make broiled cheese sandwiches, a flash back to my childhood!
Rachel - What an awesome little oven! I would make some twice baked potatoes!
mysweetiepiepie - I’d make garlic bread or baked potatoes.
Meryl - Baked potatoes. Also, I’d use it to reheat all kinds of leftovers.
Jen - I would make French bread pizzas!
dana - sweet potato wedges mmm
Jacki @ Two Forks One Love - I’m hysterical over your smoke detector. My husband usually talks to his friends on the phone while I’m making dinner. Inevitably during his conversation, the smoke detector starts going off. His friends must all think I’m an awful cook!
Rachel R. - Baked oatmeal!
Renee Richardson - I would love to make pizzas in it. This is so awesome, thanks for the chance 🙂
Renee
fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com
Melissa - Bagel pizzas!
Melissa - I would use it for toast, sandwiches, pizza, anything that I want warm. I use my toaster oven all the time and it just broke, so I’ve been on the hunt for a new one and this would be perfect!
Birdiebee - I would make my swiss cheese and crab quiche first thing.
Birdiebee - I shared this very generous giveaway on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/terry.stevens.165685/posts/239767562884107
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen - I’d make some croutons for a grilled caesar salad…and then some baked mochi!
melissa herrmann - I would make mini homemade pizzas!
theresasea - English muffin pizzas.
Amy S - Sourdough Cheese toast and homemade bagel pizza! Yum!
Mandi - quick quesadillas!
karen - I’d use it to toast nuts, make baked potatoes, heat up leftovers, all kinds of things that don’t need you to heat up the kitchen with the big oven.
Melanie - mmmm. bagel pizzas for my super picky 3 year old.
Jaclyn Reynolds - I would make pizza bagels!
Jennifer @ Also Known As...the Wife - I love using the toaster oven to cook small meals or reheat leftovers. I just wish it were faster. I would use this toaster oven to cook a variety of things for the kids’ lunches without having to use the oven.
Amy Orvin - I would make my own special French bread pizza. They are amazing!
David - We eat a lot of frozen foods, especially breaded fish, either fish sticks or fillets. I would use this for that.
David - I shared on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/david.lintz.12/posts/815202851846618
Eileen - Toaster ovens are the best! I tend to make a lot of sandwiches with mustard, sliced bits of all the vegetables in the house, and a few pieces of mozzarella on top. So hot and delicious! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Kelsey Guile - I would love to win a toaster oven because it sounds so easy to reheat meals in! I try to avoid reheating my 1 1/2 year olds food in the microwave & it would be more energy efficient to use a toaster oven instead of my conventional one. In addition, it would probably be fun to try new recipes with it! Thanks!
Amanda - Biscuits! That’s always been my go-to for the toaster oven. Might try roasting some veggies in there, too. I’ve been wanting a toaster oven lately as my boys are on a french toast sticks kick, and the regular toaster just doesn’t cut it.
Karen - I would love one of these!! I make toast in the ginormous oven every morning at 425 degrees! It takes 15 minutes just to preheat the oven. Fingers crossed… This looks like the perfect solution!!!
Jordan - I’d make mini personal pizzas! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
David - I tweeted a picture at https://twitter.com/1froglegs/status/470619689404858368
Bianca - pizza bagels!
amanda - I would love to make a toasted bruschetta with pesto. great giveaway.
Rachel Tilly - I would use it to heat up leftovers and to make delicious cheesy sandwiches! Yum!
Christina - What wouldn’t I make? Seriously, I’d have to start with my homemade waffles and pancakes that I freeze for the kiddos.
Corey Anderson - Julia Childs’ Eggplant Pizzas (and English Muffin Pizza for my 11 year old son ;).)
Jenice - I was recently widowed and I think this would be handy for cooking for one.
Sophie - I would use it to keep quesadillas warm, to toast bagels, to reheat my homemade waffles.
samW - well i would try this first!
Jan - I would probably cook everything in it during the summer to avoid turning on my oven. Since it’s just me, I don’t make huge batches of anything so a toaster oven that works well would do fine 🙂
Emily - This post could not have come at a better time! I am moving into a tiny apartment next week, and I’m struggling to decide which kitchen appliances would make sense in my mini kitchen. Given that I toast EVERYTHING, this seems to be a perfect toaster-oven solution. I’d definitely be making open-faced sandwiches with turkey and melty cheese and creamy avocado as often as possible. You cannot go wrong!!
Amanda Sakovitz - I would make pizza bagels!
Amanda Sakovitz - https://www.facebook.com/amanda.sakovitz/posts/10204078533027671
Amanda Sakovitz - https://twitter.com/aes529/status/471319214322884608
Rebecca - I would definitely try the bagels you showed. OMG. I already love bagels, but this looks AMAZING. It would be awesome to make something like this without heating up the whole kitchen in summer!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea - This is the perfect sandwich for a toaster oven. I am shopping for a toaster oven as we speak. This would be SO perfect for Me Me Me Me. And besides toast I would definitely be making some kind of open faced sandwich.
Meg - Oooooo, I’d make cheesy garlic bread, or bake a few chocolate chip cookies.
sharon - I would make lightly toasted garlic bread and also roast veggies.
sharon - My facebook share – https://www.facebook.com/rusthawk/posts/681267965255092
Veronica R - I would make Tuna melts!
Veronica R - Shared on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veronica.rahn.5/posts/10202403350425268
Joanne - Our smoke detector is across the apartment and I still manage to set it off fairly often. I suppose that’s just a side effect of food blogging. Love the sound of this toaster oven thought! Sometimes I just want melty cheese but don’t feel like turning on the oven for just one sandwich.
Quixotism - On pumpernickel bread, I would pile on some sauteed peppers, mushrooms, and onions and add a slice of provolone cheese that would then be toasted to a golden brown in the oven. After the bread and cheese goodness cools, I would eat it with a lot of spinach that has been lightly coated in a stone ground mustard because that’s how I roll.
Kate Dee - I have a wonderful recipe for homemade pizza crusts (a rye/wheat/all purpose flour combo) and I bake the crusts on my pizza stone and freeze. So this little oven would be a godsend for making small pizzas out of my frozen crusts – especially on hot summer days when I don’t want to heat up the house by using the large gas oven.
Savannah S - I would definitely use it to make pita pizzas: pita bread, a little basil, a little oregano, marinara, mozzerella, and a little parmesan! SOOOOOO good.
Kim - I have a panini press but LOVE making toasted sandwiches in my soon-to-be-dead toaster oven. Melty cheeeeeeese, so delicious!
Kristen - We’d use it to make quesadillas.
Missy - Pizza! Really….I can’t think of anything I couldn’t make in this beauty.
Susan - I would use this sweet baby to make crab melts on English muffins. Yum!
Susan - I would also make my favorite cheese toastie!
tiffany - I would make a big batch of chicken, black bean and cheese nachos!
Sarah Oswald - I would make cinnamon raisin bagels with cheddar cheese on top the cheese is melted and bagel is toasty and we all love it. YUMMY!!!!
Sarah Oswald - I shared this awesome giveaway on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/sarah.s.oswald/posts/10201941481125394
Bettina - I use my toaster oven all the time! Anything from toast, duh, to broiled asparagus when I don’t want to heat up the whole kitchen! Thanks for a chance to win.
Emily - I would make some yummy grilled cheese with tomato or quesadillas for the kiddos- thx for the giveaway.
Laura - My smoke alarm is just as reactive as yours!
I would make a lot of cheese toast in the In a Flash toaster oven. It’s one of my favorite breakfasts to take on the go!
cassandra - I would make quesadillas.
kenneth - i would make a mini pizza.
Elizabeth - I would make scones in this – I live alone, but love having friends over for coffee and scones. I make scones in batches, freeze them, and bake them as needed. It would be great to have a cute little FlashXPress toaster oven for my little batches!
joie Sunderman - I’d make creamy scalloped potatoes and roastep asparagus. We do not use microwaves in my family so I love my toaster oven cooking!