Some toaster ovens allow you to broil. (Mine is a Black & Decker; it cost $60 in 2000.) That is a great blessing, especially if you live alone & don't want to fire up a whole oven to broil four chicken wings. I just broiled some smelts in mine for dinner.

Another nice thing about toaster ovens is that, after you have used them for toasting and have buttered the toast, you can use the residual heat to keep the toast warm & melt the butter. (I know, I know -- I lived in Britain for a year, and over there they believe that toast should be eaten cold; they even have special racks for cooling it. In that matter, at least, I am a good American.) Also, while it is toasting, you can use the top of it to preheat the plate on which you are going to put an omelette.

--- Joe Fineman    joe_f@verizon.net

||: You can't even trust me to be ornery. :||