Linzer Cookie Cutter Sets Make Cookies Fun
Not that we need a reason to make cookies fun, they stand alone in the yummy fin department quite well.
But with these cute Linzer Cookie Cutter Sets you can make boring P B & J sandwiches perk up & cookies come to life in such shapes as stars, hearts & angels.
Take your pick from the every day Cookie Cutter Set or get ready for the holidays early with the winter fun Cookie Cutter Set, either way, cookies are just waiting for us to make them look as cute as they are delicious. Cost, $12.
Norpro Salsa Maker- An Excellent Purchase
I love salsa and I love ease. And that’s why I am in love with making salsa with my new salsa maker. You can have your favorite salsa ready in just a few minutes and cranks of the blade.
This Norpro hand-operated 2-speed salsa maker & mini-food processor, try saying that three times quickly, is a perfect little accompaniment to any kitchen. The easy to use crank turns a sharp blade that chops, spins and whips as quickly as an electric processor, yet it’s almost easier and less part to clean afterward. With a cost of just $13, try it for yourself and enjoy an easy & delicious salsa experience. Enjoy this fun little gadget.
Stay tuned for the It’s So Good You Wanna Kiss It Salsa Recipe.
Slow Cookers & Crock Pots- The Scoop
Let’s talk crock pots & slow cookers. It does look like Phil may have had it right, seeing his shadow. The cold weather is back so I thought we’d dig out that crock pot once again. I don’t hear any complaints!
First, the facts. The first actual slow cooker was introduced in the early 1970 by Rival, under the trademark ‘Crock-Pot’. Today, two models of this appliance are on the market: multi-cookers & the original slow cooker. Multi-cookers are highly useful & functional in that they can be used to deep-fry, steam & slow cook; while slow cookers generally just have an insert that rests in a metal housing unit only intended to do just that- slow cook.
A fantastic multi-cooker on the market is the Deni 5-In-1 Multi-Cooker. This versatile multi-cooker lets you deep fry, slow cook, sauté, bake and boil in one convenient appliance. Very handy around the kitchen. Cost, $100.
Stay tuned for the upcoming I’ve Died & Gone to Heaven Chicken Slow Cooker / Crock Pot Recipe.
Let’s Say Goodbye to Cold Weather Crock Pot Style
Well, it looks like the weather is going to let up any day now, despite Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction. And I thought we would say adieu crock pot style. If you don’t yet have a favorite, trusty crock pot, try this baby on for size.
The Russell Hobbs Nutrionist 8-quart Electric Pressure Cooker is the bomb, truly- I think this sophisticated enough to target spy locations. With an air-tight lid & safety lock, this slow cooker keeps the good stuff in instead of out. It comes well-equipped with a large, 8 quart, heavy duty, non-stick removable pot that heats up quickly and evenly. Cook and prepare delicious homemade meals with this sturdy, brushed stainless steel and cool-to-touch housing.
A fabulous advantage to this crock pot is that food retains nutrients and flavors while you pressure cook, steam, braise, and brown. With programmable electronic controls & a built in timer and thermostat you can delay the timer to allow food preparation up to 2 hours before cooking. Hi/Lo pressure modes for maximum versatility. Prepare all your favorite dishes and complete meals as preparation takes only a fraction of the time. You can shorten up your cooking time for most of your favorites by up to 70%!
Self-locking grips, safety lock, pressure indicator, pressure regulator knob, and pressure safety valves assure safe, easy to use performance. Prepare a variety of dishes such as braised chicken, beef stew, vegetarian chili, risotto, cheesecake, and so much more. Recipes and cooking times for meats, potatoes, fish, vegetables, fruits and more included with your Russell Hobbs, advanced Nutritionist cooking system. Cost, $200. You know, with all it can do I think it’s worth it.
This is a beautiful piece of kitchen crock pot heaven. Get yours today and join me for the Simply Divine Chicken Crock Pot Recipe post coming soon to a computer near you.
Out With The Old, In With The New- Bron Stainless Steel Mandoline
I know, I know. I was just talking about excessive gadgeting purchases. But this is a good one. Sometimes the food processor just isn’t enough. And that’s why you need the Bron Stainless Steel Mandoline.
Use this French mandoline to julienne (my favorite) or make rippled cuts of cabbage, potatoes or carrots. The width of the slice is adjusted by a handle on the underside of the device; a knob on the side adjusts the thickness. Makes paper-thin cuts up to 1/2-in. 16.5 x 4.5-in. Wow!
This beautiful baby is completely equipped to make things a little easier in the kitchen. It’s stainless steel and you know that means hand-washing, but it’s worth it- believe me. Cost, $180.
Dishing It Out For Gadgets
I’ll be the first to admit I have a gadget obsession. If you can find any space on my kitchen countertops, you must be in the wrong house. I have choppers, toasters, can openers galore, everything you can imagine. And I use most of them frequently.
However, there are those little gadget guys I never ever use. Either they’re too big, can’t find them or I just plain have no use for them. But you can’t throw them away, you’ll need them once the garbage pickup has come & gone. I know you can empathize with my situation, which is why I am dedicating this post to wasteful gadgets.
First off, unless you have a medical condition, who really need help opening a can top, enough to justify this Ring Pull & Jar Opener? If I can’t get right under it, I take out my trusty butter knife. Wasteful gadget #1.
Let us all unite in that we can live without a Lettuce Keeper. I mean, is the refrigerator drawer not enough? Do you need to keep your Iceburg for over a week? Wasteful gadget #2.
Is sifting really that bad that we have to buy, and try to find room for, a Battery-Operated Sifter. I can see possibly getting my granny one for her birthday, though she’s tough as nails and still mows the grass, but I like the Zen of mindless, rhythmic sifting. It’s the peace before the storm of baking. Wasteful gadget #3.
I know I’ve been harsh on the gadget-loving world, which includes myself, but after looking at the lack of counter space in my kitchen and the overflowing drawers and cabinets, I needed some motivation to kick the habit. What about you?
Back To The Basics: Egg & Muffin Toaster
So I was scouring the Web today trying to find a new gadget and oh, buddy do I have just the thing.
I can’t help but smile when I look at this one. Who would have thunk it? Just toasting your pumpernickel with your trusty toaster is a thing of the past. Now enjoy a poached or steam-scambled egg while you wait to butter your bread.
This Back to Basics appliance can toast bread, cook and egg & warm a pre-cooked slice of ham or sausage- all in about 4 minutes.
I’m not sure where we abandoned the iron skillet and bacon grease to fry our eggs, but this does look healthier, easier, less dishes to clean (which I’m all about) and the reviews of the toaster / egger looks encouraging. Cost, $40.
Fondue Fun
Okay, so we all remember the fondue set our parents had growing up; it was the thing to do on weekend evenings I remember. But it was always cheese fondue and more cheese fondue. There have been fortunate evens through the years, and chocolate has made it to the fondue circuit. But first, to the facts…
The word fondue comes from the French word ‘fondre’ which means ‘to melt’ and refers to several French Swiss communal dishes shared at the table in earthenware pots over a small burner. Though cheese fondues are perhaps the most known, there are several other possibilities for the contents of the pot that is used for dipping.
Cheese fondue was invented due to necessity. In the remote & isolated mountain villages in the Swiss Alps, people had to rely on locally made food. During the winter food became scarce and the Swiss found that melting stale cheese made it edible and delicious. And due to my affinity for chocolate, chocolate fondue has become a necessity!
Let’s take a look at the fabulous Nostalgia Stainless Steel Fondue Fountain:
This beauty has everything you need for a tasty romantic evening (just add strawberries) or for your next party.
This fountain is easy to use and maintain, just pour your chocolate into the base and switch on the motor, the chocolate travels up the tower before gently cascading down and wooing all.
You can use any chocolate- white, dark, butterscotch, mint- your imagination is the limit.
Cost- $50. Whatever your feelings on the time old classic fonude, you cannot make a wrong turn with chocolate.
Asparagus, the Facts
Asparagus is a very interesting member of the Lily family. Its cultivation dates back 2000 years to the Mediterranean. There is a recipe for cooking asparagus in the oldest surviving book of recipes, Apicius’s 3rd century De re coquinaria, Book III.
While green asparagus is the most widely eaten, white asparagus is available in specialty food stores and is grown by denying the plant light. What a fascinating history of this vegetable, I think that was more interesting than last night’s lineup.
There are many ways to cook your asparagus. In the simplest form, the shoots can be boiled or steamed until tender and may be served with a light hollandaise sauce or melted butter. I myself prefer tying the shoots and the bottom and standing them up in the saucepan so that the lower part of the stalks (the harder part) will boil while the heads (more tender portion) will be steamed.
The perfect, foolproof way to cook asparagus upright, is to use a tall, cylindrical cooking pot such as the All-Clad Stainless Steel Asparagus Steamer Pot. This is fast, easy and serves up a delicious and tender (and healthy) asparagus every time!
Find the All-Clad Stainless Steel Asparagus Steamer Pot at http://www.chefsresource.com/, $39.95.
Looking for some healthy recipes? Try cooking with whole foods that contain the best nutrients for your body. Find out more about nutrition and what vitamins like Omega 3 can do for your health!
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