Just when we were getting used to spring, Memorial Day is around the corner and right on it’s heels, the beginning of summer. The long weekend is a great opportunity to take a break from the demands of the weekdays and have some fun with family and friends. Hopefully the weather is wonderful and everyone will get some time to enjoy the great outdoors. Camping, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing or just relaxing outside. Some neighbors are hitting the road for a trip to the beach or mountains for a bit of a getaway. Many others are choosing to just stay in town and hang around at home, enjoying the downtime. It’s a classic barbecue weekend and a great time to get some good backyard playtime in with the family. It’s simply a perfect time for a fun and relaxing time with family and friends.
Enjoying Memorial Day Weekend
Unique Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
It’s hard to believe another year has flown by and this Sunday May 10, 2009 is Mother’s Day. It’s important to take the tiime to recognize all that Mom does for her family, whether it’s driving her kids all over town to their sporting events and lessons or making sure everyone has their favorite food in the fridge when they get home from school and work. For many people, celebrating this year means celebrating on a budget. But you can still do simple things for Mom that will make her feel appreciated, like letting her sleep late on Sunday and making her day easy and fun-filled for her. And you can buy her something like one of these unique mother’s day gift ideas. If your Mom enjoys cooking and baking, then she’ll appreciate one of these cool kitchen gifts from TheSmartCook. You’ll find everything from ceramic batter bowls, clay bread pans, covered soup bowls, cookbooks, and more all for under $25. She’ll love the special gift and your wallet will be happy too.
Springtime & Healthy Resolutions
There are many times during the year for making resolutions, New Year’s of course being the big one for most people. But spring is also a common time when people start to feel rejuvenated and want to make healthier choices - especially eating better and getting more exercise. When it comes to exercise you can’t go wrong with some of the great deals being offered by the local gyms. Of course you can just get out doors to hike and bike your way to good health. Healthier eating can be a challenge, but sometimes it’s not as hard if you just take small steps. Don’t give up everything you love and crave all at once, but try to eat less of it and to cut off eating earlier in the evening. Sitting down with a big dessert or chips in front of the television at nine at night is not good for your body or your weight. You can find great free information on WebMD that can help you jump-start your summer season.
A Family-Sized Reversible Cast Iron Griddle
Next week is a big holiday time for many people, whether they’re celebrating Passover or Easter. That means a lot of people will be traveling on the roads to visit loved ones in other cities and towns. It also means a lot of company in the house, squeezing people into available bedrooms and planning more meals and entertainment. If you have a lot of people coming your way that you’ll be feeding, this Rachael Ray Reversible Cast Iron Griddle is perfect for cooking up a big breakfast or any other stove-top dishes too. This handy grill fits easily over 2 burners and flips over for either flat top frying or stove top grilling. Use the smooth side for your pancakes and eggs and the other side for burgers and grilled sandwiches. The pan’s enamel finish comes in wonderful bright colors that liven up your kitchen and has sturdy loop handles for easy handling. You’re sure to get many years of use out of a quality cast iron skillet like this one!
Ready for Easter?
Well the 1st day of spring has officially come and gone. Where we live the daffodils and cherry blossoms are in bloom and it’s a welcome sight. It’s hard to believe that Easter is just weeks away. Time to plan for candy and egg hunts for the kids and the family gathering. Of course not everyone celebrates the holiday, but for those that do it’s a special time. We usually start the day with an Easter egg hunt outside and end the day with a big family meal. If you’re hosting at your place, then the more planning you can do in advance the better. Figure out your menu and ask your guests to bring a special dish. This will make your job easier, plus it gives people to particpate in a personal way too. Don’t forget the desserts. And you don’t have to overdue it by baking everything yourself, it’s perfectly fine to buy some delicious pastries and cakes at the bakery. The whole day will be much nicer for everyone including you if you’re not exhausted from trying to keep up with everything.
A Classic Paula Deen Porcelain Nonstick Cookware Set
If you are in the market for some new cookware then you really should check out this beautiful 12 Piece Paula Deen Porcelain Nonstick Cookware Set. Not only is it a classic, fabulous looking set, but it comes with the most essential pots and pans you’re sure to use in your kitchen all of the time. First, I love the porcelain finish - it’s so easy to clean and it’s offered in stylish red, classic green or modern charcoal colors. The nonstick interior is also a big plus for both ease of cooking and easy clean-up. And the glass lids are wonderful as well. This great professional nonstick cookware set includes a versatile covered sauté pan, a handy 6-qt. covered Dutch oven, two covered saucepans, two skillets, a spatula and a slotted spoon. It’s the perfect combination of pots and pans sure to complete any kitchen - whether you’re just starting out in your first place or finally getting the chance to updated your old cookware.
Spring is Just Around the Corner
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the warmer weather to arrive. I know the groundhog saw it’s shadow, but we can still hope for an early spring. We’ve had some teaser days around here with the promise of spring in the air but then winter comes back with a vengeance a day later. But February is nearly over and we’re sure to turn the corner in March. Then before you know it the flowers will be blooming and we’ll be planning our April Easter celebrations with family, or other holiday gatherings. Ah, and then will come the family barbecues and outdoor summer fun. Sunshine and warm weather is coming, just around the corner.
A Bundform Pan for a Valentine’s Cake
Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and many are making special plans with their loved ones for romantic dates and weekend getaways. Many others are going much more low key, planning instead for a romantic time at home or a small fun gathering with friends. If you’re planning on a home holiday why not make a special dessert, such as a rich chocolate cake made in this great Kaiser LaForme Perfect Bundform Pan. This sturdy Bundform Pan features a unique combination of materials with the outside being made of durable commercial-grade metal and the inside with silicone bonding for the perfect nonstick surface. Your cake will release so easily & trun out beautifully - plus the pan is a breeze to clean. If you’re someone who enjoys baking for the holidays or simply anytime of the year, you can’t go wrong with the professional quality silicone bakeware you’ll find in the Kaiser bakeware line.
A Fun SuperBowl Sunday
Yes, this weekend is SuperBowl Sunday in Tampa Bay, and the 1st day of February. It really feels like we were just taking down our holiday decorations. The SuperBowl is always a fun time for family and friends. It’s simply a great day to get together for some laughs and rowdiness and eating of course. We usually go with a big sub sandwich, some side dishes, pizza - the usual football day goodies. Our home is divided on who is going to win with some of us picking the Cardinals and the rest of us going with the Steelers. I’ve been a fan of the Steelers since I was a kid, I’ve just always thought of them as such a tough team and though I haven’t always followed them over the years, they still hold a special place for me. I can’t wait to see the game on Sunday. It’s 6pm Eastern, don’t miss it!
Delicious Popcorn with the StirCrazy Popcorn Popper
Like many people these days, we love our family movie nights. Once a week, we pick out a movie that the whole family can enjoy, maybe a good adventure movie or a comedy. We set up the family room, put the surround-sound on and make a few of our favorite snacks to enjoy with the show. Of course popcorn is at the top of list and our popcorn always turns out perfectly when we use our StirCrazy Popcorn Popper. This is one cool kitchen gadget. It’s has a very retro style with modern day functionality to help you make great popcorn. There are automatic stirrers inside so that all of your kernals pop, so you won’t find hard or burnt pieces in your popcorn. You just flip the popcorn into the top when you’re done and use it as the serving bowl. It’s a great, convenient kitchen tool that gives you movie-night popcorn without the movie theatre price.
Happy New Year!
We’re just a couple of days late in wishing everyone a Happy New Year! 2008 was a pretty bumpy year for most of us and we’re pretty excited and ready for a better 2009. Most of us have spent the last week enjoying time with our families, sleeping later, and eating too much. Time to get to the gym and get back to work I guess! We hope 2009 has fantastic things in store for all. We’re looking forward to reviewing a lot of new products and finding some great home and kitchen innovations to report on. Here’s to a great year ahead!
CorningWare Portable Bakeware is the Perfect Gift
I was recently looking for the perfect gift for a family friend. She’s a wonderful person, always there for people. And she loves to cook and bake. She takes great pleasure in creating some of her favorite dishes for gatherings like her unique au gratin potato dish or her extra-cheesy lasagne. Then I came across this handy Corningware Portable Bakeware and I knew I had found the perfect gift for her. The French White 3 quart oblong dish comes with a plastic cover, a hot/cold pack and a sturdy travel bag. The dish is made of durable stoneware material that can be used in oven, microwave, refrigerator, and freezer. I know she will absolutely love this ceramic bakeware set and that she’ll get many years of great use from it.
Is it really December already?
It seems like we were just making our Thanksgiving plans and suddenly it’s December. Time to put up holiday decorations - unless you’re someone who is fond of the tradition of decorating on Thanksgiving weekend. Around here we usually wait for the 1st weekend in December as long as the weather cooperates. And we like to leave our decorations up until the week after New Year’s - well, as long as the tree has dropped all of its needles of course. Holiday decorating can be a big chore for some and a lot of fun for others. Some people actually hire someone to decorate their homes for them, even having the company provide the decorations too. We still enjoy doing our own decorating with our sentimental favorites for decor. If you’re on the lookout for some new holiday decorating and foodie ideas, be sure to check out Martha Stewart Living - there’s a lot of great ideas that can be fun for the whole family.
Attractive & Versatile Ceramic Bakeware Set
It’s impossible to think of celebrating the holidays without thinking of food. Whether it’s the big turkey feast of Thanksgiving or the delicious Christmas roast, family gatherings will surely revolve around food. When it comes to fixing the trimmings, you can’t go wrong with a great ceramic bakeware set. Not only is the bakeware easy to cook in, it looks good on your table, you can store leftovers in it, and when you’re all done with the food - you can toss it into your dishwasher for easy clean-up. Everyone should have some versatile ceramic bakeware in their kitchen for any ocassion!
Holiday Travel?
This is a little off subject for us, but since it’s been a big discussion around here lately it seemed like the perfect subject. The holidays - to travel or not to travel? Most of us desperately try to avoid holiday travel and traffic, but sometimes there doesn’t seem to be a choice. Visiting an elderly relative who can no longer travel, or the family with the new baby, or simply because most of the family remained in one area. So a few of us are going to travel after all, because it’s nice spending time with people we love and that love us. And because our kids really want to know their relatives better and isn’t that pretty important? Family memories make up a big part of childhood memories, so we figure a little travel for something that important is a pretty small sacrifice after all.
A Maxi Clay Baker for Your Holiday Turkey
With Thanksgiving only weeks away, it’s time to start thinking ahead and planning for the holiday. Who will be coming, what will they be bringing, how many guests will there be? Of course the holiday turkey is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, so it’s very important that it turn out well. Many people bake their turkey in an open roasting pan while others prefer to deep fry their bird. This year we’ll be cooking ours in the Romertopf Maxi Clay Baker. This super-capacity covered clay baker will hold up to a 17 1/2 pound bird, which is plenty big enough for our gathering. The wonderful thing about cooking in clay is the way the clay cooks a meal in it’s own natural juices for moist and tasty results. The baker itself is really quite beautiful, and we often use it as a serving dish when we’re not cooking in it. Cooking in Romertopf clay is a fabulous alternative to using standard cookware.
Happy Halloween
Just in the mood for Halloween today! We’re all gearing up for the holiday around here this week, time to get the pumpkins carved and all of the costumes in shape for trick-or-treating and a few parties that are going on in the neighborhood. Many families actually trick-or-treat at some of the local stores and malls instead of going door-to-door, but we find the fun closer to home. Our kids are all excited of course, so school has been interesting for some this week with all the extra chatter and adrenalin. Maybe it’s the cold weather too. We wish you and yours a safe and fun Halloween. Oh, and don’t forget to change your clocks this weekend.
Essential Cookware for Your Kitchen
Anyone who likes to cook at all knows how frustrating it can be when you have a dish you desire to make and then you find you don’t have the right cooking tools to get the job done. We’ve all been there, ready to saute and you realize you don’t have the right pan or it’s too small for the meal you’re preparing. Before the holiday season begins, it’s a good idea to take stock of what’s in your cabinets and make sure you have the basics covered before your company arrives. We found a good list of some essential cookware that should help get you started. The holidays can get hectic, so why not get off to the start so that you have more time to enjoy yourself.
Wrought Iron Pot Rack Adds Wow to Kitchen
If you’re like most people, you are always looking for more storage space in your kitchen. You might add more versatile shelving into existing cabinets or find a place in the corner to squeeze in a modular add-on cabinet. How about adding a great splash of style along with some much needed storage space? Something like this fabulous and affordable wrought iron pot rack adds both. Holding up to 40 lbs of cookware and protected by a 25 year warranty, this versatile pot rack delivers a lot for your money. You’ll be able to keep favorite and most used pots within easy reach and obtain a stunning centerpiece as well. Once you install this classic kitchen accessory in your kitchen, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.
Winter recipes
When the colder weather arrives we still continue to use our outdoor grill as often as we can - only a very cold snap or heavy snow keeps us from cooking outside. We simply enjoy being outdoors as much as we can, plus we just love the flavor of grilled meats and vegetables all year round. You can still duplicate great barbeque flavor indoors. Here’s a sample recipe we came across for baked barbeque chicken that sounds like a perfect fit for enjoying warm, juicy barbeque style chicken even in the midst of the coldest winter.
Buying bakeware for your new kitchen
Congratulations! Maybe you’ve just bought a new home or you’ve gotten your first place. There’s no feeling quite like it, and quite an exciting chapter in anyone’s life. For those of us who enjoy cooking and baking, it’s also a perfect time to update our kitchenware and accessories. Out with the old, in with the new. Unless it’s quality stuff, then keep it by all means. But even so, it’s a great time for new bakeware & baking a celebratory cake for your new place. Kitchenware is one of the top housewarming gifts as well. So if you don’t have the budget to buy a lot of new goodies because you’ve spent it all on your new place, then it’s time to start the wish list and let family and friends know what items you’d love to have.
A chafing dish for the ultimate entertainer
Some people love to throw parties, and they’re very good at it. If you’re one of those people, you are sure to want to take a look at this gorgeous stainless steel chafing dish from Gourmet Standard. Not only is it stunning, but it’s made of professional grade stainless steel, so it’s built to last. This chafing dish will jazz up any event, and your guests will be quite impressed! They also make an excellent soup tureen and some smaller chafing dishes that will perfectly round-out your serveware collection. As we’ve noted before, Gourmet Standard makes an impressive line of cookware and kitchen tools, including a saute pan rated a “best buy” by Cook’s Illustrated.
Can you have too many kitchen tools?
I rarely catch the show 60 Minutes but I happened to watch a few minutes of it last night and I caught Andy Rooney’s segment on “The Joy of Cooking Tools“. Now it’s rare I agree with him on things or see things with the same perspective, but I completely related to last night’s episode. He had a variety of crazy kitchen tools and gadgets splayed across his desk and for once, someone had stranger kitchen gadgets than me. Particulary the one nut-cracker he displayed. But also like him, I can’t part with them, even if I rarely, if ever use them. Because you just never know when it might come in handy!
A Chef’s Pan for Real-Life Cooking
Most of us want to make healthy, tasty meals for our families. It is just that we are all crunched for time! Between work, school, the house, the pets, sports, dance class, family obligations, and all of the other things competing for our time the majority of us don’t have hours to devote to cooking. The trick is to make it as easy as possible for you to make quick, healthy meals. Start with your tools. By narrowing it down to the best basics possible you can save needed time and avoid stress when it’s time to cook. Have a good knife, lots of plastic storage bags, cutting boards, and condiments (olive oil, salt, pepper, whatever your family likes) ready and together near your work area. One of the most important tools you can have is a good quality stainless steel chef’s pan like this one and you’ll find you’ll rarely need another pan for your everyday cooking. At four quarts, it’s a great size for anything you feel like making on a Wednesday night. You can toss it in the dishwasher (because who has time to hand wash pots?). It has a good-sized ergonomic handle and a smaller grip on the opposite side so you can move it easily, even when it is full of chicken stew. It’s also oven proof, which is ideal for a dish that needs to be started on the stovetop and then put in the oven you don’t have to dirty up another pot. The bottom-line is it’s imporant to have a practical and versatile gourmet cooking pan in your kitchen collection. It’s just the thing to make cooking healthy meals for your family a little easier.
Is it autumn already?
Can it really be September with fall just around the corner? Yes indeed, and if your area is anything like ours, they are stocking the store shelves with….Halloween items. Fall has not officially arrived and won’t do so until September 22nd, but we are getting inundated with items that relate to a holiday in late October. It would be nice to just enjoy the time we’re in first, wouldn’t it? Fall is quite a beautiful time of year, filled with exquisite colors and crisp air and sky. It’s also a great time to switch over your kitchen accessories to match the season. Fun fall towels, aprons, place mats and seasonal flowers help set the tone for the kitchen and add a wonderful welcoming touch for your family and guests.