Product I love right now… my chef knife.

A chef knife is crucial for any home cook.  The shape of the knife allows you to rock the blade back and forth for better chopping/mincing control.   Chef knives run from $1.99 to hundreds of dollars.  In most cases, you get what you pay for and should base your investment amount on how often you cook.  I do think that every kitchen needs a chef knife but don’t waste money on an incredibly expensive knife that will barely see the side of a vegetable.

A few helpful links:

How to hold a Chef Knife.

How to use a Chef Knife.

Anatomy of a Chef Knife.

 

Happy Chopping!

THE perfect iced coffee (so says me).

 

 

 

 

 

e·piph·a·ny (n):

a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple or  commonplace occurrence or experience.

I can remember the exact moment 4 years ago.  I was standing in line at a coffee shop (that shall remain unnamed) as I did every morning and started doing the math in my head.  The conversation to myself went something like this:  Let’s see… $4 x 5 days a week x 52 weeks=@$1000.  Wait.  What the what?  $1000.  On coffee.  That can’t be right.  Out my phone calculator came and my dodgy math skills were validated.  And there it was… an epiphany.   I was spending too much flippin’ money on coffee.

So, I watched very closely to how my impossibly delicious iced coffee was made that day.  I didn’t check my email, didn’t chat with co-workers, I watched.  Was it really that impossible to recreate?  It looked simple enough.

After many trials and errors, I finally mastered the art of iced coffee (again-so says me).

Iced Coffee:

Step 1:  It starts with the perfect cup.  I have tried almost every reuseable cup on the market (for verification purposes, you can ask my husband, who opens the ‘cabinet o’ cups’  daily, fearfully awaiting them to tumble-down on his head).  My favorite cup (drumroll please) is….

The Contigo Shake & Go Tumbler.   I use it for everything!   Iced Coffee. Iced Tea. Lemon water. Protein shake.  The possibilities are endless. It has a leak proof design that allows you to shake it, which means that you can be sure that your drink is mixed perfectly. Click here to buy or get more info.  Contigo is offering 20% off!  Just enter the discount code: shakeitblog.  (Reg. price $12.99)

Step 2: (Optional) Add your sweetening agent of choice to the bottom of the tumbler.  I am using Stevia these days.  Not 100% sold on the taste but my agave obsession has been permanently sidelined.

Step 3:  The coffee.  I have a Keurig, so I just pop my favorite pod in, place the tumbler underneath and use the smallest setting.   If you don’t have a Keurig,  a good ol’ pot of coffee will do.   Pour about 3-4″ of coffee into the tumbler.

Step 4:  The ice.  This is key.  You need to take an entire handful of ice and dump into your tumbler at once.  This flash freezes the coffee.  Do NOT do one cube at a time, you risk melted ice and watery coffee.  Yikes.

Step 5:  Top off with your favorite dairy product.  I use vanilla almond milk right now but regular or soy milk will work just fine.

Step 6:  This step is why I dig the Contigo Shake & Go Tumbler specifically.  I can put the top on and shake it to perfectly mix the coffee.  Pop the straw in and go.   Otherwise, you need to mix with spoon, a straw (which can sometimes be difficult when the ice is sticking together).

Drink up buttercup!

 

 

Salted Caramel, the new Pumpkin.

Gold.  I’ve struck gold.  I have created THE perfect salted caramel recipe.  If I do say so myself.   🙂  Salted Caramel Apple Bread.

I was asked to participate in a product review for the Sweet Creations by Good Cook NonStick Mini Loaf Pan and create an original recipe.   My level of expertise on reviewing bakeware-high.  My level of expertise on creating an original recipe-n/a.

Before I unveil the recipe of all recipes (or in my case the only recipe), let’s discuss the pan.  It is a four cup (four loaf) pan which is great because you can make smaller loaves (bread, meatloaves, etc.) or make different types of loaves.  This versatility is great for anyone cooking for more than one.   It has a nonstick coating.  My loaves came right out when I flipped the pan over.  The pan is a tad lighter than I expected (not necessarily a negative).  Overall this pan is great addition to any baker’s arsenal of pans.

Now…(drum roll please)…the recipe:

All MincedReviewers get 25% off the mini loaf pan!  Click here to shop.  Enter the code: SWEETLOAF .

Happy Baking everyone!!

To grate cheese or not to grate cheese? (a cheese grater review)

By MincedReviewer request (thank you Cathy Dykes),  today’s blog is on Cheese Graters!   Cheese graters are sometimes last on the list of kitchen ‘must haves’ but they do serve a function.  Fresh grated cheese is wonderful.  Anyone can buy grated Cheddar, Mozzarella, Colby, etc… but if you want to have fun with cheese (shredded smoked Gouda, anyone?), you need a cheese grater.   There are three main criteria when buying a grater.  Sharp, rust-resistant metal and a non slip function (we need grated cheese here folks, not fingers. Ick.)

Types:

1. Handheld– The biggest bonus with a handheld grater is that you can throw it in a drawer.  It is flat so it’s easy to store.   They are portable so that you can grate right over your pan or your plate.  The downside is that you are limited by the single blade and sometimes when you are pressing hard on the cheese, stability may come into question.   In my experience testing handheld graters, I prefer all things Microplane.  In my humble (not-so) opinion, they are the leaders in blade sharpness.
2. Mandolin- Mandolin slicers are a sloped slicer that has a stationary bottom and a movable top that allows you to adjust the thickness of the slice.  The movable piece typically has a hand guard to prevent any mishaps (eek).  Many mandolins also allow you to swap out blades so that you can make different types of cuts (i.e. julienne slices or crinkle cuts).   These are great for creating even slices.  I would recommend buying this if you make cucumber salads, cole slaw, onion rings, french fries, etc. often.   A good mandolin can run anywhere from $19.99-$100.   Click here to check out the OXO handheld mandolin slicer at Target.  ($19.99)
3. Box Grater –  Bulky? Yes.  Versatile? Also yes. With box graters, you have the luxury of having four different blade types at your fingertips (not literally, please).   Box Graters come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, materials, quality levels, colors.  The sky is the limit.  In the case of box graters, usually you get what you pay for.   You can find inexpensive metal ones but they tend to rust incredibly fast.   Always look for stainless steel blades.   My favorite box grater is from OXO (click on OXO for more info).  I love it because it has a storage container on the bottom, that catches the shred and also measures it.  Great for recipes and healthy eating.  It’s so easy to get blinded by the cheese and lose track of how much you’re shredding (at least in my experience).   This gives you some clear visibility into the amount your shredding.
4. Rotary – These are the ones that you typically see in restaurants.  They are used to finely grate cheese (i.e. ‘would you like fresh grated Parmesan on your pasta?’)   While I haven’t used it personally (it’s on my ‘to try’ list), word on the street is that Pampered Chef has an excellent rotary grater for $20. Click here for more info.

Handheld Microplane Zester/Grater.

OXO Mandolin Slicer.

OXO Box Grater.

Pampered Chef Rotary Grater.

Happy Grating everyone!

Product of the week….the burger press

Grilling hamburgers.  Not just an ordinary hamburger.  A perfect hamburger.  Some say it takes skill.  I say it takes a burger press.   Too thin… you risk breaking when flipping.  Too thick…and you risk under cooking.  It’s virtually impossible to form perfectly uniform hamburgers by hand.  The natural shape of your hand tends to create burgers that are thicker in the middle and thinner on the sides which can result in inconsistent cooking.  With a burger press, you simply fill with ground beef or whatever burger seasonings/ingredients you choose, press down and then remove.  I recommend placing a piece of wax paper in between the finished burgers to prevent sticking until you get to the grill.  Burger presses are great for making ahead and freezing so that you have perfectly shaped hamburgers ready to go when you need them.

A burger press can run from $6.99 for a single plastic press up to $35 for a cast iron burger press.  Really, in this case you get what you pay for.  If you are a burger fanatic, invest in a good one… a plastic one is probably not for you.  If you rarely grill burgers, just grab a plastic one.

Bed Bath and Beyond $6.99

Amazon $14.65

World Market $8.99

Williams Sonoma $19.95

Happy grilling everyone!

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

In celebration of this fabulous food holiday, here is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Sprinkle a little sea salt on the top before baking. Perfect.

Trader Joe’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Treat Pops!

Sooo..  Treat Pops.  What exactly is a Treat Pop??  Well, for those of us that don’t have the patience for cake pops but want something so incredibly cute that you can’t help but smile when looking at them, Wilton has made Treat Pops.    Think of the frozen push up pops from your childhood and then re-imagine them filled with layer after layer of frosting and cake.  Yum!

I tested these yesterday for Easter and they turned out so adorable!

What I used:

1. Wilton Treat Pop Containers– You can buy the containers with or without a stand BUT I do recommend the stand.  However, each pop top comes with a lid that doubles as a base so that they can stand upright without the use of a stand (as shown in my pics).  Click on this link for details on the containers.  Treat Pop Containers!
2. Wilton Treat Pop Decorating Kit–  This kit retails for $8.99 on Amazon.com.  This kit gave me all the tips I needed to do the icing layers between the cake and also to do a super cute swirly icing top!
3. Wilton Mini-Whoopie Pie Pan– This pan makes the perfect size cake for the treat pop containers.  It retails for $14.99  on Amazon.com.
4. Cake Layers– I used Trader Joe’s Vanilla cake mix and Ready to Bake Brownies.  I had much more success with the vanilla cake mix than I did with the brownies.  The brownie mix was a little too thick for the pan that I used. Slightly frustrating.  They tasted good but were difficult to get out of the pan and difficult to fit into the treat pop container.
5. Frosting – I cheated on the frosting too and used Betty Crocker to save time. Dye to any color you want.
6. Sprinkles– I used cute Wilton pearl beads in blue and white for Easter but the sprinkle possibilities are ENDLESS!  Click here to see all the sprinkles your heart could ever desire! 🙂  SPRINKLES!!

The finished product:

Check out the link below to Wilton’s website to learn about all things treat pops.

Wilton Treat Pops!

I highly highly recommend you try these.  They were so easy and the boys loved them!!  Next stop for this cuteness?  Henry’s birthday party. No traditional birthday cake for him.  He wants Treat Pops.  🙂

Happy baking everyone!!

Product of the week…The Santoku Knife

Kitchen Essentials from Calpahlon at Target. $29.99

San.. what?  Santoku knife.  A great, well balanced knife that everyone MUST have.  It slices, dices AND minces.  There are small indentations the length of the blade to create small air pockets when using the knife.  This prevents sticking and reduces cutting friction.  Making all your cutting tasks easier.   If you want to get into the history of the Santoku, here is a link for more info:

What is a Santoku Knife?

This has definitely been the ‘it’ knife for the past few years.  If you don’t have one, I highly recommend you invest in one.  Every major brand has a santoku option.  Short options (5″) to longer 8″ options.  From J.A. Henckels to Hampton Forge to Chicago Cutlery.  This list could seriously go on and on.  Prices range from $6.99 – $99.99.  The difference in price ranges depends on the type of steel used for the blade, the comfort of the handle and the warranty behind the knife.  Basically, you get what you pay for.  A $6.99 Santoku knife will do well initially but may end corroding or breaking over a shorter life span.

Product of the week….The OXO Good Grips Pizza Cutter

OXO Good Grips Pizza Cutter.

This isn’t just any pizza cutter.  This is a pizza cutter with a tapered plastic wheel that is perfect for non-stick pizza pans or pizza stones.  It doesn’t damage the surface its cutting on, the cheese doesn’t stick to the wheel and it’s dishwasher safe.   Need I say more?

This pizza wheel can be found under the OXO SoftWorks line at Target for $8.39 or under Oxo Good Grips on Amazon or Bed Bath and Beyond for $11.99.

That’s a Wrap!

Another Houseware’s Show has come to an end.  The show continues on today but I am back in the land of suburbia watching the beautiful snow fall.

I will end my series of Show blogs with some final thoughts and a glimpse of blogs to come…

• Color – The overarching trend of the show continues to be color.  Color everywhere.  From the can opener to the fry pan.  While this is not a new trend in kitchenware, it has been around for the last five years or so, it still never ceases to amaze me.  It is eye-catching.  It’s fun.  It’s limitless.   The two colors that really jumped out at me this year was yellow and green.  Think lemons and emerald-green (Pantone color of the year by the way).  So fresh and quite honestly, it made me happy looking at it.     

• Old is new – Much to my delight, vintage ‘looking’ is everywhere.  Mad Men-esque if you will.  Vintage colors (ala MincedReviews look and feel).  Vintage styling.  I couldn’t get enough of it.  I was drawn to it all!

Elite Americana Collection

Good Cook Sprinkles Bakeware

The Cake Boss!

• Family – Another common thread continued to be products that had the mission of making moments together as a family easier.  From Wilton to Duff Goldman to The Cake Boss.  Fun, inspiring, easy to use products that would help you create fun edible projects with your children.   As I test some of these products in the coming weeks with the boys, I will blog what worked, what didn’t and help you find where to buy all the good stuff so that you can start on the family fun too!

Buddy Valastro

• Eco – There is still a push towards ‘eco-friendly’ interiors. Ceramic fry pans were EVERYWHERE.   Ceramic hit the show last year in a small way and this year become the year of the ceramic pan.  The jury is still out for me on ceramic.  I have a ceramic fry pan.  I do use it occasionally but I have had my reservations about this trend for while.  After meeting with nonstick leader DuPont yesterday, I am even more compelled to research ceramic further .  I will be doing a blog on all fry pan interiors in the next couple of weeks.

IMUSA Ceramic Fry Pans

• Favorite Products (at first glance) – I say at first glance because I do not like recommending a product without trying it first.

             – The Top Chef Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set w/Graters, Slicers and Lid.    With its silicone bottom and interchangeable blades for the bowl cover, this is a unique, functional product that I am incredibly excited to buy/try.

Top Chef Stainless Steel Bowl w/Interchangeable Blades

          -Treat Pops by Wilton.  These fun little tubes of endless possibility are so flippin’ cute.  With every sprinkle and cake dec. that you could imagine, you really could let your imagination run wild.  Such a fun activity to do with your children, surprise them with these instead of cake,  use for a baby shower, bridal shower… the list could go on and on.  Check out these pics!

       – The Cake Boss Cake Carrier-  How cute are these!!!  No more bulky plastic.  These are made of a light weight metal with a locking lid.  Plus, they have my essential retro vibe requirement.   Sigh.  When can I buy these?  Not sure I can wait until Fall 2013.

In the coming weeks, I will get into the details of my most favorite finds at this years show.  I am going to be testing a few products and giving you feedback.  So… more to come.

I, admittedly, am a kitchenware geek and borderline obssesive foodie so the last three days have been a slice of heaven for me (well, for all of me minus my feet).   Until next year….