Deb’s Top 10 Kitchen Must Haves
June 23, 2008 | by Deb Ng
While we all have our own ideas about our must-have kitchen gadgets and items, we can all agree on certain items every kitchen can’t do without Some are simple tools, others require a bit of power but they are all needed and useful. Here are my must have kitchen items.
- Wooden spoon – So simple, yet so handy. Wooden spoons stir without scratching. Whether used for stirring drinks or a delicate sauce, there’s one in every kitchen I know.
- A good set of knives – Dull cheap knives won’t do when it comes to kitchen prep. We have a set of Henkels chef knives, which we love. A good, sharp set of knives is essential for every cook.
- Whisk – No, you’re not stirring, you’re whisking. A whisk can froth up scrambled eggs or mix up a batch of pancake batter. It combines your ingredients for a smooth, lump free end result.
- Pots and pans – Everyone argues over what is best. Copper, cast iron, Teflon. We …
Start your own herb garden
June 22, 2008 | by DianaI have my own herb garden, that I started years ago. Some years it looked really, really good and other years it went to heck and looked horrendous. It all depended on how much time I had available to work in and around the garden. Big vacation years, or when my kids were young and needed a lot of watching in the pool were the bad years. My kids are older teens and I now have a lot more time to spend in the garden, plus sometimes they help out. Raised beds make it easier to grow and control my herbs and keep the weeds and grass at bay.
Day Camp Lunch Box Tip: Freeze the Water
June 21, 2008 | by Deb Ng
My son is going to a full day camp this year for the first time, which means he’ll need to bring lunch. This is exciting for him but slightly worrisome for me as there’s no refrigerator for his lunch. I do have some of those ice packs, but they melt quickly in the hot weather. Then I remembered what my mom did – when we went to camp it was outside thus no refrigerators there either. Mom used to take our juice, put it in a plastic canteen and freeze it over night. It would keep our food fresh and but thawed and perfectly chilled by lunch time. See mom, I really do pay attention.
Image via stock.xchnge
Fridge Fresh Arm & Hammer
June 21, 2008 | by Diana
My mom comes to visit me once or twice a year. She used to bring her laptop and work, but now she’s finally retired. She does not like to sit still and always wants jobs to do around the house. The last time she was here, I let her do my fridge (which is an honor, I assure you). She tackled it with gusto, and part way through holds out the little orange box with two fingers and says, "Here I think this needs to be replaced".
How about a Summer Blizzard?
June 20, 2008 | by Diana
Today is the first day of summer and to celebrate, I thought I’d tell you about Dairy Queen’s new blizzard. It’s too early to get the new Blizzard because it won’t be out until July 1st. Dairy Queen’s July Blizzard of the Month is…
Eating Well
June 18, 2008 | by Diana
My newest magazine is called Eating Well and has a picture of peas on the front. Right away before you even turn the first page, that’s a big plus. It’s pea pickin’ season and we love, love, love fresh peas. Eating Well, is a beautiful magazine, even their advertisements are nice to read. It’s full of flavorful, but delicious looking recipes. Peas are big in the June issue, but it has recipes for other foods as well, like strawberry and rhubarb in Duck and Strawberry Salad with Rhubarb dressing. Interviews with specialists on health and nutrition are here too. There’s a special report featuring Dr Philip Ades, MD. He wants to help you reduce your risk for heart disease by changing the way you eat. The report even includes heart healthier recipes such as Grilled Tuna with Olive Relish, yum and dessert – Lemon Poppy Seed Cake.
The magazine contains recipes having to do with the season, including strawberry recipes and different burger recipes. The pictures to go with the recipes are so mouth watering. One article …
Father’s Day Hummus
June 17, 2008 | by DianaMy daughter had to work and didn’t have time or money to buy her father a gift for Father’s day. So I suggested that she make one of his favorite treats and then let him eat it. Usually she likes all the same things he does and then they both work on it. That means that neither is thrilled when the other finishes it off. She made him a big bowl of hummus, and some pita chips, and then let him have the whole thing as his father’s day gift. He loved it and is still loving it, since my daughter let him have it all. Since the first time we tried making our own hummus, we’ve never gone back to store bought. Hummus is so cheap and easy to make – once you get the tahini and delicious.
Win A Toaster Oven and ‘Any’tizers Courtesy of Tysons!
June 16, 2008 | by Deb Ng
Tyson’s has a wonderful line of finger foods called Any’tizers. You’ve probably seen the chicken wings and drums in the freezer section of your supermarket. I’m happy to report they also have Any’tizers featuring ribs. Now, if there’s one food my family can’t get enough of, it’s ribs. My husband smokes his all day until they fall off the bone plus we have every rib join within a 100 mile radius staked out. So believe me when I tell you we know ribs.
My family had a chance to sample the Any’tizers ribs and they are awesome! Delicious, with just enough seasoning, these too fall off the bone. They’re easy to make, and go quickly, so buy a lot! My only gripe is that I can’t find them in any of the stores near me.
Would you like to try some Any’tizers? Tyson’s would love to offer you a chance to win coupons for any five Any’tizers, PLUS they’re throwing in a Jaques Pepin Toaster Oven so you can cook them up too. This is a …
Cold Chicken and Couscous Salad
June 14, 2008 | by DianaIt’s been a little warm, so I wanted a salad or something cool to eat rather than a hot meal. I decided to try a cold couscous salad, and I made a green salad to go with it. We have plenty of salad greens and herbs growing right now. Plus it’s pea pickin’ time around here. I like to make my meals based on what’s available. In the summer it will depend on what’s ripe or ready to use after I’ve visited the garden and brought some fresh things inside.
Best Fast Side Dish
June 11, 2008 | by DianaSchool is over for this year for us. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities. One event was the track potluck. It’s right after practice, parents can come, and you are assigned something to bring. I work 40 minutes from the school and home, so I stopped at the store and picked up some cutup fruit. It’s always a big hit, and I didn’t have to worry about how to keep it fresh while I was at work. However, the best thing I saw there was a really fast salad that one girl put together in less than 5 minutes.
