photo credit: jspace3
There are many simple pleasures in life, and it is important to share them with those you love. I appreciated many times learning in the kitchen with my parents. They spent time teaching my sisters and me how to cook, how to clean, and how to be a good hostess. I want to challenge everyone to put your own time frame to the back burner, and try sharing some simple things with your children.
One of the easiest and most fun? Cooking! How exciting it is to have children in the kitchen. I know it might seem like a huge burden to take on, but it can be so rewarding to plan, produce, and enjoy a creation of your own! What a joy to share with your child.
It is important to use it as a learning tool, an opportunity to simply spend time, and a time to allow things to get messy! Allow yourself to be a child again, too. Pull up the hair, put on some old clothes, and have a great bought of family time!
The last of my Pampered Chef “Must Haves” Series is #4 - The Bamboo Spoon Set. While I know bamboo spoons are easy to find all over the cooking world, these spoons are stellar.
The Pampered Chef spoons are far above the competition - non-staining, non-breaking, and guaranteed by a warranty! These spoons are great. They seriously are non-staining. I have used mine in tomato-based sauces many times and my spoons are still basically their original color! Read the rest of this entry »
The third of four Pampered Chef “Must Haves” is the Classic Batter Bowl. This batter bowl is at its least a glass mixing bowl with a plastic, tight-fitting lid. But it is so much more than that! This is a measuring bowl, complete with measurements on the side, allowing you to mix and measure in the bowl, and then simply adding the plastic lid for storage in the refrigerator!
This bowl has a 2-quart capacity, while it has a larger counterpart as well. You can also use this bowl for microwaving and cooking! It can withstand up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and that is awesome! You could cook/bake in this batter bowl when needed. It includes metric and standard measurements for your convenience, too. Read the rest of this entry »
This is my second of four recommendations for great products from Pampered Chef. My number 2 “Must Have” is the Micro-Cooker. This a stylish black plastic bowl with lid. It mimics a saucepan, with a plastic pot with tight-fitting lid. The lid snaps into place so it can be turned upside down without any accidents. The lid is also fit with numerous holes cut, creating a colander that fits right on the pot! This cooker is awesome because it is meant for the microwave and is so multi-functional. Read the rest of this entry »
My first recommendation for a Pampered Chef “Must Have” is the Quick Stir Pitcher. This pitcher is simply amazing! I know it doesn’t sound too exciting - a pitcher. But this quick stir pitcher has an amazing feature. It has a plunger that you pump up and down in order to mix your drink! You simply fill with water, add your mix (such as koolaid or Crystal Lite), and push the pump up and down! Read the rest of this entry »
If you ask an average cook what he or she likes best in her kitchen, I guarantee she could tell you! It is no secret that most people have particular “tools and tricks” of the trade that they prefer to use. And that makes sense. You like to use what you are good at using and what you are used to using!
For me, as I’ve told you before, I love my two favorites: my kitchen stand mixer and my series of rubber spatulas. But there is a product line that is quality, trustworthy, and simply a huge part of many kitchens around the world. I’m speaking of the Pampered Chef Line (www.pamperedchef.com). Their motto is to “Discover the Chef Within You.” This motto really represents the company - they produce a quality product, back it up with their awesome warranties, and includes a variety of recipes to prepare with your new purchase. Read the rest of this entry »
photo credit: dead_squid
While I am not as good at making them at home, I love smoothies. On this post, I am almost speaking to myself! Did you know we are supposed to get 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day! WOW! A day! Think about your daily menu. Does it include 5 servings!? There are many days that mine doesn’t, and that’s a problem.
I was thinking about that, and was inspired to think back to the smoothie. What a versatile way to get them in - the smoothie. Smoothies take on a variety of faces, including fruity and “vegetabley.” Most smoothies are started with a variety of fruits or vegetables, and are supplemented with a liquid, usually juice or milk, and a variety of additives (such as a sweetener or a supplemental vitamin).
photo credit: loopkid
I have come across an amazing recipe! Not only does it taste great and is easy to make, it is Weight-Watchers friendly. Friends of mine on the diet introduced me to this versatile recipe, and it is exciting to have it in my arsenal.
The basic recipe is this:
-1 cake mix, 1 small can of pumpkin, ¾ cup water, and 1 cup any flavor chocolate chips
-Mix all together, fill muffin cups about 2/3 full, and bake according to package directions.
If you’re anything like me, you enjoy watching TV. And, of course, cooking! There is nothing better than combining the two to make a fabulous treat. The Food Network is an awesome approach to entertainment and education for the cooking heart.
The best part of the Food Network is that it is on all-day, non-stop. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year of cooking education. There are a variety of shows that are aired regularly, and there are also seasonal specials, cook-offs, and a good dose of shows to “change it up.”
Of the regular shows, be sure to check out a few of my favorites: any show by Rachael Ray, “Iron Chef: America,” “Take Home Chef,” and “Good Eats.” These shows, along with many of their other great shows, feature cooking geniuses, pros in their field. It is definitely an encouragement to have professionals showing and telling me how to do things. I love seeing pictures with recipes in a printed book, so seeing the recipe brought to life is even better.
Of the special shows, my favorites are any of the cook-off specials. There are grill-offs, burger cook-offs, and my personal favorite, the cake bake-offs.
My husband is a major video game player, and I have to admit there are a few that I indulge in! The first being Guitar Hero 3. It’s just awesome! But another interesting one is a game called Cooking Mama: Cook Off. This video game is for Nintendo DS or Nintendo Wii.
The premise of the game is that you are a chef, learning how to cook! There are various levels to the game, but you practice different cooking skills (just as dicing, slicing, boiling, etc.) and then put them to the test. It is so much fun because not only do you get to play games, but you actually prepare dishes while you play! This is a great game for girls especially, because they seem to enjoy a different kind of game. It is an Asian game, so you will find a few of the dishes are “interesting!” Read the rest of this entry »
photo credit: jspace3
The premise of the game is that you are a chef, learning how to cook! There are various levels to the game, but you practice different cooking skills (just as dicing, slicing, boiling, etc.) and then put them to the test. It is so much fun because not only do you get to play games, but you actually prepare dishes while you play! This is a great game for girls especially, because they seem to enjoy a different kind of game. It is an Asian game, so you will find a few of the dishes are “interesting!” 