Adult Up Your Baking With A Dash Of Alcohol

September 4, 2017 1 Comment

Are you a passionate home cook? Do you love nothing more than spending your spare time in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes? Baking can be a great outlet for stress and worry, and a fantastic way to express yourself – in fact, baking is so good for health and wellness that many stress and wellness specialists recommend baking therapy as an effective outlet for stress and other mental health problems.

 

Bearing that in mind, cooking the same things day in, day out will become boring. That’s why if you want cooking and baking to remain an effective outlet for the day to day stresses that come with life, it’s important to get creative with your food. One way to do that is to try cooking and baking with alcohol – believe it or not there are some fantastic recipes out there that include alcohol.

 

Love the idea of adding a dash of alcohol to your cooking to add a little pizazz to your food? Then read on for all of the best ideas – just remember that the suggestions below are for adults only and aren’t child-friendly.

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Add a little liquora to your cakes and bakes

 

Have you heard of Pimms traybakes? Or whiskey and chocolate tarts? What about Jamaican rum cake? All of these sweet treats have one thing in common: they include alcohol. Pimms cakes are becoming more and more popular – these are a light, citrus-flavored sponges topped with a zesty icing with a hint of Pimms, and a pipette of Pimms to inject into the cake just before eating it. Whiskey and chocolate tarts are a popular choice for slightly more upmarket desserts – they’re rich and indulgent, and much easier to make than you would think. All it takes is a delicious chocolate tart recipe and a quality whiskey, such as Kikori whiskey, for instance – you can read a Kikori whiskey review online. Or, if you’re not a fan of whiskey, you can always substitute it for rum.

 

Channel your inner Willy Wonka and create some sweets

 

Got a sweet tooth? How would you feel about channeling your inner Willy Wonka and creating some sweets? They’d have alcohol in, of course. Whether you love boiled sweets or traditional lollipops, you can make some delicious alcohol infused ones. From peach prosecco boiled sweets to raspberry mojito lollipops, there are so many different recipes that you can try. Just make sure that if you have little ones, you make some alcohol-free sweets too, else you will have some very upset children.

 

Revamp your main dishes with alcohol

 

You may already add alcohol to your savory meals, or you may not, but either way, it’s worth mentioning. The fact is that a dash of red wine or a glug of ale can bring a dish to life, whether it’s a stew, pie, or risotto, adding a little alcohol can really add to the flavor. Many of these dishes can be consumed by children because the alcohol burns off while the taste remains, giving the dish that little extra flavor boost.

 

So there you have it, a guide to baking and cooking with alcohol, and some ideas for the kinds of things you can make.

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews, Recipes

6 Hacks All The Best Home Cooks Swear By

August 29, 2017 Leave a Comment

When it comes to creating delicious meals for you and your family to enjoy, it’s not always easy to get it right. That being said, it can become easier, if you take note of what the pros say, that is. Have you ever eaten in a restaurant where the kitchen is in full view of the diners? Well, if you have, you will have seen how efficiently a team of skilled chefs can operate amongst the chaos of a busy kitchen. This is known in the industry as choreographed chaos, because although it looks like total madness from the outside, it is in fact well organized with the entire team moving as one well-oiled machine, and that is what every kitchen should be like.

 

Want to ensure that your home cooking is the best that it could possibly be? Then take note of the six hacks below that all of the very best chefs swear by, and implement them in your own kitchen.

Source for photo

 

  1. Learn to season your own food

 

Don’t rely on sachet mixes for meals. Instead, learn how to season your own food. Invest in a spice rack for your kitchen and fill it with all of the herbs and spices that are most commonly used in cooking. These should include salt, pepper, oregano, basil, mixed herbs, allspice, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, garlic powder, cinnamon, garam masala, and turmeric. These are just a few of the herbs and spices that every home cook needs to make healthy and delicious meals from scratch.

 

  1. Invest in quality tools

 

They say that a poor workman blames his tools, but when it comes to cooking, the tools that you have are vital. If you are cooking with old pots and pans, your food may burn onto them as you cook. If your knives aren’t sharp enough, it may take longer than necessary to prepare meals. That’s why it’s worth browsing websites like Stone Frying Pans to look for new cooking tools, such as new knives, for instance, to ensure that you are able to make preparing your food as quick and easy as possible. To be able to prepare your meals easily, good quality cooking tools are vital.

 

  1. Freeze bases for busy days

 

To make cooking on busy days easier, it is worth making up some sauce bases in advance and freezing them. Sauce bases are easy to make and also great to freeze. Make up a batch of basic tomato sauce bases that can be used for all manner of dishes, from curries and stews to soups and pasta dishes, then when you go to prepare a meal, you already have a base made up. For adding extra flavor to bases, freeze olive oil in ice cube trays and add flavors to them, such as garlic, and herbs like basil and rosemary, so that you can add an ice cube of frozen flavor to the pan as your sauce bases defrosted.

 

  1. Experiment

 

Don’t be afraid to experiment in the kitchen. When it comes to your cooking, be brave and experiment with your meals. Take a recipe that you have made many times before and find little ways to change it up. The fact is that all the best cooks experiment with their food, to find ways to improve it, so don’t be afraid to experiment with your own cooking.

 

  1. Taste as you go

 

The biggest mistake that you can make in the kitchen is failing to taste your food as you go. As you cook each dish, make sure to use a clean spoon to taste it. This will allow you to ensure that it is well seasoned and has all of the flavors that it needs.

 

  1. Your slow cooker is your best friend

 

Just because you have a busy day planned, that doesn’t mean that you can’t serve your family a healthy and delicious homemade meal. Utilize your slow cooker and make it your very best friend. On days when you know, it’s going to be too busy to prepare a meal when you get home, pop a few ingredients into your slow cooker in the morning so that by the evening the bulk of your meal is cooked. Just don’t forget to season the dish accordingly.  

 

There you have it, your guide to the six hacks that all of the very best cooks swear by. Take note of these and implement them in your own cooking, and you can vastly improve the quality of the meals that you are able to make.

Filed Under: Cooking, Kitchen Reviews

Hostess Habits You Have To Break Before Your Next Party

August 24, 2017 Leave a Comment

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Opening up your home to other people is never a simple task. Even when you have prepared to the hilt and think nothing can go wrong, something is still liable to happen during the event itself. Some people will be late; some drinks will run out; you’ll have forgotten the dietary requirements of one of your guests.

 

What it’s easy to forget is that most of the above can be forgiven. When friends and family attend a party at your home, they’re not expecting a perfect 5* service where everything goes to plan. They want to have a nice night, feel catered to but not excessively so, and just enjoy the atmosphere.

 

Of course, as the hostess, it’s up to you to be the leader of that atmosphere – and there are a few things you can do to damage it. Most of these you won’t even realize are bad things; some might even just seem like being polite. However, if you do them too often, then it could be your behavior – rather than anything materially wrong with the party – that brings the mood down. So why not take a scan through the list and see if any of these must-quit hostess habits apply to you?

 

Bad Habit: Constantly Asking If People Need Refills

 

On the surface, this seems… well, polite, really. You want your guests to be comfortable, and part of that means ensuring they always have a full glass. After all, you’ve done the beforehand work, got yourself a beverage distributor and plenty of different drinks options – so what’s wrong with asking guests if they need you to top up their glass?

 

Put simply: it can feel like you’re nagging them. An occasional question is fine, but many a hostess may take this to a point where it feels like they’re constantly pestering their guests. Don’t go too far, or your kindly offer begins to feel like an annoyance.

 

Bad Habit: Trying To Dictate A Tone

 

Parties take on a life of their own – or at least, they should. If you try too hard to create an atmosphere or tone for the evening, then two things are going to happen:

 

  1. It’s not going to work. Shouting “woohoo, party!” into a quiet room or – on the flip side – trying to temper down a lively party into a more sit down, calm, event just isn’t going to happen.
  2. You’re going to exhaust yourself trying to pursue the idea of what you think your party should be like, rather than just letting it happen naturally.

 

Neither consequence is one you want to find yourself dealing with – so don’t. Sure, redirect conversation if it’s going in a direction that might cause arguments – politics is always a good one to avoid – but other than that, let things happen.

 

Bad Habit: Enjoying Yourself Too Much

 

Of course, you should enjoy your party. However, it’s best to try and ensure you at least steer clear of too much alcohol – especially if you’ve not eaten much during the day as you’ve been rushing around making plans!

 

Combine the three above and you will truly be the hostess with the mostest, who knows where the line is between attentive and obsessive and is always on hand to help with any problems that arise.

Filed Under: Family, Kitchen Reviews

The Popular Kitchen Appliances That You Can Do Without

August 22, 2017 Leave a Comment

Whether you’re renovating the kitchen or just cleaning it up, you might find plenty of appliances and extras that you could simply do without. Everyone loves their kitchen gadgets, but unless you have a big kitchen with plenty of storage space, the chances of you appreciating it are very slim. After all, a knife is pretty much all you need to prepare most ingredients, and while things like a food processor are useful, it doesn’t mean they’re absolutely necessary.

 

So if you want to declutter your kitchen and make it more pleasing to the eye, here are some common kitchen appliances that you probably don’t need.

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Oven

 

You might think this is crazy, but a lot of people don’t make full use of their ovens and it can actually be quite a pain to maintain due to its size and how easy it is to make a mess inside of your oven. In fact, some countries like Japan don’t even have large ovens because they don’t use them very often. If you don’t frequently use your oven, then there’s a better alternative: a countertop one. Check out this review of the Wolf Gourmet oven if you want a good idea of how well they work and the features they offer. If your stove tops and oven are separated, then it might be worth getting rid of your oven in favor of a more convenient and cheaper alternative.

 

Toaster

 

Although many of us eat toast, a toaster is really only good for making a single thing. Why not throw it out and use your oven or toaster oven to create it instead? It’ll save you a lot of space and you don’t need to worry about cleaning the toaster separately.

 

Pasta or Spaghetti Maker

 

These are common appliances that allow you to make fresh pasta and spaghetti. However, it’s a lot of work, it creates a mess and it’s not nearly as convenient as just buying fresh or dried pasta. If you want to clear up some space (and make your life a little easier) then you may want to consider getting rid of your pasta or spaghetti maker in favor of just buying your pasta.

 

Toast Press

 

Toasted sandwiches are fantastic, but you can be more flexible if you simply do it in a pan on your stove. All you need to do is press the sandwich with a flat spatula and you’re good to go. It saves you having to clean up a toast press and you don’t need to worry about the size of the bread.

 

Microwave

Getting rid of your microwave might sound crazy, but it’s honestly something that you can live without. Sure, it’s convenient to heat up leftovers and cook certain meals, but those meals are usually unhealthy TV dinners that aren’t as nutritious as food cooked on a stove or oven. In addition, you can always heat up leftovers in a pan. It might be a little more cleaning, but it’s generally going to keep the taste instead of nuking it in the oven for a while. Getting rid of your microwave can also promote healthier eating habits which are always a plus.

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews

The Ultimate Gadgets No Kitchen Should Be Without

August 22, 2017 Leave a Comment

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Your kitchen is the heart of your home, and you adore the memories that you have created in there, the culinary creations that you’ve cooked up in there and the daily chats you’ve had in there with friends who’ve popped over for a coffee and a cookie. Kitchens are replacing living rooms as being the room where we entertain, congregate and simply relax. It’s time to make the heart of your home the ultimate kitchen by filling it with the ultimate gadgets to make your culinary life a whole lot easier.

 

Before you even consider gizmos and gadgetry, it pays to take a look at the design of your kitchen. Does it have all of the cupboards you require? Is the cabinetry in good order? Do you require a new kitchen worktop? If you think that your kitchen needs a little bit of a spruce up, take a look at a site like http://worldofrenovation.com.au who can lead an entire kitchen renovation from concept to completion, or if your plans aren’t so grand, can source your perfect mixer tap and that pendant lighting that you have always longed for. When your kitchen space is refreshed, you’re ready to go gadget shopping.

Image Credit

 

Simple Gizmos

 

  1. The Apple Divider – If you have kids who love their fruit, this is a gadget that you’ll be putting to good use daily. By setting your shiny green Granny Smith on a board and pushing your divider down on top of it like a French guillotine, you have a perfectly cored and segmented apple ready for your little darlings to devour.

 

  1. The Garlic Twister – This is an ingenious design to save you from the awkward washing of the garlic crusher or enduring garlic infused fingers for days. You pop your peeled clove inside this device, give it a twist and thirty seconds later, minced garlic is ready to pop into your ragu or chili.

Image Credit

 

Extravagant Gadgets

 

  1. The Ice Cream Maker – Yes, you can buy a wealth of luxury Italian gelato now from any high street shop or deli, but the joy of making your own ice cream infused with your own flavors is one of life’s little pleasures. Check out https://browneyedbaker.com for a wealth of recipes to try. How about a scoop of blueberry and banana clotted cream gelato or a mango and almond sorbet?

 

  1. The Bread Maker – The smell of fresh bread cooking in any home is one of the most satisfying aromas known to man. Without all the sweat-inducing requirements of kneading, proving and then kneading again, a bread maker takes all of the hassles out of the cooking process without taking away from the traditional rustic taste of a homemade sourdough or focaccia.

 

With our lives becoming busier and full of work, technology, and errands, it’s worthwhile to invest in a world of culinary gadgetry that saves you time and effort but still enables you to enjoy spending time in your kitchen. After all, the kitchen is the heart of your home, and there are many memories still to be made.

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews

SunButter Sunflower Butter#sunbutter #momsmeet

August 1, 2017 Leave a Comment

SunButter is an all-natural delicious sun butter. Since they are sunflower seeds made with simple ingredients that are roasted and grown in the U.S. this is an excellent and healthy choice. SunButter contains seven grams of protein per serving, causing it to have more vitamins and minerals than any other nut butter. Not only is it a healthy choice it is also allergen free because it does not contain any of the eight food allergies most common to nut butter contains. This product is ideal for schools since a lot of kids are allergic to peanut butter, this product could be a substitute for peanut butter items.

One of the best things about this product is the price, which the average price only being $5.99! The product is also available in five varieties which are Natural, Creamy, Natural Crunchy, No Sugar Added, and Organic. There is a flavor for just about everyone! They are served in 16-ounce jars, making it the perfect size for an occasion.


Above is a picture of my grandson chowing down to eat apples with his SunButter. He not only loved it but kept asking for more. I loved being able to provide an allergen free and healthy snack for him. SunButter is a great choice for bread, apples, crackers, celery, carrots, ice-cream, and even pancakes if you eat it on your pancakes. Being able to put the lid back on causes this to be a great snack to travel with. The taste is a burst of flavor inside your mouth. With the taste being outstanding, you might be wondering about the texture. The texture is not too oily but not too crunchy, it is the perfect mixture. I highly recommended this product. Please let me know what you think.

This is a sponsored ad however these are my honest opinions and thoughts on this product. #sunbutter #momsmeet

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews

Coffee Crazy: Great Gifts for Java Lovers

July 21, 2017 1 Comment

Everyone knows a coffee lover. In fact, many people will say that they can’t live without coffee. However, for many, it’s the caffeine in coffee that they really rely on. For some, it’s the delicious taste of lots of different coffee varieties that they love. If you know someone who loves coffee a little more than most, you might have thought about getting them something coffee-related as a gift. It’s the ideal approach to take, but at the same time, there’s a risk of getting them something a million other people have already thought of in the past. If you’re not sure what to choose, try some of these ideas.

Travel Items

Being able to drink coffee on the go is essential for any coffee lover. They don’t want to have to rely on Starbucks for their coffee, and there’s no always time for them to go to their favorite independent coffee shop in the morning. Plus, it’s cheaper to make your own at home. Fortunately, there are many products designed for coffee lovers to take their cup of joe on the move with them. A simple travel mug is a good start, but you can even get entire kits and even portable coffee makers that are perfect for commutes and business trips.

Pic source: Pexels

Some Special Coffee

 

Buying coffee for a coffee lover might seem like a bit of a risk. If you don’t know much about coffee, it could feel like you’re flying blind. Where do you even start? If you’re not really sure, you could try a selection of samples. There’s sure to be something in there that they’ll like. The other option is to go for a special coffee that isn’t just your ordinary run-of-the-mill bean, like a Kopi Luwak coffee. This famous coffee from the Philippines isn’t ready to drink until it has been digested by wild Palm civets – that’s a small, forest-dwelling mammal.

 

Fancy Barista Gadgets

 

Many coffee lovers have got a sweet setup at home so they can make something much more respectable than instant coffee. But even if they don’t have space in their kitchen for any fancy equipment, you can still get them some handy barista-style gadgets. What about a coffee grinder for their fresh beans, or a mini espresso maker? They might also appreciate a cold brew maker they can keep in the fridge or even just a clip for their coffee bag to keep it fresh.

 

Coffee-scented Gifts

 

The smell of coffee is just as good as the taste for many coffee lovers. If you don’t want to get them something that’s actually coffee or used for making coffee, you can explore gifts with the sweet scent of coffee. You can get all kinds of things, from coffee body scrubs to coffee-scented candles. And there’s always the option of a delicious coffee cake, which has the benefit of also tasting of coffee, without actually being coffee.

 

Pick from a huge range of appropriate gifts for coffee lovers when you next need to buy a present.

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews Tagged With: , ,

ARCTIC ZERO®Frozen Dessert #momsmeet #arcticzero

July 11, 2017 Leave a Comment

It is definitely the dog days of Summer here in South Texas. Temperatures are in the upper 90’s daily and the “feels like” temperature is over 100’s. Even the pool feels hot in the afternoon.

The only relief I have found is my afternoon guilt free snack! Arctic Zero Frozen Dessert is such a light, cold, oh my goodness yummy, snack. The hardest part of my afternoon is decided which flavor I want to devour them!

 

Only 35 calories per half-cup serving and 150 calories for the entire pint, Creamy pints are fat-free.

  • ARCTIC ZERO is low in sugar (low glycemic) and makes a great sweet treat for diabetics since it’s sweetened naturally with monk fruit (no sugar alcohols).
  • ARCTIC ZERO is lactose-free and perfect for those who are lactose intolerant.
  • ARCTIC ZERO only uses rBST-free whey protein.
  • There are many gluten-free ARCTIC ZERO options available that are every bit as delicious as non-gluten free frozen desserts.
  • ARCTIC ZERO Creamy pints are fat-free and only 35 calories per half-cup serving and 150 calories for the entire pint, making it a zero-guilt dessert.
  • ARCTIC ZERO Chunky pints are low in fat (1-2.5 grams) and only 75 calories per half-cup serving and 300 calories for the entire pint, allowing you to indulge without guilt.
  • ARCTIC ZERO pints contain 3-4 grams of protein per serving and are perfect in protein smoothies or shakes.
  • All ARCTIC ZERO pints contain 2-3 grams of fiber per serving.
  • ARCTIC ZERO is GMO-free and contains no artificial ingredients.
  • ARCTIC ZERO is certified kosher.
  • Price: $4-$5 per pint.

 

The best part of all this is no guilt eating ice cream every afternoon, after all, it is only 35 calorie snack. It doesn’t affect, my attempt at the beach body this summer. If you have tried any yet, you need to not only is is delicious but so smooth and light you will wonder how it can only be 35 calories!

Filed Under: Health Reviews, Kitchen Reviews

#Ozeri Serafino 2 Double Wall Thermo Glasses

April 17, 2017 5 Comments

I love this time of year, I get to spend my days lounging by the pool enjoying my retirement lifestyle. Okay maybe that is a dream, but I do get to enjoy the condo pool every now and then…

 

Last year I had an issue with keeping my drink cold while at the pool. I would take a bottled water and within 30 minutes it was hot. Apparently, we have rules at our pool and you can only use plastic cups, so I was determined to find something that would keep my drink cold no matter how long I was out there.

I have found the perfect solution to my thirst problem while laying out. The Ozeri Serafino 2 Double Wall Thermo Glass is my perfect solution! These are very durable cups!

 

 

Serafino 2 Double Wall Thermo Glasses is 16 ounces of an insulated wall glasses that keeps my ice from melting for hours. I love its unique shape, I have small hands and a lot of time cups tend to sweat or are too big for me to grab when my hand is wet and slippery. These have a crease in the middle for gripping with no problem.

 

 

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Happy National Pancake Day!!

March 7, 2017 2 Comments

I was thrilled to wake up and realize it is National Pancake Day. I love any reason to not only spend time in the kitchen but have my grandson’s help me. We love to make a variety of pancakes in a variety of sizes. Just for fun today we made our baby, poppy and mickey pancakes!

I love to use any type of pancake mix, but one thing they must have is buttermilk! I was raised on buttermilk pancakes and to this day when I think about pancakes I remember our family’s Sunday morning breakfast time.

I do freeze my leftover pancakes, I hate to waste food! They are so easy to throw in the microwave they next time you want some and taste just as good!

Here are a few we made just for fun, as you can see we top our pancakes off with peanut butter!!

Our Mickey Mouse pancakes.

Poppy Size pancake.

Baby size pancakes!

IHop has free pancake stacks today for a donation. All the money raised is donated, so if you don’t feel like making your own, head that way for a good cause!

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews Tagged With:

Nutri Ninja Nutri Bowl Duo #ninjakitchen

February 17, 2017 24 Comments

I love having everything I need in the kitchen readily available. Especially because most evenings I am so busy trying to get supper ready. Of course, my kitchen space is small so what I keep on my counter must be multi-purpose. This why I love my new Nutri Ninja & Bowl Duo….

Having one item that does so many functions is a life saver. It makes my life easy and in turn saves me time. It can make smoothies, you can use it to extract, use it for a fusion mix, fusion chop, and fusion dough.  This one item can help make your entire meal.

 

I love the AutoIQ Boost option. Using this breaks down all the ingredients which help the consistency of the item. If you like it thicker then choose no. The set comes with a recipe book that offers 75 recipes! I love how it not only tells you what ingredients to add but which options on your ninja to use.

 

You can make everything from milkshakes, smoothies, to meals. There are so many options to use this for. I tried the BLT salad and several other recipes. I am in love. I actually feel like a pro in the kitchen.  You can find all their recipes here: http://www.ninjakitchen.com/recipes/filter?q=&sort=Newest&tags=148

 

 

Product Description

The Nutri Ninja | Ninja Blender Duo with Auto-iQ technology provides intelligent processing that combines timed pulsing, blending, and pausing functions that do the work for you. Our Nutri Ninja Pro Extractor Blades break down whole fruits, vegetables, ice and seeds for nutrient & vitamin extraction*. Our XL 72 oz.** blender’s Total Crushing Blades pulverize ice to snow in seconds.

This Nutri Ninja comes with a 1-year warranty.

 

Filed Under: Health Reviews, Kitchen Reviews, Recipes Tagged With: , ,

Sun Basket Meals Gluten Free Roasted Pork Chops Recipe #sunbasket

February 2, 2017 20 Comments

Roasted Pork Chops with Sweet Potato hash and cilantro pesto

 

I am so excited, I received my Sun Basket meals today and already made the first meal!! Roasted pork chops with sweet potato hash and cilantro pesto, I am not a master chef but this was super easy and so yummy!!  I received three meals in separate bags, the meat was at the bottom of the box in ice packs.

 

 

I have to admit I was a little worried because I and the kitchen aren’t always friends. I like simple and can cook simple meals great. Like growing up in South Georgia, I learned how to make fried foods, mashed potatoes, and brown gravy. So trying new things is a little scary for me. The Sun Basket Meals can be ordered and delivered to your door with everything you will need to make a meal!!

Right now you get three meals free with your order!!

 

 

This was a little out of my comfort zone, so imagine my hubby’s surprise when he came home to this gourmet meal I cooked! He thought I spent all day in the kitchen making this!!

 

 

These ingredients made the perfect size meal for my hubby and I. We loved the flavor and how easy it was to make! I was able to make it within 25 minutes and it tasted amazing! The flavors together are amazing, I would never have thought I could make something so good and pretty!

 

 

Each recipe has fresh organic ingredients and easy recipes delivered, with Paleo, Gluten-free and Vegetarian options.

You have a step by step guide to walk you through exactly what to do! I love knowing I had all the ingredients I needed. I hate when I want to make something and do not have everything I need!

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews, Recipes Tagged With: , , , ,

Ninja Coffee Bar System #ninjacoffeebar

January 30, 2017 25 Comments

Living in South Texas has its advantages and disadvantages….

The advantages by far outweigh the disadvantages!  I love being able to walk outside and see all the stars in the clear sky. I love knowing that while driving I will always see a tractor or a cowboy on a horse walking down the road. I love how everyone tips their hats and says yes ma’am still. The cons, of course, are only a couple, the weather changes from day to day and it takes an hour to get anywhere.

I love coffee and usually can only get the good stuff when I go to town once a week. Since it is so far away, I spend a lot of money for that cup of coffee, I will get hot specialty coffee on cold days and cold specialty coffee on hot days. I am excited to finally get the Ninja Coffee Bar System. This coffee bar makes both hot and cold coffee. It is easy to operate and makes a cup or a pot quickly.

The first cup I made was a creme de caramel coffee. The coffee bar came with 20 recipes, I am determined to try them all!  This was so much better than any specialty coffee I have ever had. I love how rich tasting it was.

I love knowing that I am able to make all of my favorite coffees anytime I crave them. I don’t have to wait till I go to town anymore. If you like saving a ton of money and having your favorite drinks anytime, then you really need a Ninja Coffee Bar System.

Here is a basic video of the Ninja Coffee bar. I love the frother option and being able to make a cup or pot depending on what everyone wants.

Description:

Ninja Coffee Bar® System

New Ninja Coffee Bar System is a better than a coffee house experience, at home, that you can’t get anywhere else.

Provides integrated frother, six brew sizes, five brew types, including the Ninja exclusive Café Forte – which amplifies the natural subtle flavors of your favorite coffee, for a sensationally different and delicious coffee experience!

I received this product for review purposes, although this is 100 my own opinion.

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews, Recipes Tagged With: , ,

Ozeri INSTAVAC Green Earth Food Storage Container Set #Ozeri

January 23, 2017 20 Comments

With three grandsons running around, I have to keep fruit and other finger foods in stock. I have found that they are more willing to eat healthy if they can see it and it is easy for them to get to. This is why I am hooked on the Ozeri Instavac Green Food Storage Container Set. This easy to lock set includes 4 stackable containers that have instant vacuum to help preserve the food for a longer period of time. You can put food in and the see through containers help my grandkids know exactly what they want and are getting.

 

 

They are light weight and dishwasher safe, so after each use, I can throw them in the dishwasher to use again. I like knowing you can close the lid and vacuum the air out. This is not only helping food last longer, but helping me teach my grandsons how to eat healthy and keep food longer. The bottom is wavy to keep the food from sitting in moisture.

 

 

Most importantly these containers are shatterproof so when those little hands accidently drop them, you don’t have to worry about them cracking! The kids can tote them all over and they will last.

 

Ozeri

Description:

  • Instant vacuum freshness without pumps, motors or confusing parts; Simply press down on the lid and air is forced out via the one-way valve
  • Patented valve removes excess air to reduce naturally occurring bacteria; It also releases pressure to prevent spills and splatters in microwaves
  • Wave pattern on bottom of each container keeps cut fruit and vegetables elevated from water and juices
  • Handy date dial allows you to record when food was first stored and monitor days kept in the refrigerator
  • BPA-free, stain-resistant, shatter-proof and as transparent as glass; Freezer, microwave, and dishwasher safe; Satisfaction guaranteed
Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews Tagged With: ,

Cajun Rice – Ozeri 12″ Green Frying Pan #Ozeri

January 17, 2017 18 Comments

We have a weekly potluck dinner at our church. We usually decide the week before what theme we are going to fix and somehow it all turns out! This week we decided on a cajun theme dinner. So I found my grandmothers cajun rice recipe. She lived in Lousiana her whole life and could make some of the best cajun food I have ever eaten. This being my favorite so naturally, I wanted to try and make it.

 

 

Of course, I can’t make this without my go-to pan from Ozeri! I love how heavy duty, non-stick and easy to clean up this pan is. I used a teaspoon of oil and rub it with a paper towel I have never had an issue with it sticking. It comes with a felt cover to place inside while not using so you don’t have to worry about other pans scratching it when you stack them for storage.

This pan is 12” Green Earth Frying Pan by Ozeri, with Textured Ceramic Non-Stick Coating from Germany (100% PTFE, PFOA and APEO Free)

I have used several Ozeri pans for a long time and have never had them chip off like the other non-stick pans. On an average, I use my pan about 4 times a week. I do hand wash it after each use and don’t put it in the dishwasher, but have never had an issue with the handle or the non-stick material. They still look as nice as they did the day I got them.

 

So you can see why I love using it to make all of my favorite dishes, I am not ashamed to take the food in the pan and serve it! I always get compliments about it. Needless to say, this was a big hit at church, not only did I have very little left to take home but later that afternoon when I had to clean the pan it was so easy. I can’t wait to make my next project in my new pan, this size is perfect for my hungry family!!

My grandmother’s recipe is a little time-consuming but so worth it. If you love cajun food, then you must try it! Please read the instructions to make sure your pan will have a long life.

 

Recipe:

1 lb hot Italian sausage

1 small yellow onion diced

2 peppers ~ yellow, orange, red, or green – sliced

1 cup celery ~ finely chopped

8 Tb of butter

1 1/2 cup of rice

4- 41/2 cup water or chicken stock Seasoning

1 tb paprika

2 tb Himalayan salt

1/4 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp dried oregano leaves

1/4 tsp thyme leaves

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp black pepper

Brown sausage till no longer pink. Drain. Sauté vegetables in the butter just till slightly tender. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a skillet and bring to a boil stirring a few time. Lower heat and cover 25 to 30 minutes until rice is tender. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews, Recipes Tagged With: ,

Condo Living!! Ozeri Wine Opener #Ozeri

January 14, 2017 4 Comments

My husband and I are counting down the days till he can retire… We recently bought a condo on the water and can not wait to enjoy more time there. My first addition to the condo was my Ozeri Wine Opener. We love sitting outside in the evening listening and watching the waves while having a drink. I realized a long time ago, my go to drink is wine, the problem is I have no strength in my hands in order to tightly hold the bottle while trying to manually twist a cork off. A few years ago we found the Ozeri Wine Opener and since then this is all I use. So naturally I had to have one at the condo also.

I love how long the opener lasts after charging it. I haven’t recharged it since the first time. So far it is running just as strong as it did initially. I would say I use it once every couple weeks. It looks so sleek and impresses the guest so I don’t mind leaving it on the counter for everyone to admire.

Right now I am into different Moscato Wines, I love how sweet and smooth they taste. I usually add kiwi to it to give it an even sweeter taste. I have never liked red or dry wine, but love trying different white ones. I was at a friends Christmas party and tried this sparkly Moscato Wine and fell in love with it. If you like sweet wine then this is a must try!

This wine opener also comes with an aerator. I love using it. It helps the wine’s flavor and you will be so shocked at how wonderful the wine tastes. It makes the wine taste like a really expensive wine! Aerating wine causes oxidation and evaporation (getting rid of volatile undesirable compounds). This helps it keep that fresh sparkly flavor.

 

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews, Rockport Texas, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

12″ Green Frying Pan – #Ozeri Spaghetti Dinner

December 15, 2016 1 Comment

I received this product for review purposes from Ozeri, although this is 100% my opinion.

 

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I love making homemade spaghetti.  This is my husbands favorite quick meal. What I don’t like is running out of room in the frying pan. I prefer to brown my meat and sauces in the same pan. This 12″ pan is the perfect size for me to cook the whole meal in one pan.

It is super easy to clean up after each use and comes  with an amazing felt cover so you can stack your pans without fear of scratching it. These pans heat up evenly and work really well.

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Use this awesome 12″ Green Frying Pan to make it all in one pan!

Easy Spaghetti Recipe:

Saute 1 pound ground beef, 1/2 cup onions and 1/2 cup mushrooms with a tsp salt and pepper.

Directions

  • Prep  15 m

  • Cook 1 h 10 m

  • Ready In 1 h 25 m

  1. Combine ground beef, onion, garlic, and green pepper in a large saucepan. Cook and stir until meat is brown and vegetables are tender. Drain grease.
  2. Simmer on low for 1 hour

“Product Description

Size:  12-Inch

Utilizing GREBLON — an ultra-safe dual ceramic coating from Germany, the Green Earth Pan by Ozeri is one of the world’s first frying pans to achieve non-stick perfection while remaining absolutely free of PTFE, PFOA and APEO. Conventional cookware and other ceramic cookware brands achieve their non-stick performance through a coating of PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene), a synthetic substance that has waxy properties. At very high temperatures, PTFE begins to decompose and release fumes which are documented to be lethal to birds and small pets, and can be harmful to humans. In addition, traditional pans incorporating PTFE are often manufactured with the aid of PFOA (PerFluoroOctanoic Acid), which the EPA has classified as a ‘persistent pollutant of the environment’, and APEO (Alkylphenol ethoxylates), which are under restricted use in Germany due to environmental concerns about their poor biodegradability, toxicity to aquatic life, and potential to act as endocrine disrupters. With the Green Earth Pan’s GREBLON ceramic from Germany, even under high temperatures, no harmful toxic substances are ever released into the environment. This is because the Green Earth Pan utilizes an inert, 100% ceramic coating inspired by nature – not a laboratory. The Green Earth Pan’s ceramic coating is completely free of PTFE, PFOA and APEO substances, and far more durable and scratch-resistant than other non-stick surfaces. With better non-stick properties, the Green Earth Pan allows you to saute, fry, bake, boil and braise with as little as half the amount of oil normally used, and cleaning is a breeze. The Green Earth Pan by Ozeri is made of the highest quality die-cast aluminum that allows for even cooking and fantastic browning without hot spots. It boasts a magnetized bottom for rapid heat transfer on induction stoves, and a heat resistant silicone coated handle. This version of the Green Earth Pan features a honeycomb ceramic cooking surface that provides small air pockets for even greater heat distribution beneath food and a superior cooking performance. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. GREBLON ceramic made by Weilburger GmbH, Germany. Final assembly in China.”

12″ Green Frying Pan

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Salt and Pepper Grinder Set for Professional Chef #saltandpeppergrinderset

October 17, 2016 Leave a Comment

I love being able to grind my salt and pepper prior to eating. The flavor is so much better than your shaker salt / pepper shakers. I was excited to try SM Health Kitchen’s Salt & Pepper grinder. The stainless steel accents and clear body make them a cute addition to the table. They look a lot nicer than regular salt and pepper shakers.

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#saltandpeppergrinderset

Everyone who comes over to eat loves to use them and compliment me on how easy to use and classy they are. You can adjust them from fine to coarse prior to using which is a feature I love to have! Best of all NO batteries needed. They are easy to refill when needed and hold a lot, so they last a long time. If you are in the market for a classy salt / pepper set then you need to check them out! Would be great for a Christmas Gift for those hard to buy people in your life.

https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Pepper-Grinder-Set-Adjustable/dp/B01BSICN2A

 

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Artisan Griller Pit Gloves #Pitgloves

November 18, 2015 Leave a Comment

This post is brought to you by Artisan Griller and Reviews by Kathy.

My hubby is the main cook around our house. I own my own store, which means I open it up and close it down in the late afternoon. By the time I get home, cooking is the last thing I want to do! He is an amazing cook, but he rocks as a grill master! We eat grilled food at least 4 or more times each week. I recently received a pair of Artisan Griller pit gloves for him to use while grilling.

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What I love about the gloves, is the fact that he can actually turn the meat right on the grill, grab it and even pull the Boston butts for his famous pulled bbq! They have a jersey cotton liner inside, while the outside is constructed of a neoprene coating that actually resists melting and burning to protect his hands from heat, grease, oil, water, fire and stains. The neoprene coating is also waterproof and offers better insulation and protection from heat as well as being more resistant to fire.

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My hubby loves the textured exterior called Que-Grab because he never has to worry about the meat slipping from his hands. It also comes in very handy with placing logs into the fire pit. They are made long enough to protect not only your hands, but your forearms as well. He is able to adjust the racks in the grill and smoker with ease. Cleaning the gloves was as easy as wiping them down with a wet cloth. They are not tight fitting gloves at all making them easy to slip on and off.

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These gloves would make an excellent gift for anyone who loves to grill! You can find the Artisan Griller pit gloves on Amazon with free Prime shipping!

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