My wife and I own so many small appliances that we had to renovate our kitchen just to make room for them all! Not every cook will need every small appliance listed here, but do buy the ones that work for the way you cook. If you like pureed soups, buy an excellent blender. If you love braises, a slow cooker might be for you. And if you have a sweet tooth, consider investing in an ice cream maker.
You Say Crock Pot, I Say Slow Cooker Slow Cookers You might know slow cookers by a trade name: Crock Pot. Crock Pot is a name like Thermos, Jello or Keenex, where a brand name has become synonymous with the product. But a Thermos is a “vacuum bottle,” and Kleenex are “facial tissues.” And a […]
The Loss of an Old Friend After taking an hour or two to mourn the loss of my twenty-year relationship with my old Braun hand blender, I thought it was time to get back in the game and find a replacement. I logged onto to Amazon Prime that very same day, hoping to find another […]
My 20 Year Old Hand Blender Yesterday, I had to bid a sad farewell to my trusty cooking partner of 20 years. I was about to hand blend a bunch of ingredients for a sauce after braising a chuck roast for pot roast, so I pulled out my Braun hand blender, plugged it in and […]
Why Hand Blenders Are Perfect For Your Kitchen “One of the best kitchen tools to have in your kitchen especially when you are making soups and purees!” -RG What Is A Hand Blender? A Hand Blender is one of my favorite trusty kitchen tools to work with. Sometimes called an immersion blender, this versatile appliance […]
An Important Tool For Straining Tomatoes An essential tool for separating pulp from skin and seeds when making a basic tomato sauce or salsa You may not need a heavy duty model like the one in the photo unless you are doing some serious “blending”, but if you enjoy whipping up a breakfast shake or […]
Purchasing a Stand Mixer One of the most expensive small appliances you buy for your kitchen is a stand mixer. With so many brands available, all offering what seem to be useful features, it pays to educate yourself so you get the most for your dollar and so you end up with a stand mixer […]
Why it is important to have a FoodSaver Vacuum in your kitchen? FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer “Step Right Up! Are you looking to save money by buying food in bulk? Do you want to marinate foods in minutes instead of hours? Are you looking for a low-fat, healthy way to cook and seal in nutrients? You […]
Buying an Espresso or Cappuccino Machine This is one of those luxury items that every kitchen doesn’t need but if you like cappuccinos and lattes, is great to have around. Years ago before I was married, I dated a young lady who loved to go out for espresso. …Well next thing you know I own […]
What Is a Food Processor? A food processor is a tool designed to make repetitive kitchen activities go very quickly. Chopping, mincing, grinding, pureeing, slicing and shredding are all repetitive chores that are made much easier with a food processor, especially when done in quantity. While there are some non-electric food processors on the market […]
The Importance of Owning a Decent Blender You may not need a heavy duty model like the one in the photo unless you are doing some serious “blending”, but if you enjoy whipping up a breakfast shake or adult cocktail, they are nice to have around. I can’t even remember when I purchased my old […]
I'm a work-at-home dad who enjoys cooking, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. To learn more about me... Read More
What is Demi Glace? I am a huge fan of demi-glace for preparing classic sauces like mushroom or peppercorn sauce but I have to warn you, it is a huge process to make classic demi glace at home. It is not for the faint of heart but well worth the effort – at least once. […]
Penne Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
How to Make a Delicious Pasta Meal with Roasted Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella In our house we typically have a weekly “What’s On Hand” meal where my wife and I find ingredients in the refrigerator and pantry that need to be used sooner than later and prepare a pasta dish, stir-fry or Mexican fajita. This […]
Pan Roasting—the Chef’s Secret Cooking Technique One of my favorite cooking techniques not talked about in most cookbooks If I could teach you just one chef’s technique that will help you save time in the kitchen and deliver a thick cut of meat to the table with a perfect sear and juicy medium-rare throughout, it […]
