Weekend Cooking: Favorite Kitchen Items

I've been wanting to gush about some of my favorite kitchen items for a while now. Today seems like the perfect time. In case you are looking for any holiday gift ideas for the cook in your life.

First up my favorite pans. I have three that I love.

Tai got me this Calphalon 5 quart saute pan a few years ago. I wanted it to cook chicken in but after a few failed attempts I boxed it back up.

I was really used to non-stick pans. But this pan wasn't non-stick. One day when making steak, I decided to give this pan a try. Here I really learned its value. It sears beautiful. I use it for most things now. A little bit more fat keeps things from sticking. And a baking soda scrub helps remove all the stuck on food.

I loved the 5 quart but it was a little big for some dishes. I bought this Cuisinart fry pan at Marshall's. It was a lot cheaper than Amazon but I had been looking for one for several months.

Again it's not non-stick. But I've learned how to baby it.

Both of these are investments but I believe I'll be using both of them for several years.

For non-stick needs, I bought this skillet at World Market.

Very reasonably priced. I don't use it as much as the other two so it's held up well.

My other favorites fall into the accessories category.

I'm so glad I bought a microplaner. I have both the classic grater and the coarse grater. I like the classic for zesting limes and lemons.

I find the coarse one better for grating cheese like Parmesan. But I think it's a matter of preference. Both would make great stocking stuffers.

And finally my vacuum sealer. I bought mine during a holiday sale probably about 5 years ago. It was $10.

I use it a couple of times a month. I'm sad that some day I will have to replace it. It doesn't suck out as much air as it used to. But I've gotten my money's worth. I'll definitely buy another Food Saver.

What are your favorite kitchen items?

Awesome Kitchen Tricks

I'm going to share with you my favorite kitchen tricks. These tricks save me time and money. Two very important things.

You might notice I cook a lot with fresh ginger. No I don't have a ginger farm in my backyard. I used to waste a lot of ginger. Buying a whole piece of ginger and only needing an inch of it. I threw away a lot of moldy ginger. One day I was at my friend, Jennifer's house and she was cooking something that called for ginger. That day she showed me her secret which I will share with you today.
She freezes her ginger.
Seriously she wrapped her ginger in foil and froze it. Now I buy ginger by the pound, wrap each piece in foil and freeze it all in a bag like this:

Instead of chopping it which is a pain when the ginger is frozen, I grate it. Rarely do I need to chop it so grating has worked for me. Yay for no trips to the store for ginger! Yay for not wasting ginger!

I stopped buying chicken breasts. Gasp! What? No more chicken breast? Yup, I only buy chicken thighs now. Boneless chicken breasts are usually around $7.99/lb. Boneless chicken thighs are usually around $5.99/lb. I find the thighs have more flavor and stay juicier than the breasts. There's a small nutritional difference and a lot of people don't like dark meat but neither of those are factors for me. Price usually wins with me.

I like to buy in bulk. When buying in bulk people think cereal or dried beans. But I like to buy meat in bulk. If I come across a good deal, I buy as much as I can afford and freeze it. At the recommendation of one of Tai's coworkers I bought a Foodsaver vacuum sealer. At the time I didn't think I'd really use it. But it was $10 (on sale) so I figured why not try it. I definitely got my money's worth. I vacuum freeze fresh fish and when I cook it later there is no taste difference between fresh and frozen. I also cook meals for Dad and freeze them with the vacuum sealer in individual portions so he can heat what he needs. The vacuum sealer bags are microwaveable so it makes things simple for him.
If you are interested I bought a mini FoodSaver. Mine didn't come as part of a kit which is why it was so cheap. I use mine about 2 times a month for the past six months and I've gone through 3 rolls of bags. FoodSaver tends to run deals frequently (50% percent off) so keep an eye out for a deal.

Do you have any kitchen tips to share?

Obsession: Glass Bowls

Lately I've been buying glass bowls. I have a thing for bowls anyway but lately it's just been glass. I've maxed out my bowl shelf when I bought this nesting bowl set. I might not have more space but I still want more glass bowls. As soon as I figure out how to make more space (we don't need plates right?), these are some I'd like.

Source: williams-sonoma.com via Linda on Pinterest

Source: target.com via Linda on Pinterest

Source: potterybarn.com via Linda on Pinterest

Source: potterybarn.com via Linda on Pinterest

Don't even get me started on shallow white bowls. I'm in love with those too.

Currently...

I used to do these posts about things I currently liked but stopped. I'm going to start that up again. 


Loving...

We've had a really mild summer here in the PNW. As a result I've had 3 colds this summer. After the first one, Tai mentioned we should get a tea kettle. He was thinking of stove top one but I choose this one instead. I love that I can heat up water quickly. The red color doesn't hurt.

Eating...

I grabbed a sample of these Crunchmasters Multi-Grain Crackers at Costco, then went back for 4 more samples. Finally the sample guy pointed to the boxes stacked next to him and I took the hint. I top them with Laughing Cow cheese for a delicious snack. 

Watching...

Yes, 30 Rock's been a round for a while but Tai and I just started watching this. I love it. We have little marathons every night. 

What are you currently enjoying?

In Search Of The Perfect Ice Cube Tray

Years ago I bought these ice cube trays:

But I busted 4 of them before I decided that these weren't the best ice cube tray. While at a friend's house, Tai noticed their ice cube tray. He thought theirs would be a good ice cube tray for us:

But when I bought that one, I saw these:

The perfect ice cube tray. They are silicone so the cubes pop right out. It says the cubes are supposed to come out in perfect cubes but I think that depends on how you fill it and if you have a level place to put it. They really are the perfect ice cube tray.

Sucess At Ikea

So I've been at a standstill with the unpacking and organizing of our place. We have so much more space but I didn't have enough storage space-shelves and such. I met a friend over the weekend at Ikea to see what I found. And I found something for the dining room to get some more storage.
I can't believe it but I'm going to show you the before picture!

I had fun in Picnik.

 

I bought this lovely wire rack in the as is section of Ikea (my favorite part of Ikea). I've freed up so much space in the kitchen by getting all that stuff out. All those pantry items were taking up valuable counter space.
There's still crap in the dining room but it feels a little more organized. I also bought this lamp but haven't put it together. I'm thinking I'll put it in the living room.

Wine Racks

Since I have an almost separate space for a dining area (which will be mostly taken up for our freezer), I am determined to buy a wine rack. We don't buy a lot of wine, but we do have a few bottles laying around and I would like to keep some on hand for company. I really want a floor model as opposed to a counter top model.

I like this one from Target but I think I would prefer something with a flat top and drawers so it was more functional. 

This is one is more what I think I want but leaves me pretty cold.

Although I've long wanted a baker's rack so maybe this is my best solution.
I really can't wait to move in so I can start moving things about and finding the best possible place for stuff. Just a few more days!

Useless Kitchen Gear

There's a kitchen store near my work that's having a big sale so I had to see if there was anything I wanted. I kept my purchases to kitchen tools rather than more expensive pots and pans. Since I didn't have much time I only bought this:

It's a Fridge Fork! I thought it would be useful for olives and pickles. I might have to get another one for Tai's Kimchi.
But I might go back for these:

Untitled by honeylin on Polyvore.com

Ok, most of these aren't useless. I almost bought another zester. I definitely need another colander.  And another silpat!

Let the Stock Piling Begin

I've been bemoaning the fact that our freezer is tiny. I hate it cause we can't stock pile any good meat deals I find at the grocery store. See how little and jampacked it is:
I've been on the lookout for a chest freezer that we could use to stock pile extras when good deals come up. Saturday morning, Jen called me to see if I wanted a freezer she found for $40 at an estate sale. Uh, yeah! And because Jen and Pat love us they even delivered it for us. Look at all the room. Look out Safeway, I'm headed to fill that thing up.

Currently....

drinking
I'd heard about Shandy's before. We choose this because Tai's not a fan of most beers. It's smooth and a little sweet. Perfect for both of us. I like the combination. Tai likes that it doesn't really taste like beer.


needing

Sunglasses by honeylin featuring Forever21 accessories

I've broken 2 of my sunglasses and left my other pair at a friend's house. And it's sunny here. I need sunglasses. I'll be out looking for a pair this weekend.


using
I bought this pan at Target last year. It's from their Calphalon line. I thought I'd use it occasionally. Ha. It's replacing my cast iron skillet as my go to pot. If only it went into the oven.

Kitchen Decor-Check

I had been looking for something to go on the wall in our kitchen. I didn't want to hang a picture since I knew they would get greasy and grimy after awhile. Since I tend to be lax in my cleaning, I wanted to find something low maintenance and attractive. I settled on these from Joann's.
I wish they were a little bigger but that's ok. And that's as clean as I get in the kitchen!
I finally got all the walls in the apartment decorated. Woo Hoo!

Currently....

wanting

Untitled by honeylin featuring Old Navy

Click on picture for more information.

I'm in desperate need of more cute summer tops. Any of these would be adorable!

using
Marta gave me this for my birthday. I can't tell you how long I wanted one. I'm so happy using this instead of buying Pam all the time!

eating
I introduced Texas Toast to Tai. He'd never had so we bought a box. He's in love. I now have to ration the toast! Great another carb that we can't live without!

Currently....

using
My new toy! I bought the Smartshopper this week. I found a good deal on Buy.com and had to buy it. Tai had fun trying to "stump" it. I can't wait to really use it!

wanting
I cannot wait for Beatles Rock Band to be available! I love Rock Band and we've played a lot of the songs I know. I know almost every song the Beatles wrote so this should be easy and fun!

readingOnce upon a time, I used to read 10+ magazines. But then I met Tai who hates it when I read and watch tv. So I stopped subscribing to tons of magazine because I didn't have time to read them all. But I couldn't stop reading Real Simple. I love this magazine. I always find interesting ideas. I love the recipes!

Getting Green

In honor of Earth day, I thought I'd update you all on my ongoing journey on becoming more green.
1. I use too many paper towels. To help, I bought dish towels for the kitchen:From Ikea. I have 8 of them now. I don't have a good place to put them. Right now they are stacked next to the paper towels. I have one on the counter and 2 on the stove handle. I wish I had more room for a cute basket. Hopefully these towels will cut down my consumption of paper towels but I don't think I cut out paper towels all together.
2. I stopped buying bottled water all together. Since I have my water bottle for work, I don't need to. Tai and I talked about options for home. He's terrible about drinking water, but we bought a huge pitcher for the fridge and he happily drinks from that all day.
3. Trying to buy more enviromental friendly cleaning products. I bought a few different kinds of liquid dish soap. Tai's not really happy with them as much as he was with the non-green option. Still more work to be done there. My friend, Michelle, introduced me to Melaluca. I've been using their cleaner and I'm very happy. I'm working on transitioning to more of their products.
4. Trying to have more meat free meals. Tai and I like tofu but we differ on how we like it. I'm still looking for a good recipe that we both like (ie not a stir fry). I have made a couple of soups with tofu and I think I'll continue to. At least try to do it once a week. Build from there.
So what about you? Are you getting greener or are you as green as it gets?

Kitchen Storage

Our kitchen is tiny. Well it's small. Smaller than I would like. Counter space is a definite issue. We're wasting a lot right now. we've been buying things in bulk to save some money. Some things are easy to store, but not a 25 lb bag of rice. I had a couple of containers but they didn't fit nearly enough rice to make them useful and the took up too much space. So I'm on the hunt for more appropriate storage options.

Canisters - by honeylin on Polyvore.com
Containers that look good and are functional. I don't think there is a one size fits all approach to this. A good container for rice might not work for coffee (5lb bag anyone?). I love the one with the spoon. Makes me want to use it for sugar.
Any good bulk storage solutions out there?

Currently....

wearing

I bought a couple of packs of these a while back. I mostly used them for facials and other face cleaning exercises. Now I use them all the time to keep my overgrown hair out of my face. I made an appointment to get my hair cut, but I'll probably still use them especially when I cook!

using
As a shower gift I received this set of bamboo spoons. I love to use wooden spoons when I cook. So much easier for me than plastic or metal.


loving
Also as a shower gift we received some satin sheets. I put them away and kind of forgot about them. But I found them right before Valentines Day and decided to put them on. So luxurious, but I do slid right off the bed as do the blankets and the pillows! I think they are fun but certainly not every day use.

Must Haves For The Pantry

I was reading Shauna's blog the other day. She was talking about things that she and her husband keep stocked in their pantry at all times. Her blog post was prompted by this article in the New York Times. Now I don't agree with Mark Bittman completely but I don't think he's a snob. Each cook has things they rely on and depending on their income, they buy accordingly.
But it gave me something to think about. What are things that I must have in our pantry? Here's my list:
-pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, penne)
-canned tomatoes (crushed, paste, sauce)
-garlic (I prefer the jarred chopped kind. I used to use the whole cloves but got tired of the hassle)
-butter
-ramen
-milk
-canned black olives
-onions
-sugar
-salts
-pepper
-frozen veggies (broccoli, lima beans, green beans)
-lemon juice
-onions
-broth (chicken, beef, or veggie)
-mayo
-mustard
-curry mix
-old bay seasoning
-oil (olive, peanut, grapeseed)
-jarred salsa
-rice
-beans (garbanzo, pinto, and kidney)
-canned green chilies
I think that's everything. With all those things I can make lots of meals. Add meat or tofu and I'm good to go.
So what about you? What are things you stock your pantry with?

Currently....

drinking
Tai bought this drink last month. I love it. I don't think I'd ever had it before. it's so yummy. Tai monitors how much I drink cause I can drink 3 a day. I'm not allowed though. Only one every couple of days.

using
Tai bought me this as a belated Christmas present. I always wanted one but never bought one. I haven't tried it out yet but I'm so excited about it. I think it will be very useful.

reading

I picked this book up several weeks ago. It was so funny. I love Nora Ephron! I think we would make great friends. She seems like the kind of person that I would like to sit and laugh with. She talked a lot about getting older and its perils. But she also had a lot to say about her life and things that influenced her when she was younger. It's an excellent read for those of all ages.

How Sweet It Is!

We are a house of many sweetners. This one is too sweet, this one isn't sweet enough, this one is too chemically. Before I met Tai I used sugar, almost exclusively.
I know like the baker's sugar cause it blends and melts better but not the best to use in a scrub. Tai doesn't like sugar cause of all the calories. We drink several cups of iced tea and coffee a day here so that does add up.
So he brought:
My mom had used this stuff when I was kid. I don't like the way it tastes. Too chemically for me. So I bought:
I like that it doesn't have a chemical taste (to me) and it sweetens things perfectly for me.
But we are just ingesting more chemicals when there are purer alternatives out there. So we also have:
Excuse the almost empty bear. Time for a new one. I do like honey but it's messy and difficult to add the right quantity. It tends to work better in hot beverages than cold and adds a yummy taste to hot tea, not coffee. So we bought:
Again excuse the almost empty bottle here. Some friends of mine had recommended this for us and my dad (since he's a diabetic). I really like it but the cons are similar to honey. I do like it for cooking. It does blend a little better in cold liquids so I use it in my iced tea sometimes.
But then I found this on a recent grocery trip:But I was disappointed. Not sweet enough. I had to add 4 packets to my iced tea to make it sweet enough for me. I didn't like that. Tai didn't like it at all. So I'll have to think of creative ways to use up what I have. Perhaps this simple syrup might work best.
So what about you? Do you have a favorite sweetner? Is sugar your standby or honey? Can you recommend something for our sweet teeth?