Kitchen Tools Make It Easier

We LOVE to cook. With cooking we have found having proper tools helps to make preparation, cooking, serving, and eating easier. This past Sunday the weather in Nashville was horrendous; it was raining and storming literally ALL day. This would normally impact our mood, however our family has been non-stop with house repairs, playing outside, playing inside, cooking and cleaning (does laundry ever stop?) so we elected to spend the day on the couch in from of the tube.*

We often get asked what television shows we’re watching and typically don’t have a good answer. Some might find it funny, but if you know us it doesn’t seem too far fetched that we spent the afternoon watching reviews on various kitchen appliances and tools. We absolutely adore American’s Test Kitchen. Their cook books, their magazines (Cook’s Illustrated), and by far we enjoy watching the equipment reviews on YouTube.

One of the first reviews we watched was on non-stick pans and if they are truly harmful. From watching this in addition to various other articles, our consensus was we don’t yet have enough data to be certain, but why chance what is speculated to harm us. Since our non-stick pans are in dire need for replacement, we were looking to purchase a new pan that has the same non-stick characteristics, but we didn’t want to replace with non-stick chemicals. We didn’t want to use only stainless steel, which is a bugger to clean, or cast iron (which we love and is naturally non-stick, but uber heavy), so we elected to purchase this carbon steel pan. This video was very interesting and informative, if you have time I highly recommend watching.

The second purchase we ended up prioritization is this scale. A scale is extremely beneficial if you’re cooking, but can also be helpful for avoiding the US Post Office. Even without social distancing, I would like to avoid any government operated facilities; avoiding removes one stress I don’t need.

Thirdly, we use our baking pans ALL THE TIME and ours are cheap and browning (which alone, is not necessarily a bad thing). Roasting veggies or nuts, making cookies, flipping over to allow cakes/desserts to cool, cook pizza, etc. We opted to replace our baking sheets with these.

These next items are on our wish list, but we didn’t want to spend all of our money on kitchen stuff…Not yet anyway! :)

• Sink Sponges - Apparently there are better ones out there

• Parchment Paper Sheets - Great for clean up and use instead of aluminum foil

• Bread Knife - Apparently block knife sets are not the best bang for your buck

• Oven Toaster - We are definitely getting this SOON. It can roast a whole chicken, how cool

Cooking from scratch can be quite intimidating for some, but having the right tools (like sharp knives) can make the process 10x’s easier. Seriously, do not use a dull knife, it is way more dangerous! While you’re home quarantined, think of some exotic or different meal you’ve always wanted to try, or perhaps even your favorite from a restaurant and search for the recipe online. Trust me, there are thousands of recipes out there and you’ll enjoy the challenge, if you don’t kill your sous chef!

*We don’t watch t.v. much, especially with our 1.5 year old son, however when we do we aim to watch together as a family.

Cheers,

Sarah

"Healthy” Desserts – It’s not cheesecake, but it’s still good!

During the checkout process at local grocery store, Publix (love Publix…it really is a pleasure), the cashier inquired on the abundance of cashews I was purchasing. I proceeded to tell her that I have been on a kick lately to try different “healthier” recipes and these were for a dessert I wanted to try. The rather large cashier turned up her nose with a unsure expression.

While I know people have differing thoughts on “healthy” desserts, I am a huge fan! Typically they are far most satiating, so I don’t have the urge to eat several. Even if I did, I wouldn’t feel physically or emotionally bad because most of them don’t have sugar in them that impact your glucose.  Aside from using dates, honey, or maple syrup, I have started experimenting with Mon-Fruit-Sweetener.  For more on what this is; check out these articles below. These alternatives to traditional “sugar” is something I enjoy cooking with and feel comfortable sharing with my toddler (in moderation).  

Monk Fruit Sweetener: Good or Bad?

Everything You Need to Know about Monk Fruit Sweeteners

What Is Monk Fruit Sweetener and Is It a Healthy Option?

The cashier and I exchanged a brief dialogue about how we don’t like it when a dessert is named after something it’s not. As a person who enjoys cleverness, it’s difficult for me to refer this delectable blueberry creamy goodness laying nicely on a cinnamon crust as “cheesecake,” when there is zero cheese involved! Try this deliciousness yourself recipe found in this link. However, as you can see by my description, I don’t have a suitable name to propose, so if the creators of these fantastic dessert alternatives wish to use similarities in other desserts as their basis- more power to them.

Whatever your opinion is on “healthier” desserts…if you haven’t tried them I’d encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and do so. It’s so worth it…for you, your health, and if you’re cooking for others especially children!

Check out a couple other resources that I love for “healthier” desserts.

1. I love everything I’ve tried thus far by Chelsea J. Young (refer to this link for recipes).

2. These “brownies” are fantastically chocolatey and moist.

Cheers to better eating!

Sarah

Practice makes perfect...Food

“It saddens me when people don’t have an appreciation for food.” - Sarah Hartmann

Think about what your five favorite entrees are to eat.  Have them?  Write them down.  Now, learn to cook them.  You can do it. You might not be able to make them as well as a Michelin star chef but guess what? That’s ok, because you are a not Michelin star chef.

I am a big believer in the idea that what one person can do, another can do … within reason obviously.  If steel workers in Pittsburgh can cook their steaks on their work equipment, you can cook one on a stove top skillet.  The key is to try a bunch of different ways to do it and find the one that works best for you.  For example, every time my wife and I decide to cook a new recipe, we’ll search for a few different versions until we find one that looks good to us.  Once we’ve found the one, we’ll make it EXACTLY how the recipe calls for it to be made.  Then, we’ll modify it to our liking, adding or removing the things we like and dislike. 

Recently, I decided to learn how to make an Old Fashioned.  The first couple I made were barely drinkable.  Then I had a friend come over and we made six different recipes, finally finding the one that we both liked best.  I’m sure it helped we were both three drinks in before we found our favorite but we still found it!

Write down a basic meal that you like to eat i.e. steak and potatoes, pork chops with your choice of sauce, steamed lobster (which is actually super easy to make) or spaghetti and meatballs.  Search online for a few recipes, find the one that looks best to you and then make it!  Make it again and again and again.  Keep adjusting things until you feel have it down perfectly, just the way you like it.  Then find another recipe and do the exact same thing.  Good luck with it and remember to enjoy the process.

Rory