The Experts

If you are a cooking enthusiast like me, you have probably heard of Cooks Illustrated magazine

and the companion PBS series, "America's Test Kitchen."

If you haven't discovered them yet, these folks are cooking experts.  They make the same recipe dozens of times, tweaking different components (both the ingredients and the process) to produce the ideal technique and flavor.  They use a combination of science and art to create kitchen masterpieces, and then share the results with those of us who don't have the time or inclination to "experiment."

SOURCE

This is their stated mission: 

"America’s Test Kitchen is a real 2,500 square foot kitchen located just outside Boston. It is home to more than three dozen full-time cooks and product testers. Our mission is simple: to develop the absolute best recipes for all your favorite foods."

I have an online subscription to Cooks Illustrated so that I can turn to their expertise when I need advice on everything from cooking techniques to product recommendations and reviews. The annual online subscription cost is $35, about the price of a good cookbook.  But you can access a lot free through the America's Test Kitchen website, including recipes and great instructional videos.

You can also get a free weekly newsletter from Cooks Illustrated with recipes and other goodies emailed directly to your inbox.  Click on this link, then on the Free Newsletter link in the left sidebar.  My latest newsletter had a link to a free knife skills tutorial that is part of their new online Cooking School that I used to sharpen my knowledge and technique.

I am in no way compensated for my recommendation of Cooks Illustrated or its subsidiaries, I just wanted to pass along some interesting and useful resources.  Enjoy!

Shiny and New

Look what I got last weekend!  I feel like I have a shiny new car in my kitchen!

LG LFC21776ST French Door Refrigerator

Over Memorial Day weekend here in Texas, we had a tax-free holiday on Energy-Star rated appliances. Memorial Day is traditionally a great time for appliance sales anyway, but adding an additional 8 1/4% savings onto that made it even better!

When My Man and I decided to take the plunge, his first question was, "What COLOR?"  As you can see, our oven and microwave are both white.  I wanted to start moving to stainless steel as part of a future kitchen face lift.  Since we have two teenagers, he was concerned with the inevitable fingerprints.

Never fear, bloggers are here!  After reading this post from Melissa and the related comments, my plan of attack was to wipe the fridge down with a damp microfiber cloth every day (or a few times a day).  I'm afraid of trying the Pledge trick right now since my fridge is brand-spanking new.

Let's just say that stainless is forcing me to be more fastidious!  And that's a good thing.


By the way, microfiber cloths can be found MUCH more cheaply in the automotive section of your favorite discount store.  I got this pack of 12 for somewhere around $10.  They are thick and large.

You would probably pay $5 for 2 smaller ones in the home cleaning section of the store.

The second question to be decided was the STYLE of the fridge.  I desperately loved the look of the french door refrigerator.  I had seen a friend's model a couple of years ago and coveted that clean look.  But another friend said she hated hers because of the bottom freezer drawer.  After hearing her concerns, I decided it wasn't an issue for me because I have a separate upright freezer in the garage which holds most of our frozen food.  If the fridge is your only freezer space, though, I think I would agree with her.

The last thing we hashed out was the ICE MAKER in-the-door issue.  We both decided that we preferred having more interior door bin space to a water and ice dispenser outside.   Besides, I hope to have hardwood floors in the future, and I had visions of ice cubes bouncing onto the floor and not getting picked up.  That would be very bad.

So now we're researching wall oven/microwave combos.  If any of you have experience with convection ovens, would you please give me your opinions on whether they are useful?  Any comments re: brands and styles would be great, too.  Unfortunately, Consumer Reports (our go-to source for all major purchases) doesn't do a very thorough analysis of wall ovens and built-in microwaves.  Most people must have separate ranges.

Thanks for any help you can give!

Unlocking the Key Lime

Key limes are associated with the Sunshine State since they are grown in the Florida Keys, but they are also grown in Mexico.  The fruit was probably brought to the New World (modern-day Haiti, to be exact) by Christopher Columbus himself.  Yay Chris!

Here in Texas, we get Mexican limes, which are very similar to the fruit known as Key limes.

Key or Mexican limes are small and round.  They are about an inch or two in diameter.  They are thin-skinned, fragrant, and bitter when green but sweeter when they ripen to yellow.

The common lime available in most grocery stores year-round is known as the Persian lime, and it is less tart and less acidic than a green key lime.  If you want to make authentic Key lime desserts, you might want to go to a little extra effort to find Key limes.  The Persian lime will work but it will taste a little bit different.

It is somewhat difficult to extract the juice from a Key lime, but here is what I learned through experience and a little bit of research:

• Bring limes to room temperature so that they yield the optimal amount of juice
• Roll the fruit on the counter to break the cell membranes
• Cut the fruit from pole to pole, like THIS:

NOT this (although these look prettier!):

• Use a fork to poke the exposed fruit, then use the fork as a reamer (or use a garlic press or a citrus press like this):

I had two pounds of Mexican limes and they yielded about 2/3 cup of juice.  It was enough to make 2 dozen Key Lime Cupcakes and frosting, and I still have some juice left for another day. 

Colossal, Versatile Cupcake Carrier

Do you hate to transport cupcakes and cake as much as I do?  It seems like the frosting always gets messed up.  You feel like you need to cover whatever you're bringing, but plastic wrap and toothpicks isn't a very efficient or attractive way to keep the frosting intact.

Look what I bought for ten bucks at Costco the other day!  Problem solved!

This has enough room for 3 layers of 12 cupcakes each--a whopping 36 cupcakes total!

I wish I had owned this when my kids still had birthday parties at school and belonged to Scouts, etc. where we often brought snacks.  Regardless, this is still a useful container because in addition to transporting cupcakes and muffins, it can be used as a cake carrier (2-layer or up to 9x13" rectangle) and even a cookie carrier.

There are three plastic sheets that go over the cupcake wells to create a more "solid" layer.

I think this is going to get a lot of use when I bring food elsewhere, which is quite often!  This could, of course, also be used to carry things other than sweets: side dishes or appetizers, for example.  This unit is very well designed, so there shouldn't be any unpleasant spills.

lid clamps down

handle is molded in

 Do you have any tips for transporting food neatly and/or creatively?

Five Fabulous Food Finds at Costco

I love to cook up culinary creations in my kitchen, but sometimes when I need a quick snack and am pressed for time, I buy something ready-made.  Here are five fabulous food finds from our local Costco (a warehouse club) that have proven their worth to me time after time.  These are all high-quality noshes, and I can vouch for the fact that they are delicious and real crowd-pleasers!

Goat Cheese with Cranberries & Cinnamon

10.5 oz. for about $5

This unique goat cheese log wrapped in sweetened, dried cranberries is so creamy and satisfying atop a whole grain cracker.  With its ruby-red coating, it is festive, too!

If you don't have a Costco, you can read more about this product here and maybe request it from your local store.
 
Dark Chocolate & Almond Lacey's Cookies

25 cookies (1 oz. each) for about $8

I am a dark chocolate fanatic, but my second favorite flavor is butterscotch or caramel.  These crisp cookies satisfy both cravings.  Although they technically don't have any caramel (that I'm aware of), they have a toffee-like quality that is totally addictive.

These decadent cookies are also available here as well as at some Whole Foods Markets and Trader Joe's.


Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix

6 packets (each makes an 8x8" pan) for $9

Baking is my passion, and whipping up homemade brownies is almost as quick as using a mix.  Almost.  There are more than a few times that I have relied on this old favorite.  These brownies are dense and chewy and chocolaty.  They don't have an artificial taste that I can detect.  And they have three (3!) kinds of chocolate: milk, semi-sweet, and white. 

I believe this brand is widely available in most grocery stores.

Phillipine Brand Dried Mango Slices

30 ounces for about $11

These dried mangoes are sweet and chewy and positive addicting.  I only buy them to bring them somewhere else because I could probably eat most of the two-pound bag!  Mango lovers, beware!

You can check availability in your area here

Sabra Hummus

2 lb. container for $5

I have become a big fan of Mediterranean food in the past few years.  Hummus (chickpea dip) makes for delish and healthy nibbles when served with crackers, pita bread, or veggies.   This 2-lb. tub of hummus is smooth and creamy (I get the roasted pine nut version, but there are also red pepper and garlic lovers varieties).  I don't think you can make this quantity from scratch for $5!  And try as I might, I've never been able to get mine as smooth as store-bought, either.  Hummus keeps well if there is any left over

Click here to find a source near you.

Do you have a favorite ready-made, go-to item to serve when you're pressed for time?  Please share!

Perked Up Pantry and a Spicy Proposition

Well, we are 2 weeks into 2011.  How are you doing with your resolutions?  I have been spotty but have made some progress on the organization front.

Here is a picture of my pantry right before the New Year. 

This closet of chaos was the result of packaged goods being haphazardly strewn about in the baking, cooking and eating frenzy of the holidays.  My kids also tend to leave almost-empty containers in there.  Really?!  So while my husband was watching Bowl games, I "tackled" this mess.

I went to Dollar Tree and bought about 13 little plastic bins that are almost the same depth as my pantry shelves.  Total cost:  $13. 

Then I made some paper tags using cardstock, cut them into ovals with decorative scissors, and hung them from the bins and baskets.

It makes me feel so much better to have my pantry organized!  It may not be a dramatic change, but I can actually find things again.  Maybe The Family will actually be able to put things back if they're categorized?  It's probably too much to hope for, but we're still looking pretty good on Day 5.

While I was on a kitchen mission, I decided to also tackle my spices.  I have quite a few on the right hand side of the pantry on the above picture, but I also have this spice drawer with fixed wooden dividers next to my cooktop.

 I know that I haven't been using it to its full potential.  It is in a handy location, but it just always looks jumbled because I'm kinda lazy and don't keep it tidy of the different sizes of spice jars.  Today I went to Ikea and bought several packages of these (4 for $3.00).


Rajtan Spice Jar

There are a few things I like about these besides their low price: large capacity, wide mouth, and they either rest on their bottom or lean to the side.  (Hmm, sounds like some couch potatoes I know.)  The downside is that they don't have a shaker top, but I mostly use measuring spoons anyway.  If that is an issue, though, you might prefer these which are a little pricier (4/$5) but still big and sturdy.

Ikea 365+ Spice Jar


I also had a set of spice jar labels from CostPlus World Market that have been laying around for awhile, so I put those to use as well.

Since they are clear, they don't obscure the contents of the jar.  I think they're in the Arial font, so you can always print additional ones if you have an unusual herb or spice that's not on these pre-printed sheets.  I haven't found one that I'm lacking yet, though!

Here is a before and after:

Before:  A Jumbled Mess

After:  Success!

I cannot believe that 23 jars fit in this drawer!  And it only cost me $18 and a little bit of time.

I linked this to Beneath My Heart's and Thrifty Decor Chick linky parties.

$10 Gift Ideas for the Cooks on Your List

I love to cook and bake.  It's not only a hobby but it is a way to bless my family, express my creativity, and relieve stress.

Here are some of my favorite products for about $10 that you might consider for the baker or cook on your holiday gift list:

Penzey's Spices

Penzey's Spices has the freshest and most flavorful spices I have ever used.  This company began in Wisconsin, but they have many locations nationwide now.  They also have a booming mail-order business.  Any of the mini gift boxes above would be a great stocking stuffer.

If you prefer larger bottles of herbs and spices, I am particularly partial to their Vietnamese Extra Fancy Cinnamon (so fragrant!) and some of their spice blends for grilling meats (Bicentennial Rub and Galena Street Rib & Chicken Rub are two of my faves).

Microplane Grater

The Microplane grater is a rasp-like device that makes short work of zesting lemons and oranges.  It is also my tool of choice for grating fresh ginger and smaller quantities of parmesan reggiano cheese.  It is razor sharp and comes in different styles for fine, medium, and coarse grating.


Silicone Basting Brush and/or Spatula

One of the best kitchen gadget introductions from a cleanliness standpoint is the silicone basting brush.  I used to hate when the bristles from traditional basting or pastry brushes would shed onto my food or get stuck together like glue.  It all seemed so un-hygenic.  Silicone basting brushes don't shed, are heat resistant, and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.  Love that!  The bristles come in different widths (finer for pastries, thicker for basting), and some versions even have interchangeable heads for both uses.

Similarly, the silicone spatula or spoonula is one of those items that you can never have enough of.  I love the spoonula because the design makes it easier to scrape and transfer batter from the mixing bowl to the baking pan.  And because it's heat resistant, you can also use it when cooking (an example: scrambled eggs).

Magnetic Measuring Spoons

I LOVE these measuring spoons!  They are magnetic so you can either keep them neatly nested in a drawer or stick them to a metal surface.  They are easily separated so you don't have to fumble with (or wash!) the whole set at once. They are two-sided: there is a traditional round end and an elongated oval end which is easier to get into those little spice cans.  Ingenious!  I actually scored my set at TJ Maxx for less than $5!

Garlic Press

This might cost a little more than $10, but it is oh, so worth it.  The bottled and dried versions of garlic have their uses, but for most applications, nothing beats the taste and aroma of fresh garlic.

Pampered Chef garlic press

I have carpal tunnel in my right hand (occupational hazard) and find it hard to squeeze most garlic presses.  I don't have any trouble with the Pampered Chef version.   It is about $16, but you can often find them new on Ebay for less.

Any of these items would be a fine gift for the cook on your list!  Maybe they'll thank you with a nice dinner or dessert!  What are some of YOUR favorite kitchen gadgets?

Citrus Oils

I have orange and/or lemon oil on hand at all times because I don't always have fresh citrus available for zest when I'm baking.  These oils are different than extracts in that they contain no alcohol.  They are cold-pressed from the rinds of the fruit and are very concentrated.  You can order it online here.

Orange oil is sometimes available at World Market and Williams-Sonoma, too.  Be advised, a little goes a long way!  I use it for cranberry orange bread, pumpkin cream cheese bread, and cinnamon orange pecans, among other things.  It's great to have on hand if you bake a lot because it keeps in the refrigerator for a very long time.

Weighing In

Some of you may know that I am a baker.  I think it is my spiritual gift to bless people with homemade goodies from my kitchen.

One of the most important things to know when you bake is that measurements matter.  It is best to be precise.  Since I'm an accountant in my other life, this is not difficult for me.  But because I can tend to border on the obsessive with getting things exact, I decided to purchase a kitchen scale.

I will admit that one of the main reasons I wanted an electronic scale was because I need to lose a few pounds, and the way I do that is calorie counting and portion control.  However, it is so easy to underestimate what I am eating when I think something like a piece of steak is 3 oz. when it is actually 10!  Whoa, Nellie, big difference!

Anyway, while perusing the web, I noticed that Cooks Illustrated (the foodie magazine) highly recommended a model called the Oxo Good Grips, Model #1130800.  This is a review that was on Amazon.com that shows the features better than I ever could (and it's entertaining, too!)

I bought this scale at Bed, Bath and Beyond using a 20% off coupon, so it was around 40 bucks.  It is very accurate and fun to use.

It just occurred to me that if I had used my new scale to weigh out each portion of dough for these cookies, they may have looked more uniform.  But hey, they tasted awesome (because they were filled with chocolate fudge filling)!  And they looked, ahem, "hand-crafted."

Hmm, I think I'll go make some more cookies!  There goes my diet.