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Don't stir the pot.
(Credit: Breville)There is very little that is more comforting that having a warm pot of food slowly simmering away on the stovetop. The smell permeates the house, while the heat given off in the cooking process warms our bodies straight to the bone. During the cold winter months that lay ahead, this axiom will be put to the test over and over again. There can be little doubt as that this will be an enjoyable test to all. However, there is one additional ingredient that takes all warmth and comfort of a home cooked meal, but somehow makes it more comfortable: the slow cooker.
Having a slow cooker slowly bubbling forth the promise of a hearty meal throughout the day trumps stovetop cooking (at least in the comfort department) in both time and ease. Just put all the ingredients in the pot and let it cook away. The lack of a need to stir the pot makes cooking in a slow cooker as easy as can be. For all its ease and simplicity, however, the slow cooker usually needs some extra attention in the form of browning meat on the stove and then transferring it into the pot. This extra step may produce a depth of flavor that cannot be achieved in any other way, but the added preparation requires dirtying another pot or pan--a thought nobody finds comforting.
The Breville Slow Cooker with Easy Sear eliminates the need to transfer ingredients from stove to slow cooker. The die-cast aluminum cooking insert is stovetop-safe, and easily transports to the slow cooker without fear of scalding thanks to the removable silicone grips. When set in place, the slow cooker extends its usefulness, by not only supplying the usual choice between High and Low settings, but it also offers a third choice. The Dual setting begins cooking on High, and then after two hours automatically switches to Low. With such ease of use and versatility, it would be easy to sink into the sofa for about 8 hours (or all winter) with no concern about the frost outside.
I would much rather get my vitamin C from oranges and other fruits than have to take an extra pill every day. The fruits with plenty of vitamin C typically require special tools to peel and eat. Citrus fruits are tasty but dealing with the peel is time consuming. The Vitamin C Set includes what you need to deal with orange rind and more. The set includes two spoons, one with a green handle and one with an orange handle. The green spoon has teeth along its edge, allowing you to scoop grapefruit segments and peel kiwi fruit. The orange spoon's edge lets you peel citrus fruits like tangerines, clementines and, of course, oranges.
The Vitamin C Set comes in a gift box, in case you need an easy way to remind a friend or a relative to get their daily recommended amount of vitamin C. The spoons are also small enough that they can be used on the go; even more convenient, the spoons fold into the handles. They don't even reach 3 inches in length when folded up, so they're small enough to fit in most pockets even if you want to carry both spoons at once. The Vitamin C Set is available for approximately $20.
Makes evenly cooked food from edge to edge.
(Credit: Sur La Table)How we cook food is always changing. Gone are the days (mostly) of cooking over an open fire, with little more than a stick to act as a "kitchen gadget." Though nothing can replicate the taste created by fire on food, new methods of cooking have always inspired chefs to take their recipes to the next level. From the hearth to the microwave oven, this journey has not been fraught with peril. (For every worthwhile kitchen gadget, there seems to be a dozen that aren't.) However, every once in a while, the home cook is faced with a new challenge (cooking method) from which to build upon and grow.
Sous vide literally translates to "under vacuum" in French, but that's only half the story when it comes to sous vide cooking. Using a water bath as the cooking medium, the method requires consistent temperatures over a long period of time. While most people will skip the recipes that take two days to complete (yes, a very long time to wait for dinner), most recipes do not require so much forethought. What has been a growing trend in professional kitchens is now available at home.
Enter the SousVide Supreme Water Oven.
The countertop unit works in tandem with a vacuum sealer. Simply seal your food in a bag, and then pop it in the water bath. The machine regulates the temperature of the water to a 1-degree accuracy. The food cooks evenly from edge to edge. This is the main difference between this method and others. Consider chicken, fish, beef, or pork: when cooked by traditional methods, the inside is never cooked exactly as the outside. With sous vide cooking, food has no other option but to heat consistently; the temperature never rises above a set point.
Good things never go out of style; as proficient as sous vide cooking may be, the final results still benefit from a quick sear over an open fire to give it added taste and flavor. There's something comforting in the fact that no matter how far we progress in cooking technology, we still always come back to fire.
An opener for everybody.
(Credit: Hamilton Beach)Machines that open cans have always confused me. Sure, I understand that for some people opening canned goods can be physically challenging, but as a common kitchen item, its popularity escapes me. For me, it's just quicker and easier to use the handheld can opener. Granted, it's not always easy to find the handheld opener, but when you train yourself to always put it somewhere specific (like car keys), it's the quickest, most efficient tool available. Other than acting as a hard-to-misplace anchor, a can opener weighed down by a motor seems to me to be frivolous--unless, of course, you pile on additional openers.
The Hamilton Beach OpenStation Can Opener is a well-named contrivance designed to facilitate all your opening needs in one location. Not content to stop at cans, the opener supplies the means to open jars, bottles, cans and even those frustrating hard, clear plastic blister packs that so many gadgets come in. By integrating a removable multiuse tool (along with a jar opener) into the design, the can opener extends its usefulness and encourages users to go to one particular spot for all of their opening needs. Just be sure to put those removable tools back where they belong when finished.
The Hamilton Beach OpenStation Can Opener can be found online for about $25.
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For real couch potatoes.
(Credit: Keita Watanabe & Shota Matsuda)You know how, during the two minutes or so that you're waiting for your microwave popcorn to pop, you find yourself thinking, "If only I could be watching a video on YouTube right now"? No? Oh. Well, if you ever do find yourself wanting to take advatage of those few moments of forced waiting, you'll love the idea behind the CastOven.
From the developers' Web site: "Watching movies, playing video games, and browsing Web pages are fun, but all of them require a certain amount of time of us to spare." To solve this problem, this future microwave oven with the 10.4-inch LCD display plays YouTube clips that fit your cooking time.
The concept machine looks ridiculously cool, and you can even watch a demonstration video, in case you're having a hard time understanding how you can cook food and watch videos simultaneously. Props for the design and the presentation, but I'm just not sure there's a real need for this product.
Whistle (along) while you work.
(Credit: Electrolux)Cleaning is no fun. Making a mess is sure fun, but the aftermath can be a downer. But, regardless of the state of the house, the cleaning simply has to (at some point) get done. Cleaning while listening to music is one way to make the chores go by in a more enjoyable manner. However, sooner or later you're going to have to put down that duster and plug in the vacuum cleaner--and there goes the music. Unless of course, you have a vacuum cleaner that also plays music.
The Electrolux UltraSilencer Music Edition Amplified iPod Vacuum is a concept machine designed to make the chore of vacuuming as pleasant and efficient as possible. The musical vacuum cleaner not only features an iPod dock, but also--thanks to exceptionally silent operation--comes complete with two integrated speakers.
Backed up by data (click here for a PDF of the data, or here to watch a video), Electrolux has figured out that the best way to clean is to listen to music. And yes, it depends what type of music. Measuring such variables as Precision, Efficiency, Mood, and Fortitude, the test concluded that "overall, classical music was the best music style for vacuum cleaning." As an added bonus, no matter what type of music you prefer, the results determined that in all cases, the chore was less stressful and even burned more calories than vacuuming without music.
(Via Appliancist)
My freshman year of college, I lived on the third floor of my dorm. The laundry room, of course, was in the basement. I definitely got a lot of exercise running up and down the stairs, checking for empty machines, checking if my machine was done, or checking if my clothes were still there.
Kids these days just don't know how good they have it, especially if they have eSuds, a new technology that is changing the entire experience of public laundry facilities. When a facility installs eSuds, users can then use any Internet-connected computer to check real-time machine availability, get notifications when their laundry is ready or when a specific machine is available, and even pay via PIN code or credit card in some cases.
Universities are an obvious place for eSuds to take hold, but upscale apartment complexes are also getting in on the action. Imagine if ordinary laundromats put the system in place--you could easily find a place to wash your clothes on vacation and spend more time enjoying yourself.
Live in a building with shared laundry facilities? Might want to pass the link on to your landlord. The system provides operators with online, real-time cash and card reporting and generates detailed diagnostic reports when machines are in need of service, so technicians can proactively address issues.
Here comes the soup.
(Credit: Irawoods.com)This time of year, there's a lot of cooking going on. While roasts, turkeys, hams, and side dishes galore mean lots of food on the table, they also mean there will be lots of leftovers in the refrigerator. When faced with a well-picked-over turkey or ham, one final dish comes to mind: soup. By using the leftover protein to make a stock or broth, a flavorful base is created that can be taken in any direction. However, to get that smooth consistency to which you can later add veggies, meat, or noodles, first you are going to need to puree it.
This Viking Hand Blender (VHB300SG) features a powerful 300-watt motor that makes it easy to create soup from all your leftovers. With the ability to blend directly in the cooking vessel, there is no need to work in batches using a blender of food processor. The ergonomic design incorporates a no-slip handle, assuring a firm grip as you blend your soup to preferred consistency.
While soup-making may be its highlight, the blender features attachments allowing it to be used for other tasks. A chopper attachment makes quick work of fruits and vegetables (perfect for adding to soup). Additionally, a stainless-steel whisking attachment is also available--just in case you get tired of all that soup.
Think small.
(Credit: Chef's Catalog)Why should kitchens with small (or no) counters get left out of the fun all the big kitchens have? They shouldn't, and they don't need to. Space-saving appliances abound, from under-counter toasters, to miniature microwaves. But when it comes to a do-it-all machine that chops and grinds, bulky food processors usually have all the fun. Unless you think small.
The Cuisinart Elite 4-Cup Food Chopper/Grinder (model number CH-4) is a smaller alternative to its larger brethren. Measuring less than 10 inches tall, with a base of 7.5 inches by 5 inches, the mini machine does big work in a small space. The appliance chops and grinds and purees, and with a 4-cup capacity, is able to handle most prep tasks. The touch-pad controls offer the choice between chop and grind, determining which way the dual-sided blade spins: sharp edge for chopping, dull edge for grinding.
Available for $49.95 in black or white, the model also features a die-cast version for $59.95. The versatile machine makes it easy to chop tomatoes, garlic, onions and herbs for a quick salsa or relish, and then turn right around and use it to grind whole spices or nuts for pies. All removable parts are dishwasher-safe, and the base can be cleaned with a damp cloth. With its small size and price to match, the chopper/grinder is sure to find space on your kitchen counter, no matter what you like to cook.
Blending by pictures.
(Credit: Amazon)I remember the blender my mom used from the time when I was young. Not only was it surprisingly loud for something that seemed to have only one moving part, but it also sure had a lot of buttons for that one little blade. They were push-style buttons, lined up neatly in a row. The 10 or so settings all had esoteric meanings, certainly for a young kid who couldn't fathom why one spinning sharp thing needed so many options. While I am still not sure about Grate as a blender function, I have come to terms with others like Frappe, and to some extent, Liquefy.
The DeLonghi DBL650 54-Ounce Blender uses symbols to get its point across. The stainless-steel blender with 54-ounce jar features five function settings enabled via symbolic pictures on the front. Included are settings for dips, soups, sauces, and beverages. Naturally, the all-important ice-crushing function is present and accounted for, easily identifiable as a single snowflake.
The blender features some nice modern touches in addition to the iconography. The sturdy housing and control layout signify a no-nonsense approach and impress a workhorse quality. The blender features a built-in strainer or filter, a well-thought-out inclusion that eliminates the need to root around the kitchen for an accessory. And as far as blending options go, don't worry if what you need isn't represented by what is on the buttons; the blender features three speeds and a pulse setting for all your blending needs.
