West Athens

I have a friend who recently renovated his kitchen. In choosing his appliances, he concentrated on finding electronics that were both stylish and energy efficient. He replaced everything including the dishwasher, fridge, microwave, oven, and stove top. After doing some research he chose an induction stove. I don’t know very much about them, but I know he has since discovered that a lot of his cookware won’t be appropriate for his new stove top. Little by little he’s been updating and upgrading his kitchenware. Surprisingly, he’s had a hard time finding a good griddle that would work in his new kitchen. Then he came across thisClassicor Stainless Steel Induction Compatible Nonstick Griddle and started using it as soon as it arrived. (more…)

While you are going for hiking or for a camping expedition carrying coolers along with you is a great idea. If you want a nice cold drink to quench your thirst after walking and spending long hours in the sun, storing cold water in coolers will provide you the refreshment you are looking for. There are a lot of coolers available in the market a good cooler will keep your food cold for long hours. Make sure that the coolers are easy to carry and have lots of room to fit sufficient quantity of food. (more…)

Bread is one of my favorite foods. To me, there’s nothing quite like the simple treat of enjoying a slice of  warm, fresh bread slathered in butter with breakfast or dinner. Or a large loaf of crusty bread sliced open and baked with butter and garlic and spices, served with a dish of delicious pasta. I don’t imagine I’d ever want to give it up!  You can get a lot of great breads in the bakery section of the grocery store, but there is nothing quite like the taste of homemade bread. And with the Oster ExpressBake Bread Maker, you can have a fresh loaf ready in less than an hour. (more…)

If you’ve ever thought Minestrone soup was complicated to make, try this simple and classic crock pot Minestrone. The ingredients are mostly pantry items.  I usually have most of the items on hand, but I make sure that I buy small, fresh zucchini and carrots.  I don’t like to use baby carrots in most soup recipes.  Baby carrots are fine for snacking, but I think the regular, full sized carrots have more flavor.  But, like any great recipe for Minestrone, the real flavor is in the herbs.  Don’t skimp on the oregano or basil and be sure your herbs are not old. (more…)

My sister recently moved into her first home and I’m so happy for her. She’d been living in multiple roommate apartment for the last few years since she graduated and she was finally able to get her own place. During those years she’d accumulated quite an eclectic collection of kitchenware, some wonderful items and some not so wonderful pieces. One of the things she enjoys doing the most is baking - she says she finds it restful after a hectic day. So for a housewarming gift I’ve decided I’m going to buy her something she is long overdue for is a handy set of stainless steel mixing bowls. (more…)

It might not be the healthiest thing to admit, but I love to fry food. A lot of other people still enjoy frying food too, although often they’ll refer to it as sautéeing or stove top cooking. Whatever cooking method it’s called, the real secret to great frying is in the frying pan. In our family, the pan of choice is, and has always been a cast iron frying pan. Cast iron frying pans are sturdy enough to allow you to cook just about anything and they conduct heat evenly, which prevents hot spots from forming in your food. My favorite pan by far is my new enameled cast iron fry pan from Kinetic. (more…)