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Christmas Recipes

T-Fal Cookware: Their Non-Stick Pans are a Personal Obsession

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T-fal Non-Stick Fry Pan
This beauty is a personal favorite, my 12″ Non-Stick Fry Pan from T-Fal –the inventor of non-stick! This beauty came from Target, but T-Fal can also be ordered (easily) on Amazon.

T-Fal “Thermo-Spot” technology is something that was new to me, but now I’m completely hooked on it. The Thermo-Spot shows when your pan is ready to use… kind of like the red light that lets you know when your oven is good to go.

It’s amazing to me that someone hadn’t thought of this long ago. Leave it to T-Fal.

I also love that T-Fal Initiatives take the non-stick game to the next level. Seriously, everything slides right off of these pans. I love to make “cheese clumps” for salads and soups – which is simply putting little mounds of shredded cheese onto a skillet and letting them brown and crisp up a little. You’d think these guys would spell DISASTER for clean up, but T-Fal pans, they literally slide right off the skillet and into the dish.

 

As you’d expect from someone who has a food blog, I cook every single day of the week. In fact, when our cats need to find me (to play, feed them, scratch their heads or cater to them in any manner), the first place they look is always the kitchen. Come to think of it, the same’s true for every member of my family… except for the scratching heads part, the human members of my family seldom as for such a thing.

As an avid cook, I have had up close and personal experience with all manners of pots, pans, and cookware in general. If a new cook were to ask me to recommend ONE pan she/he should buy to begin their kitchen collection, I would recommend T-Fal. I love many different pans (including my beloved iron skillet collection), but this is the brand I’d most often recommend.

Why? In a word – perfection. T-Fal cookware is perfect in every single way.

Read more about T-Fal non-stick pans and their ingenious Thermo-Spots on Amazon.


T-fal Non-Stick Fry Pan

Chocolate Chip Cookies: Simplified and Scrumptious with Bob’s Red Mill Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies


Like most people, I am in a full-fledged baking frenzy right now. When you have to bake and cook with gluten-free ingredients, it can make things trickier, especially with baking.

Gluten-free baking is a whole other ballgame and you’re pretty much thrown into the big leagues when you should be hitting off of a tee! Companies like Bob’s Red Mill make things much, much easier.

While in Rural King recently (of all places!), I saw a bag of Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix. I never even knew there was such a thing – I’ve never seen it in any other store. Naturally it went in the cart along with a few other of my Bob’s Red Mill favorites – right between my husband’s work gloves and birdseed.

I made a batch of cookies yesterday and was blown away by how delicious they are. They taste as good (if not better) than I remember “regular” chocolate chip cookies tasting. I’m a nut fanatic, so I added a healthy amount of chopped pecans.

SO DELICIOUS!

(Continued Below…)

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

As you can tell from the photos, I have a heavy hand when it comes to adding nuts to my cookies. Whether it’s pecans or walnuts, I want to taste the chocolate and the nuts in each bite. Something wonderful about this mix is that the cookie, itself, is also fantastic.

I used the recipe that’s on the back of the bag – exactly as given.

(Wrapped up below!)

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

If you can find this mix in a store near you (don’t forget to check Rural King!), you’ll definitely want to do that. If not, check Amazon.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Homemade Vegetable Broth for Thanksgiving Dressing

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Vegetables for Vegetable Broth

One of my daughters, Brittany, has been a committed vegetarian since she was 12 years old. It began with eating the top part of tacos while leaving the meat at the bottom untouched and with eating everything on her plate except for the meat. I asked her, very matter of factly, about it one day – not wanting to make a mountain of what may have been a molehill.

Spoiler alert – it was not a molehill.

She adorably told me, “I don’t want to ever eat anything that once had a face.” I told her that it was her decision to make and that I was on her side. If she didn’t want to eat anything that once had a face, no one… and I mean no one… was ever going to make her.

I read up on protein,vegetarianism, health concerns AND benefits, etc. We became black bean burger experts and, truth be told, the whole family surely benefited from the increased veggies in the kitchen. I made certain then and I make certain now that anything I cook for her doesn’t contain any ingredients that… well… once had a face.

One of the biggest areas of concern (for me anyway as a cook) has been replacing chicken broth in the food I make for her. It adds SO MUCH FLAVOR! Store-bought vegetable broth simply cannot compare. That’s why I prefer to make my own vegetable stock to use for her dressing at Thanksgiving. She’s a huge, huge, huge fan of garlic and flavorful herbs, so I can add those in and give her the layers of flavor she loves.

And no faces.

The recipe below really isn’t a recipe as much as it is a technique because it’s so customizable. If you’re using a vegetable broth for soup or stew, you might want to leave out the sage and replace it with thyme or basil. However, for Thanksgiving stuffing, don’t dare leave out the sage.

While I’ve said (in the recipe below) to simmer for 30 minutes, I actually turn the heat down and simmer for longer. Why? I love for the kitchen to smell like Thanksgiving! Naturally, you can’t simmer too long, however, or your broth will cook away. The house will smell like Autumn Heaven, but you’ll be left with a tablespoon of broth.

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Homemade Vegetable Broth for Thanksgiving Dressing

Vegetables for Vegetable Broth

Ingredients

  • 1 large Sweet Onion
  • 2 cups Chopped Celery
  • Celery tops
  • 20 Baby Carrots (halved or left whole)
  • 9-10 Cloves Garlic, coarsely chopped
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • Twig of Rosemary
  • Twig of Thyme
  • 3 Sage Leaves
  • 1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 8 Cups Water

Instructions

  1. Clean and chop (coarsely) the vegetables.
  2. Heat EVOO in a soup pot.
  3. Add vegetables and herbs to the EVOO and cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes, stirring often.
  4. Add salt and water. Bring to a boil.
  5. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes (uncovered).
  6. Strain and throw out (or eat!) the vegetables.
  7. Store your broth in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Vegetables for Vegetable Broth Vegetables for Vegetable Broth

Gluten-Free Corn Pudding (or Use All Purpose Flour for the Traditional Version)

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Gluten-Free Corn Pudding

Gluten-Free Corn Pudding

I’ve been tweaking, experimenting, tweaking, planning, and re-tweaking favorite and new recipes for the upcoming holidays.  In our family, real joy is found around the dining room table (holidays, special days, any days….), so I put the utmost thought and planning into the food we’ll be gathered around.

Like most families, we have our traditional favorites that make their appearance on their perspective holidays, but I also love to try new dishes and desserts to keep my adored ones on their adorable toes. I’ve been experimenting with corn pudding the past few months because everyone loves corn and, let’s face it, it’s a must-have for Thanksgiving.

Before I had to give up wheat and gluten, my go to corn pudding called for a box of Jiffy Cornbread Mix (recipe). I’ve been trying since to come up with a recipe to rival that delicious recipe. The one below is as delicious, it’s just different, you know?

I’ll post future corn pudding recipes as well as other side-dish, bread (gluten-free, of course) and desserts here on the food blog in the coming weeks.

After all, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it!

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Gluten-Free Corn Pudding

Gluten-Free Corn Pudding

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Corn (canned, drained or frozen, thawed)
  • 4 TBS Gluten-Free Flour (or All Purpose, if not going the gluten-free route)
  • 1 TBS Butter, melted
  • 3 tsp Sugar
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper
  • 2 Eggs, Well Beaten
  • 2 Cups Whole Milk
  • Paprika (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix the corn, flour, salt, pepper, and sugar together in a medium bowl. Be sure the clumps of flour dissolve into the mixture.
  2. Combine the well-beaten eggs, melted butter, and milk in a separate bowl. Stir well.
  3. Combine both of these mixtures together and pour into a butter-greased baking dish.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. During the first 30 minutes, stir the mixture a few times - being sure to stir upward from the bottom. You want to be sure to incorporate all of the pudding together so it doesn't over-brown on the bottom. Using a wooden spoon is best.
  5. The pudding is usually ready after cooking for 1 hour, even. To check, use the knife inserted in the middle trick - when it comes out clean, it's ready to come out of the oven.
  6. Optional: Dust the top with a little paprika.


Balsamic Mushroom-Pepper Steaks: Easy Recipe for Busy Cooks

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Balsamic Mushroom Pepper Steaks

I love to cook like some people love to go out to eat. It is relaxing, fun, enjoyable, and simply a part of who I am. Having said that… if we’re being honest here… during the Christmas season, one of the last places I want to be is in the kitchen cooking meals! If it doesn’t involve making candy, cookies, pies, cakes, and edible gifts, I’m just not that interested.

Not when I could be shopping on Amazon, browsing Target’s aisles, or watching It’s a Wonderful Life for, like, the gazillionth time!

The beautiful meal above would be perfect for any busy December night and it’s so stunning, I could even see it as the perfect Christmas Eve meal.

To see how it all comes together see Balsamic Mushroom-Pepper Steaks.

Photo Credit: Terra’s Kitchen


Fun and Delicious: The Little Kernel Miniature Popcorn (Review + Delicious Recipe for Honey Peanut Butter Granola Bars)

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The Little Kernel Mini Popcorn

Have you seen -or heard of – The Little Kernel miniature popcorn? I hadn’t when I was first contacted to try it in exchange for a post on the food blog. But one look at the Little Kernel guy and I was hooked. That combined with the fact that I’m BEYOND obsessed with popcorn made me downright giddy at the prospect.

The Little Kernel Mini Popcorn

The Little Kernel is a better-for-you snack with a unique, hulless, “miniature kernel.” Popped in 100% pure olive oil, each popcorn is gluten-free, non-GMO, dairy-free, kosher and certified whole grains. 

The Little Kernel Mini Popcorn Sweet and Salty

My favorites were the Sweet & Salty Kettle and the Butter Flavored while my husband was wild about the Truffle Sea Salt. I have a funny relationship with Truffle salt – I like it for a few bites, then, I’m ready to move on.

If you love truffle salt as much as my husband does, however, this will become your new addiction.

As for me and my taste buds, we’re sticking with the Sweet & Salty and Butter Flavored. I’m intrigued by the other flavors available too – especially the White Cheddar and Pink Himalayan Salt. They both sound out of this world good.

The Little Kernel Mini Popcorn Truffle Sea Salt

Where to Buy The Little Kernel Miniature Popcorn:

The Little Kernel is on Amazon – something I love since I pretty much live on Amazon. It’s super-easy to just throw a bag or two or twelve in the cart along with whatever lovely little something caught my eye at the time. Just click the link (Amazon) and shop for the variety of Little Kernel you’re craving.

You can also order The Little Kernel Miniature popcorn from their website.

You are going to love this popcorn – it’s uncommonly delicious and just a lot of fun to eat.

One of my favorites, Sweet & Salty, stars in the great recipe below from @snacksalldayeveryday. Just be sure to order plenty of The Little Kernel to use in the recipe AND for popping directly into your mouth.

Trust me on this one.

Honey Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Honey Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Recipe Credit: @snacksalldayeveryday

2 cups of rolled oats
3 1/2 cups The Little Kernel Sweet & Salty
1/2 cup puffed rice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:
1. Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl (using about 1/2 cup of popcorn only).
2. In microwave, combine peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract and melt until smooth.
3. Combine this with dry ingredients and then line a dish with this mixture (tightly packed about 3/4 inch high).
4. Chill in fridge for 20 minutes.
5. Then combine remaining popcorn with honey and add this on as a second layer (tightly packed).
6. Chill for another 15 minutes or so, cut, drizzle with melted chocolate, and serve. No baking necessary.


The Little Kernel Mini Popcorn Dive In!

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies: One of the Easiest Recipes of All Time

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Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Before I had to give up gluten/wheat (health reasons), I baked cookies almost weekly. That’s what we Cookie Monsters do. Once I had to swear off all of the traditional cookie ingredients, I pretty much had to swear off making cookies weekly (gluten-free flour and other ingredients are much higher).

I did not, however, at any time swear off being a Cookie Monster – so I have certain favorite recipes I use again and again. The Peanut Butter Cookies recipe below is a favorite – of mine as well as everyone else that gets within reach of these delicious cookies.

While their flavor is the best thing about them, their few (cheap) ingredients and level of insane easiness to make run a close second and third.

You’re going to love these cookies for all of these reasons. You’ll want to keep this cookie recipe handy for Christmas, birthdays, game days, and any day that calls for a yummy peanut butter cookie.

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Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Creamy (Smooth) Peanut Butter
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 2-3 TBS Chopped Peanuts (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine the peanut butter, sugar, and egg - stirring well.
  2. Stir in the chopped peanuts, if using.
  3. Spoon cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheet.
  4. Dip a fork into extra sugar, then press a "crisscross" design on top of each cookie. This not only looks cook, it keeps the cookies flat.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Don't over-bake these cookies - it's actually better to take them out a little early than a little late.


Infinity Jars: Perfect Vessels for Food, Spices, Herbs, Dressings, Oil, Soap (Hey, Why Not?!)

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Infinity Jars Glass Dish with Lid

Infinity Jars Glass Dish with Lid

I recently had the great pleasure of selecting a couple of Infinity Jars to review on my food blog and tea blog (Crazy Tea Chick).  As soon as I saw their gorgeous collection of premium glass jars and containers, I knew the decision process was going to be a pain-staking one.

I honestly wanted everything I saw! It reminded me of walking into a a Japanese restaurant… what do I NOT want!?!

Infinity Jars features the largest collection of ultraviolet glass products you’ll find anywhere. Their unique jars, containers, and bottles are created and backed by scientists and health advocates around the world. Extensive research has gone into each product.

Not only does each container maintain the optimum freshness of nearly any food, dried good, lotion, or essential oil…. they look gorgeous going about their business.

The heavy duty jars are of the highest quality – and this truth rings home as soon as you hold one. These aren’t the food or herb containers you find in your local department stores – this are the type of containers celebrity chefs would have in their own kitchens.

The first jar I decided upon was the gorgeous Infinity Jar Glass Dish with Lid, pictured at the top. Not only is it uncommonly beautiful, I wanted to use it for “pinchable” black pepper and spice blends.  There’s just something about “pinching” the spices you want to use when cooking.

In the picture above, I had a blend I use daily (seasoned salt, paprika, parsley, and garlic powder).  It makes cooking faster and even funner to keep these “pinchables” handy.

Infinity Jars Glass Dish with Lid

I’ve also used it to store dry tea leaves. I buy a lot of tea leaves and love to combine them, creating a mixture (for example) of Blood Orange and Vanilla leaves. In the picture below, it was a blend of Raspberry and Peach tea leaves (it was out of this world, by the way).

Infinity Jars Glass Dish with Lid

I could also see using the Infinity Jar Glass Dish with Lid for beautiful carved soaps in the bathroom or by the kitchen sink, to hold potpourri, to store cinnamon sticks or dried herbs, or even as a gorgeous dish for softened butter on your holiday table.

It is simply gorgeous and its uses are many and varied.

Infinity Jars Long Neck Glass Bottle

I also chose the equally gorgeous Long Neck Glass Bottle. This beauty would be IDEAL for olive oil – or any other kind of oil or vinegar you frequently use, but I have bottles in use already for these kitchen staples. When I selected this bottle, I had one thing in mind, my vinegar-based salad dressing I always have made up… and I mean always.

What can I say, we eat a lot of salads in this house.

Infinity Jars and Cleaning Cloth

The jars come with a very cool cleaning cloth (pictured above) that keeps them shiny and beautiful. They also come with cool little labels which, quite honestly, I don’t use. The jars are just too darn pretty to mess with, in my opinion.

Head over to Infinity Jars to see all of their MANY beautiful products – but pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea first. You’ll be there a while deciding which you want first.

Infinity Jars Long Neck Glass Bottle

Possum Trots: Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies Named in Honor of a Small Town in Kentucky

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Possum Trots: Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies
See those little bits of oats, white chocolate chips and coconut? HEAVEN!
Black Bottom, Monkey’s Eyebrow, Big Beaver Lick, Marrowbone, Rabbit Hash, Booger Branch… yep, they’re all small towns here in Kentucky with pretty unforgettable names. I have a whole list of them and am going to spend some time researching the story behind the names this year for my Kentucky blog.  I can’t wait to learn the story behind Booger Branch.

I think.

Small towns in Kentucky have always fascinated me. While our larger cities are absolutely wonderful – in fact I call one home – Kentucky’s small towns are where you’ll really find its personality. The friendly Kentuckians who wave at perfect strangers and will gladly talk your ear off if you let them, the churches with their can’t-miss sassy signs, the American flag waving proudly in front of every school and many businesses, the sleepy downtowns, and the University of Kentucky colors everywhere you look… yep, that’s us!

Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oatmeal and Oat Bran
One of the most trustworthy names in the gluten-free business.
A few days ago, I got a wild hair to come up with a gluten-free oatmeal cookie. Oatmeal cookies have always been a personal favorite – seriously, I just can never get enough. So, I decided that I’d start with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats and Gluten-Free Oat Bran. I figured that combo would give me the oatmeal taste I was craving, if anything would.

I decided to add a few other favorite obsessions to the mix (literally): Coconut, white chocolate chips, and vanilla (as is my style – twice as much as the normal person).

My Goals:

  • Gluten-Free Cookies that were somewhere between crunchy cookies and chewy protein balls.
  • Cookies with no added sugar (in addition to what was already present in the shredded sweetened coconut and white chocolate chips) but that tasted so good even kids would love them.
  • Fewer than 5 ingredients – I have nothing against ingredients, mind you. In fact, sometimes that’s the way you can achieve layers of flavor. However, that’s also the way your favorite ingredients can get hidden and lost in the mix. That wasn’t going to happen to the oats, coconut, vanilla, and white chocolate on my watch. The ingredient list, counting water, was right at 5 – so I cut myself a little slack.
  • Simple process. As in.. as simple as possible. When we cookie fiends want cookies, we want them fast – without a lot of hoopla. I wanted “mix and bake” and that’s what I came up with.
  • Cookies small in size. Here’s the thing – I am a Cookie Monster from way back. I’m seldom any happier than I am when prancing around with a cookie in one hand and an Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot mystery in the other.  When my metabolism turned on me “this” side of 30, I found that if I make my cookies smaller, I actually consume fewer calories. I outsmart my inner cookie fanatic this way and she hasn’t caught on yet.
  • I wanted the cookies to pretty much explode with my favorite cookie flavors: Oats, Coconut, White Chocolate, and Vanilla.
  • I wanted a gluten-free cookie that was as delicious three days later as the first day they were made. That’s rare with gluten-free cookies. These actually are, though!

Possum Trots: Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies
Simple but Delicious – Now, That’s Southern Food
When I started gathering my ingredients, I couldn’t help thinking that I’d made myself a pretty tall order. Heckity heck, they’d have been lofty enough goals for coming up with a NON gluten-free cookie, but it was almost nuts for coming up with one that was also gluten-free. You see, gluten-free baking is a beast all in itself.

Gluten-free cookies, pies, bread, and cakes are as unpredictable as 3 year old humans, 6 month old puppies, and cats  of ANY age. Like each of these live wires, gluten-free baking not only has its own set of rules – it seems to make them up as it goes along. Like cats.

Fortunately, I’m a crazy cat lady and have raised three daughters. Nothing shocks me.

{Possum Trots Recipe Below}

Possum Trots: Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies
Don’t Skimp on the Ingredients  – Trust Me

“Possum Trots” Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup water
1 cup white chocolate chips
2 TBS Madagascar Vanilla
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 slight little pinch of salt
1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran
2 cups Bob’s Red Mill Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

  1. Pre-Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. While it isn’t a necessity, I do line my cookie sheets with parchment paper when baking cookies.
  3. VERY important – when baking cookies in batches (such as this), allow your cookie sheet to cool completely between each batch. That, or use several different sheets. When you place cookie dough on a warm cookie sheet and put it into the oven, the cookies will spread like a… nevermind. They spread.
  4. You can either form these into balls OR form them into balls, THEN flatten them slightly for “patties.”  There is not wrong way. I tried both ways and found that both were delicious.
  5. Bake for 8-10 minutes. I hate when I’m unable to give a precise time, but ovens vary. For what it’s worth, mine were consistently ready after 8 minutes.
  6. Remove to a platter or cooling rack (be careful, these guys are crumbly) and allow to cool completely.
  7. These babies are simply delicious and filled with the flavors I love.

Given their simple charm, these cookies catch you by surprise with their layers of deliciousness. I guess that best explains why I named them after a small town in Kentucky. That… and the fact that they’re pretty unforgettable.

Where Can You Find Bob’s Red Mill Products?

Bob’s Red Mill products are available in just about all grocery stores and department stores. They’re also available online, of course. In fact, Bob’s Red Mill’s Website offers free shipping on most orders over $50, so that’s a great place to stockpile.

In keeping with the whole honoring small towns in Kentucky with dessert recipes theme, next up is Black Bottom… I have a distinct feeling chocolate will be involved with this one.

Last Minute Christmas Shopping for Cooks and Foodies on Target.com

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A few days ago, I was taking a few pictures for the food blog and it occurred to me…. most of my dishes and a lot of my gadgets and small kitchen appliances come from Target! Somewhere along the way, Target stepped up to be one of the best places for buying dishes, kitchen gadgets and small kitchen appliances – and, it would appear, pretty much my “go to” place for each.

While I have a gazillion and seven things lined up to do today, I HAD to take a few minutes to tell you about a few special savings events going on and coming up on Target’s website.

  • Now: When you spend 75$ on Kitchen Items – EVEN Sales stuff- you earn a 15$ Gift Card for yourself (or a great stocking stuffer for someone else!)
  • From the 18th (this Sunday) – the 24th (next Saturday): You can take an extra 25% off anything you buy in the Kitchen department by using the code KITCHEN when checking out.

While I’m wild at the thought of saving 25% (that ends up saving a lot of money), I think I’m even more excited by the thought of a 15$ gift card. More dishes!

Click through the link above or any of the images to see all the wonderful things in Target’s online Kitchen Department.

Also… while this isn’t remotely “kitchen” or “foodie” related (unless, of course, we’re talking about taking great food pics), Target also has another crazy deal going on from the 18th -24th: Earn yourself a Free $200 gift card when you buy an iPhone 7! Do you have ANY idea how many dishes you could buy with a $200 gift card??