Kitchen Tools

Brilliant Organizer for Cans and Other Pantry Items… Even Dishes

December 5, 2022 By Joi Sigers

During the early weeks of the Pandemic (long before the lockdowns or even face masks), I fell in love with something I’ve never done before – borderline hoarding! Not hoarding to the point of interfering with others being able to get things they needed as well, mind you, but I began stocking up for things my family and I would need for weeks at a time.

Cats included, of course!

I figured that the less I got out, the less my chances were of contacting a respiratory disease neither my asthma or I were interested in acquiring. I began using my favorite grocery store’s “click-list” (grocery pickup) and limited running into a store as much as possible.

My youngest daughter and I organized a spare room into a big walk-in pantry of sorts – not only did I want to have everything our household would need but also plenty for my other family members.

Somewhere along the way, this became such a wonderfully agreeable practice and method that I decided I’d never abandon it, even after the pandemic was in the rear view mirror. Why? Not only is it convenient, cutting back on running errands is something I (as a self-embraced homebody) very much enjoy.

It’s also handy if, say, last minute I want to change my dinner strategy – I have plenty of things on hand to work with.

Also… let’s fact it… we’re right smack in the middle of cold and flu season right now and I don’t want to be out and about any more than necessary – to say nothing of when it snows!

If you also like to stock up on pantry items, this is an organizer you may be as interested in as I am – the Adjustable Pantry and Shelf Organizer (Amazon link). While cans can certainly be stacked in front of one another, lifting and peeking to see what you’re working with gets tiresome – trust me, more than once I’ve wished for a better, easier way than playing peek-a-boo with soup cans.

This versatile shelf organizer is very affordable and would be ideal for anyone, whether they love to stock up like me or fly by the seat of their apron (not knocking it, I did it for years!).

See the Adjustable Pantry and Shelf Organizer (Amazon link) for a closer look and more information (the uses they find for this is mind-blowing and I think I want one for the laundry room and bathroom as well!).

Gorgeous Purple Dutch Oven… My Ideal Soup Pan!

October 31, 2022 By Joi Sigers

I couldn’t possibly be MORE in love with this Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven (Amazon link). Seriously, I’m half-certain it’s going to be a Christmas gift TO me, FROM me this year. I love the Amazon Basics brand (phenomenal quality at very, very reasonable prices) and the color (purple) is my absolute obsession.

If this particular color doesn’t float your boat (what are you thinking?!), know that this gorgeous Dutch oven comes in a wide variety of colors:

blue
gray
white
navy
red
pink
green
matte white
orange (very good looking)
teal
purple (some things are worth repeating)

Features:

6-quart cast iron Dutch oven pot for cooking and baking in the oven or on the stovetop; Oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Smooth enamel finish provides long-lasting durability and non-stick convenience
Cast iron provides even heat distribution and retention; Hand wash only
Dual side handles and fitted lid
Roast meat, bake bread, marinate food, sauté vegetables, prepare soups, stews, casseroles, and more
Backed by an Amazon Basics limited 1-year warranty

See Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven (Amazon link) for more information and to see the other gorgeous colors…. in addition to the stunning purple.

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds Make Fancy Pies Possible… Just in Time for Pie Baking Season!

October 15, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Pumpkin Pie

It’s here… Holy cats, it’s finally here! Pie season is upon us and I couldn’t be more excited. Making, baking, and eating pies is one of my favorite things in the world and this is basically my Super Bowl. Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Chess, Pecan (my favorite!), chocolate, apple… never met a pie yet I didn’t adore.

Having to eat gluten-free poses a bit of a challenge in most areas in the kitchen, but never more so than when it comes to bread and pastries. Gluten-free flours simply behave differently, period. Fortunately, I’m almost always up for a challenge, so I’ve stuck with them until I’ve mastered the situation.

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds (Amazon link)

Making a Fancy Pie Crust

When it comes to making a pretty pie presentation, let’s fact it, most of us just don’t have the time or energy for all the fuss. The old-fashioned (and, let’s face it, pretty darn impressive) fork tines pressed around the edge serves most of us well. Yet, we often yearn for a real show-stopper pie on our table.

One of the most-respected names in the business, Wilton, has come to our rescue. I’m, by nature, a very brand-loyal person and this brand is one of the ones I have an unwavering devotion to.

Something about never being let down has something to do with it. Another thing I love about them is pictured right here in this post… they never stop or rest on their laurels. The creativity keeps flowing and they keep coming up with new tools to help home cooks and bakers make their dreams come true.

They make us look good and, by gosh, I love them for it.

These Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds are among their newest products and I absolutely love them. They’re incredibly easy to use (and reuse and reuse and reuse…), VERY well made and durable, and work like an absolute charm.

Back of a Pie Crust Mold Package

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Mold Features:

Create impressive pie crust designs with this silicone mold
Color: Red
Material: Silicone
10.5 x 5 in. (26.6 x 12.7 cm)
Top-rack dishwasher safe; however for best results, hand wash in warm soapy water before first and after each use; rinse and dry thoroughly

I was sent two of these wonderful pie crust molds in exchange for telling my food blog readers about them and I recently put them to use with my first pie of the season, a delicious pumpkin pie.

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds

I made a double batch of pie crust, one for the pumpkin pie and one batch for “playing” with the molds! The photo of the pumpkin pie shows the fluted edge and a few of the cut outs I placed on top. For those of you who don’t have to eat gluten-free, you have it made in the shade… you can use store-bought pie crust dough and play all day! Those of us who have to make our own gluten-free dough have to be very judicious with our dough lmao!

Fortunately, these molds are so easy (and outrageously fun) to use that anyone can do it. Heck, I did it with my 4 year old and 3 year old grandbabies playing King Kong vs Godzilla all around me! I was even told at one point, “Be a Skull Crawler, MiMi!” so I did my best. I’m guessing skull crawlers roar and chomp their teeth?

Back of Pie Crust Mold Package

As you can see from the directions on the backs, the instructions are incredibly clear and straightforward – so easy a skull crawler can follow them.

I 100 percent recommend these molds for the best and most beautiful pies this Thanksgiving and Christmas. They’re very thick, sturdy, and do an outstanding job. The dough doesn’t stick to the molds and you can let your creative juices really flow.

Please click through for more information:

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds (Amazon link) – This link goes to the Pie Crust Mold pictured first, the one with a gorgeous apple pie on the front.

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Mold – This link goes to Wilton’s website where you can find the mold set with the leaves (the one pictured second!) – This one doesn’t appear to be on Amazon, unfortunately.

I hope you’ll click through either link and give these a try. I just love them so much! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Pumpkin Pie

Gorgeous Knife Set with Wooden Block from The Pioneer Woman

December 30, 2021 By Joi Sigers

I’ve probably mentioned it a hundred or two times on the food blog, but I love and collect everything Rachael Ray and have for too many years to count. A few years ago, I began collecting another favorite Food Network star, Ree Drummond, and now my Pioneer Woman collection rivals my Rachael Ray collection.

Cookbooks, magazines, dishes, pans, napkins, mopines, cutlery, spatulas, garbage bowls, EVOO bottles… you name it, if the name Rachael Ray or Pioneer Woman is on it, our kitchen has it (sometimes multiple times).

What can I say, I spend a GREAT deal of time in the kitchen and want to be surrounded by bright, colorful, whimsical, and beautiful things that make me smile. Plus, to be the best cook possible, it helps to surround yourself with the best tools possible and these are some of the best you’ll find anywhere.

I also love that many of their kitchen and cooking items come in my favorite colors: Purple, red, and turquoise.

I like to keep life as fun and as colorful as possible!

This gorgeous turquoise Rustic Pioneer Woman Cutlery Set (Amazon link) is on my radar. Most of the Pioneer Woman items I have are turquoise, so I’m absolutely thrilled these come in this wonderful color.

The Pioneer Woman Cowboy Rustic Forged 14-Piece Cutlery Knife Block Set includes a GREAT variety of knives including a chef knife, bread knife, Nakiri knife, utility knife, paring knife and steak knives.

The blades are stainless steel and have ergonomically designed handles. LOVE that! I also love that the set comes with a beautiful wood block for easy storage.

See Rustic Pioneer Woman Cutlery Set (Amazon link) for a closer look!

All in One Kitchen Gadget (Tool) Set on Amazon

July 20, 2016 By Joi Sigers

We’re not naming any names here, but someone got off track with their “Daily Gift Ideas for Foodies.” Wayyyyy off track.

Darn you, summer. what with zinnias, reading Agatha Christie on the deck, an herb garden that refuses to tend itself, baseball games to watch, grilling…

Seriously, how does anything ever actually get done between spring and autumn?

When I saw this cool multi-purpose Kitchen Tool Set this morning, I knew exactly how to jump back on track. This is such an ingenious space-saving little marvel.

I love everything about this set…

….the bright colors go perfectly with all of my bright Rachael Ray and Pioneer Woman dishes, kitchen gadgets, etc.
…it stores everything in one place!
….who doesn’t need an extra funnel?
…love the egg tools.

If I had to pick one thing I love the most, though, it’d definitely be the fact that everything stores within itself. Searching through drawers isn’t a heckuva lot of fun, so I’m pretty wild about it’s all-for-one-and-one-for-all attitude.

Comes with a funnel, juicer, grater, egg cracker, shredder, can opener, egg separator and measuring cup. The funnel and measuring cup fit together to make a bottle-shaped container that keeps everything in place.

See Kitchen Tool Set for more information. At less that $10, this would make a perfect gift idea for several foodies and cooks in your life.

Below are more kitchen tools and gadgets on Amazon – including one that’s pretty similar to the one above.

Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl… Wouldn’t Take Anything for Mine

September 17, 2015 By Joi Sigers

Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl

My family knows me. They know the good, the bad, and the… well, never you mind about the rest. Knowing me like they do, they know that, whether it’s birthday, anniversary, Mother’s Day, or Christmas, buying me anything with Rachael Ray’s name on it is a very safe bet.

I’ve collected Rachael Ray cookbooks, dishes, and kitchen tools for as long as I can remember. The bright, happy, vivid colors combined with unsurpassed durability and functionality rock my culinary world.

I even buy Rachael Ray products for my daughters – in their favorite colors. Not only do I know they’ll use (and love) them daily… I know they’ll think about me each time they do.

Win, WIN!

Fun and Functional

This beautiful purple Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl was actually given to me as a gift a few years ago. I recently came across the pictures in my iPhone and realized I’d never written a review on this kitchen favorite.

When the garbage bowls first came out, in spite of being a Rachael Ray Kitchen Tool junkie, I never bought one for myself because (to be honest) I wasn’t sure I’d even use it. I thought, “Yes, it’s beautiful and yes, it’s Rachael Ray… but I just toss my trash in a Kroger bag as I cook.”

Fast Forward to today… I have used this bowl every single day since receiving it two years ago. Every. Single. Day. It’s just unspeakably convenient to throw peels, cans, rubber bands, foil, etc into as I’m cooking. Grabbing the bowl before I start baking or cooking is as automatic as putting on a seat belt when I get in a car.

Not only is the bowl, somehow, just fun to use, it also looks a heckuva lot better sitting on the counter than a grocery bag. What’s more, there’s no “seeping” through or “spilling out” like you get with a grocery bag.

Sloppy.

The great looking Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl is available on Amazon in the following colors: purple, red, orange, dark green, green, and blue.

Click through for more information about what will become your next favorite kitchen tool. When you click through, you can even see a short little video of Rachael Ray explaining where the idea of the Garbage Bowl came from.

Rachael Ray Garbage Bowl

Rachael Ray Bench Scrape or Food Mover….

April 15, 2015 By Joi Sigers

Rachael Ray Food Mover (or Bench Scrape)

I’m completely drawn to colorful things in life – the more color, the better. That’s probably half of the reason I collect all things Rachael Ray in the kitchen – everything is available in the brightest, most beautiful and downright “happy” colors.

Some collectors choose the same color for each of their Rachael Ray kitchen tools, gadgets, dishes, bakeware, pans, or cookware. I basically go with whatever color I’m “feeling” at the time. If it’s during baseball season, I’m drawn to red (because the only thing I’m thinking during these months is St. Louis Cardinals baseball). If it’s college basketball season, I lean toward blue (UK Wildcats, of course).

The rest of the time, I’m liable to choose orange, agave blue, purple, or green, entirely based on my mood at the time. My oldest daughter’s kitchen scheme is ideal for the Agave Blue collection, so I’ve been grabbing her this and that in this beautiful color.

Naturally the beauty is only half of the reason I love Rachael Ray’s line of kitchen gadgets and dishes. The other reason is they’re completely fun to use, dependable, and save time and effort.

One of my favorite Rachael Ray kitchen tools is shown here, the Bench Scrape Shovel (Amazon link) – not that I ever actually call it that. I’ve always just called it my “mover” – on 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray always refers to it as her “food mover.”

Appropriate enough.

While mine is, obviously, red (must have bought it in the summer) – the bench scrape is also available in orange, blue, purple, and agave blue…. which reminds me, I need to order one for Emily.

Details:

Bench scrape shovel for collecting and transporting ingredients from the cutting board to a pot on the stovetop
Shovel face crafted in durable, nonporous stainless steel; soft taper at shovel’s edge for scooping ease
Secure and comfy ribbed rubber covers shovel handle; safe for use in the dishwasher
Measures 6-1/2 by 6-1/4 inches with a 1-1/5-inch high handle; weighs 8 ounces

This is one of those things that, each time I use it, I wonder, “How did I ever get along without you???” Then I remember – with hands that smelled more like onions and garlic and multiple trips back and forth to the stove.

It’s a really cool, fun, and useful kitchen tool and I love it. What’s more, it’s less than $7 on Amazon. With Mother’s Day around the corner, you might want to grab a couple.

See Bench Scrape Shovel (Amazon link) for more information.