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Winco Hamburger Smasher and Turner: Perfect for Diner-Style Burgers

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Winco Hamburger Smasher and Turner

I love burgers. There, I said it. I love them more than words can even say. In fact, I wouldn’t spend too much time searching for words because that would be time taken away from eating burgers.

My favorite way to fix burgers is “diner-style,” just a food blogger cool way of saying, “burgers that are smashed into an iron skillet.”

Before we found  the HANDY as HECK Winco Burger Turner above (or as I call it, my smasher), it was a headache to smash the burgers into the skillet. I’d try to get my spatulas to go along with the plan, but they just weren’t built for it. You should’ve seen me, holding the spatula in one hand and placing a mug on top of the spatula with the other hand. The spatula took a beating, the mug felt anxious, and the cats laughed. Embarrassing.

This crazy cool and inexpensive little tool has made life a lot easier. It’s also perfect for the grill – gets the burgers nice and flat. This makes them cook quicker and, in my opinion, makes them tastier.

Product Description from Amazon

  • Stainless steel construction
  • Wooden handle
  • Winco products range from tabletop to kitchen utensils to food preparation supplies
  • Winco products are used by all foodservice and hospitality industry experts worldwide

See Winco Burger Turner for more information!


Cookware Protector Sets: Absolutely Ingenious, No Doubt About It

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Cookware Protector Set

 

TJMaxx gets me. They just really, really get me. So much so that they’re often a few feet ahead of me when it comes to knowing what I need. Honestly, I’ve lost track of the times I’ve meandered through the store and found things I had no idea I needed! Which is exactly why when any of my daughters and I go, we allow time for at least an hour of wandering and shopping.

The males in our family seldom are up for this – except for the 10 month old. He doesn’t have much of a choice.

The Core Kitchen Cookware Protector Set (link to other Core Kitchen Protector Sets on Amazon) jumped out at me on a recent trip. The bright colors caught my eye and I had to take a closer look.

Each set comes with three colorful cookware (or plates, bowls…) protectors. They’re designed in a way to simply and beautifully cushion your pans or dishes and protect them from scratches.

I wish I’d had these many, many, many scratched pans ago.

If you live near a TJMaxx, look for these beauties – they’d make brilliant additions to your own home as well as fun and useful gift ideas for the cooks in your life. There are also many different color combinations available on Amazon.


Adorable Retro Kitchen Aprons (How Can We Pick Just One??!!)

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The black and white Retro Kitchen Apron, pictured above, would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift idea (whether you’re buying it for your own mother or dropping hints for your own present!).

  • 100% Cotton,Made of high quality material, fashionable and practical with Pockets
  • Length: 72.5cm * Waist Width: 53.5cm
  • Waist Strap: L111.5*W3cm,Neck Strap: L54*W3cm
  • Ties at the waist and has an adjustable neck strap.Recommend to slim and medium height girls and women.
  • A wonderful household necessity for choice. Perfect for the home entertainer or adventurous gourmet , Also suitable as a work apron for restaurant, hotel ,cafe, shop, etc

The Red and White Retro Apron (pictured above) is equally adorable – as is the Black Retro Apron with Bow Pockets (pictured below). The red and white apron has a Minnie Mouse vibe that makes me weak in the knees. I absolutely love both Minnie and her famous boyfriend.

They’re all so cute AND inexpensive, in fact, that a lot of people are buying them two/three at a time. They’d make a wonderful gift idea for Mother’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries… any time, for any lovely cook in your life.

The apron above is also available in red and white checks (below).

Click through any of the three links above to view more retro aprons. So adorable!

There are even more impossibly cute aprons pictured below. So many to choose from, right?!


Last-Minute Gift Idea for Cooks in Your Life: Rachael Ray Moppines

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Rachael Ray Moppine

A while back (actually quite a while, I believe) I wrote a review or Rachael Ray’s Moppines. Loved them then, loved them now. This morning, while thinking of great last minute Christmas gift ideas for cooks, I thought of these moppines and how much I love them. I checked Amazon and, sure enough, if you order them asap, they’ll arrive before Christmas.

Speaking of love, I’ve got NOTHING but mad love for Amazon, too.

Since reviewing my own red moppines, A LOT of gorgeous new colors have been added to the Moppines Collection – meaning you can go all matchy matchy with anyone’s kitchen color scheme.

  • brown
  • mustard
  • celery green
  • blue
  • brick red
  • smoke blue
  • orange
  • purple
  • red
  • burnt orange
  • lavendar
  • green

And they are all gorgeous. Click here to take a closer look.


Adorable Gift Idea for Foodies and Cooks: Le Creuset Stoneware Honey Pot

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Le Creuset Stoneware Honey Pot
I can’t decide which I love more about this beautiful Stoneware Honey Pot from Le Creuset – the gorgeous Dijon color, the name Le Creuset on the dipper, the bee on the front, or its overall great looks. I’m calling it a tie and I’m calling it something I need in my kitchen badly.

  • Stoneware pot holds up to 16 ounces of honey
  • Non-porous enamel finish; resists odors, staining, chipping, and cracking
  • Special cut-out lid to fit its accompanying Silicone honey dipper
  • Dishwasher-safe; microwave-safe; oven-safe up to 500 degrees F
  • Measures approximately 5.0 IN 4.0 IN 4.0 IN

If you order soon, you can still have this Stoneware Honey Pot delivered by Christmas. Le Creuset has an unreal number of gorgeous stoneware lovelies for the kitchen – many of which are also available in this Dijon color. Or, if you’re like me and pretty much go with every color of the rainbow, that’s more than possible too!


The Pioneer Woman on Amazon: Colorful, Beautiful, and Fun (and Her Merch is too!)

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The Pioneer Woman Flea Market Oven Mitt and Pot Holder Set
The Pioneer Woman Kitchen Set Pot Holder and Oven Mitt
Sigh. As if I don’t spend enough money on Amazon on Rachael Ray products, now they have another obsession of mine right there in plain sight for me to splurge on – The Pioneer Woman is primed to jump in my cart a few times a week.

Everywhere you look in my kitchen and dining room, you see Rachael Ray and The Pioneer Woman. Ironically, they’re two of the celebrity cooks I turn to the most for recipes and television entertainment as well. I love that their kitchen merch compliments one another so beautifully.

Everything is so bright, colorful, and happy – like the ladies, themselves.

My family knows that when it comes to buying gifts for me, they can’t possibly go wrong with these two collections.

The Pioneer Woman Iron Cookbook Holder

The Pioneer Woman Cast Iron Cookbook Holder

The Cast Iron Cookbook holder above is definitely something I need. It’s already available on Amazon, so no waiting is involved. Whoot!

The Pioneer Woman Flea Market Salt and Pepper Shakers
 

The Pioneer Woman Flea Market Salt & Pepper Shakers
While a lot of The Pioneer Woman is already on Amazon, others – like the salt & pepper shakers above – are coming in just a few days (you can go ahead and throw merch in your cart, though, of course – a trick my husband often wishes I hadn’t figured out).

Click through any of the links above or below for more gift ideas for cooks in your family – especially the one you see in the mirror. You know that one’s on the “nice list” after all!


Confetti Mixing Bowls (4 Piece Set) – Many Colors Available and They’re All Gorgeous

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Love these Zak! Designs mixing bowls. Love, love, love, love these Zak! Designs mixing bowls!  The set of 4 confetti mixing bowls (affiliate link) is available on Amazon in this killer color combo as well as many others.  In fact, whatever your color scheme is, you’re sure to find a set that harmonizes with it beautifully.

  • Set of 4 confetti-flecked mixing bowls inspired by vibrant colors popular in the 1950s
  • Crafted of recycled melamine; BPA-, PVC-, phthalate- and lead-safe
  • Perfect for food prep and casual serving; more dinnerware and serveware sold separately
  • Dishwasher-safe; not suitable for microwave use
  • Bowls measure 5-3/4 inches, 7-1/4 inches, 9 inches, and 10-3/4 inches in diameter

Click the link above for more information – head’s up, you’d better hurry before I buy them all. Seriously, I’m beyond infatuated with these bowls.


Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor, with Bowl Scraper (Review)

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 Peppers and Cilantro
My husband recently surprised me with a Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor, with Bowl Scraper (affiliate link) and I am completely infatuated with it. I’ve been going out of my way to find things to process – driving my cat crazy in the processes.

Seriously, it’s just a perfect food processor for everything. My old processor (which was a Hamilton Beach, too) wasn’t just old, it was probably one of the first food processors ever made. I’d actually love to know how old it was, just out of curiosity. I do know it was well over 10 years old.

And here’s the thing – it was still running. I had accidentally dropped it once, cracking the lid, which kept it from fitting tightly. I had to hold it on each time I used it. I guess my husband felt sorry for me because, next thing you know, I get a box from UPS and, tada……

Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor, with Bowl Scraper

… a brand new beauty!

Features:

  • Scrapes Sides of Bowl – No Spatula Needed
  • 10-Cup Capacity Built-in Scraper Works While Processor is On or Off
  • 2-Speeds Plus Pulse Chopping Blade and Slicing / Shredding Disc
  • Large Feed Chute S-Blade for Chopping, Mixing & Pureeing Dishwasher Safe Bowl, Lid & Blades Scraper Attachment
  • 450 Watts of power

The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor, with Bowl Scraper (affiliate link) is the number one bestseller on Amazon in food processors and, after using it, I’m not the least bit surprised. First of all, it carries one of the most trusted and turned-to names in appliances, Hamilton Beach.

Second of all, the bowl scraper is all kinds of ingenious. Anyone who has ever dodged blades with a spatula knows that this is an invention long overdue.

Third of all? It’s downright handsome. I’m sorry if this sounds girly, but as someone who cooks all day everyday (ahhhh, the life of a food blogger – making and even eating brownies falls under the category of being productive), my appliances sit out at all times. If I’m going to be looking at them every single day… and I am… I want them to be a feast for the eyes and this food processor most certainly is.

{Review Continued Below….}

Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor, with Bowl Scraper
Fourth of all, it’s simple to use. Step by step illustrations and even a very helpful box make it as simple as it gets.  The only way it could be any simpler would be if someone came into your kitchen and used it for you.

Then again, you’d have to feed them, so it wouldn’t really be that simple after all, would it?

I’ll stick with the box. He didn’t even ask for a glass of tea.

If you’re one of those rare birds who’ve never bought a food processor because you think it’s simpler to chop everything with your knives, we have got to talk. When you’re making a meal, any task that you can make easier on yourself is just good sense.  Take Thanksgiving, for example. A food processor cuts your work making the dressing in half. Celery, onions, breadcrumbs, sage leaves… it is so much simpler than standing at the counter all morning chopping away.

Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower Rice: Cut your cauliflower and process it in the food processor. 

I also love my food processor when it comes to other foods as well…

  • coleslaw
  • hummus
  • cauliflower rice (more about him in a minute)
  • hamburger relish
  • green tomato relish
  • pimento cheese
  • chopped nuts
  • guacamole
  • chopped salad
  • the list goes on and on…

Fifth of all (and last of all), it’s very affordable. In fact, it’s so affordable you could buy one for the cook in your life and snag one for yourself in the process (sorry, once I get started with the puns, I just can’t stop)

If you only used your food processor for making cauliflower rice and nothing else, it’d be more than worth it. Cauliflower is insanely good for you, so replacing rice in traditional recipes with something so healthy is all kinds of smart.

I use cauliflower rice in place of regular rice in stir fried rice (pictured below) and it is out of this world good. Here’s something whacky I’ve discovered with cauliflower stir fried rice – when I make traditional stir fried rice, I don’t just walk, I RUN to my bottle of gluten free soy sauce. I wouldn’t even dream of eating it without a splash or two or twenty.

However (and I have zero idea why), with cauliflower stir fried rice, it doesn’t need any soy sauce. In fact, it tastes better without it, in my opinion.  The bacon, onions, eggs, and cauliflower rice work beautiful magic together.

It’s something you have to try for yourself to understand. It’s amazing.

Stir Fried Cauliflower Rice
I whole-heartedly recommend the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor, with Bowl Scraper (affiliate link). It more than earns its #1 Amazon ranking.


Kitchen Gadget Review: AnySharp Pro – World’s Best Knife Sharpener

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AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener
Today marks the beginning of a series of Christmas Gift Ideas for Cooks and Foodies, 2016 – since I pretty much live for this time of year, I’m beside myself with excitement. I chose the beauty pictured here to launch the series, which will go through mid-December.

I was sent this gorgeous AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener a few weeks ago to review on the Food blog and I’ve been waiting for this day to do so. When they asked which color I’d like, I must have stared at the screen for 15 minutes trying to decide. My cat thought I was in a trance.

AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpeners (So many colors to choose from!)

There are so many gorgeous colors to choose from (see the AnySharp Pro photo above for proof!). Understand the trance a little better now? In the end, I actually gave them a couple of colors I’d narrowed it down to and put the decision-making in their hands.

That right there tells you all you’ll ever need to know about me and the way my brain works. And, yes, you should feel for my family.

When I opened the package, I was thrilled that they’d chosen orange. It’s extra, extra beautiful! I collect Rachael Ray and Pioneer Woman dishes, gadgets, and… well, everything… and orange goes beautifully with the bright, beautiful things in their collections.

AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener

Why the AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener is the Ideal Gift Idea for Cooks

  • It does an outstanding job. I have to say, given its great looks and miniature size, I wasn’t sure it was “up for the task.” I was crazy wrong. It sharpened even my dullest knives and made them seem as good as new.
  • Minimal effort involved in using. Anyone, of any age, will be able to use this knife sharpener. It doesn’t take strength (for which I’m very grateful) or dexterity – you simply have to be able to guide the knife, the AnySharp takes it from there.
  • It’s small and compact. Is it a nightmare to find room for kitchen gadgets, tools, and small appliances or what?! Just this morning, I rearranged three shelves to make room for a new juicer. In the process, I decided that I have to have more shelves. My husband’s going to love that revelation. When something comes along like this that can easily sit out on the counter or a shelf without taking up a great deal of space, I get a little excited. Sure, it could easily go in a drawer but it’s simply too good looking to hide away.
  • It’ll make cooks better cooks. I often say that, when it comes to cooking, you’ll only be as successful as you set yourself up to be. If you surround yourself with the best tools and gadgets (and, of course, ingredients), you put yourself way ahead of the game. Dull knives don’t just slow your roll, they make your vegetables and everything else you’re cutting look dull and amateurish. A beautifully sharp knife makes everything quicker, easier, and better looking.
  • I love that so many different colors are available – Pink Cream, Pistachio, Almond Cream, Royal Red, British Racing Green, Royal Blue, Orange Zest, Citrus Lime, Silver… Choosing a color you know someone loves makes the gift even more personal.
  • Did I mention the AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener is a beauty? I did? Well, I’ll mention it again. I’ve been a food blogger for a lot of years and a cook for at least twice that many (suddenly I feel 110).  Knife sharpeners just aren’t supposed to be this pretty. Normally they’re pretty plain and even a little on the unattractive side. The ones I’ve seen and used in the past were the type of gadget you insist on hiding away in a drawer. THEN, you end up forgetting it even exists and you go right on battling with your dull knives.

AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener

Why You’ll Want an AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener for Yourself

When you’ve chosen colors for the cooks or foodies in your life, you’ll also want to pick one for yourself. Why? In addition to the aforementioned…

  • It’s a lot cheaper than replacing knives! My husband recently bought me a set of knives and when I happened to see the price, my eyes spun in their sockets. Good knives are worth the price, I assure you, but the last… last, last, last thing you want to do is replace them. Buying a great knife sharpener (and the AnySharp Pro may just be the best) is the best way to ensure that your investment in knives is a wise and lasting one.
  • This is the most sturdy and well-constructed knife sharpener I’ve ever seen. It is obvious that this is a very well crafted kitchen tool. Great thought went into making this the only knife sharpener you’ll need. Since it lasts for years, it’ll be a long time before you have to think of replacing it. While I’m FAR from that happening, I know that when it does – I’ll replace it with another AnySharp Pro.
  • They’re so darn pretty. Yest, it is worth repeating.
  • Sharpens straight blades and serrated. 
  • The suction cup grips to the counter as though they’re one. When you put the AnySharp in place and pull the top black lever down, the suction cup on the bottom “becomes one” with the counter or surface it’s placed on. This makes it so sturdy and safe – it literally feels as though the knife sharpener is part of the counter. However, as soon as you’re through, and you pull the black lever back up, it lets go immediately.
  • The AnySharp Pro is a cinch to use. The box opens into a set of easy to follow and accomplish instructions.

AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener
I cannot possibly say enough good things about this little beauty. I hesitate to call kitchen gadgets, tools, gizmos, or small appliances “must haves” simply because of this: When I DO, I want everyone to KNOW that I mean it from the bottom of my food blogger, kitchen tool and gadget-obsessed heart.  Having said all of that, I just have to say this…. the AnySharp Pro knife sharpener is a must have.

Furthermore, it’s a gift you can feel extra good about giving because it’s a unique and thoughtful gift that will be used, appreciated, and loved.

Where can you buy the AnySharp Pro Knife Sharpener? Black, Blue, and Silver are available through Amazon (just click the link). I’ll let you know if any additional colors are ever available on Amazon – fortunately blue, black, and silver are three of the most popular colors for kitchen accessories. What’s more, the blue (pictured below) is one of the most beautiful.

Blue AnySharp Knife Sharpener
You can also visit AnySharp’s Where to Buy Page for a list of retailers. I’d visit the retailer’s websites and see if they’re available to order online if one isn’t located near you.

If you have any further questions, contact or connect with AnySharp through their following channels:


All in One Kitchen Gadget (Tool) Set on Amazon

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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.