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Colorful and Ingenious Measuring Cups and Magnetic Measuring Spoons (These Redefine CLEVER!)

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I have been  trying to simplify things for myself in the kitchen… meal prepping when possible, cooking some components ahead of time, organizing where everything is (and fighting to stay organized!), and just simply trying to ensure cooking stays as enjoyable as it is, without becoming a burden or pain in the backside.

One area that I’ve recognized needs improvement is my kitchen’s relationship with measuring spoons and dry ingredient measuring cups. Seems my kitchen had rather hide these tools and make me search for them than to have them ready when I need them… where I need them to be! I have one set of measuring spoons and invariably they are either taking a much-needed vacation from the drawer they live in or they’re in the dishwasher each and every time I need them.

I turned to Amazon to buy not one but TWO other sets this morning (when I say I’m tired of their shenanigans, I mean business!) and I saw the gorgeous, colorful, and ingenious measuring cups and magnetic measuring spoons set (Amazon link) pictured on the right.

Every single thing about these spoons and measuring cups is brilliant. I’m not going to lie… I especially like their bold colors. You know, the ones that make your kitchen brighter and happier, while standing out on a shelf or in a drawer, ready to be noticed AND used?!

When it comes to meal prep and simplifying things in the kitchen, you’re only going to be as brilliant as your tools are. These measuring cups and spoons can go a long way in helping us all spend more time cooking and less time looking for the right tool.

Let’s take a look at what makes these so ingenious…

  • There are 5 different sizes measuring cups (1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/8 cup) – an 1/8 cup can sometimes be hard to come by.
  • 6 stainless steel measuring spoons (1 tablespoon, 1 /2 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1/4 teaspoon,1/8 teaspoon)
  • Each cup’s “ml” and cup sizes have passed clearly engraved marking, and you can quickly identify the cup scale according to the color of the handle.
  • The handles are reinforced and welded to make each one stronger and far less likely to break. The handles are made of food-grade silicone material and boast a non-slip material. 
  • Measuring spoons and cups are crafted from food-grade 18/8 stainless steel. They could be used for any food, are rust-resistant, dishwasher-washable.
  • The spoons feature a round-shape on one end, meaning they’re ideal for liquids. The other end is oval, ideal for measuring dry ingredients and for digging in spice tins.

See measuring cups and magnetic measuring spoons set (Amazon link) for a much closer look. These are really, really impressive.


A Simple and Delicious Summer Salad that Begins with Prosciutto & Mozzarella Rolls

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Prosciutto Rolls Salad

Prosciutto Rolls Salad

I’m working on adding more really quick, simple, and summer-friendly meals and dishes to the blog – after all, when the weather is gorgeous OUTSIDE, who wants to be INSIDE any more than they have to!?!

Meal prep is a dream come true, not only for those who work outside of the home, but for anyone who wants to maximize their time without compromising healthy food that that tastes great.

So, you’ll be seeing a lot more meal ideas and recipes with all of this in mind. Actually, many won’t even be recipes as much as they’ll be ideas. The one I want to share with you today is delicious and couldn’t possibly be simpler. I got the idea for this simple summer salad from one of my favorite fast food “sandwiches” the Vito Unwich from Jimmy John’s. Italian meat, veggies, cheese, and a dressing in a lettuce wrap… it’s more delicious than you can imagine.

Which is why I wanted to incorporate the flavors at home, in a nice simple salad.

First, you’ll need a package of Prosciutto & Mozzarella Rolls (most grocery stores sell these little roll ups in the refrigerated deli department). You could, of course, buy the Italian meat(s) and mozzarella and make your own rolls, but we’re aiming for simplicity, here!

Second, buy premade packaged greens all gussied up and ready for salads OR buy your own favorite greens and make your own. We’re a romaine lettuce kind of family, so I always have crunchy romaine on hand.  For most summer salads, I like a mixture of my favorite greens (arugula, romaine, iceberg, spinach, red leaf…) but for this particular salad, I always go with romaine exclusively – it’s simply better that way.

As far as other vegetables go, by all means add your personal favorites: tomatoes (when in season), sweet onion, green onion, etc. If you want to include others, such as cucumbers, carrots, celery, or broccoli, I think it’s best to simply put them to the side. This simple salad is its best when it adheres to the word simple.

Dressing? You can go with your favorite homemade Italian dressing or use your favorite bottled dressing. I normally make my own dressing, but this particular time (when these photos were taken), I was battling seasonal allergies and the zombie-brain-inducing medicines that come with them and wanted sweet simplicity. I used the wonderful Olive Garden Dressing (Amazon link) I always have on hand for such emergencies. This dressing is fantastic and I wouldn’t dream of ever running out of it.

Prosciutto Rolls Salad

Prosciutto Rolls Salad


Caulipower: Quite Possibly THE Best Gluten-Free Pasta

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CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

Caulipower Linguine with Meat Sauce

Years ago, when I had to give up gluten and wheat (health reasons), the first f0ur things I thought of were…

  • doughnuts
  • pasta
  • fried catfish
  • pizza

These are four of my favorite things in life and have been since my life began. I was afraid there’d be no hope to enjoy these great loves ever again and, frankly, with doughnuts, my prediction held true. There ARE gluten-free doughnuts, of course, but they are not the ones I remember from bakeries.

Until fairly recently, the pizza and pasta prediction also held fast, but lately, great strides have been made and (as a pasta and pizza fanatic) I couldn’t be more thankful.

However… when it comes to gluten-free pasta, it has always been a case of, “this one is pretty good” or “this one’s acceptable” instead of anything close to, ‘Holy cats, this gluten-free pasta is outstanding and tastes like the pasta I remember!”

Then I found Caulipower’s new gluten-free pastas – let’s just say it’s a GAME CHANGER.

(Review Continued Below….)

CauliPower Pasta

Caulipower Linguine

Caulipower is a brand I’ve been familiar with for a while because I buy their gluten-free pizza crusts (Amazon link) and gluten-free pizzas (they’re outstanding and I actually now prefer cauliflower crust to regular gluten-free crust). When my youngest daughter told me they had come out with gluten-free pasta, I’m not even exaggerating… I went to the store immediately. They’re in the frozen section and, while I first wondered about them being packaged frozen, I now LOVE the fact. This allows them to cook in just three minutes!

THREE MINUTES! Simply boil the water, add the frozen pasta, stir, and get ready to plate the deliciousness. The first one I tried was the Caulipower linguine because I’ve had difficulty finding linguine in a gluten-free pasta AND I love it.

For anyone who loves “meal prep hacks,” pasta night doesn’t get any better. Simply make up your pasta sauce (I always add ground beef, garlic, onions, green pepper, and mushrooms) and put it into a container in the refrigerator. When it’s time to make supper, warm up your sauce and cook your three minute pasta!

CauliPower Linguine Pasta

CauliPower Linguine Pasta

I love that the portion is perfect for two people (with a little left over even) and the fact that it cooks so quickly makes it IDEAL for busy weeknights. The best thing, however, is the fact that it is delicious! I added a little salt to the water like I do with all pasta, then added it to a meat sauce I had made beforehand.

While you could, of course, simply top the pasta with sauce, I thought adding it TO the meat sauce would make sure there was no cauliflower taste to detect. Mind you, I am obsessed with cauliflower, so it would make me giddy if there was a cauliflower taste but my husband is not a cauliflower fan, so I wanted to make sure that IF there was any flavor there, the sauce would mask it.

I tasted the pasta before adding it to the sauce and, even then, it was simply outstanding – no cauliflower taste and, best of all, it had the true consistency of “normal” pasta. Most gluten-free pasta you find in the stores is tough and not remotely “pasta-like” when it comes to the mouth feel. This one is so perfect it nearly brought a tear to my pasta-missing eye.

But it gets better.

If you’re familiar with gluten-free pasta, you know that leftovers are hideous. Gluten-free pasta, after being refrigerated and warmed-up gets even tougher. Not Caulipower pasta! When I warmed it up the next day, it tasted just like I had just made it fresh.

Now that’s what I’m talking about.

(Review Wrapped Up Below…)

CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

CauliPower Linguine Pasta with Meat Sauce

Before allowing you to get on with your life, I just wanted to point out two things to let you know just how excited I am about Caulipower pasta and how thrilled I am to have found it:

  1. This is NOT a paid post, NOT sponsored, and NOT in any way associated with the Caulipower brand. I was NOT sent coupons or products to review. This is simply a case of a pasta lover who has to eat gluten-free finally finding the pasta that makes her excited to eat pasta again!
  2. Many times, after I have a food or use a product, I will schedule a time in the future (maybe a week later) to blog about it on the food blog. This particular pasta I tried just last night for supper and just warmed it up for lunch. I was SO anxious to share the good news that I dropped everything to sit down and tell you all about it.

If you have to eat gluten-free, are cutting back on carbs… OR simply want a more convenient and delicious pasta, I hope you’ll try Caulipower pasta as soon as possible. It’s a perfect 10 out of 10 and, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go have a little more.

Caulipower Pasta

Caulipower Pasta