Nov
28
Stand mixers make the cook or baker’s life so much easier. This is the time of year to purchase one for yourself or buy one as a Christmas gift for a loved one. A lot of places on them on sale. Over at Amazon.com, they are having their Cyber Monday deals that last beyond just …
Mar
22
Over the last month, I have gotten a lot of hits on the topic of the electric skillet. One question that has come up more than once, is can you bake in an electric skillet? Can I turn out a batch of chocolate chips cookies in such a device? In order to answer the question …
Feb
25
One tool that I have found myself using more often in the kitchen over the last couple years is a pastry brush. It’s good for brushing butter, egg washes, sauces, and more! The problem with pastry brushes is that they are hard to clean. The classic wooden pastry brush with the bristles much like a paint …
Feb
24
If you want to get the best flavor from your cheese than you need to grate it yourself. To grate it yourself you need a grater. The kind I recommend is the only one you will ever need – a box grater. A box grater is 4-sided, like a box. Each side should have a …
Feb
22
Pepper is one of the most common spices in all the world. It’s been in uses for thousands of years. But many Americans don’t get to experience it’s true power, because they buy ground pepper. That is why I think every American kitchen need to trade in their pepper shaker for a pepper mill. Whole …
Jan
21
Frying pans are an essential kitchen tool. It’s one of those tools that you use often, so you want to make a wise investment. Cheap frying pans won’t do the job well and they won’t last. Most of the time when using a frying pan you want to use it over high heat, so you …
Jan
13
Americans love to deep fried food. We love deep frying potatoes, shrimp, onions rings, and other sorts of things. You can do some serious deep frying at home. For those that are looking for a easier way to deep fry, try out an electric deep fryer. One of the biggest issues in deep frying food …
Jan
13
The cutting board – the best friend of the knife (or it’s worst enemy?) is an essential tool that every kitchen needs. But not just any cutting board will do. There are numerous cutting boards available today. I think only two materials should be considered when buying a cutting boards : wood and plastic. You …
Dec
10
This is part of a series of posts on tools that have made my life in the kitchen easier and more productive. Cast Iron cookware isn’t anything new, it’s been around for hundreds of years. The Lodge company, makes of cast iron cookware, have aren’t new either. They have been around since 1896, making them …
Dec
08
Christmas is fast approaching and you may find yourself still looking for that perfect gift for someone. In this entry, I will give you some great ideas for small appliances (or fun gadgets with plugs) that would make excellent gifts this year. 1. Ice Cream Maker They say that we all scream for ice cream, …
Welcome to my blog! My name is Eric. I live in Saline, Michigan with my wife (Donna) and two daughters, Hannah (4) and Autumn (1). I started this blog in October 2009 to share my culinary experiences from making my own food from scratch to what I find at farmer's markets and grocery stores.
With 200 recipes for making and using your own soda, this book is the best source I have found on making your own carbonated treats at home.