I was recently given the opportunity to review a piece of cookware for Cooking.com. While excited by this opportunity, I am not at ease with "selling" anything. I knew that I only wanted to review a product if it was meaningful and heartfelt.
With that on my mind, I set off to the kitchen to cook for some dinner guests. I wanted to cook my dad's famous mushroom and onion topping for our steaks. However, the pot that I would usually use was too small for the amount that I needed to cook. As I reached for my "go to" pot, a 5qt Dutch oven by Le Creuset, I realized how versatile this pot is.
This dutch oven is what I would list as one of my kitchen essentials. I have both a 5qt braiser and a wide mouth dutch oven. While I swear by both of these, if I had to choose one, it would probably be the wide mouth dutch oven. Made of enameled cast iron, this dutch oven goes from stove or oven to table then to the sink for easy clean-up. I use it for everything from roasting chicken to braising vegetables. I love, love, love this dutch oven!
While the price is nothing to joke about, this dutch oven is well worth the expense. With proper care, it will last a lifetime. This dutch oven will be a piece of cookware that you can pass on to your children. If you don't already own one of these, consider adding it to your Christmas list - I don't think you will regret it. If you already own a Le Creuset enameled cast iron product or have purchased a product from Cooking.com, I would love to hear about your experience.
You can purchase any of the Le Creuset products at Cooking.com. You may also become fan of Cooking.com on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Cookingcom) or follow Cooking.com on twitter(http://twitter.com/#!/cooking). They frequently offer contests and feebies to those who follow them.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
TIME: What the world eats
As I make plans for Thanksgiving dinner, I found this collection of food photos particularly interesting. These are pictures of what people around the world are eating. They are the things that you might find in pantries around the world.
As I flipped through these pictures, the pictures of American food was alarming. How much of it was pre-packaged or delivered? How few fresh fruits and vegetables were in the diets of these families? How similar are the diets of these families to that of my family?
TIME: What the world eats, Part 1
If this isn't awakening enough, there is a What the world eats, Part 2
With a home full of food allergies, what we eat is often different from those around us. Most of our food is made the old-fashioned way - from scratch. Food very rarely comes from boxes or cans and is never pre-made. There are few short-cuts in our house. It is utterly important for my family that I know how food has been prepared. I need to know even the smallest details about what ingredients were added, where they were cooked, and what they have touched.
Because of this, the food in my house is as close to what you would find in nature as they would be if you grew them yourself. I often forget what other families are eating. I sometimes feel so clueless to discover how often families eat out or how much of their food is wholly or partially prepared outside of their home. My husband has always been a beacon reminding me that fresh fruits and vegetables are a delicious addition to any meal or snack time. And, I believe, this is what has always encouraged me to fill our table with homemade foods even before we discovered our angel's allergies.
This is why these photos intrigued me so. I couldn't help but wonder how different are we from other American families. Help me out:
What are you eating? Even if your family doesn't have allergies, how close is it to its natural state before it enters your kitchen? What does a balanced diet look like in your home?
The pictures posted by TIME caused me to reflect on my habits and I hope that they will do the same for you.
As I flipped through these pictures, the pictures of American food was alarming. How much of it was pre-packaged or delivered? How few fresh fruits and vegetables were in the diets of these families? How similar are the diets of these families to that of my family?
TIME: What the world eats, Part 1
If this isn't awakening enough, there is a What the world eats, Part 2
With a home full of food allergies, what we eat is often different from those around us. Most of our food is made the old-fashioned way - from scratch. Food very rarely comes from boxes or cans and is never pre-made. There are few short-cuts in our house. It is utterly important for my family that I know how food has been prepared. I need to know even the smallest details about what ingredients were added, where they were cooked, and what they have touched.
Because of this, the food in my house is as close to what you would find in nature as they would be if you grew them yourself. I often forget what other families are eating. I sometimes feel so clueless to discover how often families eat out or how much of their food is wholly or partially prepared outside of their home. My husband has always been a beacon reminding me that fresh fruits and vegetables are a delicious addition to any meal or snack time. And, I believe, this is what has always encouraged me to fill our table with homemade foods even before we discovered our angel's allergies.
This is why these photos intrigued me so. I couldn't help but wonder how different are we from other American families. Help me out:
What are you eating? Even if your family doesn't have allergies, how close is it to its natural state before it enters your kitchen? What does a balanced diet look like in your home?
The pictures posted by TIME caused me to reflect on my habits and I hope that they will do the same for you.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Snack Match: Granola Bars
A snack match is an allergy-friendly snack that nutritionally and/or visually resembles a popular children't snack.This week's snack is: Granola Bars
Snack Match substitute: Cranberry Bars
Cranberry Bars
These bars are perfect snacks for kids to make by themselves or with a little assistance. They would even be a great classroom cooking project. I hope you enjoy them!
1 C Rice Chex cereal
1 C Rice Chex cereal
3 t honey
2 t sugar
1/4 t salt
1 t dried cranberries (or other safe dried fruits in small pieces)
1/4 t rice oil
2 individual Silicone cupcake holders or very small glass dishes- Place Rice Chex cereal in a sandwich size ziploc bag. Crush the cereal leaving no large pieces.
- Pour cereal into a bowl and add honey, sugar, salt, and dried cranberries. Mix thoroughly.
- Place oil inside each cupcake holder and spread it around bottom and sides.
- Put 1/2 of mixture into each cupcake holder and push down lightly to compact mixture.
- Place holders on a microwave safe plate.
- Microwave for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and allow to cool until just able to handle. DO NOT leave in bakeware too cool completely or it will stick.
- Turn bars out onto a plate and allow to finish cooling.
Makes 2 individual sized bars.
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