At Williams Sonoma, the Le Creuset Cassoulet Set. Saw it. Want it.

When Wilton asked me to do a review, I had no idea all the wonderful goodies they would be sending would be so fabulous and make little man go CRAZY!!

As a long time user of Wilton, I honestly knew this review would be biased because well, I have always loved them.   My son’s 4th birthday was so special because of his cowboy cake, made in a Wilton pan. He talked about that cake forever and still remembers it. He’s 16 now.

Wilton, in my opinion, represents outstanding quality that is built to last for years and years; products that can be passed down for generations.

In the package they sent me, there were gels, sprinkles, cupcake wrappers and toppers, the fabulous new UltraGold round cake pans, muffin pan and more.  I was so excited because I was going to make such a pretty cake using it all!  Well, that didn’t quite happen.  As you will see, little man (my 3yr old) decided that he wanted to do it all!  I haven’t seen him that excited since he got his first saddle.

We used cakes mixes and icing that I had lying around the kitchen so I immediately was able to get started. I began with making the batter for the UltraGold Round Cake Pans first, then the batter for the cupcakes.

And then I baked and baked some more.  While waiting for everything to cool off, little man about drove me crazy asking,”are they done, I want to help you”. It was annoying but yet so adorable to see how excited he was.  Finally everything was out of the oven and cooled.

My cakes came out perfect, cooked evenly and I had no problems at all getting them out of the pans.  Same for the cupcakes.  I decided to ice the cake and cupcakes because  I know little man wanted to do ALL the decorating. I’d be darn lucky to get in anything of my own.  Wilton sent us several different kinds of cupcake sprinkles, sparkle gels, wrappers, and toppers!

Little man had a hard time deciding which ones he wanted to use so of course, he used everything.  He just piled it on here and there, licking his fingers inbetween applications.  It was a sight to see now and one that I’ll never forget.

Overall, the Wilton line is excellent. From the sprinkles to the UltraGold cake pans, it was all perfect, as I expected it would be.  Wilton should be a part of everyone’s lives, directly or indirectly.  Tyler loved that cake at the young age of 4, not because it was Wilton, but because it was his favorite thing, a cowboy and Wilton made that possible.

I know this post has a lot of photos but I took even more and have compiled them in a whrrl slideshow.  Enjoy and I’d love to hear your Wilton story if you have one and if you don’t, get one!

I’ve never been to, much less hosted a Pampered Chef Party but WOW did I have a great time!  (Party is still open and items can be purchased through the link. Things still on sale!) I’ve always been familiar with the company thanks to my Mom. She’s a kitchen junkie and loves their products.  Now after hosting my party, I know why.  The hands-on activities sealed the deal for me.  Getting to help with the recipes was a blast. It was sorta like having Sunday dinner with family. Everyone was helping with a task and playing with the kitchen tools and having a great time.  The food was fabulous and you’re gonna die when you see the dessert. OH.SO.GOOD. {{drool}}

When the consultants arrived, they had and did everything.  She talked to the guests about some of the products, what the company stands for and how they will donate $2 for every Round-Up from the Heart Trivet purchase made. Love that!  As the host, I was given a cute recyclable bag with a few goodies.   The entire presentation was very brief actually but I know why. It’s the interaction with the cooking and using the product that sells. Seriously!  If you could just feel and see the weight and quality of their stuff, you’d fall in love immediately.

Okay, so let’s get to the good stuff.  On the menu was Grilled Chicken Penne al Fresco and Chocolate Velvet Cake with Strawberries (full recipes this week), with the main dish being made and served in this beauty, the Deep Covered Baker. {{drool}} It’s stoneware and you’d love it.  Even more awesome, the Grilled Chicken Penne is made in this piece, in the microwave.  Yes, I said the microwave.  With all the back to school hoopla, this is an awesome time saver for getting meals to the table in a flash!

We popped the tomatoes.  What? You don’t know this trick?  Well let me just share it with you.  You put these in your microwave, cover with saran wrap  or a lid, and cook until they burst.

While those were cooking in the microwave, in that very handy batter bowl, one guest chopped up basil while another peeled and sliced garlic.  I have to say, that Garlic Peeler & Slicer Set is AWESOME! You rolled the garlic in the tube to peel it and then places it in the slicer tube and sliced away…paper thin slices too!!

All these fresh herbs and vegetables were added to make the recipe to make GrilledChicken Penne al Fresco and it was delicious & healthy! You’re dying for the full recipe aren’t you? TOO BAD!! You have to wait until Wednesday!  I know, I’m evil huh!

And now to tease you with dessert because guess what?  That full recipe comes on Friday! HAHA  Below  is a very strong, good quality Ice Cream Dipper.  I know several folks who have this and love it.  You’d be surprised at how having one of these compared to the store models or even worse, your spoon, can be so much better.  And you see what she’s putting it in?  SO cool.  I would use for mayonnaise all the time!  It’s called the Measure-All Cup and is GREAT for measuring liquids! She put the correct amount of ice cream and pushed it right out!  So simple.  Loved it.

Chocolate, strawberries, and Bamboo……need I say more? {{drool}}

SOMETHING FOR YOU

Did you like the Deep Covered Baker above?  It comes in white or cranberry and is up for grabs!  It can obviously be used in the oven but because it can be used in the microwave to save time when preparing meals, the giveaway entry will focus on that. 

Bake a 5-lb chicken or turkey breast, 4-lb roast, casseroles and more! Unglazed on the inside for perfect performance; glazed on the outside for perfect presentation. Lid inverts into baker for space-saving storage. 12 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, 13 cups, 3 qts.

HOW TO ENTER

Leave a comment here telling me ways you cut down cooking time at home.  Have you cooked with Pampered Chef in the microwave before?  And if you do enjoy the line of products already, I’d love to hear what your favorite pieces are…you know, so I can add them to my own wish list!

2 additional ways to enter….

• 1) Share on a social networking site like facebook, twitter, foodbuzz, etc.
• 2) Browse the Pampered Chef site and tell me what you’d love to have.

This giveaway ends on September 20th.  Good luck to all!

Disclosure: This giveaway and party was made possible by Pampered Chef.  My opinions are of my own AS ALWAYS and I truly love the products and welcome them as gifts for Christmas and my birthday, just sayin’……….

Just another side dish idea.  We try to cook potatoes in a variety of ways and for everything but mashed, we use red potatoes. Basically you throw all this in a bowl, mix and bake. Pretty simple. I chose to use light dressing and no cheese since I’m trying to lose weight but normally we do add cheese.  Another great variation of this if you don’t like ranch, is to chop up an onion, mix it in, and cover with 1 cubed stick of butter.  Ummm, yeah, not so great on the heart but it sure is good.

The casserole pan is Emile Henry, some of the finest bakeware around. I love the way it cooks and if you have the chance to pick up some pieces for yourself, you should!

Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup Light Kraft Ranch Dressing
• 1/2 cup Kraft Shredded Cheddar Cheese (optional)
• 1/4 cup Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits (or real bacon)
• 2 lb. small red potatoes, quartered
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
• Salt & Pepper

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix dressing, cheese and bacon bits in large bowl. Add potatoes; toss lightly.  Spoon into lightly greased 13×9-inch baking dish; cover with foil.  Bake 40 min. Remove foil; bake an additional 15 min. or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with parsley.

I’m excited to bring you my first holiday gift guide this season here at My Wooden Spoon!  With items from unique utensils to gourmet sin for chocolate lovers, you’re sure to find something for that special foodie in this guide.  Price ranges start out as cheap as $10 bucks and go up. I chose to breakdown this guide using product categories so that you can narrow down the type of item you might be looking for.

I hope that you all enjoy it and with that said………………..I present to you, My Wooden Spoon’s 2008 Holiday Gift Guide.

CATEGORIES:

FOOD

BEVERAGES

UTENSILS/CUTLERY & GADGETS

SMALL APPLIANCES

COOKBOOKS & BOOKS

BAKEWARE

COOKWARE

GREAT MISC. MUST-HAVES!

If you didn’t make the guide this year, there’s always next year!  I had sooo many wonderful submissions and it was very hard to choose. I wish I could have put them all in the guide.

Happy Shopping and Have a Safe & Wonderful New Year!!

IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN GIFT GUIDE, LINK IT UP AT THE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES ROUNDUP!

We all have to cook and cut at some point so we may as well have some quality and useful pieces in our kitchen.  In this section, you will find the hottest knives, flatware, and cooking utensils around.  Wrap one, use a piece as a stocking stuffer or create a bundle to give.  Perfect gift ideas for that foodie fan!

Back to the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide Table of Contents

Utensils, Gadgets & Cutlery Page 2

American Masala Utility Knife

Designed by Chef Suvir Saran and his partner Charlie Burd and are manufactured under the auspices of 200-year-old Wade Ceramics, Stoke-on-Trent, England. Ceramic knives are ultra-sharp and retain their original edge much longer than steel knives. Lightweight, with comfortable ergonomically-designed handles, these knives cut fast and easily, with minimal hand strain and stress. Ceramic blades do not rust and do not absorb the taste or odor of cut food. Made from ceramic zirconia, the knives come in two styles: a white blade with a cardamom green handle and a black blade with black handle. The graceful curved knife handles are made of TPR which is a composition material of plastic and rubber — tough like plastic, but soft to the touch like rubber. The blades in the black series are fired twice so they are even stronger and stay sharp longer. Hand washing is suggested. They are guaranteed for three years and can by sharpened by professionals.

*******************************************************************************

New West Knife Works

I own these knives and they are top quality and EXCEPTIONAL!!! Even my husband who is cheap, now realizes that paying a little extra money on a good knife brings in excellence.

For those of us who love fine food, cooking is an art, and a quality knife is the artist’s brush. At New West Knife Works, we make our chef knives like we cook; we use the finest quality ingredients and prepare them with the patient hands of an artist. Our chef knives are finely tuned, quality instruments, a fusion of form and function.

*******************************************************************************

Laguiole Brazilian Rosewood handles steak knife set ~ 6 steak knives

# Rosewood handles, with the traditional Laguiole bumblebee design
# Made in the Laguiole Region, in Thiers, France
# Boxed presentation (with padding for protection)

*******************************************************************************

Mario Batali The Italian Kitchen Collection Pizza Wheel with Stainless Wheel

* Pizza slicer with oversized, 4-inch, stainless-steel wheel
* Soft Grip handle for extra comfort with signature grommet
* Easily slices through thick or crispy crusts
* Coordinates with The Italian Kitchen cooking tools
* Safe in the dishwasher for easy cleanup

*******************************************************************************

Get a selected set of Home Series Graters for a 10% discount. This set includes everything you need to get the right texture of each ingredient. We’ve got a hunch that color-coding your graters will make cooking fresh, flavorful meals one step easier. (Sets also available with all one color handles in black, empire red, or cobalt blue.)

Gift Set Includes

* 35001 Microplane® Home Series Coarse Grater for hard cheeses like parmesan.
* 35002 Microplane® Home Series Fine Grater for zesting citrus and grating spices.
* 35009 Microplane® Home Series Medium Ribbon Grater for nuts, and chocolate.
* 35038 Microplane® Home Series Extra Coarse Grater for cheeses and cabbage.
* 35057 Microplane® Home Series Grater Attachment for finger protection and the ability to grate pebble-sized foods.

*******************************************************************************

American Masala Saffron Orange Mortar and Pestle 2-c

Specially designed by Chef Suvir Saran and partner Charlie Burd, these handsome porcelain Mortar & Pestle Sets are the perfect kitchen tool for making spice blends and rubs, flavorful dips, herb mixtures and marinades. Saran re-designed the traditional pestle to create a wider base to prevent spices and other ingredients from “popping” out of the mortar as grinding takes place. Pestles showcase a decorative motif representative of heirloom Indian quilts. Glazed mortars are available in either Cardamom Green or Saffron Orange. Sets are sturdy with a 2 or 5-cup capacity; dishwasher safe; odor and stain resistant; packaging contains chef’s recipe. Part of the new American Masala Collection by Wade Ceramics Ltd. 2-cup mortar is 6” in diameter and 3 ¾” deep. 5-cup mortar is 8″ in diameter and 4″ deep. Both size have a 7″ long pestle.

*******************************************************************************

Slice

As I mentioned above with the first knife, ceramics are in and these Slice kitchen tools are hot!  Not only that, when you purchase the,  portions of the proceeds go to families dealing with autism find a cure.  These ceramic cutters are durable, sharp, and extremely easy to use.

*******************************************************************************

Kitchenaid Box Grater

* 18/8 stainless-steel box grater with three grating blades, one slicing
* 3-cup, lidded storage container fits inside grater to catch food
* Fine, medium, and coarse grating blades; bottom rimmed with rubber for stability
* Dishwasher-safe grater; dishwasher- , microwave- , freezer-safe container
* Lifetime warranty against defects, with 1-year no-hassle, no-cost replacement

*******************************************************************************

White Marble Cheese Slicer

* Marble base helps to keep cheese cool
* Durable stainless steel wire cuts both hard or soft cheese
* Base measures 8″ x 5″
* Protective, non-slip rubber feet
* Extra wire included

*******************************************************************************

Fiesta Products Traditional Rubber Handles Sil-pin Silicone Rolling Pin, Navy Blue

* Fun navy blue color to match your kitchen
* TPR (rubber) handles for easy comfort grip
* Stainless Steel ball bearings provide counter balance for easy consistent roll
* Non-stick silicone allows you to use much less flour when rolling and makes for easy clean up
* Simple clean up- just wipe with a damp cloth. Nothing will stick!

*******************************************************************************

Set of 2 WrapMaster Plastic Wrap & Aluminum Foil Dispensers

Wrap it up. These WrapMaster dispensers let you pull out only your desired length of plastic wrap or aluminum foil–just load, pull out, and press to cut. No more waste or tangled mess. For convenience, each fits in a drawer for easy access.

* Includes beige unit for plastic wrap and blue unit for aluminum foil
* Each holds 250′ sq of wrap
* Measures 14-1/4″W x 3-1/2′H

*******************************************************************************

Ginkgo Firenze Butter Spreaders, Set of 4

# Perfect for butter and condements
# Premium design for excellent value
# Made from 18/10 stainless steel
# Dishwasher Safe

*******************************************************************************

Reed & Barton Stainless Steel 86pc. Service for12 Flatware Set

Perfect setting. Whether you’re serving up an intimate dinner for two or expecting 12, this all-encompassing flatware set has got you covered. The 86 elegant pieces are crafted of durable stainless steel for long-lasting good looks. From forks and knives to tongs, a berry spoon, and a lasagna server, this service provides all the utensils you’ll ever need to set a beautiful table. From Reed & Barton.

*******************************************************************************

Joyce Chen Sushi Kit

* Includes: bamboo sushi mat, bamboo rice paddle, and complete instruction kit
* Bamboo is an earth-friendly, renewable resource
* Great for any cook interested in learning how to make delicious, low fat rolled sushi (maki-zushi)
* Instruction booklet includes a number of recipes, instructions for making rolled sushi, and information on sushi culture and etiquette
* Great gift!

*******************************************************************************

American Innovative Klip Kitchen Timer

* Klip Is a versatile timer designed for use in the kitchen and around the home
* Features countdown timer with elapsed time graphic
* Clock can be set at 12 or 24 hour display, stopwatch function: up to 24 hours
* Keypad lock prevents settings from being disrupted.
* Battery, belt clip, fridge magnet, counter top stand & detachable lanyard included

*******************************************************************************

Next Page 2 to Utensils, Gadgets & Cutlery Page

Back to the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide Table of Contents

Silicone is one of the hottest cooking products out there and it’s no wonder. The easy cleanup alone is worth the buy in my opinion but the fact that it cooks evenly is icing on the cake.  Here’s a few small items that are on my silicone wish list.

Gotta have the spatulas!

Gotta have the baking mats!!

Gotta have cooking gadgets:)

And you gotta have the brush!

What’s on your silicone wishlist??  Are there some cool silicone gadgets that you use or have seen and want to buy?  Lemme hear them:)