(guest post)

The kitchen is the heart and soul of most houses – it is where you come to eat, connect and share time with your friends and family. This is exactly as it should be, yet it can also wear the room down – dozens of guests, screaming kids and hungry adults will age a room much faster than you would imagine. With a few simple touches, like new cookware or a splash of paint, you can make this room as pleasant as it should be.

Painting your kitchen is the best way to make it feel new again – by stripping off old layers you will be able to give it a nice bright appearance that will make all your conversations and meals more pleasant. Re-painting will also strip out some of the smells that the room has no doubt accumulated. Of course this is a bit of pain as you will have to cook around your paint job, so plan to do it at a time when life is slightly less hectic.

Your appliances and cookware also have an impact on the feel of the room – indeed, no one will notice a bit of dirt if their eyes are drawn to your collection of beautiful appliances, cutlery and dishes. Picking up a new set of non-stick pans, utensils or knives can make your room a bit more exciting – for you and your guests.

Finally, you can consider doing something drastic and ripping it all out. Kitchen conversions are expensive and a lot of work, yet there are the most effective way to spice up your entire home. Imagine replacing your worn down kitchen, with a beautiful environment replete with marble and perfectly designed cabinets – it will truly change the feel of your house.

Following is a paid guest post and a great store for my UK readers!

BHG (Better Homes & Gardens) now offer a line of non-stick hard anodized cookware, priced at the affordable $149 for a 13 piece set.

I’ve owned a few sets of hard anodized and was happy to review.  It felt weighty but not so heavy that your wrists are about to break from lifting a pan (and I’ve had those sets before).  All the handles on the pans and lids are covered with the silicon grips to avoid the heat and easier gripping.  It’s oven safe up to 400′ and has glass lids to see how your food is cooking.  Cleanup is a breeze and while you can put them in the dishwasher, I always recommend hand washing.

This set includes:

• 1 covered saucepan with lid 1.5-qt.
• 1 covered saucepan with lid and steamer insert 2.5-qt.
• 1 covered Dutch oven with lid 4-qt.
• 1 covered stock pot with lid 8-qt.
• 1 skillet 8.5″
• 1 skillet 10″
• 1 covered deep skillet with lid 4-qt.

See the video for a closer look at the set.

I cooked a few things with the set and felt that everything cooked evenly and I was able to clean it up easily.  For the price and the amount of pieces, I definitely recommend the set.

What type of cookware do you use?  Do you find that some sets cook better than others?

Disclosure: This cookware set was sent to me for review as part of my participation in the Walmart Mom program. All opinions are my own, always have been, always will be…..surely you guys know that by now;)

I’m rounding up some gift ideas for Paula Deen fans! I’m sure many of you know that I absolutely adore the Southern gal so I’m happy to share so favorites that you’ll want to give or receive this holiday season.  She has everything from cookware to cookbooks!

First up is a good set of basic knife set. This set is great, in my opinion, for beginners. It has the basic essentials and are very sharp. They come in a beautiful wood knife block.  She has also has a bigger set with scissors and all that I also recommend.

A good rolling pin is an essential kitchen tool and every cook should have a good one. I’m actually very picky when it comes to rolling pins and prefer the nonroller type…all manual but this one was beautiful and just felt quality made.  I tried it out on a pie crust recipe and found that it was super easy to work with.  I just love the look of the wood from Paula’s collection.

Another favorite is the salt box.  I fill it with kosher salt and have it sitting by my stove for easy access to season my food.  This one has two compartments and is easy to slide. I’ve found that some salt boxes have hard to slide lids.  This is very affordable at under $15 bucks..

And to make those delicious pies, buy your favorite cook a Paula Deen Pie Baker!  I have the Robin Egg’s Blue and it’s so deep and so pretty. I just love this!  I even use it to serve other food in, as well as bake pies in!  I’m sure you’ll be able to find all kinds of pie recipes to make in it.  You can even search cooking.com for recipes to use.

And finally, for a new couple, you might think about giving a nice 2 pc skillet pan set as a gift.   Our family is a bit big for this set but my husband does bring out the one just to cook our eggs in.  The butter color is just fabulous and will brighten any kitchen!

Do you have a Paula Deen favorite that would be perfect for gift giving? Share it!

Disclosure: I was sent some of these Paula Deen pieces for review.  I’ve enjoyed Paula for years as many of you know so please understand that my opinions are not swayed by free product. They are my own opinions, always have been, always will be.  I love me some Paula!

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’……….

My weight loss goals this year include more healthy recipes and taking baby steps to going green, so having the chance to try this grill pan out made me more than happy.

Some facts you should know right away about this line that makes it special, is that it is 100% PFOA FREE!  A very important factor for people living green.  The line is dishwasher safe and can go in the oven up to 500′.  It’s of some of the highest quality you can find out there and the company, Scanpan has been around for over 50yrs and has a very good reputation.

Believe it or not, I have NEVER owned a grill pan.  *gasp*  We grill outside all the time but during the winter and on ugly days, it’s nice to be able to use the grill inside for some healthier eating.  Today we decided to do hamburgers and of course my husband took over because the one thing he cared about, was the grill marks!  Men!

The handle does get hot (because it’s oven safe obviously) but lucky for you, they provide you with a handle sleeve.  What I cared about though, was the cleanup.  Am I right??  You know how grill pans or anything with grooves can be a pain to clean right.  I was very pleased with the cleanup with this pan.  I had no trouble at all and the food had been there for about 3hrs so it had time to “stick”.

Everything cooked evenly, the grill marks turned out great, and cleanup was a breeze.  Definitely a great pan and if you care about living green, eating healthy, and high quality cookware, then this line is for you.  I cook nonstop for my family and for the ranch cowboys so I need cookware that will last.  It is slightly on the pricier side but you get what you pay for.  I’m all about quality and the Scanpan Professional line fits the bill.

Want to win one? Well lucky for you, I have a Scanpan Grill Pan to giveaway to one lucky reader! Valued at about $150.

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post telling me what you would cook in your grill pan OR what steps you’re taking to eating healthier or live greener.

Additional ways to enter. You may do one or all but each one you do should be left in a separate comment.

• Blog it and tell me how bad you want this baby!
• Tweet it and include @ACowboysWife and the link to this giveaway.
• Stumble it and/or Facebook it.
• Subscribe by Email or by Reader!

This giveaway ends on March 30th (which happens to be my birthday) at 10pm CST,  or until comments are closed.  For more info on how I run my giveaways, read the “official rules“.

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!

Just because I have time to cook all day, doesn’t mean I want to.  Or maybe we need a meal ASAP before we head out the door.  This has got to be one of the coolest pans ever!  Meet the Fissler Blue Point Pressure Pan Set.   You can grill, sear, saute, steam and pressure cook in this one pan.  Whew, that’s a mouthful! It’s no lightweight either!  Very heavy pan obviously built to last.  Fissler is some high quality, German Cookware that is making it’s way to the good ol’ USA with a punch!

This time around, I decided to use the pressure cooker feature.  I read in the manual that when you are releasing steam, it’s not hot.  It was right!  I was leery but I stuck my hand in front of the steam (but please don’t do this at home people) and it’s wasn’t hot at all.  Now that’s a SAFE pressure cooker for sure!

This is a 4.2 quart size skillet and I must say, my Beef Stew recipe was enough to feed 8 so I had no problems fitting it all into this pan whatsoever.  For those of you who don’t know this; pressure cookers not only cook faster, they keep your food’s flavors, minerals, and vitamins where they belong,…in the food! And with the basket for the steamer, you can also cook healthy.  So cool!

Okay, to the recipe!

30-Minute Beef Stew

INGREDIENTS:

• 1.5lbs stew meat
• carrots
• potatoes
• Tomato Sauce

DIRECTIONS:

Since my stew meat was thawed and in small pieces right out of the package, I threw all ingredients in together. Yep, ALL of them.  If you have round steak that you are cutting up or even using a little frozen, I recommend you cook the meat, carrots and sauce together first for about 20 minutes and then throw in the potatoes for the final cooking minutes.

I cooked mine for 30 minutes!  No shorter, no longer.  The thing about beef stew, is that it creates it’s own flavors and by using the pressure cooker, even more natural flavor was there.

That’s got to be the easiest meal ever!  The pressure cooker worked like a charm and the release valve worked perfectly and cleaning up was easy as pie.  I couldn’t ask for an easier recipe with a better pan! 

Do you pressure cook?  Would a pan like this fit into your cooking lifestyle and what feature would you use the most?  Steamer, fryer, searer, or pressure cooker?

Great cookware sets here from Rachael Ray to Paula Deen!

Back to the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide Table of Contents

Paula Deen Cookware Sets

“Poring through antique shops with my Aunt Peggy is one of my most cherished memories. This line was inspired by the many treasures she and I found on our adventures. My wish is that they are as fun to collect for you as they were for me.”Features:Includes: 1 Qt. Covered Saucepan, 2 Qt. Covered Saucepan, 2.75 Qt. Covered Saucepan, 6 Qt. Covered Stockpot, 8 ” Skillet, 10″ Skillet, Slotted Turner, Slotted SpoonColorful speckled porcelain exterior will enhance every kitchen from contemporary to traditional. This attractive exterior is durable, stain resistant and a breeze to cleanAluminum construction heats up quickly and evenly. The interior of each pan is a high quality nonstick allowing food to slide off easily and ensuring a lifetime of easy clean upColor coordinated, dual riveted, rubberized handles are designed to provide a comfortable, secure grip. Stylish copper plated rings are attached for hanging convenience. Oven safe to 350

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Rachael Ray 10-Piece Hard-Anodized Cookware Set, Orange

Give your kitchen a Rachael Ray makeover! Professional 10-Pc. Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Cookware Set! A WIDE selectionof most-used pots and pans, approved by TV’s Rachael Ray. The hard-anodized surfaces combine quick, even heating with a no-spray-required nonstick surface. In these 10-Pcs., you’re sure to use at least one every day… it’s amazing how easy cooking can be when you have the right tools! With gripy bright orange silicone handles for comfort and glass lids for easy monitoring. Offered here for less! All you need in one handy Set: Baking-safe up to 400 degrees F; 1 1/2 and 3-qt. covered saucepans; 6-qt. covered stockpot; 3-qt. 10″ covered saute pan; 8″ and 10″ french skillets; Entire Set weighs 20 lbs. Get cooking… this 10-Pc. Set makes everything from pancakes to pasta to stew! Order your Cookware Set today! 10-Pc. Rachael Ray Hard Anodized Cookware Set, Black

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Martha Stewart Collection Hard Anodized 12-Piece Cookware Set

Wherever your culinary adventures take you, you’ll always be ready with this all-inclusive cookware set. Each handsome piece is ready to satisfy all your stovetop needs, crafted with hard-anodized aluminum to resist everyday wear and nonstick coatings inside and out for healthy cooking and easy cleanup. Limited lifetime warranty.

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Le Creuset Enamel On Steel 10 Piece Cookware Set, Cherry Red

10 piece set includes 8 quart stockpot with lid, pasta insert, 1.5 quart saucepan with lid, 2 quart saucepan with lid, 4.5 quart casserole with lid and 9.5 inch skillet

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Paylesscookware Frange Blue 5-piece Classic Cast Iron Cookware Set

Distributes heat evenly and retains heat longer than other cooking materials Each piece is completely covered and sealed with an incredibly strong, chip-resistant enamel that doesn’t require seasoning and will not rust. Dishwasher safe Dimension: 4-qt. Round Dutch Oven : Diameter 9 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ Depth. 3-qt.Round Dutch Oven : Length 10 1/2″ , Diameter 8 1/2″x 4″ Depth. 10″ Skillet : Diameter 10″ x 2″Depth. Product Features: Enamel Coated Cast Iron Interior: Enameled Beige Enamel Coated Frange Light Blue Exterior Set includes: A 4 qt. Round Dutch Oven, A 3 qt. Round Dutch Oven, A 10-Inch Skillet. Please see other colors at website:paylesscookware.com

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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:)