Elite Chef Ceramic Knives and Adjustable Knife Stand from Ozzeri : Review

A good set of knives  is essential in every home's kitchen.  Sharp and effective knives makes  our  job easier.  This post reminds me of my father, every time there is a  big occasion at our home, he would let me help him in the kitchen.  I was very interested in slicing all the ingredients that he needed.  That was always my job and I like the knives that we had back then because he made it himself and they are always sharp.  Fishing and cooking are my two biggest memories of my father that I still  value till this day.  He would  have loved to use these set of knives that I got for Ozeri.  

This  Elite Chef Black Ceramic Knife set includes 3 ultra-sharp 100% ceramic knives that slice through fruits, vegetables, and boneless meats with unmatched ease.  I haven't tried  using it with meat but it does cut  veggies and fruit  so nicely.   

They are coupled to perfectly balanced ergonomic handles which looks sleek and very stylish. These knives make chopping, mincing and dicing easier than ever before and I love them! Unlike metal knives, these knives are not suppose to corrode which I still have to find out. Since each of them are finished with a reflective black veneer, each knife weighs less than half of an equivalent metal knife, thereby reducing fatigue and pain associating with preparing big meals and repetitive cutting. You can get this Ozeri Elite Chef Black Ceramic 3-Piece Knife Set via amazon through this  link for $39.95.

I also got this  Ozeri Elite Chef 3-Piece Ceramic Knife stand.  It has  separate spaces for a 3", 6" and 9" knife, each with a protective enclosure that prevents blade damage from contact with other knives.

 I love that you can adjust from flush to an angled position which gives you the option to arrange the knife handles like staggered or arranged them  in a  row.

  This stands securely on any flat counter with slip-resistant rubberized feet. Made of durable acrylic with a reflective black veneer matching the knives. You can get thus Ozeri 3-Piece Adjustable Ceramic Knife Stand for $9.95 via  amazon through this  link .

These are the last  fruits of my cucumber plants.  I left a couple of big ones in the vine to ripen so I can get the seeds and plant them for next year's gardening.  We have enjoyed our  produce this year.  I love  the cucumbers  to flavor my water and thekids love  snacking on them.

It is also great for salsa, great combo for  tomatoes and chips.  I love these gluten-free  rosemary flavored chips from Glutino, they make awesome after-school snacks for kids.  

 Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Savor, Indulge, and Unwind with YumBitz Cookies

The month of August is the busiest for my family.  There are so many things to do and prepare in connection with going back to school  stuff.  We are always  on the go  getting stuff ready for  the new school  year.  I am so glad that when we get home, we have Yumbitz cookies to savor, indulge, and unwind after a long day of  doing things.  

Here are the  3 different varieties of flavors  that they sent me.  Savor  is the chocolate chip, Indulge us the  double chocolate fudge, and Unwind is the white chocolcate macademia.  I love that she uses healthy ingredients such as 100% whole wheat flour and caged-free brown eggs. 

My daughter  loved the savory  chocolate chip cookies..

while my son indulged in the double chocolate chip cookies.

I thought the white chocolate chocolate macademia  cookies were perfect to unwuind and relax  on a swing  after a  ling day of work.  A  cup of milk  is the perfect combo for this   cookie.

I would like to express my admiration to this cute Mom and Daughter dou chefs, Monica and Karly. Their mini cookies are created for a bigger mission and that is to combat child hunger by donating to food banks. For every pouch that is purchased, 10% of it goes to a community organization in the metro Detroit area. I admire entrepreneurs like her who doesn't think of the personal gain only but widen their goals towards the community.

Here is a video clip of these adorable Mom and daughter  tandem  baking cookies for a cause.  

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Green Earth Pan by Ozeri

It's been a year since I bought my  Ozeri pan and has been using it  everyday.  This pan utilizes GREBLON,  an ultra-safe ceramic coating from Germany which is 100% PTFE and PFOA free. 

 This pan if  cleaned properly can last for a long time but if you scratch it, the non-stick feature will be gone and it won't be good to use for non-stick purposes.  I strongly recommend that when cleaning this pan, to use soft cloth only to preserve its non-stick property.  If you use to fry something and it stick, don't scratch it, put a dishwashing liquid and water on it and boil it, it  cleans easily that way.

Here are other things that you can expect from this Green Earth Pan.

• Innovative textured pan surface delivers enhanced heat distribution and superior non-stick performance without ever releasing harmful fumes or toxins.
• Features a scratch-resistant 100 percent ceramic coating that is super easy to clean.
• Made out of durable heavy-gauge die-cast aluminum with no heavy metals or harmful chemicals.
• Boasts a comfortable heat-resistant silicon coated handle, and a magnetized induction stove safe base for rapid heat transfer.

I like it that they include a pan protector.  You can stack other pans on top of it  without worrying about scratches,.  The protector pan does it's job in protecting it.  You can buy this via amazon through this  link.  

Having a good pan is   important in every kitchen.  I love cooking and a good pan makes my job easy not just when cooking but when cleaning them.  So far, I have used  my new pan twice making this Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.  Sorry, I have no recipe as I used  the Alfredo kit in a box.  I added  some mushrooms and green beans for a veggie boost.

My husband love this  Italian Sausage with  veggies that I made  the other day.  Here's a simple recipe for this one:

Ingredients:

• 2 Italian Sausage Links, sliced
• Bunch of Okra from our garden
• 1 cup of quartered m button mushrooms
• Thai peppers and hot yellow peppers
• 2 roma tomatoes, sliced
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 medium size onion, sliced
• parsley
• salt and pepper

Procedure:

• Put the coconut oil in a hot pan.
• Add the  sliced  sausages, brown each side for a couple of minutes.
• Add, the onion, mushrooms, okra, and tomatoes.  Let it cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the peppers.  Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.  
• Turn off the fire and sprinkle the  parsley on top.

Serve it with a  steamed rice, such a yummy dish!

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the products mentioned  in exchange of my honest  opinion which may differ from yours.  

Celebrating our 12 Years of Marriage with Gluten-Free Goodness

Gluten-free products from Glutino makes our summer snacking so much easier and healthier.  Each of us have  our own favorites when it comes to  Glutino brand.  My kids love this  chocolate vanilla creme cookies.  I get this every month just for them, they both love this!  The moment the box arrive, they dig in and l;ook for these cookies so it doesn't last long in our kitchen.

My husband love  bringing this at work.  One pack of this  serve as his snack at work during break time.  He love these blueberry filled breakfast bars.  He just wish that there's more to a box than 5 bars lol.

This tortilla dippers are the bomb, they were so good.  They were good with tomato and cucumber salsa. 

It made our couscous dinner taste even better

This rosemary and olive olive oil crackers just became one of my favorites.  It's perfect for the  tomatoes and cucumber salsa that I make for snacks.  

What I love about it is that, it is not too saltym un fact it has a hint of sweetness to it.  The rosemary in it just  makes it sm,ells so divine when you open the package.

Another family's favorite is the double chocolate brownie.  I mean who doesn't like brownie? With gluten-free brownie, you won't feel the guilt when you bite into it.

My ten year old  pastry chef wannabe baked this for her brother.  She is not crazy about brownie but she knows that her brother does.  She added  cashew buts in ut and topped it with  the coconut  that she toasted.  

She sliced the bronies into small trinagles to control the portion that her brother is eating lol.

Look how tempting these brownies looks.  The addition  of  the cashews  is what I love.  Oh the toasted coconut on top also add a different twist to the  taste which is really nice!

She even make a heart-shaped one and put them in the middle.  How sweet!

She also voluntweered to bake us a cake on our 12th year anniversaryusing the decadent chocolate  cake mix that we received from Glutino.  

When it comes to baking, I trust my daughter   more than I trust myself, lol.  I am just glad that I am allowed to be around  in the kitchen now when she bakes because I worry a lot.  Before, she wouldn't let me see what she is baking because everything has ti be a surprise.  I told her that I need to be there to document  her work and so glad that she got the point and now I am allowed to take puctires althoug I am still not allowed to help.

She whip up an icing  from scratch which I am truly impressed.  I have never done that so as a Mom, I am a super fan of what she does.

I sggested to sprinkle of the instant coffeee mix that we have in the kitchen which she did not  object.  It turned out great!  The coffee  added a great twist to the flavor.

I think  that if  I could have had the resources that my daughter has now, maybe just maybe), I could have developed  an interest in baking.

Before, our kitchen will end up in a big mess after she bake something but now she is learning.  She cleans up after she bakes!  My little sweetheart is really growing up!

I wish there is a summer camp  for baking that she could attend to.  I think, she would further develop her passion in baking.  She learned  her technique from wahtching the cooking shows on TV.

She was not satisfied of the  writing that she did on top but I thought it's pretty neat.

Here's an interesting fact about my daughter.  She seldom eat what she bakes so I was so surprised that she ate  few sluices of this cake!

The cake was bake to perfection.  It was moist, very soft, and delicious!

I kind of wish we have extra box of this mix coz now I want a slice lol.

I am so grateful that  I am given an oportunity to work and collaborate with Boulder Brand.  Glutino is one of my favorite brand that they carry.  

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the products mentioned  in exchange of my honest  opinion which may differ from yours.  

Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes Using Summertime Ingredients

One of the most wonderful aspects of summer is the plethora of fresh ingredients just begging to be eaten. Farmers markets are bursting at the seams, gardens are overflowing, and the grocery store offers more vibrant selections in their bins. Here are a few quick and easy recipes that you can create using summertime ingredients. If you’re hosting an event, you could also seekout caterers that design menus with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients.

New Take on an Old Classic

For a meal the entire family will enjoy, add a grilled cheese to the menu. However, this is not the grilled cheese of your youth, but a new, updated twist to the old classic. In this heartier version, add slices of your preferred cheese then add in thick slices of tomatoes and cover them in large basil, spinach, and arugula leaves. Place it in the skillet and cook.

For a moregourmet indulgence, layer mozzarella with basil leaves, goat cheese, and spinach then coat the inside of the bread with pesto. For added creaminess, you can smooth avocado into the mix. Create a lighter fare by spraying the outside of the two bread slices with olive oil instead of slathering with butter.

Summer Salad

Make a full-flavored summer salad by adding halved cherry and grape tomatoes to a bowl. Sweet sun sugar and yellow jellybean tomatoes are fantastic additions. Chunk up an avocado and add chopped herbs such as basil, savory, oregano, parsley, and thyme. Coat the mixture with olive oil and lemon juice. Add a touch of balsamic vinegar for a little extra kick. Toss the salad with shredded parmesan cheese. The salad can be served at room temperature or placed in the refrigerator and chilled prior to eating. For a more power-punched dish, serve atop mixed greens.

Satisfy the Sweet Tooth

At the end of your meal, satisfy your sweet tooth without clogging the arteries with a warm, gooey dessert. Halve an apple and spoon out the core. Fill the divot with honey, walnuts, and sliced cherries. Add a sprinkling of cinnamon. Lightly coat the top with olive oil to keep edges from getting burned. Bake at 300 degrees until the apple has softened.

Want something a little cooler that can be prepared in advance? Scoop a serving of plain Greek yogurt into a bowl, add a touch of vanilla and stir. Then, top it with a handful of fresh berries and drizzle the concoction with honey or agave nectar.

Bring the outdoors into your kitchen during the summer months and enjoy tasty meals using seasonal ingredients. Fresh, bright fruits and veggies can create a vibrant presentation while keeping you healthy and full.

Dining Tips When Traveling

There is nothing quite like getting away on a vacation and it is something you plan for and look forward to all year long. The day finally comes, you set out on your trip and have a list of places to see and things to do. However, one of the things you may not have considered is where you will eat while away from home. Of course you probably have budgeted for what you can spend, but once on the road, where do you eat? Here are a few dining tips when traveling for making the most of your food budget.

San Francisco California

Book Hotels with Continental Breakfasts

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day but it is usually the first one most people do without when on vacation. It is horribly expensive eating out three meals a day so many tourists skip breakfast so that they can enjoy a better lunch and dinner. Why not book hotels on your trip that offer free continental breakfasts? Most have an assortment of pastries and of course, free coffee or tea. The savings from this meal alone could provide enough money to see one extra sight that day and you won’t need to do without a kick-start to your day.

San Antonio Txas

Mix Sightseeing with Dining

You know you need to eat but one thing to keep in mind is that this is time you could be spending sightseeing. Why not plan ahead for eateries that are unique to that area or serve award-winning cuisine? This way you get a ‘taste’ of local dining experiences while eating one of the two remaining meals after your free continental breakfast? For example, on a trip to Indiana you may want to spend an evening out having a few drinks at the best bar in Indianapolis. You do a bit of searching and find that the Spoke and Steele Indianapolis has won this honor and also has an award winning menu. Why not make it a late dinner so that you can try the food, sample the drinks and have a fun night out all at one go?

Steer Clear of Fast Food Restaurants

You might think that fast food restaurants provide the biggest savings when dining out on vacation but this isn’t always true. In recent years, one value meal can cost as much as a lunch or dinner special at a local café and the food isn’t nearly as interesting. Even if you spend a few extra dollars on a meal, it is something you can do at home and this is just time wasted. Try an open-air farmers market for a fresh salad perhaps or a sidewalk café where you can have a look around while getting the nourishment you need for the day? You can always visit Mickey D’s when you go back home but you can’t always dine in the open air watching the locals and getting a glimpse of shops on the boulevard!

So, even if you are on a budget you don’t need to scrimp on eating. With a free breakfast and a bit of creative dining, you can have a wonderful vacation and taste some local foods that can actually be part of your itinerary. Just remember, hit restaurants and cafés you don’t have at home as it’s just a waste of time. Plan ahead and you’ll be able to see the sights while satisfying your need to eat.