Reducing plastic usage in the kitchen with fabric beeswax food wraps

Two woman-owned companies are making reusable, compostable beeswax-infused fabric food wraps to replace plastic wrap.

Bee's Wrap

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]L[/su_dropcap]ike many people, we’re trying to reduce our use of single-use plastics. We’re shopping with reusable bags, carrying refillable water bottles and avoiding straws when possible, for instance. So when we heard (belatedly, perhaps) about beeswax fabric food wraps, we were excited. Continue reading “Reducing plastic usage in the kitchen with fabric beeswax food wraps” →

Three new ways to up your Dutch oven game

At the 2018 International Home + Housewares Show, three cookware makers shared exciting updates to the hardworking kitchen mainstay, the Dutch oven.

Staub La Mer La Cocotte

[su_dropcap style=”flat”]T[/su_dropcap]he sturdy, versatile, cast iron Dutch oven traces its roots back to the early 1700s, the brainchild of an Englishman borrowing a casting technique developed in the Netherlands. At the Housewares Show, we saw some exciting variations on this venerable theme. Continue reading “Three new ways to up your Dutch oven game” →

Cool kitchen gear alert: the 2015 Housewares Show is coming to Chicago

We like kitchen stuff. We don’t need to own it all, but we just like being around it, looking at it and talking to people who like it as much as we do. So attending the International Home + Housewares Show every year is like the best school field trip from childhood memory. Continue reading “Cool kitchen gear alert: the 2015 Housewares Show is coming to Chicago” →

Cuisipro puts a twist on an essential kitchen tool with the Twist Whisk

Our limited kitchen counter real estate means we try to edit our kitchen tools pretty ferociously. But one tool that has earned a place is the Cuisipro Twist Whisk.

The Twist Whisk was originally created to beat eggs and cream. If you love the hands-on part of whipping cream or egg whites, this, plus a copper bowl, will make the task lighter. Continue reading “Cuisipro puts a twist on an essential kitchen tool with the Twist Whisk” →

Cookina reusable cooking sheets: nonstick comes to the grill

Cookina reusable, nonstick cooking sheets make grilling, cooking and cleanup simple.

Some things are just made for grilling. Chops, steaks, slabs of eggplant. In my experience, though, fish is not. No matter how carefully I scrub the grate on my charcoal kettle or how much I oil it (and the fish itself), the delicate flesh of even comparatively sturdy fish such as salmon often sticks. So I was delighted to be introduced to Cookina reusable nonstick cooking and grilling sheets at the International Home + Housewares Show this spring. Continue reading “Cookina reusable cooking sheets: nonstick comes to the grill” →

Kids in the kitchen: French knife maker creates serious, safe cooking tools for young chefs

Opinel introduces Le Petit Chef Set, kid-friendly cooking tools that help teach proper kitchen skills. And Michelle Obama hosts a cooking contest for children. The prize is a Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House.

As a nation, we need to be eating better. What am I saying? As a planet, we need to be eating better. Obesity and diet-related diseases are becoming worldwide health issues. In fact, obesity is second only to smoking as the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

The best way to eat healthier, it turns out, is to cook at home. When we cook, we can control how much fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar we’re consuming, especially if we use fresh ingredients as much as possible. And the best way to set our kids on the path to a lifetime of eating healthier is to get them cooking in the kitchen with us. Continue reading “Kids in the kitchen: French knife maker creates serious, safe cooking tools for young chefs” →

Stir frying for good: Black Pepper Beef with Kampot pepper from the Pepper Project

Black Pepper Beef is a weeknight-quick classic Chinese stir fry. Onion, fresh ginger, red bell pepper, celery, garlic and lots of black pepper offer plenty of flavor. And the Pepper Project helps Cambodian pepper farmers and communities. Recipe below.

One simple ingredient can often make all the difference when you’re cooking. And now that’s more true than ever. The ingredient in this case is black pepper—freshly ground, of course, instead of pre-ground and packed in a tin. Freshly ground peppercorns pop with flavor and fragrance, becoming a true flavor, not just background noise, and you can control the grind, from fine to coarsely cracked.

And in Cambodia, the Pepper Project is making a difference, with pepper. Run by the husband and wife team Tom Gordon and Cris Peterson, the Pepper Project is a not-for-profit enterprise devoted to introducing products of Cambodia to the United States. Through the sales of these products, primarily pepper, they support fair trade for farmers as well as organizations that protect street children, disabled children and victims of sex trafficking. Continue reading “Stir frying for good: Black Pepper Beef with Kampot pepper from the Pepper Project” →

Ten cool kitchen finds from the International Home + Housewares Show 2013

We go to the International Home + Housewares Show every year in search of new tools, technologies and ideas for the kitchen. And every year, we’re equally impressed by the color and fun. Like these spatulas spreading the ubiquitous “Keep Calm” message at the Lifetime Brands booth. Here, then, are some of the cool (and colorful) things we saw at this year’s show. Some are brand new, others just new to us. Continue reading “Ten cool kitchen finds from the International Home + Housewares Show 2013” →

Six sleek new kitchen tools from Savora

Looking to add some quick cool to your kitchen? Okay, so maybe you’re not ready to pop for recycled glass countertops or subway tile backsplashes. But the new Savora line of reimagined kitchen tools can deliver some serious splashes of color and sleek design.

First sold exclusively in the UK, the Savora kitchen tools were introduced in the United States just last month by Lifetime Brands. Their design team strove to combine optimal functionality and the fluid contours and bold colors found in fashion, home furnishings and high-end automobiles. Continue reading “Six sleek new kitchen tools from Savora” →

Gifts that give back: three do-good gift ideas

Three last-minute gift ideas that help others in need with every gift you give.

The idea behind FEED is simple: fight hunger and malnutrition around the world by providing free lunches at school. Through the UN World Food Programme and UNICEF, FEED does just that—and more. School feeding is one of the most effective solutions to stopping hunger and helping children break out of the poverty cycle they were born into. When boys and girls are given a free, nutritious meal in school, research has shown that attendance and performance greatly increase.

To raise funds, FEED sells a wide array of stylish gifts, from tote bags to toys, apparel, accessories and more. And each gift tells you exactly how many meals you’ll be providing and where. You’ll find great gift ideas for everyone on your list at the FEED website. Continue reading “Gifts that give back: three do-good gift ideas” →