Friday, August 28, 2009

REVIEW: Calphalon Contemporary Non-Stick Roaster

Calphalon 16x13x3-in. Nonstick Contemporary Nonstick Roasting Set

This is a very popular item and it has every reason to be. The people at Calphalon have developed a commercial grade roaster for your kitchen. Purchase this roasting pan and receive these bonus tools: a baster, injection needle and set of poultry lifters, everything you need to prepare your bird or roast.

Made of hard-anodized aluminum with a nonstick interior, this new roaster heats evenly and quickly and comes with a removable, nonstick rack that holds up to a 25-lb. turkey – also ideal for chicken, pork or beef tenderloins. As your main course browns and glistens, vegetables roast and caramelize at the bottom of the pan.

The rack is shaped to accommodate a large roast and allows the hot air to circulate around the roast allowing for even cooking all the way around the meat, ensuring a delicious crispiness on all sides of the roast. By using the rack, the meat can be lifted right out of the pan leaving nothing behind to stick to the base.

This pan is no limited to just roasting meats. It's also useful for baking lasagnas, spinach pie and crisp roasted vegetables. In fact, this roasting pan can be used for almost any dish that requires oven cooking.

Cleaning this pan is a breeze. With regular roasting pans, a good deal of food can get stuck to the base but you'll be very surprised at how quickly and easily you can clean up the non-stick surface of this pan.

This is a large pan measuring 16x13 inches. You should be able to fit
a 20lb to 25lb turkey in this pan but any bigger and it might be a tight squeeze.

The only complaints we can see is that the handles can make it difficult to remove the roast after cooking. And the roaster is not dishwasher safe but, as mentioned above,this pan is so easy to clean up it's not an issue.

Find the Best Price at Cooking.com

For more Cookware, go to Simply Cookware

Sunday, August 23, 2009

RECIPE: Crabmeat Au Gratin

Au Gratin refers to the crusty topping that appears on the top of a cheese dish after it is removed from the oven or broiler. The most famous of all Au Gratins in Louisiana is the jumbo lump crabmeat Au Gratin. Try substituting shrimp or even crawfish into the recipe. Crab Au Gratin is a rich dish that goes well as a side with other seafood main courses such as stuffed flounder.


INGREDIENTS
  • 1 pound white crabmeat
  • 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
  • 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 3/4 cup grated cheese (your choice cheddar or American)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onions or scallions
  • 1 small pinch ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
  • 3 tablespoons bread crumbs
  • 1 heaping tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • dash of white pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup extra cheese
  • 1 egg yolk, well beaten
  • dash of cayenne pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • Dash of paprika

DIRECTIONS:

In a heavy saucepan, over moderate heat, melt butter, add onions and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are soft and transparent but not brown. Stir in the flour, blend well. Add milk, stir constantly until smooth. Add pepper, nutmeg, mustard, and cheese.Take pot away from heat. Beat egg yolk and add lemon juice. Then add crabmeat - mix well. Butter baking pan or individual baking dishes. Pour mixture, over all. Combine cheese and bread crumbs, sprinkle over top of mixture, then add a dash of paprika. Bake 15 or 20 miinutes until top is au gratin, brown and crusty.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

REVIEW: Calphalon 10 Piece Contemporary Non-Stick Cookware Set

Calphalon 10-pc. Nonstick Contemporary Nonstick Cookware Set

Highly rated by consumers, this cookware set has a lifetime warranty and is made by one of the top cookware manufacturers. We heartily recommend it.

Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick is a fairly new addition to Calphalon cookware set line. It features a tulip-shaped design and, of course, glass stainless-steel edged lids which enable you to check your cooking without having to lift the lid and letting steam escape. This cookware set is even oven-safe up to 450°.

There are, however, a few drawbacks regarding this cookware set. They're not dishwasher safe. And, if you don't already have them, you may need to purchase new non-abrasive cooking utensils since you can’t use metal utensils on this cookware

The consumer reviews on the internet are nearly positive. Mainly, the buyers of this cookware set comment about is being ‘easy to clean’. Some buyers have said that the pots can be cleaned just by wiping them out with a towel. Many mention Calphalon's exceptional customer service. If there's a need to return a product due to a manufacturing defect, the process is easy and it's said that it's not required to return the defective product in order to get a replacement.

A good number of consumers like that this cookware only requires a small amount of oil making for healthy cooking. Due to the heavy gauge hard anodized material, there are no hot or cold spots which can cause foods to be cooked unevenly. And this cookware set’s beauty and elegance make it a most attractive buy.

For the best price on this cookware set, we recommend purchasing from one of the following for the best price and service:

Cooking.com

Amazon

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

REVIEW: Ginsu International Traditions 14-Piece Bakelite Knife Block Set

Kitchen cutlery doesn't have to be expensive. Everything you need can be found in the Ginsu International Traditions 14-Piece Bakelite Knife Block Set.

This set has knives for all purposes that all match and come in a fashionable knife block.

Ginsu has been around for years. Their TV commercials used to be on all the time. If you don't remember them or have never heard of Ginsu knives, their products are of high quality and very low prices. In fact, they've actually improved over the years

The set includes:

  • 3 ½ Inch Paring Knife
  • 4 ½ Inch Utility Knife
  • 5-Inch Boning Knife
  • 8-Inch Bread Knife
  • 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
  • 8-Inch Slicing Knife
  • Six 4 ½ Inch Steak Knives
  • Shears
  • Knife Block

This cutlery set contains most of the knives that professional chefs use but without the high price.

Expensive cutlery requires a good deal of care to keep them in good condition. The Ginsu set of knives, on the other hand, just need to be cleaned with some warm soapy water, wiped dry and then they are ready for the next time you need to put them to work. We recommend not putting them in the dishwasher.

On the positive side:

  • The knives will do what they're supposed to do and do it well.
  • You can't beat the price. They're much more affordable than many similar sets.
  • The set provides the type of knives you will use most often in your cooking.
  • The knives are all in one place, in an attractive wooden block so they look good without taking up space.

On the negative side:

  • The blades will dull over a relatively short time but can easily be sharpened. Sharpening will be required more often over time.

WHERE TO BUY?

The best price for this cutlery set is at Amazon.

For a great selection of cookware, visit SimplyCookware.