Category Archives: Gifts

Favorite Instant Pot Tools

by crockpot, family, Gifts, habits, health, questions, shopping guides, Uncategorized

I was a little late jumping onto the Instant Pot train, but now I really can't remember what I did without it!  It is my absolute favorite tool in the kitchen. Pressure cooking made easy-as-pie (hmmm... I haven't tried making a pie in my pot yet...)  The ease alone would be enough but Instant Pot takes it even further - a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, warmer and sauté pot, and that's just the 6-in-1 model.  The 9-in-1 model also makes yogurt, cooks eggs, sterilizes AND makes cake. All this multi-tasking, no hogging my kitchen counter space - it's a keeper. So I've given my Instant Pot it's very own drawer, to store all its handy accessories.  Here are my favorites.

TEMPERED GLASS LID
A clear glass lid is perfect for when slow cooking, sautéing, keeping food warm, or even serving direct from the pot.
Instant Pot Tempered Glass Lid

STAINLESS STEEL INNER COOKING POT
Having a second inner pot makes it really easy to prepare multiple dishes. I find it especially handy when I’m meal-prepping. I can make a main dish, and then quickly pop in a new inner and make quinoa, rice a veggie and such. It’s almost as handy as having two Instant Pots.
Instant Pot Inner Cooking Pot

SEALING RINGS
The Instant Pot lid sealing ring is made of silicone. It’s really durable and will last you a long time. It can, however, hold onto food odor. I wash mine in my dishwasher after each use. I also periodically “steam-clean” it in the pot - toss a couple cut up lemons and a cup of water into the pot and cook on manual high pressure for fifteen minutes. I do have a second ring to use when I make a neutral or sweet dish and I really want to ensure no savory aromas are transferred.
Instant Pot Sealing Rings

STACKABLE INSERT PANS
Stackable insert pans are great when you have more than one dish you can cook at once – steaming, cooking veggies and rice. Or cooking two dozen hard-boiled eggs at a time. These make reheat leftovers in the Instant Pot so easy and fast, a much better choice than using a microwave.
Stackable Stainless-steel Insert Pans

STEAMER BASKET
A steam basket or rack is essential for Instant Pot cooking. I especially like one with moveable sides so it can adjust and accommodate food of all shapes and sizes. I like the extendable removable handle on this XOX model, it’s handy when lifting hot food from the pot.
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Steamer with Handle

TRIVET-RACK-STAND
I use a taller trivet in addition to the trivet that comes with the Instant Pot, so I can cook in several layers. I’ll often cook things like sweet potatoes on the lower level and place an entrée in a pan above on the higher level. If you do this, take care that the height of the tallest item is not higher than the pot’s maximum fill line.
Trivet Rack Stand

HOT POT GRIPPER CLIP
Sort of like a hot pad’s much stronger studier weight-lifter cousin. Just clip the grip end onto the hot pot, or pan or basket and lift it from the Instant Pot. My friend Coleen, an Instant Pot veteran, gave me these when I first got my pot. She was absolutely right about how much I’d love them!
Hot Pot Gripper Clip

CHEESECAKE PAN
Perfect for cheesecake, tarts, quiches and more cheesecake. This pan was designed with Instant Pot cooking in mind, it has a handle for lowering into and lifting out of the pot. The only problem I have found with this pan is that it is too easy to make cheesecake. It's very tempting to have cheesecake every week. LOL
Stainless Steel Cheesecake Pan

YOGURT MAKER CUPS
My Instant Pot doesn’t have the Yogurt function (sad face) so this yogurt maker cup set is on my wishlist for now. When it’s time to give my pot an Instant Pot sister, it will be the yogurt-making 10-in-1 model.

COOKBOOKS: Now that I have an instant pot and love the versatility of this device I realized I needed a couple of cookbooks to help me find delicious recipes as well as instructions for standards like chili. Here are the ones I have: The Ultimate Instant Pot Cookbook  and Dinner In An Instant 

If you loved this list, be sure to check out my Favorite Kitchen Tools list. I've done the research so you don't have to!

Affiliate Disclosure: Recommendations I share on my website may contain affiliate links. If you click through my referral link, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and services I use myself and would share with friends and family. Your purchases from these companies through my links helps me continue to bring you free information on my site.

Favorite Kitchen Tools

by family, Gifts, habits, health, questions, shopping guides, Uncategorized

Good kitchen tools can help make cooking easy, delicious and fun. I've put together a list of a few of my favorites, the ones I find myself reaching for over and over again. Some are new discoveries and some are my dependable old friends.

 

CHEF'S KNIFE
Everyone needs a good chef’s knife. With an 8” blade and perfectly balanced, this is my favorite and I use it all the time. When I was displaced by Hurricane Harvey for a few months the one thing I missed the most was my knife.
Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife

FLEX EDGE BEATER
I love my mixer and all of the attachments that come with it. Especially this scraper mixer blade This is an amazing mixer because it makes short work of beating, mixing, and blending. I even use it to mix my meatloaf.
KitchenAid Flex Edge Beater

IMMERSION BLENDER
This is the handiest dandiest tool in my kitchen. Perfect for making mayonnaise, blending soups and sauces, making applesauce, I also use it for making a bulletproof style boosted tea.
All-Clad Stainless Steel Immersion Blender

CUISINART
My mother bought me one years ago and I remember thinking “What the heck am I going to do with it?” Now I don’t know how I’d live without it. I use it to chop everything, including making chopped salads in the summer.
Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

JULIENNE BLADE
Perfect for making julienned vegetables and especially for ‘zoodling’ zucchini, butternut squash. I’ve even used it to julienne apples for a shredded apple dessert.
OXO Good Grips Julienne Peeler

ECO-FRIENDLY FOOD STORAGE
I'm a big supporter of the movement to reduce plastic, especially one-time use plastic. I do my best to use eco-friendly products. In my kitchen, I’ve moved away from plastic wrap to Bee's Wrap for food storage. Made of organic cotton, naturally antibacterial sustainably harvested beeswax, and organic jojoba oil that help keep food fresh. Each cloth is washable, reusable and compostable. Even their product packaging is sustainable, made from 100% recycled paper and biodegradable cellulose.
Bee's Wrap 3-Piece Sustainable Reusable Food Storage

VITAMIX
I Iove my Vitamix. It was an investment for sure, but there's good reason that foodies, home chefs and restaurant kitchens around the world are loyal to Vitamix. Mine gets used almost every day. Sure, it’s perfect for making smoothies, but it’s also great for blending NiceCream (“ice cream” made from frozen banana), homemade almond milk, coconut whipped cream, soup, and more.
Vitamix 7500

INSTANT POT
I’ve had my Instant Pot for less than a year now, and I really can't remember what I did without it! It is my absolute favorite tool in the kitchen. Pressure cooking made easy-as-pie (hmmm… pie. I haven't tried making a pie in my pot yet…)  The ease alone would be enough but Instant Pot takes it even further – a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, warmer and sauté pot, and that's just the 6-in-1 model.  The 7-in-1  also makes yogurt, and the 9-in-1  cooks eggs, sterilizes, makes yogurt AND cake. All this multi-tasking, no hogging my kitchen counter space – it's a keeper. So I've given my Instant Pot it's very own drawer, to store all its handy accessories.  I have so many favorites I've made a favorites list for Instant Pot Tools too. You can read that list here.
Instant Pot

LE CREUSET PAN
I adore my Le Creuset pan. It’s cast iron and enameled. From eggs for breakfast to sautéing veggies for dinner, this pan practically lives on my stovetop because we use it so much.
Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet, 9-Inch

MANDOLIN SLICER
Fabulous for slicing things at any time of year it’s great for salads, frying, canning, and makes quick work of different cuts for a wide variety of foods
Mueller Austria V-Pro 5 Blade Adjustable Mandolin

SHAMELESS PLUG
If you’re giving gifts for the kitchen this holiday season why not share a copy of my book The Pantry Principle: how to read the label and understand what’s really in your food? This is a fabulous resource to help you learn more about your food, so you can make healthy choices. Available in Kindle or paperback, it’s an essential guide for anyone who eats, in other words, it's an essential guide for everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliate Disclosure: Recommendations I share on my website may contain affiliate links. If you click through my referral link, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and services I use myself and would share with friends and family. Your purchases from these companies through my links helps me continue to bring you free information on my site.

 

 

Homemade Gifts For The Holidays

by Gifts, holidays

The holidays are just around the corner! Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa whatever you celebrate, the winter season of gift giving is here. People love to get, and gift, food gifts. One of the challenges with food gifts, however, is that many of the pre-made options come with ingredients that are not all that great for our health. 

Making homemade foodie treats is one great way around that issue.  When you make food you're the one in control of the ingredients. And there's really something special about a homemade gift that makes both the giver and the recipient happy. As a matter of fact it turns out that baking for other people is good for our mental health. 

If you're looking for last-minute gift ideas here are some great suggestions for tasty treats.  Packed up in a jar with a pretty ribbon, in a special tin, or simply in a basket covered with some decorative fabric these are gifts that allow you to share the love with a healthy and delicious treat.

Gift ideas

Granola in a Jar

Granola or Muesli are great choices.  Because you can flavor it any way you like you can make a wide variety based on just this simple recipe.  Put in a jar with a pretty ribbon or a decorative piece of fabric on top it can make a simple, healthy holiday treat.
There's still enough time to make a batch of vanilla.  While it won't be ready right away it will still be delicious and they'll think of you every time they use it all year long.
You can also make vanilla sugar by placing opened vanilla beans into evaporated cane juice crystals and letting it infuse for some time before removing the vanilla bean and packaging up the sugar.  And in a similar vein, but with a twist, why not make flavored salt.  I got the idea for this after seeing all the different bottles at the grocery store.  They're rather pricey and yet so simple to make at home.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 4 C. flaked grains – oats, quinoa, your preference
  • 1 C. raw, unsalted nuts, chopped – my favorites are pecans or almonds
  • 1/4 C. flax seed, ground
  • 1/4 C. sesame seeds
  • 1/4 C. raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 C. raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds

Instructions
 

  • Mix ingredients together well

Notes

Store in an airtight container

 

Tasty Seasoned Salt

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup coarse grind sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1 teaspoon dried onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • generous pinch dried thyme
  • fresh ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a mortar or a coffee grinder and pulse until blended. Delicious for soups, salads, and on the table as seasoned salt.
    note: I have a coffee grinder clearly marked Not For Coffee and use it for grinding all my herbs and seeds

Coffee Seasoned Salt

note: for this one I use the coffee grinder that actually IS for coffee
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup coarse grind sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
  • generous pinch vanilla powder

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients into a mortar or coffee grinder and pulse until blended.

Notes

Delicious on desserts, especially if they are chocolate (just a pinch though)
I don't drink coffee but for those who do this apparently is a delicious addition to your cup

 

Crockpot Nut Mix

When looking for tasty snack ideas you don't have to go any further than these Crockpot Nut Mixes.You can make any flavor combination you, or the person you're giving them to, likes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 4 c. raw soaked nuts
  • 1/2 C. melted coconut oil
  • seasonings

Instructions
 

  • Cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes, with the lid off
  • When done turn off the crockpot and let the mixture cool completely in the crock before jarring up
  • How you season them is up to you.  I have a couple of mixes that I like but feel free to go ahead and make up your own.
    1 T. Penzey's taco seasoning + 1/2 t. hot sauce or 1 t. red pepper flakes
    1 T. tamari sauce + 1/2 t. garlic powder + 1/4 t. sea salt
    1 T. curry powder + 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
    1 T. sucanat + 2 t. ground cinnamon + 1/4 t. nutmeg
    2 t. vanilla + 2 t. sucanat + 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice

 

Flourless Brownies

These Flourless Brownies are sure to be a hit.  You can either make them and gift them right away, or put together a gift box with all the ingredients and the instructions so your giftee can make them later after the holiday sugar overload has come and gone.
If you're really in a hurry, is to purchase mulling spices at the grocery store.  If you get them in the bulk food section they're very reasonably priced.  Placed into tea pockets, or into cut squares of cheesecloth tied up with kitchen twine, and delivered with a container of cider the recipient can easily make mulled cider whenever they wish.
I'm not the only one who has some fabulously delicious food gifts that are just right for the holidays. Here are some of my favorite recipes created by friends that are also wonderful tried and true options for gift giving.  
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ C. black beans
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 heaping T. ground flax seed
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • ½ t. baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 3/4 cup evaporated cane juice crystals
  • 2 t. instant espresso powder
  • 1 C. dark Belgian chocolate w/almonds, chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  • Lightly grease an 8x8 square baking dish
  • Add remaining ingredients (except chocolate); blend until smooth; pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish
  • Top with chopped chocolate
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes
    Enjoy!

Other recipes

I'm not the only one who has some fabulously delicious food gifts that are just right for the holidays. Here are some of my favorite recipes created by friends that are also wonderful tried and true options for gift giving.  

  • Peanut Blossom Bites from Theresa Houghton – So delicous, they're fabulous any time of the year, not just for the holidays
  • Pumpkin Mousse from Karen Brennan – A wonderful way to enjoy the flavors of the season 
  • Creamy Turmeric Latte from Kirstin Nussgruber – This one is great to assemble as a gift in a basket, be sure to include the instructions so they can make it themselves
  • Holiday Nut Mix from Margaret Floyd – Highly addictive.  You've been warned. 
  • Avocado Chocolate Mousse from Kerry McClure – Because who doesn't love chocolate mousse?
  • Grain Free Thumbprint Cookies by Julie Matthews – Everyone loves this holiday favorite and this is a wonderful way to enjoy them
  • Quick and Easy Almond Butter Coconut Balls by Dr. Keesha Ewers – These things are seriously addictive

Whatever you celebrate, whatever your reason for the season, I hope that it is filled with warmth, laughter, love, and joy. Happy Holidays!