As you may recall me previously mentioning, I am the proud owner of 9 different cutting boards of varying shapes and sizes. While my large cutting boards are reserved for tasks like cutting pork roast, whole chickens, lots of vegetables (we do have a large family, after all), and other big jobs, I don't like to dirty them up for smaller jobs that only need a little bit of space. With that said, when I received the opportunity to review Practico Kitchen's Small Bamboo Cutting Board and Serving Tray with Juice Groove for free in exchange for my honest review, I was happy to oblige.
To begin, this little board is adorable. Aesthetics aside, however, how it works is what matters, right? I found this cutting board to be beyond perfection. It is the perfect size for slicing and serving cheese, cutting tomatoes, slicing potatoes, and other small cutting jobs. It's made of bamboo, like my favorite large cutting board, which is known for it's long-lasting qualities, and is heavy and durable. The deep groove around the edges is fantastic for catching liquid, and keeping it from spilling onto my counter top. When I'm finished using it, I don't have to stress about where I'm going to store it, as it is so small, it slides easily into a drawer until I'm ready to use it again!
Every year, I vow to learn how to garden. I would love to grow my own fresh veggies (especially juicy, delicious tomatoes) as well as bright, colorful blooming flowers. Every year, however, I fail. With that said, I once again, did not achieve my goal in 2015. Nevertheless, there's always next year. This year, however, my neighbor decided to come to my door and introduce herself, along with a huge gift from her garden. She brought a big bag filled with cucumbers and tomatoes. She also brought a bag full of long beans.
Prior to this, I had actually never heard of long beans. As I searched for ways to cook them, I learned they can also be referred to as "snake beans" and "asparagus beans". I'll stick with "long beans"; Chinese long beans to be exact. Lucky for me, she brought them over just in time, as I had just received my Sunsella Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamer that I recently received the opportunity to try for free in exchange for my honest review. What a perfect way to put it to use! While I still really didn't know how to cook them, there was no time like the present to learn!
If you've never tried long beans, you're missing out on quite a treat. They have a delicious flavor, with or without a lot of seasoning. We love heavy seasonings in my home, so needless to say, we used them. However, I tried the long beans prior to seasoning and was quite amazed by their taste. They cooked up quickly in my new vegetable steamer, which conveniently, is designed to fit inside a variety of different sized pots. When I removed them after about 10 to 15 minutes of steaming, my veggies were perfectly cooked and again, amazingly delicious! When I was done with my steamer, I was able to throw it into a drawer until I use it again, as it collapses to the size of a small bowl for easy storage.
I recently received my Alpha Grillers Instant Read Thermometer for free in exchange for my honest review. We are a family who rarely eats out, and cooks at home 99 percent of the time. With that said, without a thermometer, food can easily end up under-cooked, over-cooked, or spoiled. The first thing I noticed about the thermometer after it arrived was that it is very lightweight. My first thought was, "This thing is NOT going to work." I can admit when I'm wrong... and I was wrong. It actually works great! While I would enjoy an illuminated display (as one's eyes just aren't as great at age 22 the second time around), the display is large and easy-to-read. The speed of the results is amazing. I was able to get an accurate reading within seconds! The fact that the probe can be folded into the base when not in use makes it really easy to store the thermometer. Furthermore, it can easily be stored in the box that it came in, which can easily slide into a drawer or small space. For those (like me) who really don't know what temperature different meats should be, there is also a handy temperature guide that accompanies the thermometer, which I now have affixed to my fridge. This thermometer is definitely a great value, and would also make a great gift for the upcoming holidays, should you know someone who spends an abundance of time in their kitchen!
I have 9 different cutting boards. I have one for fruits, one for veggies, a board especially for seafood and a separate board for chicken, and one for beef. My favorite cutting board(s), however, have always been my extra-large wooden cutting boards. Sadly, the first two wooden boards I purchased split in half soon after buying them. I didn't do anything specific to cause them to break, but they just weren't that durable. Soon after losing my last wooden cutting as a result of splitting in half, I received the opportunity to review an Extra Large Bamboo Cutting Board at a discount from Alton Bay Bamboo.
I was really impressed with this cutting board. The first thing I noticed was how heavy it was. I could instantly tell that I would get so much more longevity out of this board than the ones I have owned in the past. I don't expect this board to split any time soon. This board also has a nice-sized groove embedded into the outer edges of the board, designed to catch any liquids before they run off of the board.
Cleaning my wooden cutting board is easy. In addition to wiping it down with a warm, soapy cloth and rinsing with water, I like to scrub it with a fresh lemon and course sea salt mixture, which will keep it fresh.
Vegetable spaghetti... have you heard of it? I admit, I actually had never heard of vegetable spaghetti until a few weeks ago when a friend asked me if I had tried it yet. Basically, it looks like spaghetti, but is really made from... you guessed it... Veggies! As I've since scoured the Internet looking for various vegetable spaghetti recipes, I've found a ton, ranging from this delightful salad style dish made with carrots to zucchini pasta. The best part is, it's an awesome low-carb, gluten-free option for pasta lovers looking for healthy choices.
As I became more and more interested in creating my own vegetable spaghetti recipes, I also found myself more and more intrigued with the little gadgets being used to create the spiralized veggies. Eventually, I found myself presented with the opportunity to try the WonderVeg Spiralizer at a discounted rate in exchange for my honest review. On that note, I don't want to waste another minute without saying that this is probably the very best kitchen accessory purchase I've made this year, hands down.
My family and I have had a blast creating delicious recipes packed with nutritious veggies using our new little kitchen toy. The WonderVeg Spiralizer comes fully assembled and is so amazingly easy to use! Admittedly, not all of our recipes have been "healthy," per se, but perhaps healthier than we have made in the past. For example, instead of fries, we've used the "straight blade" to make fried spiraled potatoes on several occasions. Seasoned with pepper, garlic and onion powder, there's no need for ketchup! In the video below, we were preparing some spaghetti-style potatoes using the "shredder" blade, in an effort to make the most delicious breakfast casserole I've ever had! I'll never make it using fried hash browns again!
As you can see, the spiralizer is extremely easy to use... and clean up afterwards couldn't be easier! The pieces simply slide out, allowing you to clean everything off quickly and then store away until you're ready for the next use, which in my case, has been daily. It also comes with a handy cleaning brush, which helps clean the harder-to-reach areas as well as the blades. If you love vegetables, or are trying to find fun, unique ways to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, then the WonderVeg Spiralizer is a MUST-HAVE kitchen tool!
