Home Cooking Gadgets

 It’s hard to enjoy cooking when the kitchen appliances and gadgets are difficult to use because of range of motion, coordination, or pain issues such as arthritis.  One kitchen gadget that can help with these issues is a one touch can opener.  Can openers are one of the hardest appliances to master when your hands won’t move the way you wish they would.                                                                                                                                      Other helpful kitchen gadgets for arthritis sufferers may include a multipurpose tool that serves as a spatula/tongs combo, an electric jar opener, versatile fruit and vegetable choppers and peelers, a powerful pizza cutter, and a vacuum-sealing food storage system.  

This is one of those unbelievable gadgets that will be the envy of everyone around the grill–a talking wireless BBQ thermometer.  No need to miss a moment of the upcoming Summer Olympics or any other important sporting event—you program in your choice of eight meats (beef, lamb, veal, hamburger, pork, turkey, chicken and fish) and how well done you would like them to be cooked.

There are verbal and audio alert options to let you know the ongoing status of your meal.  There is an audio alarm and low battery indicator, and the stainless steel probe for the meat is easy to clean.  When the meat reaches the perfect temperature, the device alerts you in one of five languages (English, Spanish, German, French, and Danish, with corresponding LCD display for each).  What a great gift for your favorite grill master!

Once the zucchini begins to ripen you can become overwhelmed with the amount even one plant will produce. They grow fast so if you miss picking one day you may be picking a large fruit that resembles a club or bat. There are many ways to cook zucchini.

Zucchini is best when it is 4-6 inches long. The smaller zucchini is tender. Slice it into pieces and add it to the veggie tray to be eaten raw with dip.

Pan fry the zucchini with olive oil, onions and tomatoes. Add garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until the moisture is gone. Cover with your favorite Italian cheese and serve.

Cut a larger zucchini in 1/2 length wise. Dig out the seeds and replace them with your favorite meat loaf recipe. Top with stewed tomatoes, cover and bake until meat is done.

A large zuccini can also be cut into pieces 3 inches long. Peal off the skin because after the zucchini gets larger they become tougher. Cut each 3 inch piece of zucchini lengthwise into slices 1/4 inch thick. Baste with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Cover the grill with foil and cook until zucchini is translucent and has grill marks.

If your really ambitious, grate the zucchini and call a friend for their zucchini bread recipe.

Dieting is a way of life for many people, “Preventions: Eat more lose more plan” makes it easy to stay on a lifetime plan.There are 10 parts to this plan from prevetion magazine. A summary of the plan is below.

1. Choose 3 fruit or vegie snacks a day.

2. Eat 25g. to 35g. of whole grains and high fiber food daily.

3. 6oz. of protien daily helps maintain body mass and lose more weight. Cooking on your indoor grill is a healthy way to cook you protien.

4. Have your sweet sugary treats with your meal, stay away from sugary snacks

5. Sodium has health benefits, keep a balance of sodium in your diet

6. Bake at least 2 servings of low mercury fish in your glass bakeware so it cooks evenly

7. Nuts are a nutritiional snack, 1oz equals 180 calories

8. Limit fats to 11/2 tablespoons per day, Olive and flaxseed oil are good choices

9. 3 servings of fat-free or low fat dairy a day help to maintain healthy bones and hearts

10. Drink at least 17oz of water per day, it is important to stay hydrated

Cooking at home when ever possible.and planning your meals will help you be successful.

Baking with glass bake ware will make your most delicious recipes taste even better. The glass bakeware bakes more evenly than metal baking pans. Cakes, pies, and casseroled won’t be dry on the edge and gooy in the middle. Your favorite meat dishes will be more evenly browned when cooked in a glass bake ware.

Glass bakeware is also easier to clean than metal bakeware. No more soaking the pan for hours before cleaning. Glass bakeware should be “dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe.”

Beat the hot summer evening. Save energy. Cook a great meal without warming the house by using the toaster oven. Baking in a toaster oven with variable functions and heat setting is as easy as using a conventional oven.

Toaster Oven Italian Chicken

2 Tablespoons of olive oil

2 Chicken Breasts

2 Eggs

1 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs

1/2 teaspoon real salt

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic crushed

Toaster oven pan

Cover the bottom of the pan with the olive oil

Whip eggs until blended

Add spices and stir well

Clean and cut each chicken breasts in 1/2

Dip chicken into the egg mixture then into the bread crumbs, be sure they are completely covered

Set them in the pan

Bake on 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes flip over and cook another 30 minutes

Let set 5 minutes before searving.

Great served with red skin potatoes and Italian green beans

Barbecuing pineapple makes it even sweeter than fresh. You can slice the piapple 1/4 inch thick and put it directly on the grill or cut it into 1 inch squares and put the pieces on woodwn skewers. Sticking the fruit on wooden skewers makes them easy to turn on the grill and handy for eating without utensils.

Pairing pieces of smoky ham and sweet pineapple creates the perfectcomes combination. Mix together a sweet sauce of mustard and brown sugar for fruity, flavorful kabobs that are destined for greatness on the grill.

Tropical pineapple chunks and tasty chicken marinated in a sweet baste of soy sauce, brown sugar and sherry will send your taste buds packing for paradise.

These recipes are great for the outdoor grill or any  indoor kitchen gadgets. Cook them up on your indoor grill or panini maker.

Any of these wines would be a good choice for your wine holder.

Cribari Marsala (Italy) is a rich golden color, full-bodied, fragrant sherry, sweet but balanced with a lively tang of citrus flavors and floral aromas. Excellent for cooking.

Brotherhood Holiday United States New York New York Still Wine 750ml is a racy white from the French Pyrenees. Comprised of 100% gros manseng, a firm, mineral driven white with notes of fresh herbs, green apple and quince. Enjoy a glass while cooking dinner, or pair with sizzling garlic shrimp!

2004 Pouilly Fuiss, Domaine Jean-Pierre Seve is an old vine chardonnay. This supremely well balanced and charming white, enhanses simply prepared roast chicken or white fish.

Tomasello Blackberry Wine United States New Jersey Other American Still Wine 500ml is made from 100% Marion Blackberries. Tomasello Blackberry Wine is a full-bodied blackberry wine is moderately sweet and can be served both as a dessert wine or in a dessert like English Triffle with Tomasello Blackberry Wine. Tomasello Blackberry Wine can be made into a sauce reduction.

Brotherhood Holiday United States New York New York Still Wine 750ml is a blend of red wine steeped with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and many more herbs and spices. It is a sweet, red wine with a saucy, sweet, tart, spicy taste. Just heat, then wait for the pungent and tantalizingaroma that will make any day a holiday.. Made to be served piping hot in the tradition of mulled wine or glug. You may garnish with raisins, sliveredalmonds or a splash of vodka, for an extra festive touch. Holiday is equally delicious cold with snacks, onthe rocks, with soda, apple juice or in cooking. Try a little in french toast or as a ham glaze. Put a littlespice in your life!

Fetzer Vineyards Pinot Noir Barrel Select 750ml by Fetzer is a deep garnet color. In the nose, aromas of tart cherry and raspberry meld with cedar and a touch of black pepper spice. High Preferred Cooking Method: Grilled, baked, sautéed, and poached. Base Ingredients: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Veal, Liver, Chicken, Squab, Game Hens, Rabbit, Salmon, Tuna.

2 1/2 quarts popped corn

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp lemon pepper

Combine seasonings

Pop corn in your favorite pop corn maker

Pour butter over warm popcorn

Sprinkle the seasonin mix over the buttered popcorn

Toss to mix

For crispy pop corn bake in a 300-degree Fahrenheit oven

4         center cut pork chops or chicken

2T       olive oil

1         small onion diced

2         cloves of garlic minced

1         12 oz can of tomato paste

1         16oz can of stewed tomatoes

2tsp     sugar

1tsp     pepper

2tsp     salt

12oz   water

In the “Family Cooker with the Glass Lid” heat the 2T of olive oil.

Add onions and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent.

Add the pork chops or chicken and brown for 5 minutes on each side.

Take the meat out of the pan and set aside.

Add the tomato paste to the pan.

Blend in the sugar, salt and pepper.

Heat the paste through.

Stir in the water and stewed tomatoes.

Put the meat back in the pan.

Simmer on medium for 30 minutes.

Serve over your favorite pasta.