Good vanilla is a baker’s best friend. Even though only a small amount is used in cakes, cookies, frosting, and ice cream, it’s an ingredient that can elevate your desserts from good to great. But not all vanillas are created equal. If you’re looking for desserts that really shine, replace imitation vanilla (which contains wood […]
Archive | Kitchen Tips & Tools
13 Smart Kitchen Tools You Never Knew You Needed
We’re always looking for ways to make our lives a little bit easier every day. Sometimes though, we just deal with a challenge or annoyance out of habit or because we don’t know there’s another way. When it comes to cooking, something that we spend much of our lives thinking about, talking about, and doing, […]
How to Make a Gingerbread House From Scratch
A gingerbread house is a wonderful way to decorate for the holidays and fun for the whole family. There’s nothing like the warm, sweet smell of molasses, ginger, and cinnamon baking in the oven to remind us of the magic of the season, surrounded by family and friends, celebrating together. The true joy of cookie […]
How to Make Soft Pretzels & Pretzel Bites
Mall pretzels are pretty good, but warm, chewy, soft pretzels fresh out of the oven are so much better. Why shell out big bucks at the mall or ballpark with no guarantee of freshness (how long has it been hanging under the heat lamp?), when you can easily make a whole batch at home for […]
How to Meal Plan in 5 Simple Steps
Have you ever been caught with no idea what to make for dinner and no time to shop? We all have. By using the 3 P’s—planning recipe, purchasing groceries, and prepping ingredients—you won’t have to start from scratch every night. Meal planning works best when you take it one stage at a time; there’s no […]
Microwave Meals and Sides in the Micro-Cooker®
Our iconic Micro-Cooker® is a game-changer when it comes to making quick, healthy, and easy weeknight meals and side dishes. Specially designed for microwave cooking, these workhorses come in different sizes—1 qt. (1 L), 2 qt. (2 L), and 3 qt. (3 L) and are BPA-free. Great to steam veggies, melt chocolate or butter, poach […]
5 Fast, No-Fail Ways to Cook Chicken
Because it’s lean, versatile, and delicious, lots of favorite recipes call for chicken. Instead of buying canned chicken or shelling out extra dough for a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, here are easy ways to perfectly cook chicken in a microwave, slow cooker, pressure cooker, oven, or on the stove. Talk about winner, winner chicken dinner! If […]
Ribs in a Slow Cooker or a Pressure Cooker?
In most parts of the country, summer weather only lasts three or four months. Sure, there’s probably an unexpected 85-degree day in May or a balmy evening just as the leaves start turning in October, but most of our summer plans need to get squeezed in during summer-vacation season. Weekends go especially fast, so if […]
Food on the Go: Ready When You Are
We look forward to lazy summers, then the weather warms up, kids get bored, and pretty soon we’re on the go again. Taking food on-the-go doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools and a little planning, you can make every outing a little more delicious. Snacks on the Go For road trips, pop […]
Top 13 Uses for the Large Square Cool & Serve
Keeping your potluck salads, fruit platters, and picnic treats cool and fresh can be tricky. Our Large Square Cool & Serve keeps food cool up to 6 hours, even outdoors! With this exclusive must-have, you’ll keep whatever’s on the menu chilled and delicious. 1. Vegetable Tray With Dip Fill with such crowd-pleasers like peppers, celery, carrots, cucumbers, […]