Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Sodastream *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Dawn!

As much as I complain about being in the kitchen, I actually only struggle with the “cooking” part of it all.  I enjoy baking and absolutely adore kitchen gadgets.  Some of the items I’d love to own include an espresso maker, an ice cream maker, and a waffle maker.  It’s amazing how you can practically find a gadget for nearly every food.

My husband and I primarily drink water, but we do like the occasional sparkling drinks including flavored waters and sodas without high fructose corn syrup.  As a mom concerned about the safety of the products we use in our home and their effect on the environment, I was really excited to learn that we can make soda in the comfort of our own home!

If you’ve never heard of Sodastream, you must check out the company and the products they offer.  I’m highly impressed with the fact that I can turn regular tap water (although I use filtered water) into sparkling water or soda in minutes with little effort. We received the Fountain Jet to review (there are 3 other models available, each one with a different design…same function) along with several Sodamix flavors.  There are several starter kits available for purchase, but the basic one includes the machine, the carbonator (CO2), and two reusable, BPA-free bottles.

The basic premise of the system is that CO2 carbonates tap water just like a soda fountain. Once you’ve installed the carbonator into the machine, it’s ready to go (you don’t have to plug it in and it doesn’t require batteries).  It’s really as easy as filling the reusable bottle with water, pushing the button on the machine to carbonate the water, and adding the flavor you’d like to your “soda.”  Choose from over 30 syrups (including regular, diet, and caffeine free).  The company also offers energy drinks, sparkling iced teas, and flavor essences.  Each bottle of Sodamix (syrup) makes 12 liters (or 33 cans) of soda.  The syrups are free from high fructose corn syrup and aspartame.  And they taste just. like. soda.

My husband and I do our part to recycle as much as we can, but reusable is really the best eco-friendly option.  According to the site, ”the average American consumes nearly 600 bottles and cans of sparkling water and soda every year.”  Much of these end up in our landfills (since we’re not a society that does a lot of recycling).  Can you imagine not having any plastic bottles or aluminum cans?  And, when you figure out that you could make a liter of sparkling water for 20 cents or a 12 ounce can of soda for 25 cents, it makes eco AND financial sense to use Sodastream.

Here are some of my favorite aspects of Sodastream:

The compactness of the machine fits perfectly with our reduced countertop space

I don’t have to plug it in or find/replace batteries

I can sweeten my soda water to my desired taste preference

It takes minutes to complete

I can use the tap or filtered water we have right here in our home

It’s fun (giggle…I sound like a little girl).

The only thing I’d love to see are some Sodamix flavors without Splenda.

The Sodastream Fountain Jet retails for $89.95 and is available for purchase on the site, and retailers nationwide.  Right now, save $10 on any new soda maker with the code “ROCKIN” (valid through December 31, 2009).  Be sure to connect with them on Twitter for discounts, promos, and more!

Win It! One of you will win a Sodastream Fountain Jet!  Simply leave me a comment with something you learned on their site (other than what I mentioned above in my review…the site has a ton of information).  Comments will close on December 19, 2009 at 11:59 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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Profuse thanks to the Family Review Network for this opportunity!

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I will be receiving a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Removable Plate Grill by Calphalon

My husband and I try very hard not to eat out.  With a healthy, gourmet cookbook, fresh ingredients, and the right cooking appliances, we can have a healthier meal that very often tastes better than that found in chain restaurants.  That is why I believe it’s important to invest in the right type of kitchen appliances.  As a mom, I want to be able to offer my children healthy, home cooked meals.  However, I don’t want to spend all my time in the kitchen.  If you add up the amount of time a mom can spend for each meal and multiply it by 3, you’ll find that much of her day is spent preparing, cooking, and cleaning up. I’d much rather use some of that time for reading, playing and taking in new experiences.

As you know from reading my blog, my husband and I tend to be foodies.  We like healthy (organic if possible), gourmet foods with flavor and flare.  We don’t tend to eat out of boxes and cans and prefer fresh over anything else.  We also bake, grill, or steam our foods as opposed to frying and microwaving.  With Calphalon’s Removable Plate Grill, you can grill chicken and fish, sear steaks, and make your own Panini sandwiches (just like they do at your favorite sandwich shop).  Grilling is a great way to prepare foods because you don’t have to add fats and oils to prepare your food as you would if you were frying those foods.

When it comes to appliances, I ask a few questions before making a decision.  First, how much use will this appliance get?  We eat meat daily in our household (and I’m assuming most families do too, unless they are vegan or vegetarian) so this is an appliance we will definitely get a lot of use out of.  We also like to make our own sandwiches (it’s much more affordable than paying $6-$8 for a Panini) so that we can pick and choose which ingredients we want.

The next question I ask is how easy the appliance is to use and set up.  We had a grill that did not have removable plates, which meant I had to clean it by hand (a deterrent for frequent use).  One of the reasons I like this grill by Calphalon, is the removable plates that can be washed in the dishwasher. I am more inclined to opt for appliances with dishwasher-safe features.  Setting it up simply involves washing the plates, snapping them into place, and plugging the unit in. Then, choose your desired temperature setting (the guide tells you what temperature to set the grill at depending on the type of food your grilling) and wait for the unit to preheat (it only takes about 5 minutes).  Place the food you desire on the grill and reference the manual for grilling times (so handy for inexperienced cooks like me!).  If you don’t want to stand and watch your food cook (perhaps you’d like to work on another dish), you can set the timer.  Just remove your food when it’s done and you’re set.  

 

My husband’s first steak in a LONG time!

Calphalon’s Removable Plate Grill utilizes a technology called the Opti-Heat System which ensures your foods are cooked evenly and thoroughly.  We grilled chicken the other night and followed the manual’s recommended grilling time of 5-8 minutes.  It took a little less than 10 minutes and the chicken was cooked all the way through (remember to defrost meat completely before grilling).  I always worry that I’m not going to cook my meats thoroughly.  I’ve been known to put chicken in the microwave after cooking it for fear of Salmonella.  This grill has an adjustable grill height for various food thicknesses.  

The last question I ask is whether or not such an appliance is practical.  If I have to spend a lot of time using it to get results, I have to wonder if it’s worth the expense.  This grill is much larger than I’ve used in the past.  I remember spending a LONG time grilling hamburgers on a certain grill I had in the past.  I could only make one at a time and all of us were not able to eat at the same time.  With an large grill capacity, the Removable Plate Grill can accommodate up to 6 burgers, 6 chicken breasts, or 4 Panini sandwiches.  And since there are only 3 of us (one of which is a toddler who doesn’t eat much), we can all eat at the same time (and that’s important!).  

One of the last features that I should mention is the Internal Drip Tray. My experience with grills has been solely with those possessing an external tray (which ends up being slightly messy).  While your foods are cooking, excess fat drains away into the drip tray which can be removed and disposed of once the unit cools.  

Overall, I’m highly impressed with Calphalon’s Removable Plate Grill.  It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and saves us time in the kitchen.  I’d love to see a manual with a few more recipes (but that is a very minor detail).  You can purchase this grill online or at retailers nationwide.

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

 

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Cuisinart Rice Plus Multi-Cooker with Fuzzy Logic Technology

With the holidays right around the corner, you’ll find me donning an apron just like Martha Stewart (don’t laugh!).  In all honesty, if I had a kitchen appliance for every type of meal we ate, I’d be inclined to be in the kitchen at every meal.  Most of the time it’s the preparation that deters me from cooking.

Rice is a staple in our household (but it must be brown!)  My husband makes this amazing Thai dish with coconut rice and it’s so yummy I feel like I’m eating in an authentic Thai restaurant.  In the same week we could have baked chicken with spanish rice and vegetarian beans or an Italian risotto. With all the rice we eat in our household, you can imagine how convenient something like a rice cooker would be.

When it comes to kitchen appliances there are a few things that I look for.  Kitchen appliances should make the work of cooking easier.  So I always weigh the complexity of using the product against the convenience afforded by it.  Cuisinart’s Rice  Plus Multi-Cooker enables you to cook rice (and other foods) easily.  The Multi-Cooker has a “brain” (if you will) built into it called Fuzzy Logic which basically ensures your food will be cooked to perfection every time.  The “brain” “senses fluctuations in cooking and automatically adjusts to ensure perfect results.”

While I can multi-task at many other things, cooking is not one of them.  My husband always jokes that we eat in courses (because I can’t seem to get everything prepared and cooked on time). There are a lot of features, my favorite being the ability to program exactly when I want my rice (or other dish) to be ready.  So I can actually work on another dish while the Multi-Cooker works on my rice.  Translation:  Less likelihood of burning or overcooking other dishes (something I’m noteworthy for).

Now, when I purchase an appliance, I think about how often I’m going to use it.  For example, I love the idea of a bread maker or an ice cream maker…but how often am I practically going to use either one of those?  A rice cooker is something we will use several times a week.  The Multi-Cooker comes equipped with pre-programmed settings for six types of rice (I had no idea there were six types of rice). And because we can actually make other foods (oatmeal, soup), it’s getting a lot more use.  You can even steam veggies using the Steam function which means I don’t have to buy another appliance!  I haven’t steamed veggies yet but from what I’ve read, it’s very easy.  Simply put in 2 cups of water, wait 3 minutes for the unit to heat up, then start steaming.  The manual (which is extremely resourceful) actually has approximate steam times for various veggies and meats.  Steaming is a quick and healthy way of cooking foods.

Delicious Jasmine Wild Rice

More of a luxury, is the Keep Warm function.  Once the rice is done, the Multi-Cooker will automatically switch to this function and will keep food warm up to 24 hours.  So if you want seconds, you don’t have to head over to the microwave to reheat your rice (why aren’t all appliances this smart?).

The Reheat function can actually be used on other foods that were not cooked in the Multi-Cooker.  I’m not a huge fan of microwaving foods because I’ve heard that vital nutrients are lost.  Use this function to reheat foods (but be sure to add a little water or liquid to prevent the foods from drying out).  The only thing I would note about this function is that it can take 35 minutes to reheat foods (just something to keep in mind).

The amount of time it will take you to cook rice, really depends on a few things:  when you want it done and how you like your rice (soft v. hard).  With the Quick Cook function, your rice could be done in 30 minutes.

One last important function I look for in a kitchen appliance is the ease of clean-up.  I have a waffle maker that I really like.  But I have to handwash it each and every time and it becomes somewhat laborious getting into all those grooves. So I opt for pancakes most days.  All of the removable parts on the Multi-Cooker are dishwasher safe which makes clean-up a breeze.  Plus, the aluminum cooking pot is non-stick. I would recommend avoiding the use of metal on it so it doesn’t get scratched.

Check out their awesome video here.  

The Multi-Cooker has a rice capacity of 15 cups, includes a steaming rack, measuring cup, rice paddle, and spoon, and comes with a highly resourceful manual which includes recipes for rice, risotto, soup, and oatmeal.  It retails for $149 and is available for purchase online or at retailers nationwide. 

For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files

 

Fun Frigidaire Features…That Also Save Time In the Kitchen

I just LOVE to cook (um…ok…that’s a bit of an overstatement).  I don’t usually enjoy cooking, but I’m learning to like it.  I mean, it takes a LOT of time, right?  Meal planning, grocery shopping, preparing (i.e. chopping, etc.), cooking…  That’s why I need all the help I can get.  And that help has come from Frigidaire!  As a Test Drive Mom, my goal is to show you how much time you can save with their brand new line of appliances.  Take a look at this little video I shot, highlighting some of my favorite features:

So just like I mentioned in my video, I LOVE the Quick Preheat button.  That’s the only way I preheat my oven.  It takes less than 6 minutes and this hungry, pregnant mama can’t wait much more than that.  And that’s not just for the lower temperature settings.  That’s for any temperature!  With my old oven, I found that the higher I set the temperature (i.e. 450 versus 325), the longer it would take to heat up. And of course, I was never certain as to when it was actually at the correct temperature.  Who has time to check it?  I surely don’t.  And a proper temperature is key to cooking or baking something properly.  Otherwise it will a. take longer to cook or b. overcook.

When I first received the range, I didn’t pay much attention to the various sized burners. However, each one emits a different amount of BTU (i.e. energy), which means the smaller ones are better for boiling (like pasta) while the larger ones are better for simmering (like the pizza sauce I made today).   As I mentioned on the video, the quick boil feature boils water FAST.  Probably in 5-7 minutes (I’ve never been able to time it…I have a 2 year old!).

As I continue to use various buttons, I’ve noticed that there are a ton of One-Touch Options.  I made pizza tonight and I totally should have used the pizza button.  You can actually use the option for either frozen or fresh pizza.  I made a pizza from scratch today but didn’t follow the recipe exactly so I had no idea what temperature to set the oven at and I had no idea how long to cook it.  I should have used this option (ok…that’s my goal for next time!).  Just FYI, according to the manual, there is no time setting (only an oven temperature setting).  And my guess was almost right…It’s 400 degrees for fresh, and 425 degrees for frozen.  I should have used the One-Touch option.  We don’t make chicken nuggets often (I think we’ve made them from scratch once), but there is also a One-Touch option for them.  If you use this button, the oven will automatically set the temperature and the time (20 minutes) so that your chicken nuggets are baked to perfection.  And once they’ve cooked, the oven will switch to the Keep Warm option (for 3 hours).

One of the features I’m very much looking forward to trying out is the ability to cook a large meal with the double oven range.  The holidays are coming soon and while I won’t be doing a ton of entertaining, I would like to have some family over.  The basic idea of this feature is that I can cook two meals at once (using different temperatures).  Honestly, this is a very very cool feature.  If we had a large family (well, we’re working on that), I think we’d use this more often.  Stay tuned…I MUST try this feature!

Be sure to check out the entire time-saving Frigidaire Gallery line!!

I’m Learning to Cook…Thanks Frigidaire!

If you read my blog, then you know I can’t don’t know how prefer to let the hubby cook.  Well, with his frequent business travels, I often resort to ordering out (since it’s so much more convenient).  As our second little baby brews, I’m starting to think about how we can cut costs.  The most obvious way is to minimize the amount of times we eat out each week is for me to cook (novel idea isn’t it?).  Well, thanks to Mom Central and Frigidaire, I’ve had no excuse not to cook.  That is because I have been using two of their  appliances from the brand new Gallery Line…the Frigidaire Gallery 30″ Freestanding Gas Range and Over-the-Range Microwave, both in stainless steel.

I want to start by stating that I was chosen by Mom Central and the PR company representing Frigidaire to test out these 2 appliances, and they were provided to me at no cost.  My goal is to give you a thorough review of each appliance…what’s good, and what needs work…in order to help you make the right decision for your family.

My husband and I love the aesthetics of stainless steel.  The only downside is that it’s difficult to clean.  And that goes for these appliances as well.  I don’t think the brand would matter…stainless steel requires extra care that black or white appliances don’t require.  The other thing about stainless steel is that they require special cleaning agents (but this is true of all types of stainless steel appliances).  The appliances overall look sleek and professional.  They’re the type of appliances I’d see in a model home (meaning they look that nice).  One thing to consider with regards to the microwave.  It’s big!  It’s actually bigger than our old one.  So be sure to measure the space above your oven when considering an Over-the-Range microwave.  The great thing about putting the microwave over the oven is that it saves a ton of counter space (which we are seriously lacking).

The cooktop has this center burner with an option for a griddle and I’ve never seen this option before. I’m still trying to figure out what to do with it (thankfully, I will have more time and posts to figure it out!) The other chic and sleek aspect about the cooktop is that the grates are cast iron (can you say…WOW?).  The small downside is that I’m still trying to figure out how to clean them without getting fuzzies from our paper towels (oops…green fail) all over them!  Again…I must read the manual!

Each of the burners are sized differently according to how much heat they emit.  In other words, some are better for simmering and some are better for boiling (and quickly at that).  I tried one of the quick boil burners to boil water for pasta the other day.  I had aspirations of timing how long it would take and then my toddler distracted me.  All I know is that I went to check the water at some point, thinking it had maybe been enough time and it was boiling.  My husband has mastered the art of cooking multiple dishes at one time and loves the different burners for this purpose. I, on the other hand, am just trying to master the art of cooking an edible meal.

As soon as the installation team had our shiny new appliances in place, my thoughts went to safety.  We bought oven locks for our old oven (which weren’t as childproof as they claimed to be).  Just as I was about to go to out and purchase some new ones, my husband (the investigator that he is) had already found that the oven has a LOCK built into it.  Seriously?  That is the one feature I’m most impressed with at this point.  Frigidaire has really considered families with children in this design feature.

There are a ton of features that I plan on telling you about.  Like how the oven preheats in 5 minutes (no lie!) or how it cleans itself (a feature I haven’t tried out yet).  Stay tuned!

And the microwave?  All I know is that it heats food in a flash and beeps LOUDLY and repetitively when the food is done!  I must investigate how to change that beeping to something a little more subdued (particularly so I don’t wake my sleeping toddler!).  I can’t wait to explore some of the one-touch options.

I’ll be posting regularly on these two appliances…giving you the ins and outs!  By the time I’m done, you’ll feel like they’re in your kitchen!

Cool Off This Summer With a Hamilton Beach Thermal Cooler Blender

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Jenny Martin.  Congrats!

When summer temperatures soar, I cool off with ice cream shakes and smoothies!  I prefer making them at home because I can pick and choose which ingredients I want.  Ingredients like French Vanilla Ice cream and frozen organic strawberries make for awesome smoothies and shakes.  I like the ability to control how much fat and sugar are in the drinks I make and I know that they’re fresh and natural.

If you’re looking for an easy way to make smoothies and shakes at home, check out the blenders from Hamilton Beach.  We received a Thermal Cooler Blender to check out and it’s awesome!  I’ve never considered the possibility of blending up drinks and taking them with us to the beach or the park.  But what a fabulous way to cool off and save money this summer! Maybe you blend up smoothies or shakes and then transfer them to another container that will keep them cold for a longer period of time.  With the Thermal Cooler Blender, you blend right in the 48 ounce thermal cooler, take it off the blender, and you’re ready to go.  Plus, it will keep your drinks cold for up to 8 hours.  Now that’s cool! The cooler also has an easy-pour spout so you don’t spill and make a mess!   When you’re at home, use the glass jar for blending up your favorite drink.

You would think that a blender is a blender, right?  This blender actually has 10 speeds and 500 watts of power which means you can blend drinks to your desired consistency.  What I really like is that the different speeds have labels like “smoothie,” “milkshake,” and “icy drink.”  It makes it really easy for me that way!  I’ve also experienced blenders that claim to blend ice, but leave huge chunks in my drinks.  This blender does not do that.

Here’s a fun, simple recipe that I use often:

Frozen Strawberries, Frozen Peaches, Vanilla Yogurt, Orange Juice (add slowly until desired consistency is reached)

If you’re looking for a blender that will get you smoothies and shakes on the run, check out the Single Serve Blender. Just blend and sip from the same cup!  And with 2 jars/lids, that’s one more day you can go without doing the dishes!  Buy it for approximately $20.

Win It! One of you will win a Single Serve Blender with 2 jars and 2 lids.  Simply head over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and either leave me a comment with another product you like (other than the 2 mentioned here) OR your favorite smoothie or milkshake recipe!  Comments will close on July 2, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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