Home & Garden Blog » Kitchenware

Bury Me With My Spatula

brock — Thu, 05 May 2011 18:04:50 +0000

When my wife and I were first married, we received many gifts ranging from the expensive to the simple. Nestled among the picture frames and aromatherapy sphere – I admit a moment of weakness with the gift registry gun – was a small, nondescript spatula.

It was black with a metal handle and, at the time, thought nothing of it. It has been more than 10 years and it still rests in our utensil cabinet. I love that spatula. I want to be buried with that spatula. Whenever I cook anything, I grab that tool.

My wife thinks I’m crazy for being so fond of my spatula, but it’s the perfect cooking utensil. We have several spatulas, but my Excalibur is the only one with the strength to flip big burgers and scrap cooked egg from a pan.

A spatula is so much more than simply a flipper. It has so many uses in the kitchen, but only if it is strong and sturdy. Far too many spatulas have weak handles, or the head bends, sending hot grease of food in every direction. They are mere impersonators.

But my spatula has lasted longer than every other kitchen tool, including the pans. You can tell it has seen its share of action over the years; there are nicks in the plastic, but with a little soap and water she cleans up pretty good. I’m not saying this spatula has divine origins, but I don’t think it was just coincidence that this item came to me. It was destiny.

Linus has his blanket. Scooby has his snacks. I have my spatula. Who knows, maybe it will even outlast me and I will pass it on to my eldest son, who will pass it on to his and so on, and so on. That is unless they come out with something cooler that has buttons.

Matching Dishes: Necessary or Ridiculous?

brock — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:19:18 +0000

When my wife and I were first married, she had a definite idea of what our kitchen was going to look like. She has always liked Coca-Cola patterns and colors, so when we finally had a kitchen of our own, that’s what it transformed into.

There were Coke signs, salt and pepper shakers, bottle openers, yada, yada, yada, and relatives began buying us Coke plates and glasses to go with the décor. I couldn’t eat a meal or walk into the kitchen without being assaulted by a sea of red, white and black.

I don’t mind the décor… OK, I hated it, but she liked it. What annoyed me was that I couldn’t escape it, even with the dishes and silverware. As the years rolled on, the glasses and plates broke one by one and were replaced by new ones. When the kids came along, the glass was replaced entirely with plastic, and the Coke plates and glasses were packed away. You have no idea how happy I was.

As a man, I don’t see the real need of having EVERYTHING matching. I have been chastised on more than one occasion for going out in public “looking like a clown.” Apparently, navy blue and black are a fashion faux pas.

I like going into the cupboard and not seeing dishes that match the pattern of the wall paper. It just seems like going overboard. The really interesting thing is that we eat in a dining room, so the dishes don’t even match anyway.

How about not worrying about it and just get dishes that you enjoy. Dishes are a separate entity from the kitchen décor. The can move about the house from kitchen to dining room and even living room on game day. What’s your thoughts. Are getting dishes that match your kitchen décor going a little overboard?

Five Common Household Items You May Want to Splurge For

jessi — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:03:02 +0000

I’m a big fan of saving money and passing along tips on how to do it. There are so many ways to reuse items or find less expensive options where you aren’t compromising on quality. There are, however, some things you use regularly around your house that are worth a little extra moola.

I say this for two main reasons: First, You will get a sturdy, reliable product that will be easier to use and save you time. Second, You’ll save money in the long run, because you won’t be constantly replacing the item.

I’m constantly shopping around for quality products for my home. I have to. I have a family of five and we live on a budget… just like everyone else. We don’t have a ton of extra money to chuck down the toilet by buying cheap household items with short life expectancies.

I’m very particular about certain things around my house. They’re used daily and need to stand up to a rigorous workout inspired by my wild brood. When it comes to paying more, I do so happily for the following mundane necessities, because without them, my house would be frightening.

Mop: Before our house of two became a zoo of five, I frittered away cash on cheap mops with tiny heads easily bent handles. Ultimately, I wasted hours mopping twice as long due to the small space they covered and replaced them often, because the handles didn’t withstand the heavy demand.
Vacuum: Less expensive vacuums always ended in heartbreak. It’s worth it to me to invest a little more in a vacuum that has good suction power and won’t give up on me after two months.
Pots and pans: Inexpensive pots and pans mean hovering over whatever you’re cooking to prevent burning, and anti-stick coatings always chip off into the food.
Heavy totes: I made the mistake of storing things in cardboard boxes and moving with cheap plastic totes. Those are two mistakes I won’t repeat. Cardboard does nothing for protecting my valuables, and flimsy plastic doesn’t seal well and ALWAYS breaks.
Dishes: When we were first married, my focus was on cute. Since becoming a mother, my focus is on sturdy. My kids are rough on dinnerware, so it has to be well made. Buying new plates, bowls and cups adds up very quickly. The long-term savings are worth the initial wince at the price tag.

Being savvy and frugal doesn’t always mean saving the most money from the very start. There are certain things around the house that are worth a higher initial investment. Their payout in time and money saved proves to be the frugal choice in the end.

Great Savings: Finding Kitchenware Bliss at Wal-Mart

emelie — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:53:21 +0000

There was once a time before places like Wal-Mart, when you could only go to one or two stores in the country to get all your home needs. Big household supply stores with warehouse storage and very large doors. In fact, I remember walking into one such warehouse as a kid and telling my dad how scary it was. The aisles were so tall! I was a tiny ant in a very big warehouse world. But large discount department stores have changed that, and I must say, I feel a little more confident in my size when I’m there. Although I suppose being older helps, too…

Now, honestly, I’ve been looking for a good kitchen mixer for a long time. But they’re pretty pricey, and you can’t really go cheap on it. Plus, I want stainless steel, so it’s hard to find good deals. Basically, I’ve been lying low, biding my time, just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. Lord knows I wasn’t going to freeze my butt off on Black Friday waiting in line. No, sir. I’m going to shop like a civilized human being.

And then it happened: I saw the light (and by the light I mean the Wal-Mart ad). One of the lowest prices for a stainless steel mixer I’ve seen: a Better Homes and Gardens 4.5-Qt. Stand Mixer for $129.00. AND Wal-Mart is throwing in a free $30 e-gift card. That’s basically a $100 mixer right there. It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.

Honestly, I’m considering buying a game console, too, just because it comes with an even bigger e-gift card. This Toys & More Savings Event, today through Sunday (Nov. 17–19), is seriously going to have me on my shopping toes. I’m itching to get out of this office just I can run over there and secure my prize. And while I’m at the store batting you away from my mixer, I think I might grab the BHG Christmas Poinsetta 12-Piece Dinnerware Set for $12.50. Oh, and the Embroidered Mistletoe Napkins for $6. Oh, geez, I think Wal-Mart is making my holiday dreams come true.

Of course, if I don’t get my mixer, then I will be quite sad. It’s like stealing candy from a kid. While that kid (me) is in the candy store (Wal-Mart). My candy is my mixer. Heck, I’ll make you candy in my mixer if you let me get it. But, in the off chance that I don’t, Walmart.com is offering new savings for its customers every day. Hopefully, that customer will be me, holding my beautiful kitchen mixer.

What do you guys think? Will you be rushing the gates for Wal-Mart’s sale this weekend, à la Black Friday? Are there any deals you’re looking forward to in particular?

Best and Worst: Valentine’s Gifts for Women

colleen — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:49:37 +0000

The worst gifts you can give a woman are gifts that seem judgmental. Remember, this is different for many women. The general things to stray away from are weight, body image, and anything that seems to draw attention to a woman’s faults. Giving a woman a scale is probably the worst gift imaginable, and if you have given the special lady in your life a scale, you have to go back to step one of general care and compassion for others, and beg forgiveness immediately, if the woman is still talking to you. In this same line, giving a woman the gift of a gym membership or extra large yoga pants are less than desirable, but remember, some women would find these extremely caring and thoughtful gifts. Keep your special lady’s feelings in mind before you damage them this holiday season.

Good ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts involve heartfelt messages and thoughtful, convenient solutions. I suggest going for the triad gift giving experience: give one sweet/ edible gift, one small heartfelt gift, and one practical, useful gift. There isn’t a lack of sweets to choose from, and the heartfelt gift I can’t really help you with, but the practical or useful gift I can. Think about kitchen supplies and storage, like cookware, cutlery, kitchen linens, and food storage. These gifts don’t exactly scream “I love you”, but they do say “I care about you and want to make your life easier, so we can spend more time together”. And that’s a wonderful message too.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/back_garage/3250024891

Do it Yourself: Grilling a Healthy Meal

colleen — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:39 +0000

I heard a great New Year’s resolution this year: make home dinners more enjoyable. The woman thought that by vowing to make home dinners more enjoyable, she would cook more often for her family and would have fun again in the kitchen. We all want to make our families healthy meals without slaving away, so make sure that you give yourself the gift of some quality tools: try a grill!

Grilling is not just for the summer: with small, flame-less grills that can be used inside the house, you can whip up a panini or grill some burgers in no time. You can use a grill outdoors in the wintertime too: this can bring a fresh and tasty reminder of summer to your frostbitten tastebuds. What’s great about grills is that you can prepare all of the foods on one cooking surface: grill some corn on the cob or veggie kabobs next to some burgers or steaks. Throw a little barbeque sauce or delicious marinade to make the meal spicy. Everyone will be excited by this meal!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/rysac1/3579027232

Affordable Coffee Makers: Wake Up!

colleen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:20:43 +0000

We all have a case of the Mondays from time to time, when that alarm goes off at 7:55am (or 6:55am, or 5:55am) and all you want to do is hit the snooze, hit the hay, and fall back asleep before your head hits the pillow. I’m guilty of the snoozing, including this morning, and when I finally am lucid around noon I look back on that extra 5 minutes of sleep (and the 5 minutes less I had to prepare for my work day) and I think was it worth it? What are some ways I could convince myself to get out of bed at the right time? And when I smell my roommates coffee pot and 7 in the morning, I think–yes, that would do the trick.

And lucky us! LivingComfort.com has a special sale on coffee brewers this week! Let’s check out some of the viable prospects that keep us waking up on the right side of the bed:

Krups Moka Brew Coffee Maker 8 Cups 468-42 from LivingComfort.com: $129.00

You either need a rocket to get yourself out of bed in the morning, or you have a lot of roommates, because this coffeemaker has quantity like no other. 8 cups? 8 cups?! I think I’d zoom through the day so fast I wouldn’t even take a break before going back to bed.

LivingComfort.com isn’t the only one vying for our bleary eyed, groggy morning love and attention. Buy.com has a great selection:

Cuisinart Grind and Brew : $99.00

Shop for more affordable coffee makers at Smarter.com.

Savings at Crate&Barrel’s Online Outlet Store

colleen — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:37:45 +0000

Crate&Barrel has plenty of quality cookware, furnishings, and bathroom accessories to outfit your home, but they have a tendency to put a strain on your budget. Luckily Crate&Barrel has an online Outlet store to help us still get the quality and the look, but not the depleting bank account. The outlet store is well organized in categories from ornaments to table linens to drinkware and bar accessories. Let’s park down in the Top Rated Outlet section though, to see what fellow Crate&Barrel shoppers think is the best of the best:

Set of 12 Gibraltar Double Old-Fashioneds for $23.50, marked down from a regular price of $30.00. With a customer rating of 5 out of 5, you know these glasses live up to their durability and style.
Next up, the Confetti Individual Bowls for $4.50 each, marked down from a regular price of $5.00. It may not seem like a lot of savings, but these bowls are worth every penny: they are durable, and earth-friendly too: the Confetti bowls are made out of recycled melamine.

Finally, the biggest savings of the bunch: The Reed Coffee Table, on sale for $109.00, marked down from $349.00!! With a steel frame and burnished chestnut wood, this table is an elegant and refined statement.

Happy shopping!

Find more affordable tableware and furniture at Smarter.com.

Discount Salt and Pepper Shakers – Unique and Nifty

evette — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:56:07 +0000

I admit it, I never could figure out those 80′s Rubik’s cubes. I would get baffled and just masterfully peel the sticker squares of the sides I could not get to match up, some people call it cheating – I call it clever.

Well these Rubik Salt & Pepper shakers do not require any thought, just twist the top half and out comes the seasonings. Plus for you arty folks, adds a bit of whimsy and kitsch to your decor.

I also like these Peacock Salt and Pepper shakers!

Right now Gift Collector is featuring a sale on all fiesta kitchenware and this nifty set is ~~marked down from $22.00~~ to $14.99!

For more discount Kitchen Gadgets & Tools, click here.

Discount Kitchenware – Copper Oval Pot Rack with Grid

evette — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:32:39 +0000

I have always wanted a kitchen that has one of these beautifully varnished pot racks that hang over the kitchen island. I think that I somehow have this dream of preparing dinner with friends while drinking wine and having good conversation, Ha!

Unfortunately for me my kitchen is the size of a closet, but for you lucky enough to turn this daydream into a reality check out the Copper Oval Pot Rack with Grid from Mercantila.

The Rogar Copper Oval Pot Rack with Grid brings old world character to any home kitchen. The professional quality pot rack allows you to decoratively display your pots and pans while providing functionality by making all your kitchenware readily available.

Price $600.00

Also available in copper, brass and chrome.

If you would like to shop for the Rogar Copper Oval Pot Rack with Grid – Click here.