There are two types of travelers: those who research and plan the very best possible experience (guide book in hand) and those who just wing it. I travel with a starting point and from then on, it’s anybody’s guess. My husband has been know to slam on the brakes for poultry farms, vintage tractor shows, and […]

Baby, it’s cold outside; time to use the dutch oven. What is a dutch oven and what’s the point of using it? A dutch oven can be used on top of the stove (direct heat), in the oven (indirect heat), and is pretty enough to serve at the table. Enameled cast iron is the most […]

gnocchi

Space is always tight in the kitchen, so I love tools that can be used for multiple applications. Just because the label calls the item a “zester” doesn’t mean it can’t be used for more than just zesting. Some kitchen tools are so useful that they have earned extra respect. Here are my favorite multi-use […]

turkey lifter

a better pastry cloth

oval dishers

Do you need to add another item in your kitchen? Yes, if it enables the creation of delicious food. I once dined in a Parisian restaurant on a beautiful plate of “vegetable spaghetti”: carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, and potato that were deliciously dressed and charmingly presented. I was hooked; by what mystery did the chef […]

Cast iron is very versatile in cooking and no kitchen is complete without a cast-iron skillet and dutch oven. The pans can be heated to high temperatures (perfect for searing); they can hold low temperatures for a long time (perfect for stews); they can maintain a temperature very well (perfect for deep-frying); well-seasoned pans are […]

Do you really need another kitchen tool? Yes, when the new tool dramatically eases a kitchen job. Mario Batali’s Mozzarella Slicer is so much more than a tool for making salad caprese. Essentially the slicer is an oversized egg slicer with wire cutters, so it can also make a lot of egg salad in a […]