ANGELA'S PRODUCT REVIEWS

I'm always on the look out for kitchen gadgets that make my life a bit easier, are easy to clean, and don't break the third time you use them. Here are some recent gadgets from my newsletter...

6 in 1 Multi Opener Progressive

This tool takes the kitchen hunt for the right opener or cutting implement a simple solution. The non-slip Multi Opener opens six types of seals and lids, making fast work of removing hard-to-grasp safety seals, metal bottle cabs, jar lids or bottle tops. An enclosed blade feature makes opening a tightly sealed bag a breeze.

Cuisipro Silicone Pastry Brush

This silicone pastry brush comes with a handy stand to hold the brush while working and afterwards, for storage. Because of its unusual shape, the bristles hold liquids better too. Melted butter clings to the bristles. Whether you are using it for basting or glossing pastry, you will be able to be efficient and neat. A dripless valve stops the contents from spilling out. An added bonus: the brush is heat resistant to 300° C (572° F), microwave safe for up to 10 seconds and dishwasher safe. What could be better!

Palm Peeler Chef’n

This gadget slips on your fingers and tucks into the palm of your hand for super easy peeling. It has a stainless steel blade and a tip to remove eyes from potatoes. It has a unique design and produces efficient results.

I-Can Opener Progressive

Just when you thought that after being made automatic, nothing new could be done with a can opener, this revolutionary ratchet design is unveiled. The opener not only opens cans easily, it reduces hand and wrist strain and is cleverly designed for left and right-handed users.

Breville IKON Blender

I called my husband into the kitchen the first time I was going to use the Breville IKON die-cast blender. He had wanted to be there for its inauguration. He'd seen some of the great gadgets and tools I feature in my newsletter and sensed that this was going to be a winner.

When he saw the Breville box, he said, “It’s a blender. They're all the same, aren’t they?”

Well, in the case of a Breville, they are not. From the moment you open the box, you can tell this is not your ordinary blender. This machine was well made. Not only did it have great design but the high quality of workmanship and the attention to detail was obvious.

My husband peered over my shoulder, marveling at the construction and shape of the parts and the buttons. I explained to him that it was digital and its buttons took care of the work -- like making smoothies, which he makes a lot. He drinks shakes every morning and has been using our noisy and temperamental old blender to create them.

I loaded the Breville IKON with the ingredients to make my Cold Melon Soup with Port (Simply Summer, page 74). From the moment I hit the ‘smoothie’ button, his jaw dropped. He could not believe how quiet it was and was amazed that it was cycling itself and didn't need to be touched at all. The sheer power of the machine was evident and the way the food moved up and down back into the center was wonderful. Cleanup was very easy -- but more important, the soup was perfectly smooth and lovely!

The next morning my husband used the new blender to make his shake. In no time at all he was done and he really appreciated the fact that there's no more fussing with blades. In addition, he said that, “Even the pineapple tastes better!” This is a terrific machine. I love my Breville!

ScanPan 10” Fry Pan

This is quite simply the best pan I have ever used. Just making a simple dish of scrambled eggs in that pan was a dream. Watching how the butter melted and listening to the sound of the sizzle, I knew this was a special pan. Food seemed to cling to my old pan and form a crust. With Scan Pan, the eggs were fluffier, fuller, and cooked more evenly and quickly. It was as if the eggs were embraced by the all-over heat. As for the clean-up: the pan cleaned in an instant - nothing stuck. Just a quick wash and the pan was gleaming. Scan Pan has won me over, and won a place in my kitchen.

A Clean Kitchen = Saved Money and Time

The surest way to save money in your kitchen is to make sure that it is clean and organized.

Even the most expensive ingredients are not good if they are not stored properly.

We all whether we like to cook or not have to spend time in the kitchen feeding ourselves and family, so why not make the task easier and less stressful?

Store ingredients and food well to preserve their freshness to prevent spoilage to save you money of repurchasing and saves time from having to cook something else.

Cooking Cleanly is Cooking Safely

The primary way to safe cooking it to work in a clean space.

Especially when working with meats, you want to be scrupulously clean.

It is very easy to innocently spread raw meat juice throughout your kitchen and on family members if not handled with proper care.

Always use a dedicated, dishwasher safe cutting board for meats.

Always wash your hands before and after handling raw meat. Dry your hands with a paper towel or dedicated kitchen hand towel.

Never use a tea towel to dry your hands to prevent the spread of bacteria from the meat onto your dishes.

To prevent the spread of raw meat juices, get everything you will need together before you start cutting the meat.

© 2007 Eat Like a Millionaire Omnimedia Inc. All rights reserved. Eat Like a Millionaire is a trade-mark owned by Eat Like a Millionaire Omnimedia Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of Eat Like a Millionaire Omnimedia Inc.