Archive for the ‘Kitchen/Tableware’ Category
Whether you consider yourself a seasoned chef or loathe the nights you have to cook, we all want to make delicious fare when we step into the kitchen. And creating succulent food isn’t rocket science, all you need is quality ingredients and to cook the food properly. Some people will douse their food in sauce, butter or oil mistakenly thinking that this is the only way to infuse flavor into the cuisine. In fact, proper seasoning can make any dish tasty, regardless of the cooking process.
No matter if you’re frying, sautéing, grilling or roasting, seasoning your food before you introduce it to the heat source is imperative. This allows the flavors to sear on the outside and permeate deep into the food. The seasonings you choose are largely a matter of personal preference, but will also be dictated by the other dishes on the menu. However, pepper and salt mills are a good place to start for any meal.
Every summer my grandkids come to stay with me while their parents go on a much-deserved vacation. I relish the opportunity to spoil the kids, letting them stay up late and going on fun outings everyday. But like most grandmas, my favorite indulgence for the little ones is cooking up some of their favorites.
I create all of the classic items—cookies, cakes and pies—but my grandkids also love my savory cuisine. Most of the time I’m cooking in the oven, but since it’s been so hot lately we’ve actually been utilizing the grill for the majority of the cooking. Last night I decided to cook some ribs, starting them off in the smoker with just a dash from the pepper mill and a few other basic spices. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone good, and they paired perfectly with my famous mac ’n’ cheese.
If you spend any time whatsoever in the kitchen, you are undoubtedly aware that there are several different types of salt. And while you make think that their differences are negligible, each type of salt is best suited for a particular 
purpose. Here are a few of the most popular types of salt and their recommend usage:
~Table Salt: This is what you will typically find in a Cilio salt mill. Table salt is refined, comprised almost exclusively of sodium chloride.
~Kosher Salt: Because of its large, oddly shaped crystals, kosher salt lends itself well for preparing meat under Jewish law, hence its name.
~Sea Salt: Made by evaporating seawater, this salt contains a greater variation of minerals than its counterparts, lending it a distinctive sea flavor.
When my son left for college last fall, I didn’t want him to be one of those stereotypical college males who are incapable of taking care of themselves. My friends tell me horror stories of how their sons are constantly calling them for advice on how to do laundry, go grocery shopping and complete other tasks which should be menial by this point of their lives. Much to the chagrin of my son, we carved out a couple of hours a week to go through some basic training.
Each day I would make him do a chore or task that I typically do but he takes for granted. Some nights I would make him cook dinner, while on others I would make him do the laundry for the entire family. Although he vehemently opposed my training regimen, he admits that it helped him a lot during the first year. Before he left, I made sure he had everything he needed—from salt and pepper mills, to laundry detergent and a wet mop.
It would certainly be a stretch to say Americans have refined palettes. The vast majority are more than willing to consume fast food, prepackaged meals and artificial ingredients. And while these foods may be convenient, they certainly aren’t the tastiest or healthiest of choices. Many people assume that having a “refined palette” is analogous to being snooty and only dining out at ritzy restaurants, which certainly isn’t the case; it is simply the appreciation of good food and quality ingredients.
You would find few people who would argue that a Big Mac is superior to a prime sirloin burger, but not all food discrepancies are this blatant. If you are looking to improve your cuisine, you don’t have to blow your budget on Kobe beef, lobster tails and caviar—simply using high quality, fresh ingredients is enough. And remember: the small changes count to. Something as simple as trading out your pepper shaker for a Cilio pepper mill and freshly cracking whole peppercorns can make a huge difference.
According to a new government report, adults should consume less than one teaspoon of salt per day—and in many cases, that number is even lower. However, just 1 in 18 people live up to this stringent standard. Litanies of health risks are associated with high sodium intake, including high blood pressure and heart disease. For most American 
families, the salt mill is a mainstay in the kitchen, so here are a few tips to help reduce your sodium intake:
~Experiment with new spices: Many people use excessive amounts of salt when other spices would actually work better with the dish. Try out new spices in cuisine and also be sure to utilize fresh herbs, which add an extra depth of flavor.
~Avoid seasoning blends: Most seasoning blends are packed with salt in order to cut costs. If you do utilize seasoning blends, be sure to look for low- or no-sodium options.
~Buy low-sodium products: Whether you’re buying chicken stock, soy sauce or peanut butter, always opt for the low sodium option; not only will this cutback on your sodium intake, it also allows you to adjust sodium levels to your liking. Remember: You can always put more salt in, but you can’t take it out.
Ever since my children were old enough to talk I’ve tried to instill in them the desire to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Many of their friends live on fast food and spend hours on end playing video games and watching TV, rarely venturing outside to see the light of day. I’ve learned that it’s crucial to encourage healthy habits without being overbearing; otherwise, you run the risk of promoting rebellion.
When my children were little, I encouraged them to assist me in the kitchen—whether they were helping me measure out ingredients for recipes or using the pepper mill to season a dish. I also made sure to make time for some hands-on activity during the day, no matter how busy our schedules were. Making a concerted effort to educate your children on a healthy lifestyle and incorporate the habits into their daily lives will pay huge dividends in the end. Now that my kids have reached adolescence, I’ve noticed that they live healthier than most of their friends—but I do see them splurging now and again, of course.
In many American homes, the pepper and salt mill are the only two seasoning implements you’ll find in the kitchen. These are certainly the two staples of virtually every style of cuisine, but in order to take your culinary creations to the next level, it is necessary to expand your flavor horizons. Incorporating new herbs and spices into your dishes will enhance the flavor without adding fat, sodium or empty calories.
If you don’t know what spices complement certain foods, there are dozens of online resources that can be used to generate ideas. Once you have an understanding of how certain spices and herbs taste and meld with one another, you can experiment on your own. Combining flavor profiles from different styles of cuisine is a great way to add your own unique flair to your cooking.
Many people drink their morning cup of coffee with pious regularity but neglect to eat breakfast, which is even more essential to sustaining high energy levels throughout the morning. And when people do take the time to eat breakfast, it is typically processed foods, which are chockfull of artificial ingredients and preservatives. One common misconception about breakfast is that it is difficult, which doesn’t have to be the case.
While your automatic espresso machine is brewing your coffee, you can quickly scramble some eggs with a few cracks from your Cilio pepper mill and make yourself some toast with peanut butter. Even just eating a piece of fruit with a glass of milk is better than nothing. And for those that think breakfast is just additional calories, eating a meal in the morning actually kickstarts your metabolism and helps you burn more calories throughout the day.
Reliable References for a Culinary Apprentice
My mother is a living museum of great Italian recipes. Although she’s well into her 80s and occasionally forgets the names of her many nieces and nephews, she has a mind like a steel trap when it comes to cooking. A conservative estimate would be that she has memorized hundreds of pasta recipes in minute detail—from how many cups of flour to the ideal number of twists from one of her pepper mills. And it seems that every time I bring my family to her house we are treated to something new.
While I definitely inherited my mother’s passion for all things culinary, my memory is nowhere near as impeccable. A missed ingredient or two won’t always spoil the dish, but it can affect the outcome so dramatically as to prove shocking at times. With this in mind, I’ve started a vast collection of Italian cookbooks and loaded each one with bookmarks for my favorite recipes. That way I can refer back to them as often as necessary and treat my family to a consistently delicious dinner experience.