Stainless Steel Cookware Set Recommendation From A Chef

Guide / 11 months ago / Jean

I grew up as a kid who didn’t spend much time in the kitchen. Fast forward 20 years into the future, it was my wedding day. And voila I received tonnes of cookware and kitchenware as gifts. Instinctively, I slowly started experimenting in the kitchen and started to love the culinary arts.

Today I am a chef at Hawks worth restaurant. It is amongst the top 100 restaurants in Canada. Imagine a girl with no cooking experience could reach such heights – all thanks to the cookware that was gifted to me.

My Favourite Faberware Cookware

stainless steel

This Farberware cookware was always dependable and looks like non-breakable. I am saying this because of my experience, sometimes I melted cheese directly on the pan and the whole cheese would stick on the pan and would then have to scrape it all the way still these pans would clean up so well, the stainless steel and non-sticking coating would not let you ruin the pots even if you let the cheese overcook. Since these pots have made my life I surely recommend Farberware Classic cookware to be a part of every women’s’ kitchen. I came across Cook With Tina reviews when I was searching for the best stainless steel cookware to buy, it might be helpful for you!

Another good one is cook n home 15 piece pots and pans. These are a little cheaper than Farberware but are definitely cost effective and best for serving small families. These pots are easy to use and have aluminum made gauge which is tremendously conductive. Secondly, it has clean exterior. Although not for induction with surprisingly soft touch handles made of good quality plastic. Furthermore, they do have grooves in the end so that the pans do not slide off from the stove and the whole struggle would go in vain. Overall I am very pleased with the whole design, quality and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Tramontina Budget Cookware

Between many top rated cookware set I find that Tramontina 12-pieces set is the best that can be found. It is perfect set for any cooking use. All pieces are dishwasher safe and they are very easy to clean. The set is so beautiful that you fall in love in it by just watching it. But when you start to use it there happens the real magic. There are 12” and 10” frying pan that you may find the best out of all, you can’t stop numbering of use for them.

Flat bottom is perfect for frying everything from bacon to any exotic food. Souce pan and saute pan comes with the lid and that is great because many other don’t and lid is very important. There is Dutch oven also with the lid that is oven safe to even 500 degrees Fahrenheit. In set you will find stock pot with lid and I find it best to cook all kind of soups, just mix up all your favorite things. Set is made from stainless steel construction and it has riveted, ergonomic handles.

Lids are also made form stainless steel and that is just great. If you like cooking and you do it every day this cooking set will help you enjoy it every minute. From start this cooking set is perfect, you get good feeling from moment you start using it.

Chef’s Tips

It is great for new people who want to learn to cook, you should start whit something this good, that way you will make less mistakes and more enjoy in cooking. When I make some food usually I bring it to a table in pan I cook, when I bring out this pan that is so beautiful, food in it looks even better and everyone expect for it to be best taste. The little secret is, when you cook in this the food is that good, sometimes even better then expectation.

Source: http://cookwithtina.com

Which Cookware Is Suitable For Your Home?

Guide / 12 months ago / Jean

My long-time love for cooking has taught me that there are so many things that go into determining the best cookware sets. If you are like me, then you have probably been looking for a cookware set that not only heats quickly but evenly and perhaps is nonstick.

You may also be looking for a cookware set that is easy to clean and most importantly, durable as you will get good value for your money. Well, having gone through years of frustrations looking for such cookware sets, I finally found the real deal so I have taken the liberty of sharing my thoughts on some of them, just in case you find one that appears to meet your expectations.

Tramontina Cookware Set
I would say that the more a cookware set is unpopular, the higher the chances that it might just add an extra touch of magic to your cooking experience and speaking of unpopularity, the Tramontina Ceramic 11-Piece Deluxe Cookware Set swiftly comes to mind.

This cookware set is constructed of heavy-gauge aluminum for even heat distribution, and with durable porcelain enamel exterior, I must say it is worth your money. The cookware set is also made of a nonstick interior that’s easy to clean and since it is free of lead, cadmium, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), it is perhaps one of the best eco friendly set you can ever get out there.

best cookware

Anolon Hard-Anodized Set
Another cookware set I found really worth recommending is the Anolon 12-Piece Bronze potsHard-Anodized Set and let me say I won’t recommend it for mean buyers as its price is slightly higher than your usual non-stick cookware sets. However, with a hard-anodized aluminum, this cookware set is far more resistant to scratching, warping or corrosion and is therefore highly durable. Also, being a heavy-duty cookware set, it will come in handy when you need to prepare meals that require intense heat concentration.

Circulon Symmetry Set
The last cookware set on my list would be the Circulon Symmetry 11-Piece Set. You will find it with high customer ratings in major sites and I must admit the price is quite high so exactly what makes it a favorite for many like me? This cookware set is dishwasher safe and is also safe for use with metal utensils.
It makes use of a patented TOTAL Food Release system which are a series of raised nonstick circles that minimizes surface abrasion, thereby ensuring it lasts as long as it can get. The cookware is also fitted with a stainless steel base which makes it suitable for all stovetops.

Well, there ends my story and I hope yours should begin right them. Go get yourself any of these cookware sets and start living your cooking dreams.

Cooking Utensils That Will Complete Your Non-Stick Cookware
Now that you have all your non-sticky cookwares, you might as well consider giving a glance at the non-sticky utensils that you can use with those cookwares as you probably won’t want to chip that fragile protective layer off the cookwares by using some naked metallic utensils. Kitchen Cooking Utensils by Silicone Designs, in this case, is a must-have in your kitchen whether you are a pro-chef or just a good-to-cook person.

The Utensils
These utensils, available in a set of 3 or 8, fulfill all of yours utensil requirements as their composition follow: Large & Regular Spatula, Soup Ladle, Spaghetti Spoon, Spoon, Draining Spoon & a Skimmer in a set of 8 and Regular Spatula, Spoon and Draining Spoon in a set of 3. With a built-in handle with a stand, the head of the utensil is always held above the counter tops keeping the utensils germ free which is a specialty provided by none others.

Won’t Scratch Coating Off
The head of these utensils are heat-resistant and the handle is constructed so as to help use the utensils at a very temperature without getting hot. Various test has verified the non-scratching nature of these utensils making it a perfect for your non-stick cookwares. Being highly affordable and the extendable warranty makes this product a pure gem.

Additionally, the company is offering several gifts just to urge you to buy the product. But it isn’t what makes this product the best, it’s the specialties which it possesses.

The Best Christmas Present Ever

Coffee Lover / 1 year ago / Jean

Classic coffee lover

Since Christmas is around the corner and I am a selfish little prick, I decided to go gift shopping for myself. Yes this was me wanting to reward myself for all the things I’ve been through this year. So I shopped around and got a few cute outfits. A break up, two deaths and an accident was more than enough drama for the year.

Saying that I am addicted to my morning coffee is to say nothing. I’ve always been a classic coffee lover and my favorite has always been espresso, but after my visit to Italy last summer(despite the tragic events) I got completely ruined by high quality coffee. Right the next day when I came back from my trip, I started looking for Italian coffee shops near my apartment and after long searches I’ve found couple cozy cafes around the neighborhood. I started visiting there every single morning, but after some time I’ve realized, that I was spending too much money on espresso.

The Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker

So couple of months ago I decided to get my own semi automatic espresso maker and enjoy my morning coffee in the comfort of my own kitchen. This was exactly when I saw an ad on the tele about some half-assed barista making magic using an espresso maker at home. It was appalling. I thought that there was no way in hell that you’d be able to get a store grade espresso made in the comfort of your own home.

How wrong I was. I went over to Kim’s house the other day and she had this fancy espresso machine that she got. She told me that it was about $300 and it made amazing cups of coffee. She offered me a cup of Latte that she made using that weird contraption. And truthfully, it was pretty darn good. I was impressed. So I went home, turned on my laptop and hoped to find the best espresso maker in the market that I could afford. That meant it would be $400 or less.

Espresso Maker Reviews

Obviously, what I did first I opened google and typed best home semi automatic espresso makers reviews and the fascinating journey began and i have found more useful information from here. It turned out I’m not the only “espresso addict” in this world. After examining many reviews, chatting with some other coffee lovers that already had experience with espresso makers I narrowed my choice to three.

Great Premium Espresso Machines

Breville Barista Express espresso machine

The first one that caught my attention immediately was Breville Barista Express espresso machine and how it couldn’t, everyone was telling nothing but amazing things about it. What I personally liked about it was that it grinds the actual coffee beans right before making each cup of espresso so the coffee is super fresh every single time. The other that intrigued me was Jura Ena Micro 1 espresso maker. Let me tell you, that the most exciting thing I found about it was that not only it’s grinding coffee beans just like the other one, it’s also super compact and has a sleek design. However, seeing the price on both of these machine, they were super out of my budget. They were good but too expensive for me.

Gaggia Classic

Gaggia Classic

Another machine that I found with a whole lot of good espresso machine reviews was the Gaggia Classic. I decided to give it a try. It was $350 and I added a burr grinder to grind them fresh beans up. It all came to a grand total of $397.87. I got it from amazon and though it was much higher in price I decided to purchase it. Now I’m enjoying my morning espresso at home and it was totally worth it. I’ll update you guys with my initial reaction and full review when I get them. See ya.

How to become a great cook

Guide / 1 year ago / Jean

For cooking beginner, I would love to share this article from Summer Tomato:

I have a confession to make: I don’t love to cook.

Sure I like the idea of cooking, and I’m glad that I can cook, but my idea of a perfect day rarely involves spending time in the kitchen.

What I really love is food.

I love to shop for ingredients and envision the delicious dishes I can make with them. I love the taste of fresh, ripe, seasonal produce from the farmers market. I love the way good food makes me feel. I love the knowledge that what I eat helps me thrive.

But cutting stuff up and putting it in a pan isn’t particularly fun for me, though I certainly enjoy the fruits of my labor.

For me cooking is a means to an end. I cook for my own health and happiness, and for whomever I happen to be sharing my time with at the moment.

This is enough for me.

I came to realize my lack of cooking passion over the past several weeks as I’ve watched my fellow food bloggers fret on Twitter over holiday meal plans, perfect cookies and fallen souffles. It became very obvious to me that I had no desire to entertain dozens of people or perfect the quintessential holiday recipe.

I’m proud of the food I make and it’s always important to me to do a good job (I love eating, remember), I just don’t have that extra drive that distinguishes a good cook from a true chef.

For some, cooking is a true passion–they adore being in the kitchen and everything it involves. These are my heroes. They are the brilliant chefs responsible for the exquisite food all over this wonderful city. They construct the fabulous recipes I count on when searching cookbooks and blogs for something new. They photograph the beautiful dishes that inspire me to try a little harder. Without passionate chefs we would not have spectacular food, and I am profoundly thankful for them.

But not all of us can be amazing cooks. Fortunately it isn’t necessary to be a Michelin-rated chef to make delicious food.

Simple, fresh cooking doesn’t require any special talent. It all starts with excellent ingredients and just a few basic techniques that anyone can master with practice.

The moral of the story is that you do not have to be a kitchen ninja (or even particularly enjoy cooking) to be able to feed yourself well on a daily basis. The most important step is getting in the habit of buying good-quality, seasonal food and learning the basic skills you need to whip up something you enjoy.

If you get in the habit of cooking for yourself, it will one day stop feeling like a big ordeal and become second nature. You’ll get faster at chopping, you won’t need to constantly check recipes and measure ingredients, and you’ll intuitively know when and in which order to add things to the pot. But all this takes practice, and if you don’t make a regular habit of cooking for yourself it will continue to be difficult.

The good news is once you are comfortable in the kitchen, more interesting and complex recipes start to sound appealing. This is not necessarily because you learned to love cooking, but simply because it is easier for you.

Once you’ve broken the proficiency barrier you open a world of different dishes and cuisines, unchaining yourself from repetitive stir fries and culinary boredom.

For the non-chef, this is the level of proficiency you want to achieve. You do not have to love cooking to enjoy making dinner. You just have to get beyond the point where you struggle with it. It really isn’t as hard as it sounds.

Source: How to become a great cook

Skills every cook should know

Guide / 2 years ago / Jean

Technique 1: Slow Roast

This hands-off method (the oven does the work) gets the most flavor out of vegetables and ensures an even, fork-tender finish on a large cut of meat. (Fast, high heat can dry out the edges before the center is cooked.) You’ll need time, but slow roasting can transform tough ingredients. Take tomatoes: Even not-so-great ones become irresistible as the low heat slowly removes water and concentrates their flavor. They’re excellent in a simple pasta salad or served with ricotta on crusty bread or toasted baguette slices.

Technique 3: Sear

A crisp, golden brown exterior on meat or fish signals deep, savory flavor—and looks pretty, too. Start by patting down the meat or fish with a paper towel. (Moisture creates steam, which hinders browning.) Next, preheat the pan over high heat, then add the oil. When the oil is shimmering and hot, add the meat and let it cook unbothered. It’s ready to flip when a corner lifts easily from the pan. If it sticks or tugs, give it a minute or so more. Thin cuts (like the chicken shown here) can be cooked completely on the stovetop. Thicker cuts (like steak) need to be transferred to the oven, either in the skillet or on a sheet tray, to cook to a rosy medium-rare.

Learn more technique here.