My dear family, friends and blog readers, May God bless you with a festive, loving and peaceful celebration this Christmas and all throughout the year of 2017.

Essay about Kitchen Tools

The popularity of channels showcasing chefs and their culinary expertise is on the rise. People enjoy watching the likes of Ree Drummond and Bobby Flay. They are enamored by Guy Fiere and Anne Burrell. This love of culinary artistry is being translated to the kitchen and more people are becoming interested in the kitchen tools that modern day chefs utilize.

Of course, not every homemaker and wannabe cook has the finances to acquire the high tech gadgetry provided for these famous chefs. But that does not mean the kitchen has to stay sterile and bland. There are a number of great kitchen tools that are readily available to those who would like to add a little flair to their kitchen accomplishments.

Top 10 Kitchen Gadgets for Daily Living
These tools will help when one is trying to live holistically. They are essential to the preparation of a number of healthy dishes and can certainly make the kitchen look a lot more like those seen on TV. Obviously lesser known brands are available, and can provide nearly the same quality for considerably less money. That said, here are the top 10 kitchen gadgets for daily living:

1. Blender - Get your money’s worth out of a high speed blender. Yes, these are more expensive than traditional kitchen blenders, but if you use it on a regular basis you will be glad you opted to put out a little more cash. You will be able to make soups, nut butters, smoothies, homemade mayo, and a host of other silky delicacies with the assistance of this little gadget.
2. Knives - If you have ever had to saw through a piece of meat, or hack at one, you will recognize the import of good knives. We recommend acquiring chef grade knives. Additionally, we suggest that you have an 8 or 10 inch butcher/chef’s knife, an 8 inch serrated knife, and a 4 inch paring knife. If you have cheaper versions of everything else, these should get you through all the restaurant quality cooking you intend to do.
3. Cast Iron Skillet - These are durable and when seasoned properly they are the only truly non-stick cooking utensils on the market. Today’s non-stick pots and pans are actually guilty of releasing some serious toxins into your food when you cook with them. You should definitely consider getting rid of them and replacing them with cast iron cookware.
4. Storage Containers - Make sure you stock up on glass storage options to eliminate the potential for toxic exposure via plastic versions. You can use them for salads and make ahead oatmeal/yogurt breakfasts. And, when you employ that high speed blender to make nut butters, these glass storage containers will be your best options for longevity.
5. Lidded Sauce Pans - Get a number of different sizes. These are useful when you are making homemade soups and sauces. Since they do come in a variety of sizes and money might be limited, we suggest you at least have a 1 ½ quart and a 3 quart version.
6. Cutting Boards - You do not want to do all your cutting on your countertop. You will inevitably scratch it or damage it in some way. Therefore, it is imperative that you get a cutting board. These are made out of various materials and can be relatively inexpensive depending on the material you choose. Keep in mind that some materials are actually really good at holding onto germs and bacteria, so do your research before you make a purchase.
7. Crockpot - These slow cookers are absolutely necessary in any kitchen. They can help you prepare meat while you are at work. They are also phenomenal when it comes to making homemade chili and soups. People also use them to make stews, overnight oatmeal, and fruit butters. They are invaluable in the kitchen.
8. Baking Pans/Sheets - You can get these in full and half size. They are excellent for baking. They can be round, square, rectangular, or any number of shapes. Plus you are going to want to make cookies at some point and the baking sheets you own will undoubtedly get plenty of use.
9. Measuring Tools - You cannot bake without the assistance of measuring tools. Like many kitchen utensils these tools come in a variety of materials. And sometimes they are even in different shapes. We have seen square, round, and heart shaped measuring cups and spoons. Our preference is almost always metal versions because the likelihood of germ contamination is considerably less. Wood and plastic have their own issues, but glass works well too.
10. Mixing Bowls - Glass and stainless steel bowls are always better than the plastic variety. There will be times when you want to keep your mixing bowl on the stove and if you are not careful a plastic bowl will melt. We know this from our own experience. And, as we have said previously, utilizing glass and metal is a better option for keeping your foods toxin and germ/bacteria free.

While stocking your kitchen with these highly recommended kitchen tools is certainly a good idea, there are some other steps you should take to ensure you become the best chef of your home. Consider investing in some well-known and highly regarded cookbooks. You could purchase books by the people we listed in the introduction. These chefs are revered for their extreme giftedness in the kitchen.

And, if you need a few more kitchen tool suggestions we would recommend you consider purchasing a bread maker and a pizza stone. When you start to delve into the world of homemade bread you will wonder why you ever bought store bread. Additionally, if you purchase a pizza stone you will be better prepared to make that cauliflower crust pizza you have been considering. Who knows, you might even be able to learn a thing or two about pizza dough amidst your bread making endeavors. The kitchen tools included in this article will certainly get you well on your way to having an enviable culinary space.

This kitchen essay is provided by Cheap Custom Writings company.

Wishing family, friends and blog readers, Gong Xi Fa Cai/Keong Hee Huat Cai. May the year of Monkey brings all of us joy, happiness, peace, good health and prosperity

Happy New Year 2016

Wishing you and your family a wonderful year ahead. Happy New Year!!

Gong Xi Fatt Chai/Happy Chap Goh Meh

I hope it is not too late to wish everyone Gong Xi Fatt Chai. Well, better late than never right. At least I made it before the Chap Goh Meh. Wish everyone a healthy, happy, prosperous and blessed year of the Ram. As for me I didn’t go back to Malaysia this year so it is a very small celebration with some friends. Here are some pictures I took of us doing the tossing of Yee Sang/Prosperity Toss and some of the food. Hopefully next year I will be home to celebrate it with my family.

 

Prepared these two platters of Yee Sang on the second day of CNY to share it with my Zumba buddies. It was the first time for them to try out our Yee Sang. They love it! Is a labor of love as it took me some time to cut, sliced and chopped :)

Happy tossing

Everyone enjoying the yee sang.

I prepared the above platter for the weekend CNY get together with my best friend. Just a few of us. Don't you just love all the vibrant colors?

Good food good friends, can't ask for more. Happy Chinese New Year everyone!!

Get Together and Nini’s Kitchen

This is not a sponsor post

I have not talk or show you any pictures of our Malaysian gatherings since moving to the West Coast. I knew a few Malaysian and Singaporean here and we do meet up once awhile. My friend Semara introduces me to another Malaysian lady name Nini who live about 10 minutes away last month and we just click right away. I’ve been to her house a few times and as usual when we Malaysian meet up what do we do? We cook and eat. Very typical of us Malaysian ha ha... Here are some pictures of the food we had that day.

Nasi Kerabu prepared by Nini's

Yam Kueh/Orr Kueh prepared by Nini's

Here is a little introduction about "Nini’s Kitchen . Nini was born and raised in Penang, Malaysia. As you know Penang is well known for its excellent dishes so she's been around exceptional food all her life. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area 5 years ago and has since enjoyed the food culture here as well. She loves to cook and experiments with different types of cuisine in her kitchen. She specializes in South East Asian Cuisine and tries to cook all her dishes as authentic as possible, provided she can find all the necessary ingredients here in America. Her backyard is full of chili plants; lemon grass, curry plants, kaffir lime plants, lemons, fresh herbs and etc. This shows how serious she is about her cooking. Pictures below are all the food prepared by her from her kitchen.

She runs a small catering business and can cater for smaller events. She has been hosting private paid events for over two years and the responses were really good evidently by the large number of repeat customers and all the positive reviews they wrote about her food.

Besides that she also sells all kinds of Malaysian delicacies such as snacks, desserts and cookies. So if you need someone to cook or cater for your parties do contact her at her Nini's Kitchen Facebook page . While you are there do check out all the photos of her cooking and also past events. I bet you will drool at all her pictures

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Bloggers Meet Up in Kuala Lumpur and MamaYu Nasi Kukus

I’ve been back for a week and only now I managed to sit down and do something on my laptop. I’ve been very busy running errands, stocking up the fridge etc. Thank God my husband got the house cleaning done and I don’t have to do much. I am also trying to get over the jet lag. Feeling very sleepy around 2 pm everyday and end up taking a couple of hours nap most of the days. Hopefully I am able to get over it soon.

Anyway, while I was in KL I managed to meet up with a few bloggers. The first meeting was at Madam Kwan with Elin , Cheah and Sonia . Thanks you Elin and Cheah for coming all the way from Ipoh to meet me and Sonia all the way from Klang. And thanks for all the lovely gifts. It was great catching up with all of you. Hope to see you again soon. Sonia left soon after to pick up her son from school. Do stay tune for my next posting on my 2nd meet up with another group of bloggers.

Happy Chinese New Year

Wishing family, friends and blog readers, Gong Xi Fa Cai/Keong Hee Huat Cai. May the year of Horse brings all of us joy, happiness, peace, good health and prosperity.

Happy Chinese New Year!

To my family, friends and blog readers, Gong Xi Fa Cai/Keong Hee Huat Cai. May the year of snake brings all of us joy, happiness, peace, prosperity and good health.

I didn't bake much this year. Just a few types of cookies like Almond Cookies ,Pistachio Sables, Kuih Bangkit, Date Rolls and 2 types of Pineapple Tarts .

Not forgetting some Bak Kua/Pork Jerky too.

I HATE BEING SICK

Hi everyone, this is what my life has been like for 5 days. I got some nasty virus. It started with a sore throat when I was in Argentina, which I attributed to the cold spring weather there. Took a few aspirin and so I thought I got well. When I came back I start having fever, sore throat, stuffy nose, coughing and now even sore eyes. Normally when I am sick I just take over the counter medicine, stay in bed for a few days and I will be well again. What I got is pretty potent, whatever I took is not helping and I have to go and see the doctor.

She gave me some very strong medicines and I am groggy all the time. She also advises me to have plenty of rest which is hard to do when you keep coughing every minutes. I was up all night. I have made the couch my place of rest. I’ve watch so much TV and it is starting to bore me. Anyway, I will be away from blogging for a while until I am well again. Take care everyone!!

P/s thank you all my FB friends who advised me on what to take for the cough. I will be trying them out.

Los Gatos Farmer’s Market

Before moving to Northern California I told Carlos that I want to visit as many farmer’s market as possible here. I always have soft spots for it. I just love looking and buying fresh veggies, fruits and not to mention the bake goodies there. We went to Los Gatos for a day trip last weekend and as usual made a pit stop at the farmer’s market.

It is located at the Downtown Los Gatos, Town Plaza. Adjacent to the Market, this quaint park features a water fountain, blooming flowers, plush greenery, park benches, large lawn area and winding walkways. It is a great way to spend a day there where you can sit in the park eating the goodies you bought from the market accompanied by the live music!! This market is open on Sunday from 8.00am to 1.00pm.

The early season of Cherries

I'll Will Be Away!

Diana is in town so I will be away for a few days. Blogging will resume again on Thursday. Best regards and have a wonderful day!

I'll Be Away!

Dear Readers,

I will be away from my blog for a little while. All our things will be arriving today and we will be at our new home. I am not sure when I am able to get Internet access there so I might not be able to update my blog for the time being. You can still leave me a message here or email me if you have any questions and I will get to it as soon as I can.

In the meantime, I've just posted some pictures of our move from PA at my other blog and you can go and check it out. I hope you have a wonderful day and for those of you who are still celebrating Chinese New Year, have a good time with family and friends. Take care and see you soon!

Vanilla Beans Giveaway Results

6 more days before Christmas!! Are you done with your baking and shopping yet? For us, it will be a very lay back Christmas. We won’t be doing anything elaborate in the mid of moving. The house is in a mess with boxes and things everywhere. Moreover I am not well since I got back from SF. Still having cough and stuffy nose and with the blasting cold winter it didn’t help much. So I am not in the mood for anything. Not even shopping. I just can’t deal with the crazy traffic and crowd everywhere. I end up buying some of the gifts online this year.

Enough of rambling as I am sure you all are eager to know the results. Here it goes.

The first winner is comment No: 38 - Edith

The second winner is comment No: 70 - Chloe

The third winner is comment No: 44 - Esz

Congratulations to the winners and I will email you soon for your address and Beanilla will mail you the gifts. Thank you everyone for participating and Beanilla Trading Company for providing us with the wonderful gifts.

Sur La Table – San Francisco

It has been a while since I visit this favorite store of mine. I used to go there when we were living at Southern CA but not since we moved to PA. When I am in here I am like a kid in a candy store. I just want to grab everything in sight and run out of the store. Carlos said he will go broke real fast if I come here often. We went to the Pier at San Francisco Bay area over the weekend. The weather was perfect to walk around. It was sunny, windy and cooling at the same time. I dread to go back to the cold PA winter. Oh well, I still have a few days here and then back to PA again until our final move in mid January.

Here are a few pictures I took from the store at the Pier. Don’t you just love all the kitchen stuffs they sold here? There are a few things I (WANT) on my Christmas wish list and I hope Santa grant it to me ha ha...Can you guest which one it is?