I took a look in my cabinets recently and discovered my storage containers were in pretty sad shape. It seems some were missing covers while other of my favorite containers were simply gone. I recalled that some of them were used to send holiday leftovers home with family and haven’t been seen since. While I have some good glass containers, I really need some good plastic pieces so that the kids can use them for school lunches as well. This  Go Green 12 Piece Plastic Food Storage Set is a great example of what I’m looking for in my kitchen.

These great BPA-free plastic food storage containers have snug fitting lids that will keep your food fresher longer. Go Green containers are made of a special material infused with nano-sized particles of silver that reduce the growth of mold, fungus and bacteria allowing foods to stay fresher longer than conventional plastic food storage containers. In a addition to being Refrigerator and Freezer Safe, the containers are microwave-safe and can be cleaned in the top rack of your dishwasher. They even come with a 90 day manufacturer’s warranty.

I’m one of those people that thinks you can never have too many good pieces of cookware and bakeware. Of course, then I wonder why I don’t have any more room in my kitchen cabinets. Plus it can get a bit expensive buying things I want but that I don’t necessarily need and that’s not a habit I want to keep. So I try to buy items that are versatile, like this quality La Forme Plus Springform Pan with 2 Bases.

If you’re going to treat yourself to a new piece of bakeware,  you really can’t go wrong with Kaiser Bakeware La Forme Plus Baking Pans.  They’re truly excellent pans made of commercial-weight steel that will last you a lifetime. I’ve made the mistake in the early days of buying lesser quality pans and more often than not I ruined a great dessert because it stuck to the sides or cooked unevenly. So now if I’m going to buy, I put a little more thought into it and pick something that will last!

Ah, spring is here and the urge to get out and work in the yard has taken over, at least for me! I love browsing through the weekend papers looking at all of the lovely flowers, plants, and garden accessories advertised. It makes me want to go out and re-do my entire yard! Well that’s not quite necessary or monetarily realistic, but it’s still a bit tempting. And the big new barbecues and wonderful tools and patio stones - what’s not to love!

But obviously since most of us don’t have the time, energy, or money to tackle all of that, it’s still the perfect time to do some sprucing up and add a few new touches to the yard before the summer heat gets here. It’s also time to get your vegetables planted if you haven’t already - in some areas it might even be rather late for veggie planting. Make sure when buying your annual flowers that you buy the kind appropriate for your sun exposure - no sense in spending money on a lovely fern that can’t take the full sun during the afternoon since it will only get dry and crispy. Most importantly, have fun playing with the wonderful colors you can add to your landscape!

If you’re like a lot of people, you’re probably getting by with some basic kitchen knives that you got when you moved into your first place. Most of us do not put a lot of thought into what kind of knives we need for cooking unless we’re serious about our cooking. But having a good set of knives can make your cutting tasks go so much more smoothly and they are well worth the price.  When you buy quality like this Chicago Cutlery Walnut Signature 12 Piece Knife Set, you’ll be purchasing a really good set of knives at a very reasonable price.

A good kitchen knife set in wooden block is quite handy as it keeps the knives in easy reach on your kitchen counter top. A set like this versatile Chicago Cutlery one is also attractive, adding a dash of style to your kitchen. In addition to including a variety of multi-purpose knives, this particular set also includes a sharpening steel and an excellent pair of kitchen shears. Not only is it perfect as a gift to yourself, but it would also make a wonderful housewarming or bridal present too.

It never fails, spring fever hits and we start taking a closer look at our homes and our yards. Suddenly the paint in the den seems a little tired or the carpets are looking a little worse for wear. Then there are the old counter tops we’ve grown tired of and the clutter we can never get under control. But it’s never too late to start sprucing things up, is it? I was wandering around some great home sites on the web and just loved some of the ideas they have on Better Homes and Gardens right now. Sure, many of us can’t afford to do a lot of the big projects, but it’s still a great place to go to get ideas and color and style - we can always do something that fits our budgets.

For instance, there are some simple decorating ideas that can easily be done with inexpensive items found in your local stores or even the great secondhand stores around town. There are also wonderful gardening ideas and advice on choosing the right flowers and plants for your location and weather conditions. The trick of course is to not try to tackle everything at once or it will get overwhelming and expensive. A little at a time will lead to great progress and beautiful changes and updates for your special home.

Easter is just a couple of weeks away so now is a good time to begin planning the menu and making up a “to do” list to make the holiday go smoothly. If you’re having a large gathering, you’ll want to make sure you have enough dishes,, silverware, and glassware handy - and make sure it’s all clean and shiny well in advance so you don’t have to deal with it at the last minute. The menu is the fun part if you like cooking. Hopefully some of the guests will bring dishes or desserts too. Whether you’re planning on baking a sweet honey ham or big turkey, this Romertopf Maxi Clay Baker will help you produce delicious results.

This extra large clay baker can be found in this affordable cookware and bakeware store online. Because the covered clay baker naturally locks moisture in, you’ll enjoy the most tender turkey, ham or roast you’ve ever tasted! Large enough for up to 6.5 quarts or 17.5 pounds, you can also use this classic cookware for making soups, desserts, and more. in this 117 maxi covered clay baker from Romertopf.

I’ve been looking for the perfect gift to give my friend for her new home. She’s moving in next month and she’s  very excited about owning her own home for the first time. She’s been renting for years and most of the things she’s owned are due to be replaced, including many of her bath and kitchen accessories. She’s picked her colors for the kitchen, so I’m planning to get her something special that will be both stylish and functional. One thing I’ve just found that I think she’ll love is this beautiful cobalt blue ceramic kitchen canister set. It has a matching utensil holder that I think will be perfect as well.

Quality stoneware and ceramic kitchen canisters make a great housewarming gift as well as a wonderful bridal shower present. Canisters are a great way to keep kitchen counter tops neat and organized while adding a nice splash of style at the same time. I think whenever you can give someone a gift that is both useful and stylish, it’s sure to be a big hit with the recipient.

While spring is still months away, I’ve found myself lately yearning to do some spring cleaning. I think it started after we took our holiday decorations down at the beginning of the year. After everything was restored back to normal, things still looked a little cluttered. I can’t help but notice that the window blinds are in desperate of dusting and most of our rugs need cleaning. Not the fun stuff, but I know it would look and smell a lot fresher in here once they’re cleaned. Maybe we can paint some of the main rooms while we’re at it too.

I really need to address the kitchen and do something about the cluttered counter tops and cabinets. Once they’re decluttered we’ll probably need to do something about our outdated counter tops. If they can’t be cleaned up with some good scrubbing and brightening, I’m hoping we can get a reasonably priced replacement top and maybe resurface the cabinets. It would look like a whole new kitchen!

Do you find yourself cooking (and eating!) a lot more now that it’s so cold outside. I have! And it wouldn’t be so bad if I was getting more exercise in my schedule. But it’s too cold out lately and it’s a perfect excuse to sit on the couch and watch a movie while drinking hot cocoa and eating warm chocolate chip cookies. Of course there are some people that have gotten off to a better start on the New Year’s resolutions! Cooking and baking is fun though, and you can’t beat the taste of fresh baked goodies. If you’re planning something special at home for Valentine’s Day this year, check out this great Heart Shaped Aluminum Flan Pan.

Aluminum cake pans like this great flan pan from Kaiser are a great addition to any kitchenware collection. And flan is a really delicious treat that gets easier to bake the more often you make it. Some people create this delicious custard-style dessert quite often, though a heart-shaped flan would be a really unique twist on this old-world favorite.

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s nearly Thanksgiving.  Doesn’t it feel like we were just putting up Halloween decorations and carving our pumpkins, doesn’t it? Now family is calling to see what the plans are for Thanksgiving, who is cooking what, and who needs to bring the wine, desserts, or other such goodies. Some families do a potluck-style meal, where everyone does the cooking, thus making it easier on the host or hostess and all ensuring everyone has their favorite dish at the feast.

Many people like to create a more lavish feast, setting the table with their best dishes and silver and cooking all of the entrees, side dishes, and pies themselves. I know others that enjoy eating out in a nice restaurant to celebrate the day. If you don’t like cooking, you can even order much or all of the meal from the grocery store. While it might not be the same as homecooked meals, it can make the day much less stressful if cooking is not your strength. It will also give you more time to spend with friends and family since you won’t be working all day in the kitchen.

While many people might not have heard of cooking in clay, there is a population of people around the world who have always cooked in this material. It actually dates back to Roman times, or perhaps even further. Then the meat would be covered in moist clay, tossed into an open fire, and then cracked open when finished to reveal a fully cooked piece of meat. Now, rather than tossing their food into an open fire, many people use Romertopf Clay Pots for oven cooking instead. These wonderful pieces produce delicious meals in the comfort of your home.

What is wonderful about using a large clay baker to bake your meal in is how moist and tender the food is when it is done. Clay bakers come in a variety of styles and sizes, making it possible to cook a small dish for one or two or a large holiday turkey. The cookware is easy to work with as long as you follow some basic rules. These rules include: always soaking the baker in water prior use, never preheating the oven prior putting the dish inside, and never using the cookware on a stove top. With proper care your baker will last you for many years to come.

Suddenly the beautiful fall colors are everywhere! The stores and garden centers are stacked with Halloween decorations, colorful mums, and rows of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. The air is crisper and it feels to good to get outside and enjoy the day without dealing with heat and humidity. The acorns are already hitting the ground and soon the leaves in the trees will be putting on quite a colorful show.

Before you know it we’ll be planning for the upcoming holidays that traditionally follow Halloween like Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, and New Years Day. But for now it’s nice just to enjoy the new season that’s just begun. We’ll be turning on the oven more, cooking bigger meals, baking more desserts and filling our homes with the delicious smells of homemade goodies.

While many people are not familiar with it, cooking in clay is wonderful option for cooking some of your favorite dishes. Being rather delicate, it is not meant for stovetop cooking as the rapid heating of cool clay would cause the clay to crack. When cooking in clay, the meal is placed in the cookware then placed in a cool oven before setting the oven temperature. The resulting dish is delicious and moist, quite a bit more tender than meals baked in an open steel pan. Something like this Large Covered Clay Baker is a good example of an excellent piece of clay cookware.

This quality item is from the Romertopf Clay Cookware line. Popular for many years, this cookware is not only useful but quite attractive. Many people even use it for a serving dish. The large clay baker can hold up to 14 pounds, big enough for many of your favorite family meals! There’s even a maxi baker that can hold up to 17 pounds, making it plenty big enough for your holiday turkey.

Do you ever feel like you have run out of ideas to make for dinner? Especially in the summer when you’ve likely been barbecuing every weekend. Then of course there’s pizza, which many families order weekly.  Lots of people make slow-cooked meals during the summer. One of our friends likes to make thick bean soups for her family with some hearty homemade bread on the side. It’s an easy meal that’s very satisfying and very inexpensive. Plus there’s always leftovers for later in the week.

You can have fun with the menu too. One night can be taco night. It’s a lot of fun for the kids since they can put their tacos together anyway they like with options such as cheese, meat, lettuce, tomatoes, sauce, sour cream and other simple sides. Or you can try a meal from a different country each week. It’s easy to find recipes online and it puts a whole new spin on dinner. Plus it’s a great way to introduce new foods and flavors to the whole family.

Like many people I have quite a few plastic containers that I use in the kitchen. Mostly they serve as food storage containers, but we also grab them sometimes as a mixing bowl or food prep bowl. They’re generally  handy and inexpensive. But they have their limitations. For one thing, you can’t use them to heat your food in. You can’t freeze them too often without them become damaged. And over a short period of time they start to show their age, looking stained and scraped. So switching over to something like this Glasslock Large Rectangular Glass Food Storage Set is a great idea.

Not only can you heat your food in these durable lidded glass storage containers, but you can easily use them to store food in your fridge or freezer too. They stack very neatly giving you more room on your shelves and they clean up as good as new in your dishwasher. These great containers are air-tight and liquid-tight, keeping your food fresher longer and helping you prevent spills and messy clean-up issues. A big step up from plastic storage containers for me.

With many children home from school for the summer, it takes a bit of creativity to find budget-friendly activities to keep them busy. If you’re one of the lucky ones with your own pool, then you’ve got one of the best ways to entertain the children right in your own yard. Of course, you’re also bound to be a popular house for the other kids in the neighborhood, so you’ll need to have extra snacks and drinks around. Instead of bearing the cost all by yourself, you can do what many others do and have the other parents chip in for the refreshments. Most are happy to do it since so much of the activity is taking place at your home.

 Besides all of the yard games that can be played, you can also treat the kids to a special movie day at home. You can have them pick out one of their favorite movies, make some fresh popcorn and settle in for some good family entertainment. Movie days are perfect for rainy days as well as for days when everyone needs a break from the heat. Other days you can also get out and explore some of the local parks and museums if they’re some in your area. Many of these activites are free or very inexpensive. The summer days will pass rapidly, so have fun enjoying your time with family.

Pasta is probably one of the easiest foods to make, even though it can get a little mushy if you leave it in the hot water too long. And if you buy one of the whole grain or sprouted varieties offered in the grocery, your pasta dish will offer a good amount of fiber and protein to make it quite a satisfying meal. Add a small green side salad or some fresh colorful vegetables along with a red or white sauce and you’ve got the perfect meal. A tasty, healthy meal that’s ready in less than twenty minutes. Now many of the pasta strands are long, forcing you to have to break the pasta into smaller pieces. But with a great pot like this Rachael Ray Hard-Anodized 8 Quart Pasta Pot, you can place the pasta strands in without breaking them.

Rachael Ray makes great, durable cookware and this large aluminum stockpot is no exception. It has an attractive gray matte finish with comfortable silicone handles and a quality nonstick finish. The glass cover makes it easy to keep an eye on your dish while it cooks too. I also like using a pot like this for making homemade soups and stews too. And the oval shape works well for allowing multiple pots on the stove top without overcrowding.

I walked into a friend’s home recently and was shocked to find how stark it was. Now I know I have a bit too much clutter in our home and trying to tackle it is a bit of a lifetime challenge. I heartily give the children much of the blame since they can’t seem to part with even the smallest trinket they took home from a birthday party or get rid of any of the puzzle books and magazines when they’re finished reading them. But I have to take part of the blame too since I keep a lot of books and magazines around myself. However I’m pretty good at organizing items into baskets and shelves and we even have a couple of rooms that remain quite neat yet comfortable. My friend though has taken de-cluttering to the next level where it seems there isn’t even a nice family photograph to be found or a small vase of flowers on the table. I guess to each their own? I could use a few decorating tips myself though and found some great ideas on iVillage.

They have loads of common-sense, low cost ideas for keeping a family home neat and fun at the same time. I’ve gotten great ideas for our kids rooms as well as ways to add colors and artwork to our family areas without breaking the bank. Staying organized is another ongoing battle, and iVillage has advice from others in the same boat that I’ve found very helpful. There’s also tips for things like planning a family game night, time-saving tips for moms, planting a vegetable garden, money-saving tips, and much more.

During the summer we often have a lot of company that comes to visit. Mostly it’s because our family is spread out across the country and it’s the only time many have off from school for extended vacations. So they’ll hit the road for a couple of weeks to visit a few of us and spend time camping out in our homes. It’s always fun to spend time catching up on things and just enjoying simple things together. With the price of gasoline, it’s nice to not have to shell out for hotels too. Plus we all get a lot of time together like we used to. One of our favorite things is to sit down to a big breakfast, using our Oster Family-Size Electric Griddle to cook up big batches of eggs and pancakes.

We love this griddle and use it nearly every weekend, even when we don’t have company. The beauty of an electric griddle is that you can cook anywhere in your kitchen, so you’re not restricted to the stove top. This griddle also has a ‘keep warm” tray that slides right underneath so we can keep the sausage and bacon warm while we cook our pancakes. It’s a good size to and it has a removable drip tray for easy clean-up when we’re finished. The Oster Family Size Nonstick Electric Griddle makes it easy to conveniently create your favorite family-sized breakfasts and dinners anywhere on your kitchen counter top. Included warming tray slides from underneath keeping portions fresh and warm for the whole family. Anyone who enjoys cooking would surely get a lot of use out of a great nonstick electric griddle like our Oster griddle.

For those of us that are admitted coffee addicts, there is nothing like a rich cup of hot coffee to get our days off to the right start. The smells and flavors of the coffee is enough to put a smile on our faces. Then there is the delicious special specialty coffees like cappucino and espresso that we usually only get to enjoy when we’re out in a restaurant. But you can enjoy these wonderful coffees in the comfort of your home with the De’Longhi Espresso & Cappucino Maker.

This cool looking, retro-style cappucino maker creates top notch coffees that will make you think you’re in a fine restaurant. It automatically self primes and is constructed with a durable stainless steel boiler that will last for many years. It even has two distinct thermostats so that you can control the steam and water temperature. What’s great is that this machine can be used with pods and with an ESE filter holder. Makes a great frothy drink too! Simply a perfect coffee machine for any coffee-lover.

Less than a week now until Mother’s Day. There are a lot of great ways to help your Mom celebrate her special day on this Sunday May 10th, 2009. It does have to get expensive to let Mom know you appreciate her and that you’re thinking of her today. If you still live home, it can be the simple things like treating her to breakfast in bed and taking care of dinner at night. If you have little ones at home, they can make her a card or small homemade craft gift like a picture frame or handprint art. And let Mom take the day off spending it the way she’d like, whether it means going out shopping by herself or spending the day relaxing at home.

If you want to splurge, you can buy her something special she’s had her eye on for awhile or treat her to a gift package at a popular day spa. Whatever you choose to do will be appreciated if it comes from the heart and shows you put some extra thought into the gift. All you have to do is remember how much Mom does to keep everything running smoothly at home and it will inspire you to come up with just the right present.

We recently had a lot of company at our home and did a lot of entertaining day and night. We had a lot of big breakfasts to serve and tried to get creative with lunch ideas and dinner menus. Of course sometimes we simply took the easy route and had a big pizza and salad night for dinner one evening and we went out to dinner another. But for the nights we ate had home we had a lot of fun entertaining and including tasty appetizers and fresh fruits and dips too. We have our Perfect Party Platter and other great serving dishes for times just like these.

Anyone who enjoys entertaining would get a lot of use out of a quality ceramic serving platter like this one. We use it for chips and salsa, shrimp and sauce, fruits and vegetables with dips and for desserts too.  It’s large twelve inch size is perfect for our needs and the dipping portion holds about 8 ounces.  We use this particular dish quite often as it’s one of our favorite and most versatile kitchen serving bowls.

Whether you’re celebrating Easter or Passover, it’s likely you’re looking forward to spending time with family and enjoying your favorite traditions. Since many of us that have family living far away,  the holidays give us the chance to spend time together and catch up on each other’s lives. Cousins get to know each other and play together, siblings bring up all of the old stories from childhood again. And let’s not forget that it usually includes a big meal followed by a variety of delicious desserts.

It’s fun to host the holidays, but it can also be a lot of work. If the dinner is at your home, maybe you can take it a little easier this year and let more people bring their favorite dishes and desserts. It might be a mix of items you might not normally serve, but it sure will give you more time to relax instead of spending most of the day in the kitchen. Plus everyone is guaranteed to have a least one of their favorite dishes that day.

If you’re moving into your first place and furnishing your home with the essentials. make sure you pick a quality set of cookware for your kitchen. If you make the mistake of purchasing lesser quality pots and pans, you’ll end up ruining some of your favorite dishes and find yourself frustrated with the limited lifetime of second rate cookware. That’s why this Rachael Ray Hard-Anodized 10 Piece Cookware Set is an excellent deal, for both it’s price and it’s durability.

This versatile cookware set includes 2 covered saucepans, 2 French skillets, a large covered stockpot, and a covered saute pan. These are exactly the type of pots and pans you’ll use in your kitchen all of the time. The hard-anodized construction is great for even heating and the nonstick interior makes it easy to cook in and easy to clean up. The pots have attractive glass lids so you can watch your food cooking and comfortable silicone grip handles. You just can’t beat the value in this kitchenware - it’s probably the best cookware set you can get for this price range.

I don’t know about you, but I am so glad to feel spring in the air. The air is filled with that beautiful feeling of possiblities and newness. The flowers are starting to pop up and the trees are beginning to bloom. Of course, it was a particularly cold and long winter here, and topped with the constant barrage of negative news - well the brightness and cheery sunshine is even more welcome.

Pretty soon spring will be in full force and then it will be Easter. Family gatherings filled with good food and good company, the simple things that make everything right. I am already dreaming of summertime and swimming in the pool or making a trip to the beach. Sometimes it’s hard to decide what my favorite season is as there’s something wonderful about all of them.