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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When we think of cookware we usually think of stainless steel pots, ceramic casseroles, cast iron pans, copper sets, and other such metals and materials. But a well-loved type of material for cooking in that seems also to be a well-kept secret is Clay Cookware. This fabulous cooking material has been used for thousands of years and for good reason. The unique material captures the best juices of the meats and vegetables cooked inside, creating juicy and delicious results.

One popular manufacturer of this type of cookware is Romertopf. They’ve been around for quite awhile and have built a solid reputation for delivering well-made and long-lasting clay bakers and roasters. If you haven’t yet tried cooking in clay, it’s something you might want to consider for yourself. Like many people, you’ll likely get hooked on owning this fabulous cookware and end up buying more and more pieces for yourself and your loved ones.

Our family seems to think pizza should be it’s own food group. Well, pizza is a pretty consistently eaten food around home - it’s easy to make (or buy!), it’s satisfying to eat, and it’s relatively inexpensive! Some of the kids even enjoy leftover pizza for breakfast. We usually have a side of salad with it at dinner to round out the meal a bit, and dinner is ready in no time. Kaiser bakeware even makes this fantastic Springform Deep Dish Pizza Pan that makes homemade pizza baking a breeze!

It’s a perfect 12 inch diameter and constructed of sturdy commercial-weight steel - that’s sure to last around our house. The pan has a 2-layer nonstick interior which allows for quick and easy release. Even better, the pizza pan features Kaiser’s magnum coating which allows for cutting in the pan without damaging the surface. And being a springform pan, you just open the buckle, remove the sides and you’re ready to serve your pizza. It’s just one of the great pizza and bread pans made by Kaiser Bakeware.

Many of us probably have a mish-mash of serveware in our kitchen cabinets. But when you’ve taken the time and effort cook a family meal, doesn’t your food deserve to be as presentable as it is delicious? That’s why it’s a great idea to make a small investment in a nice set of stoneware serving bowls that you’ll enjoy using for many years to come.

Quality kitchen serveware is a must for every kitchenware collection. No more placing your homemade mashed potatoes in one kind of bowl, the vegetables in other and the roast on something that doesn’t match either of them! And we’ve found that serveware and kitchen accessories also make perfect holiday and housewarming gifts.

Can’t you just smell the pumpkin muffins? Or imagine a delicious apple pie baking in the oven.  ‘Tis the season for baking wonderful fall treats. Time for making wonderful family meals and serving fresh, warm desserts. To get your projects off to the right start, make sure you have the essential bakeware and kitchen tools in your kitchen.

 We like to go apple picking so we can have fresh apples for our pies. There’s nothing quite like the taste of a fresh apple picked right from the tree - plus it’s just great family fun.

If you love to cook like I do, you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. You also probably have an abundance of cookware, bakeware, and gadgets. Can you ever have enough? You just never know when you’re going to need that latest cool little tool you bought.  I think owning a stainless chef’s pan like this one from Gourmet Standard is a great idea.

How can you go wrong with such a versatile frying pan? Deep enough to make a stew, wide enough to saute, it’s a great pan. And it comes with a lid, which to me is a big bonus.

When we think of planning a big meal, we’re reminded of this great quote credited to American humorist Calvin Trillin  - “The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.” Wonderful! How many of us sometimes feel like we’re magicians constantly concocting new ways to serve up the same old dishes to our family. It is not easy coming up with new things to make!

We came across this great idea for a 7 course meal and thought it would be fun to try to make something a little different and a bit more complicated over the weekend as a special meal, just because.

Well, when it comes to eating fish packed with nutritious Omega-3 fatty acids, anytime of the year is fish season. We’ve just noticed that in summer we tend to eat more fish around here - probably because we have the grill out more and it’s one of our favorite ways of cooking fish.

As a matter of fact, a few of the Dad’s here went out fishing with the kids at the local lake for Father’s Day - and while they didn’t catch anything worth keeping, it was a perfect morning. So everyone decided to have fish for dinner & we went with tuna steaks, flounder and shrimp - delicious! 

Do you love the smell of fresh-baked bread or homemade cookies filling your  home?  Is there anything better than warm bread and butter or dipping chocolate chip cookies in milk?  And baking isn’t just about the enjoyment of the dish, but it’s also about the sharing of it - whether it’s sharing in the enjoyment of creating it or sharing in the enjoyment of eating it.

Fill your kitchen with the right tools for baking your favorite creation.  Here are some basic baking items every baker should keep handy for their next project.