Pots Galore

Finding the right pot can require real trial and error. Now days, you cannot even rely on brand names to assure you that your pot won't be second rate. Gone are the days where pots can last you a lifetime {my parents still own and use pots they received when they were married}. Unless you make the right choice.

It seems most cookware brands have a 2nd or 3rd string line that may seem like a bargain....until you get it home. My suggestion is never buy a pot sight unseen. And don't be fooled by all the big names in cooking {or entertaining} who have been flooding the market with branded cookware. Just because they cook well, doesn't mean "their" pot is good. Most of them probably don't even use their own pots, they just license their name.

My favorite brands are All-Clad and Le Creuset. Unfortunately, even these 2 giants in cooking now have 3rd string lines. An easy rule of thumb is to stay away from anything that is coated - anodized, non-stick. I have yet to find a non-stick or anodized line of cookware that is worthy. 

Stainless is what I use for everyday cooking. But my dream cookware is copper. Copper cookware is not only beautiful, it makes cooking delicate recipes a breeze because the heat is so evenly distributed throughout the pot or pan. The only downside is that it can be difficult to clean and can be extremely heavy.

The best of both worlds is stainless with a copper core. While you don't have the beauty of copper, it's great for every day use because it cleans easily, is lighter weight but has the heat conduction of copper. 


If you want your cooking to start off on the right foot, start by having the right equipment..... remember it's all in the pot!

Wordless Wednesday: See it. Plan it. Get it.

Source: homedit.com via Nia & Mareesa on Pinterest

Source: thinkdecor.tumblr.com via Nia & Mareesa on Pinterest

Source: luxeandlillies.blogspot.com via Nia & Mareesa on Pinterest

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Nia & Mareesa on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Nia & Mareesa on Pinterest

Source: wanelo.com via Nia & Mareesa on Pinterest

Source: homebunch.com via Nia & Mareesa on Pinterest

Swimming pools & caviar

If I had a pool {and a whoooooollllle lot of $$$$$...I mean über düber rich} this is what my pool would look like:

Closed for partying...I mean socializing

Open for bathing {that's what they call swimming...heehee}

Gifts Fit For A Cook (From Houzz)

40 Must-Haves for the Kitchen: A Gift Guide for Cooks

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

Home Design and Decorating Ideas:

Kitchen Design · Bathroom Design · Living Room Design · Bedroom Design · Dining Room Design · Patio Design · Landscaping Design ·

Food Glorious Food

If Kleinfeld is the bridal mecca, then Williams-Sonoma is most certainly the cook's mecca.  Which makes it the perfect place to talk about during this month of the cooks and foodies' holiday -- Thanksgiving!

I love food, all kinds of food.  So you would think that Thanksgiving would be my favorite holiday.  But it's not. Well it is because of my time with my {large!} extended family, but it isn't because of the food.  For some reason THAT much food just turns me off.  It's too overwhelming I think. I wind up eating very little and mostly just dessert :)

If I were solely in charge of Thanksgiving dinner, I would fill it with a mixture of small plates and larger entrees that are unique twists on traditional fare.  Like the Sausage-Leek Corn Bread Stuffing recipe below....yummm!

Williams-Sonoma's Holiday Guide is a great companion for your holiday cooking plans.  It's filled with delicious unique recipes and great cooking tips to make your holiday cooking quick and easy.

Enjoy and eat well! 

SAUSAGE-LEEK CORN BREAD STUFFING
 
Ingredients:
3 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
2 cups thinly sliced leeks, white and light green portions
1 Tbs. chopped fresh sage
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 1/2 lb. mild Italian sausage, casings removed
1 package (1 lb.) La Brea Bakery corn bread stuffing
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
4 garlic cloves, roasted, peeled and smashed into a pulp
3 to 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, warmed

Directions:
Preheat an oven to 375°F. Butter a 3-quart baking dish.

In a large fry pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, celery, leeks, sage, salt and pepper and sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the onion mixture to a very large bowl.

In the same pan over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, breaking it into large chunks, until browned and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the onion mixture, add the stuffing and parsley, and stir until well combined.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk the garlic into the broth until combined. Stir the broth mixture into the stuffing 1/2 cup at a time, making sure it is completely absorbed into the croutons and does not pool in the bottom of the bowl. Taste a crouton; it should be moist throughout but not crunchy or mushy. You may not need all of the broth.

Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 10 to 12.

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.
 

Smart TV

Cable/Satellite TV is sooooo 2000s. Even DVR is becoming a bit irrelevant.  Every show {and movie when I have time} that I watch is available on the network's website, and with limited commercial interruptions.  So tell me again why I am paying Verizon a billion dollars a month for Fios {oh yeah for football/sports that's why...smh}?!?  But seriously, if I could easily get the internet on my TV and watch it with limited connectivity issues, I would totally switch. I don't think we're truly there yet, but we're close.  

Google now offers Google TV {and Apple has been offering Apple TV for some time now, but to little fanfare}.  I love everything Google so I had to check it out.  It seems like all that you need is a Logitech Revue Companion Box or something similar, and an internet connection {and a TV of course} and you're good to go!

Amazon is also offering Amazon Video which allows you to "rent" movies and TV shows on demand.  You can access this using Google TV or even straight from your laptop.

While the price tag is a bit high -- $299 for the Logitech -- think of all the money you'll save not paying for cable every month and it will quickly pay for itself. 

I haven't tried it yet, but I'm itching to. I would LOVE to stop paying Verizon all that money for practically nothing every month.  My only worry is that accessing your TV over a wireless network may get a bit annoying.