From Scratch

You might have a kitchen cabinet like one of mine: under-counter, storing heavy things such as cast iron cookware, bulky things such as a lobster pot, and small things that don’t get used very often. My hand mixer fell into that latter category and it was tucked in the back, requiring me to move at […]

In the food section of today’s Washington Post, Jane Black test-drives the Knork and other new utensils, including a clever one called a ramen spoon, for eating foods with noodles and broth, and Curvware, an ergonomic take on the humble knife and fork. She gave all of them a test-drive and the increasingly multi-media Post allows us to watch. [embedded video]

I love trying new products, even though I know some will disappoint me. It’s a bit like dating when you’re young and willing to wait for a new guy who promises to call to actually do so. Sometimes he calls in two or three days, other times you’re sitting by the phone a week later, checking to make […]

I don’t even want to imagine how many millions of tubs of this chemical cocktail are sold each year, especially during the holidays. At some tipping point in our history of dubious foods, people began using it beyond its intended purpose as a topping and started adding it to cakes (from mixes), frostings (made with instant […]

If, like me, you enjoy apples out of hand and if you haven’t yet tried a Honeycrisp, you really ought to. Having one is like eating cider.
It’s a relatively recent apple, and patented. The official website says the two-toned Honeycrisp is a cross between the Macoun, also great out of hand, and the Honeygold, but […]

How much caffeine is in your decaf? According to Consumer Reports, there might be more than just a trace and in a few cases, much more.
CR shoppers bought brewed decaf from six chain stores, all size small. When the lab analyzed the coffee it found caffeine amounts ranging from the expected 5 mg or less […]

I’ve never paid much attention to the price of those pre-fab pie crusts because I don’t use them — I don’t think they’re good, but that’s not the focus here – but the price jumped out at me last night from an in-your-face sale display: $2.49, which is $1 less than the store’s regular price. That’s […]

Perhaps I don’t pay enough attention to commercials, but I was aware of a store brand of microwave steamer bags long before I knew about the national brands. It was about a year ago and I thought they were so clever, but I didn’t remember to buy any till recently.
The concept is the same as […]

For many, Labor Day weekend will bring a final flurry of outdoor cooking and often, that means steaks. When I think of the finest Prime beef I’ve ever bought at retail only one name comes to mind: Lobel’s. It’s on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and this will describe it for you:

Jackie O bought her meat there
So […]

The current issue of Consumer Reports can help us to save some money in the kitchen, whether it’s appliances we’re in the market for or some remodeling.
It has published a list of the top ten things it thinks are overhyped, from turbo-charged dishwashers to trendy, beautiful countertops that might not be worth their considerable expense. Top […]

Kitchen toys are my weakness. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a gadget, a small appliance or a re-invention of the wheel, if it can make life easier or more fun, it calls out to me. Take Saturday. I was in the gizmos aisle at the supermarket and spotted a set of six brightly-colored jumbo silicone muffin cups. Combine […]