Al Dente

Every Kitchen Needs a Nice Rack

I'm always amazed when I walk into someone's home in Italy and see the size of their kitchen. Postage stamp. Nonetheless, they are able to churn out amazing multi-course meals. The key to their success is organization and multi-functional/smartly designed tools. Like this for example:

Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack by Wilton Industries Inc. 

I've been eying rack similar to this in the King Arthur Flour catalog for a while. A stackable non-stick cooling rack, that can be disassembled, and guarantees maximum space efficiency when working on large kitchen projects. Genius. And highly-rated by Amazon customers. Now adding this to my wish list.

--StellaCadente*

Follow me on Twitter @pomodorista

Kitchen Tools with Cook's Illustrated's Seal of Approval

I just received my September/October issue of Cook's Illustrated, and thought I'd pass along the list kitchen tools that met their stamp of approval this issue, since I trust Christopher Kimball and his team implicitly.

1.Taylor Digital Oven Thermometer with Remote Pager

Really? A thermometer that pages you. I love this idea. Cook's Illustrated tested three brands and this came out the winner. The pager doesn't display temperature, but it buzzes a first time when your food is 10 degrees away from being done, and a second time when it has reached the desired temperature.

2. Polder 898-95 Clock, Timer and Stopwatch

Tell time the Test Kitchen way. Cook's Illustrated swears by this one so much that each one of their kitchen testers uses this Polder timer to monitor their experiments. I'm thinking this would be a good one for my hard-of-hearing mother, who never seems to hear the timer go off if she's more than a few feet away from the kitchen.

3. Metrokane Flip-Top Cocktail Shaker with Built-In Strainer

Cook's Illustrated touts this Metrokane their new favorite model, and with  improved functionality over the sleeker looking Metrokane Bullet (wow, that's pretty!). Our customers, however seem to give this one mixed reviews. I wonder if A.J.'s had a chance to test this one out? Holler if you have, A. J.

4. Progressive International Easy Reach Steamer Basket

This compact model was their top pick for steaming (perch upon a pot of simmering water) due to its size and addition of the handle in the middle, which makes for easy removal from the pot. Speaking of steamers, this reader tip caught my eye earlier in the issue: When grilling hamburger buns, place them in a steamer (such as the above) on top of the grill. Your buns should be at the perfect height to toast, not burn. Remember to use tongs when removing the basket, or have a bucket of ice water and a burn kit handy.

--StellaCadente*

Follow me on Twitter @pomodorista

Mickey Mouse Foods, Inc.

If you were/are/will be one of an estimated quarter of a million visitors to one of Disney's theme parks this summer, perhaps you've caught Disney fever. One way to draw out the happy memories for you and your family is in the kitchen. Here is a list of top customer-rated Disney-themed kitchen items, perfect for keeping the dream alive for big and little kids alike:

Mickey Mouse Kitchen Timer - Style 12214

5.0 out of 5 stars Mickey Mouse Kitchen timer--not just for cooking,February 12, 2010 By  Amy Bumpus - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Mickey Mouse Kitchen Timer - Style 12214 I bought these for my boys to use for timed homework activiites. They love them. We set the timer for how many minutes of reading or math practice homework and it just makes homework a little more fun.

VillaWare V55200 Cinderella Waffler, Blue

5.0 out of 5 stars Princess Waffler made me Queen of the Kitchen,September 16, 2009 By  S. Leaphart (West Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: VillaWare V55200 Cinderella Waffler, Blue (Kitchen) Sure, the purchase seemed a little "hokey". But I'm a Cinderella fan and needed a treat to commemorate my first visit to DisneyWorld with my family. Disney is very overpriced so I opted to wait until I got home to make my purchase - so glad I did. Found just what I wanted and didn't blow my budget for treats on just one item. I also purchased the toaster :)  My girls love it and so do their friends!  The Queen reigns in the kitchen with her new Princess Purchases! Wilton Disney Pixar WALL-E Cake Pan 5.0 out of 5 star Better than Lunch In A Cup!, February 7, 2009 By  A. Moody "wannabe pastry chef" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Wilton Disney Pixar WALL-E Cake Pan (Kitchen) Cakes of course are only as good as their makers. Daunting at first the instructions for Wall-e were pretty simple to follow. My finished product looked and tasted amazing. My little ones were thrilled. If you have ever hesitated in buying a themed cake pan don't! In todays economy it makes more sense to spend a little more time to make something then to get it store bought.  Only thing I'd recommend is this. If it's your first time using the black food coloring/gel go very easy with it. For the wheels to 'pop' here you really need to get that right contrast between the blacks and greys! Disney 20-Pc. Mickey Mouse Flatware Set 5.0 out of 5 stars Love this Mickey Mouse flatware!, April 2, 2010 By  Connoisseur of Mickey Mouse (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Disney 20-Pc. Mickey Mouse Flatware Set I bought this Mickey Mouse flatware set a couple years ago and soon wished that I had bought more. So I'm buying two more sets now. The set has lasted very well. I like the subtleness of the Mickey design. The spoon and salad fork are smaller than you'd expect compared to the other pieces, but I like them. They are just right for children, and they encourage me to take smaller bites. Pop Art Disney Mickey Toaster 5.0 out of 5 stars Very fun product, June 30, 2010 By  Cheryl L. Forst "Rachel Forst" (Ohio usa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Pop Art Disney Mickey Toaster (Kitchen) I just got this today, it cooks the toast very well. I just wish there was a bigger selection of plates, still it's the cutest thing ever. I read on a site that you can have custom plates made so maybe I will have one of my sisters friends draw me a Jack skellington plate for my toaster. The four plates incude, mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Donald. I can't wait to see what other disney kitchen stuff comes out later on.

For more Disney kitchen items, click here.

--StellaCadente*

Follow me on Twitter @pomodorista

Take Back Summer with DeLonghi’s Lemon Gelato

Oh, the loveliness of summer: sunshine, long days, warm weather, and vacations. But it’s a dangerous beauty. Why? Because all these long, hot, sunny days lead to an immense craving for ice cream and its Italian cousin, gelato. Not that eating lots of these chilly treats is a bad thing on its own, but the amount of dollars you’ll spend at your local gelateria or ice cream shoppe (and yes, you should only stop at "ice cream shoppes" and never "ice cream shops") is enough that you’ll spend too much before vacation even starts, or before summer really gets rolling.

Which is why DeLonghi’s newish GM6000 gelato maker is a summertime daydream. Sure, it’s easy to use (just put the ingredients in--sometimes after a little mixing--and it does the rest of the work), and it comes with a handy and tastiness-packed recipe book to get you started, and it’s easy to clean as well, but the real key is how it allows you to serve genuine and genuinely delicious gelato at home. It makes enough in one batch, and makes it quickly enough, that you can have gelato for the whole neighborhood before long, if you want (you’ll need to store some in the freezer, but you’ll enjoy the cool breeze that comes with opening the freezer door). My favorite so far is lemon (after trying it, peach, Mexican chocolate, oatmeal raisin cookie, and plain chocolate), which makes some sense since lemon and pistachio are my favorite gelato flavors normally. To make the lemon even more of a treat, I saved my lemon rinds after juicing some lemons, and put the rinds in the freezer. Then, I stuffed each with lemon gelato and served them up that way--they were a huge hit (see pic below for actual evidence). Here’s the recipe, straight from the above-mentioned recipe book that comes with the gelato maker.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of lemon juice
Zest of 2 lemons, chopped
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cream

Directions:
1. Place the water, sugar, filtered lemon juice, and lemon zest together in a bowl and mix until the sugar is dissolved.

2. Add the cream and milk and pour into the gelato bowl. The gelato will be ready in about 40 minutes and you will obtain 6-to-8 portions.

5 Un-Essential but Cool Grill Tools

The outdoor cooking is in full swing: are you sure you have all the grill tools and accessories to make your backyard the tastiest on the block? Or, do you just want to invest in some time-savers? Or, are you just addicted to grill gadgets? If you answered "no" to the first question or "yes" to one of the next two, the following are for you (and your grill).

Progressive International The Perfect Burger Press
Make perfect burgers, uniform in size and shape, every time with this 3-piece burger press. The set includes a removable dimple insert, a non-skid base, and comfort-grip pusher. The insert creates an impression in the center of the burger, allowing it to cook more evenly and faster. Use the press without the insert to create all kinds of seafood burgers. Safe to clean in the dishwasher, the burger press makes a great gift for novices and seasoned chefs alike. See more.

Tom Douglas 2-Piece Stainless-Steel Grill-Wok with Removable Lid
This two-piece frying pan, ideal for outdoor grilling, is constructed of durable stainless-steel mesh and comes with a matching, removable lid. The pan promotes excellent searing for a delicious smoky flavor while keeping food--even small veggies and shrimp--from falling into the fire. The long, stainless-steel handle affords a secure grip and features a hanging loop. To add ingredients to the pan, simply press the lever on the basket’s handle and lift the lid. Replace the lid and safely toss any combination of meat, seafood, and vegetables while grilling. See more.

OXO Good Grips Corn Peeler
The OXO Good Grips Corn Peeler safely peels kernels off the cob with a quick and easy motion. Kernels fall directly into a bowl or onto a cutting board. Blade position ensures perfectly cut kernels every time and removes close to 5 rows off the cob at one time. The durable stainless steel serrated vertical blade is ergonomic and allows for easy and effective peeling like a traditional peeler, and the included Blade Cover protects blade and hands when not in use. It’s also dishwasher safe for easy clean up. See more.

Maverick Remote-Check Wireless Thermometer With 2 Probes
Cooking a dinner-party roast, holiday turkey, or backyard-barbecue pork loin to precisely the proper temperature without fuss is a snap with this thermometer. You can even monitor two foods (beef and lamb, for instance) simultaneously, since two stainless-steel probes are included, each 6 inches long and each connected to a 39-inch stainless-steel wire. Here's how it works: program the tool (two AA batteries included) by selecting either "beef," "veal," "lamb," "pork," "chicken," or "turkey." Then program to rare, medium-rare, medium, or well-done. The monitor displays the proper temperature--which can be altered by pressing a button. See more.

Style Asia Electric Grill-Cleaning Brush with 3 LED Lights
This electric grill-cleaning brush quickly removes charred grease and residue. It has a sturdy ABS plastic and silicone construction that withstands heat up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, and a powerful 12-volt high-torque motor. The three bright LED lights illuminate all messy grill areas, and help cleaning up when the sun’s gone down. There’s a protective shield for safety, a hanging loop for storing, and the brush head removes for cleaning. See more.

--A.J. Rathbun

Getting to the Right Weight

Okay, I’m not as calorie conscious as many, but I have been struggling with getting accurate measurements lately. Especially with baking, as I was recently told by a baking pro (who’s also a pal) that using weight measurement with flour (as well as other dry ingredients) is much more accurate than using volume measurements. This makes sense when you think about settling rates and such, but really, I just wanted to upgrade my baking skills, and not think about the science of it all (by the way, if anyone disagrees with this baking premise, I’d be interested to hear about it and why). So, I picked up a digital scale, from Oxo. When making my pick I followed a couple of criteria: first, I wanted it to be easy to store (I have too many kitchen toys and not enough counter space); second, I wanted it to be easy to read; third, I wanted it to be easy to clean. The 5-pound Oxo Good Grips scale I went with hit on all my qualifiers, as it’s not too large and can store vertically and horizontally, is a simple swipe to clean, and is especially easy to read thanks to the super handy pull out display. Now, I find myself liking it enough that maybe I’ll not only use it to bake, but to diet, too (wait, who am I kidding with that. I’ll probably just stick to baking).

--A.J. Rathbun

The Marshmallow Fork--No Ordinary Stick

I can't imagine summer camp without s'mores, the ideal late night sandwich treat made of graham crackers, Hershey's chocolate squares and perfectly toasted marshmallows. Seeking out a green stick to roast those marshmallows was supposed to be part of the fun back then--and perhaps it was for some--but not for me. If only marshmallow roasting forks had been invented!

When I came across my first steel roasting fork, I couldn't believe my eyes. The idea was just too ludicrous. I couldn't imagine actually buying a stick just to roast marshmallows. But buy it I did, and I have no regrets.

I can't tell you how many times we use our marshmallow roasting stick over the summer. S'mores make such a fabulous finale to any barbecue, and they're so much a family favorite for both young and old, we eat them all season long. With my s'mores stick I can roast marshmallows (two, even four, at a time) to a turn, without burning the hair off my arms (thank goodness). And best of all, well, it sure beats looking for that green stick.

--Tracy Schneider

Culinary Science Dad

My recent trip to The Bazaar has me smitten with molecular gastronomy, more than I ever thought I would be. So much so, that I ordered this Texturas experimental kit, so I could conduct some of my own culinary science experiments at home. Texturas is a line of emulsifiers, gelifiers, thickeners, and products for spherification created by the Adrias of elBulli fame.

Along with a kit came a smattering of recipes to help me get my feet wet. Now, my biggest conundrum is where to start. Shall I use the lecite to make frozen parmesan air? Calcic and algin to make melon cantaloupe caviar? Or the xantana to make white sangria in suspension (pictured right)? 

If your dad is a left-brained sort who likes to dabble in the kitchen, the Texturas experimental kit could garner you a veritable windfall of brownie points.

For Budding Molecular Gastronomists:

*Books on molecular gastronomy
*Caviar dropper kit
*Silpats
*Texturas line

Has anyone out there played with Texturas? I want to hear about it.

--StellaCadente*

Follow me on Twitter @pomodorista

Read about my first Texturas experiment

Tom Douglas's Recipe for Etta’s Cornbread Pudding

This delish cornbread pudding makes a great side dish for summer grill-fests. It comes from Tom’s cookbook Tom Douglas’ Seattle Kitchen. Tom suggests using the extra coarse microplane grater from his line of kitchen tools on the jack cheese.

Etta’s Cornbread Pudding
Serves 6

Ingredients for cornbread:
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup grated jack cheese
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted plus a little more for buttering pan

Ingredients for the pudding:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter plus a little more for buttering pan
1cup thinly sliced onion
3/4 cup grated dry jack cheese (or substitute regular jack or sharp cheddar)
2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2-1/4 cups heavy cream
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:
To make the cornbread:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter an 8x8-inch baking dish. Combine the flour, cornmeal, cheese, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

2. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and honey. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter and stir into the mixture.

3. Pour into the prepared pan and bake about 15 to 20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cut into one inch cubes. You should have about 8 cups of cornbread cubes, but you only need one third of the cornbread cubes (about 2--2/3 cups) for this recipe. (Note: freeze the extra cornbread for future batches of pudding.)

To make the cornbread pudding:
1. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Put the 2-2/3 cups of cornbread cubes in a buttered 8x8-inch baking dish. Set aside.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a sauté pan on low heat and very slowly sauté the onions until soft and golden brown, at least 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. Scatter the onions, cheese, and herbs over the cornbread cubes.

3. Whisk together the cream and eggs with the salt and pepper and pour over the pan of cornbread cubes. Let sit 10 minutes so the cornbread cubes absorb some of the custard. Bake about 40 minutes or until set and golden. Serve warm.

--Tom Douglas

Tom Douglas's exclusive line of kitchen and dining products, Tom Douglas by Pinzon, is aimed at building confidence in the kitchen and only available at Amazon.com.

Find Five-Star Customer Grilling Favorites

Hard to believe, but it’s already June, and that means one thing: it’s time to get the grill going (or if, like me, you’re in Seattle and it’s still raining, time to pretend the grill is going while grilling inside). If you’re grilling arrangement needs an update, or if you just want to outfit yourself in style, here are some grilling and barbecuing tools that have been favorites with Amazon.com customers.

OXO Good Grips Digital Leave-In Meat Thermometer: OXO does it again
  Daniel C. Clark: I am an extensive user of meat thermometers. I have bought more than a few over the years. This thermometer stores its probe inside and wraps the cord around it. Therefore, it does not make a mess in the drawer. Also, the cord is wrapped in a rubber instead of the metal on traditional thermometers. The meat doneness is available in USDA or Chef's preference (note, you should always use the Chefs setting). The timer function is easy to use and can count up or down. Like always, OXO has taken a traditional kitchen product and greatly improved it. (read the full review)

Tom Douglas Stainless-Steel Pronged Kebob Skewers, Set of 2: Best KeBob Skewers Around!
  Javajunki: My other half laughed at my excitement over these super nifty kebob skewers...but I had the last laugh after he tried them for the fist time. Sure, shish-kebobs are not exactly a high excitement item nor are they something you prepare every day of the week...which is why it's important to have a good set of kebob skewers available - make it fun rather than frustrating.  This set does exactly that. Well designed to address the most common kebob problems including...
1. Rotation Rage - y'know what I'm talking about. Twirling tomatoes, precarious pineapple chunks and mushroom that slide in slow motion right off the skewer. All fixed thanks to dual prongs.
2. Short Stacks - face it, short stacks are a mans worst nightmare. Few things are worse than a lot of veggies with tiny chunks of meat...much less when the skewer is only a few inches long. Full sized skewers assure a hearty meal.
3. Pain - Whether burning your had on metal handles or stabbing yourself while trying to tug/chew food off the skewer . . . (read the full review)

Charmed Life Products 6-Piece Grill Charms Set, The Steak Collection: Must have
  Gary G. Flesher: These Grill Charms are an absolute must if cooking meat. We use them for Steaks to know which one is well done (like the wife likes them) and which one is rare (for me). We no longer have to cut through the steak to find out which is which AND the chef doesn't have to remember which steak is supposed to be rare, medium or well done. Charm the steak and know how to cook that piece of meat.We also like to try different rubs. Some like spicy and others like mild. Now we can rub it, charm it and everyone knows if a certain meat is spicy or mild. The same goes for hot and mild sausage. The charms stay in the meat and identify it. (read the full review)

Weber Professional-Grade Stainless-Steel 3-Piece Barbeque Tool Set: Great quality
  Shelley L. Nordlund: I gave these to my son-in-law for a Christmas gift. He had specifically requested Weber tools, so that's what he got. He got some other tools from another relative and oh, my what a difference in quality. The Weber tools are heavy and very high quality- I think they may be the last set of bbq tools he'll ever need. (read the full review)

Progressive International Perfect Burger Press:  Does one thing and does it really well
  Wes: I'm am a neat freak and this little press makes my life so much easier! I used to struggle with making my burgers the correct size by hand. They would always shrink while grilling and the burgers that looked great on the plate turned out looking like nuggets after they hit the grill, but this press solves that problem. The dimple keeps the middle of the burger from swelling (a bit) and the end result is burgers that perfectly fit your buns. One of the best tools I have bought for my grill. (read the full review)