The last blender I owned was one of those that you can get at the “big box” store for $12. I carried it around in the RV with me for 12 years, and rarely ever used it. The reason I never used it was because it wouldn’t make a milkshake. Yeah, a blender that didn’t have enough power to blend a milkshake. So, the first thing I did when I received this new Cuisinart Dual Blender/Food Processor was to toss that other blender in the trash. I didn’t even think about taking it to the thrift store as a recycle.

I am loving the ease of use of this little powerhouse! The Cuisinart SmartPower Duet® Blender/Food Processor handles the tasks I need it to do without getting bogged down. I have used it as a food processor to slice potatoes and onions for corned beef hash. I have also used it as a blender to make fruit smoothies using frozen fruit. It does those jobs with power to spare. I also love that it is one base unit that has two different functions because it used less counter space to keep the power base out all the time. I don’t have to have room for two things. I can store the food processor bowl and accessories under the counter.

Here are all the features of the Cuisinart SmartPower Duet® Blender/Food Processor:

I am really happy to be telling you about this company. They use recycled plastic milk jugs to make these Eco Plastic Cutting Boards. I didn’t think I would like a plastic cutting board, but then I didn’t think I would like ANY cutting board. I have never owned a “real” one.  For the last fourteen years I have used the flimsy thin plastic sheets that you get at RV supply places as cutting boards, because I needed something very lightweight that I could store just about anywhere.

When my sample cutting board arrived, the first thing I noticed was that it had the little slip resistant feet on each corner. Fabgrandpa was worried that food particles would collect in the crevices there, but so far, they have not. This cutting board has a little hole in one corner, which makes it very easy to pick it up off the counter. Because it is made of plastic, foods don’t stick to it and the clean up is a breeze. Just use warm soapy water.

These environmentally friendly, dishwasher-safe cutting boards are made from post-consumer recycled plastic milk jugs, which is a very good way to re-use something that we need but when thrown away just fill up all the landfill space. They come in orange, yellow, green, and grey so you can use color coded boards if you want to for vegetables and meats. They also come in three different sizes, 17.5″ X 13″ for $34.99, 14.5″X11.5″ for $24.99 , and 11.5″X9″ $19.99. I am using the medium sized one and it is plenty big enough for cooking for two people.

BUY IT: Find a store near you where you can purchase the Eco Plastic Cutting Board from Epicurean, or buy it online at Amazon.com

WIN IT: One winner will receive a medium size Eco Plastic Cutting Board from Epicurean. To enter the giveaway, use the Giveaway Tools form:

This nifty grater from Joseph Joseph is not only handy to have around, it folds up and stores in less than one inch of space. All my RV friends, if you need or want a grater, this is the one for you!

The Fold Flat Grater Plus is a 4-in-1 box grater that folds up for storage. It includes a clear plastic storage sheath to help protect your fingers and hands while handling to put it away or get it out of the cabinet.

• Four blade styles in one-Coarse, Fine, Ribbon, and Slicer
• Razor sharp, etched stainless steel blades
• Protective storage sheath included
• Lockable catch to keep it open while in use

It comes in two colors, black or green, and retails for $35.

BUY IT!  You can purchase Joseph Joseph products on their webpage, or on Amazon.com

WIN IT! One reader will win a Joesph Joseph Fold-Flat Grater. To enter the giveaway, use the Giveaway Tools form below:

I have been looking for a good little citrus reamer for a long time, and this one is just right!

The reamer part is reversible so it can handle small or large citrus fruits, and has a non-skid bottom to keep it [Read more…] about The Holiday Table: Tovolo Table Top Citrus Reamer Giveaway

When Kyra Bussanich started her own gluten-free bake shop years ago she had no idea her delicious crave-worthy treats would trigger an avalanche of interest from people all over the world. Her amazing, gluten-free desserts garnered her top spot as the two-time winner of the Food Networks Cupcake Wars and the only gluten-free competitor.

In her brand new cookbook, Sweet Cravings, 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle, she shares the best of the incredible recipes she developed and perfected.

Kyra Bussanich was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder when she was 20 years old. Part of staying healthy meant switching to a gluten-free diet. After being disappointed in the gluten-free products that were available on the market, she thought she’d have to live without birthday cakes and scones and doughnuts. So she attended the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu patisserie program and acquired a solid foundation of knowledge in classical French baking techniques. She then dedicated herself to baking gluten-free, opening up Kyra’s Bake Shop (originally Crave Bake Shop), in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

By craving, and by necessity, Kyra began experimenting with alternative flours and developed a set of cake recipes that taste as good, if not better, than traditional wheat-filled cakes. Her culinary creations know only the bounds of her own imagination and the desires of the people who ask her to develop something new, special and unique.

In Sweet Cravings, Kyra Bussanich, the first gluten-free baker to win the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, shares her indulgent recipes for cakes, muffins, scones, cookies, brownies, cobblers, buckles, tarts, and more. With delicious flavor combinations and unique recipes like Cherry White Chocolate Scones, Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes, and Mexican Chocolate Baked Alaska, this collection of 50 foolproof recipes invites home cooks to whip up sweet treats that everyone at the birthday party, brunch, or potluck can enjoy.

I received a copy of Sweet Cravings, a nice hardback gluten free cookbook by Kyra Bussanich.  I have been really impressed with her recipes. I also received three of her cake mixes,  a Chocolate, a Vanilla, and a Snickerdoodle one. I made a Snickerdoodle cake and frosted it with cream cheese frosting. It was a very good cake that stayed moist for days. The cupcakes she sent me were in a word, DIVINE! We put half of them in the freezer because these cupcakes were so rich that we could not possibly eat them before they went bad. They were chocolate cake with a thick fudgy chocolate frosting, filled inside with a gooey, soft salted caramel.

Buy It! You can order the Kyra’s Bake Shop dry cake mixes here, or the ready made cupcakes here.

For a Sweet Cravings Cookbook, you can order on Kyra’s Bake Shop website, or at Amazon.com

Win It! One winner will receive a copy of Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle.

Last year when I decided to do a gift guide, I bit off a pretty big hunk of a project. It was six weeks long, and took tons and tons of work, and quite honestly, I wore myself out and burnt out on the project long before it was over. This year, I decided to do it again, only smaller and with a much narrower theme.

The theme for this year is The Holiday Table. I will be featuring one idea for a holiday gift per day for the person who likes to cook.  Not everyone likes to receive kitchen related or food related gifts but for those of us who like to cook , bake and entertain, there could not be a better or more thoughtful present.

For the next 22 days, I hope I don’t lose readers who are not into things like this. I will of course still be posting about other things. Most of these gift ideas include giveaways, so if you want to join in the fun, come back every day to see what you can enter to win! I am really excited about my sponsors this year. You can see who they are here: Sponsor Page

Also, after I decided on a theme for this food lovers gift guide, I received so many offers for unrelated products that were too good to pass up, that I have decided to also do a shorter General Gift Guide. The General Gift Guide will start on December 1 and run through December 14. There are some cute ideas for gifts for the grandchildren, teens, babies, and Mom and Dad. Thanks for sticking around to see whats what! I’ll be adding some pages for the General Gift Guide soon.