Best of the Kitchen: Wusthof knives

You ever notice how all those famous chefs and cooks on the cooking channel always seem to have the perfect kitchen? All Clad Copper core cookware. Wusthof knives for every cutting job you might imagine. Always the perfect knife for the chore at hand. Always shiny clean and spotless.

Whatever tool they happen to need is readily available. They never have to go rumaging through the silverware drawer to find that perfectly sharpened Wusthof Chef's knife? Or a little glass bowl to put the chopped onions in until just the right time in the cooking process?

Do you ever wish your kitchen could look like that? I'd settle for finding a clean bowl to put some chopped carrots and green peppers in. Washing dishes has never been my favorite pasttime. Not even in the top 10.

However, there is one thing I always try to keep as clean as possible - my Wusthof knives. If I take good care of them they will serve me for decades to come! I may not look as good as ( pick your favorite cook on the cooking channel ) or have all the flair and natural appeal as some of our more famous TV chefs.

But that doesn't keep me from enjoying cooking with the same quality gourmet cookware they use every day.

Easy, nutritious lentils

Lentils have been described as "the perfect food". There is no arguing - they offer a nutritional boost to any meal. Try this easy, lowfat recipe for an easy and nutritious sidedish.


Honey Baked Lentils:

What you'll need:

1 pound (2 1/3 cups) uncooked lentils

1 small bay leaf (optional)

5 cups water

1/2 cup chopped onions

1 cup water

1/3 cup honey

Lets get cookin:

Combine rinsed lentils, bay leaf, and 5 cups water in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cover tightly and reduce heat. Simmer for about 30 minutes. Do not drain. After cooking, discard bay leaf.

Chop onion. Combine onions, and 1 cup water. Add to lentils and mix.

Pour honey over lentil mixture. Cover tightly and bake it for one hour at 350 degrees.

For more about the best oven-safe stainless steel cookware please see
Best Stainless Steel Cookware Quality Gourmet Cookware

Best Stainless Steel Cookware Quality Gourmet Cookware

Many top Chefs and cooking enthusiasts agree - The All Clad Copper Core line is the best stainless steel cookware available anywhere. If you are looking for sturdy and beautiful gourmet cookware look no further. The good folks at All Clad make the most durable and efficient line of stainless steel cookware.

All-Clad bonded copper core stainless steel cookware is hand made in the USA. These Pennsylvania craftsmen honor stringent environmental standards. Nearly every last bit of unused material is recovered and recycled - right down to the metal dust generated during the sanding process. They buy steel made in the USA to their exacting standards. This sturdy and beautiful cookware is made to last a lifetime.

The Copper Core line is oven safe to 550 degrees.
The copper core cooks with even heat distribution. Many cooks find they never need to turn up their burners on high.
Ergonomic handles are easy to hold and stay cool on the stove top.
Built solid and sturdy - heavier than most of the cookware you see in the stores today.
Acidic foods won't ruin or tarnish the cooking surface.
Warm up your pan with a tablespoon of olive oil before preparing any of those sticky foods and you'll find cleanup is a snap.
This cookware even looks elegant! In order to maintain the shiny luster the folks at All Clad recommend you hand clean these fine chefs tools.
They are so confident in the quality of this gourmet cookware they offer a lifetime guarantee!

If you love to cook you will love owning the All Clad Copper Core line. All Clad offers simply the

Best Stainless Steel Cookware Quality Gourmet Cookware

Sweet Potatoes!

Eating healthy foods will help us live longer and feel better. Healthy eating has been proven to lead to a longer and more satisfying life. You don't have to lose flavor to gain health. Heart healthy cooking simply means making dishes that are low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and moderate in total fat.

Here's one healthy choice to add to your diet.

What you'll need:

1 cup sweet potato, cooked, mashed

2 small bananas , mashed

1 cup evaporated skim milk

2 Tbsp packed brown sugar

2 egg yolks (or 1/3 cup egg substitute), beaten

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup of raisins

1 tblsp of sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Let's get cookin:

1. In a medium bowl, mix sweet potato and banana.
Add milk, blending well.
2. Add brown sugar, egg yolks, and salt, mixing thoroughly.
3. Spray 1-quart casserole with nonstick cooking spray.
Transfer sweet potato mixture to casserole dish.
4. Combine raisins, sugar, and cinnamon. Sprinkle over top of sweet potato mixture.
5. Bake in preheated 325º F oven for 40-45 minutes, or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.


Enjoy this delicious and nutritious dessert with friends and loved ones!

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A Dad's joy

"Can I help, Daddy?" he asked with a hint of excitement in his young voice. I love this part of being a Dad. He still has not outgrown the desire to spend some time with his old Dad.

"Sure pal" was my immediate reply. He wanted eggs on that chilly winter morning. I mixed up the easy omelet mix. Just add water. No time for cutting up the onions and green peppers today, I thought. I like easy. Especially on these winter mornings where time seems to go way too fast. Before we know it we have to hit the door for another day at school.

I put a couple of tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in my 12" fry pan carefully chosen from our best stainless steel cookware. After half a minute or so the pan was ready. He helped me pour the eggs into the nicely warmed pan. I added a slice of cheese and a couple slices of ham. And in just a matter of minutes my little schoolboy was eating a warm and nutritious breakfast.

Going Green

Eating whole, unprocessed foods is one of the best ways to enjoy the most benefits from nature's food bounty. Canned carrots lose about 20% of their antioxidant value. Wouldn't you rather spend a minute or two rinsing and cutting the carrots in order to enjoy the maximum benefit?
Try a homemade salad with a mix of your favorite vegetables. See how many colors you can blend in your salad creation. Here's one idea for a variety of healthy choices.

Here's what you'll need:

4 cups fresh spinach
4 cups Romaine lettuce
2 cups chopped green pepper (or use red, yellow, or orange)
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh broccoli
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1 sliced red onion
2 cups sliced cucumber
2 cups chopped carrots
1 cup sliced zucchini

Simply wash all the veggies, mix in a large salad bowl and enjoy with your favorite dressing. If you're like me and trying to watch those calories have your low fat or nonfat dressing on the side.
For even more flavor and some healthy fats - add some chopped walnuts or whole pumpkin seeds. Eating healthy is so much easier when we include whole foods in our daily diet.

So get out your best stainless steel cookware and prepare a wholesome and healthy meal for your loved ones. And don't forget the salad!

Easy, breezy and healthy too

Try this easy and healthy dish for a nice warm weekend lunch or supper anytime.
Add a nice tossed salad with lots of spinach, your favorite lettuce, some shredded carrots and diced tomatoes! And don't forget your favorite wine!

Share with a loved one!

Here is what you'll need:

4 medium potatoes - sliced into 1/4 in slices
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts - cut into 3/4 inch cubes
4 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive oil
1 cup salsa (optional)
1 can (15 ounce) drained whole kernel corn

In a 4 quart sauce pan from your best stainless steel cookware, cook the potatoes on med-high for 12 to 15 minutes. They should now be nice and tender.

In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil on med-high for 5 minutes.

Add potatotes; cook until potatoes are lightly browned.

Add salsa and corn. Cook until heated through.

Enjoy with someone you love!