Mason Cash Bread Baking Set

You know I love bread, right?

So I was pretty sure I'd like the bread baking set from Mason Cash. It includes a large bowl that's used for mixing and rising, and a lid for the bowl that doubles as a baking stone. So it's two pieces with three uses.

Or, depending on how you use the bowl, it might have other functions. Like, you can use it for mixing the dough, then use the bowl to let the bread rise, then shape the dough and put in on the lid for the final rise while the upside-down bowl functions as a lid,

Yes, it's a bowl and a lid, too.

It's also a really nice bowl for other things, like fruit or for serving large quantities of mashed potatoes.

I took it for a test drive with bread (of course) after seasoning the lid/baking stone piece according to the instructions. The bowl doesn't need seasoning, since it's completely glazed. But the lid does need seasoning because it's unglazed clay. I also used cornmeal under the bread to keep it from sticking.

The result? I kind of love this! It's big enough for a big lump of dough, and the fact that the lid doubles as the baking stone makes it even more useful

Speaking of that lid - it's the perfect size for pizza.

Who's it for: People who love baking bread or who have other uses for a large bowl plus a baking stone.

Pros: It works just like it's supposed to, and it looks attractive.

Cons: It's a bit pricey, but good baking stones aren't cheap. Plus you get a bowl.

Wishes: I wish there were little handles on the bowl to make it easier to move when it's upside down on the baking stone lid. But that's a small wish. I was able to lift it, but the handles would just make it easier.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Note: I was so anxious to test this, I just threw together a loaf of bread and didn't measure or time it well enough to write up a recipe. I'll do that later, I promise!

50 Strong Bottles

There are sooooo many water/hydration/bike/exercise bottles on the market these days? How do you choose?

Or, more important to me, how do I choose when I want to review one?

The answer is pretty simple. I like to look at bottles that have something different about them. And these days, that's getting harder and harder.

When the folks at 50 Strong contacted me, the one bottle that I thought was different from all of its peers was the Tornado Bottle. It contains a plastic tornado-shaped curly thing that's meant to help blend things in the bottle. Like if you add protein powders to your drinks.

I thought that was different. I had some stuff I was going to blend. And then ... my attention wandered.

I set the bottle aside until the day I was trying to make a salad dressing and it was lumpy and I was annoyed. And then I thought, hey, I have that tornado thing.

So I dumped the dressing in the bottle and gave it a shake. Then I made a salad. Flipped the top on the bottle, and I poured. And then I thought, hey this thing would be just fine for storing the salad dressing in the fridge, and it's easier to pour the dressing out of this than to try to pour from a canning jar, which is usually what I use.

Am I a genius, or what?

If the Tornado Bottle can handle salad dressing, it can surely hand a protein powder in some juice, right?

The 50 Strong people sell a LOT of different kinds of bottles. They sent me one of the Ice and Go bottles that has an integrated straw. I haven't tested it yet, but it looks study, and I like the straw for sipping.

If you don't like straws and you don't like the pink and gray bottle I got, there are a lot of different colors, shapes, lids, and ways to drink from them. You might as well just go look. Seriously. I'm not going to describe them all. Go. Look.

Best thing is that these aren't super-expensive bottles that you have to guard with your life. They're well-built and should last a long time, but if you happen to forget one at the beach, it's not like you need to take a loan to buy a new one. Very affordable.

The company also has a charitable component, so you can feel good about buying these bottles. Ten percent of the profits go to the 50 Strong Foundation, which awards scholarships to people pursuing careers in manufacturing.

Who's it for: People who carry drinks to go.

Pros: Nice bottles, not expensive, lots of colors and designs to choose from. Made in AMERICA. You don't see a lot of that these days.

Cons: If you go to a lot of events, you might already have free promotional bottles lying about.

Wishes: Um ... it's a bottle. There's not much I ask of it.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Berry Baskets by Crisp

Aren't these cute?

I'm always looking for bowls, plates, storage containers, and cute decor that I can use in the kitchen, for photos, and  ... for actual serving and storage.

So I thought the berry baskets from Crisp were just too cute to say no to. They're colorful, and they're a good size for holding fruits and other food.

And they're cute. Okay, I said that. But look at them. They're just sweet little baskets that you could use for food or for decoration. I mean, I've never really had an urge to buy fake fruit, but I could see buying some just to put in these baskets to have them sitting somewhere and looking decorative.

If I did that sort of thing. Which I don't. But still...

They seem sturdy so far, and they nest neatly for storage. They've got holes for airflow or for drainage if you want to rinse berries in the baskets. They're definitely more sturdy than the mesh baskets that berries usually come in.

Who's it for: People who want some colorful containers for berries and stuff.

Pros: Good size. Nice colors. Drainage and airflow. Nesting.

Cons: Okay, they're containers. They're not much bad to say about them unless you don't happen to like the shape or color, right? You couldn't put soup in them. Hah.

Wishes: More colors, please. I do love the colors these come in, but if there were a dozen colors, I'd probably buy another set or two.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Debbie Meyer GreenBoxes - and MORE

Green Boxes on display at IHHS 2016

Years ago, I tried Debbie Meyer GreenBags and they worked really well to keep my produce from going bad as quickly.

The problem I had with them (and this is just me, okay?) is that I'm not a huge fan of washing and re-using plastic bags.

I like my dishwasher. I have some things I wash by hand, either because they deserve it, or because they don't fit in the dishwasher. Washing plastic bags and finding a place for them to dry is pretty low on my priority list.

So when I found out there were green BOXES (I saw them at the Housewares show in Chicago earlier this year), I was pretty excited. They're just like regular storage containers, except that they're designed to keep your produce fresher.

So you can store your strawberries and cherries in them, or the lettuce you prepped for tomorrow's salad, or the cut zucchini and cucumber that you didn't use for the recipe.

And if you happen to use them for leftover spaghetti, there's no harm done. They're just as dishwasher safe as the non-green containers, and they nest and store neatly. What's not to love?

But that's not all. When I wasn't paying attention to the Debbie Meyer brand, she came up with a whole bunch of products.

Besides the GreenBoxes (and the GreenBags that are still available) there are oven bags for roasting, microwave bags for steaming, slow cooker liners for ... uh, lining your slow cooker, and grilling bags for grilling.


AND she has two cake cutting tools. One cuts wedges in round-shaped cakes and for pies, and the other cuts squares from square and rectangular cakes.

That's a whole lot of stuff! Which is your favorite Debbie Meyer product?

Who's it for: So many products, so many uses!

Pros: Love that the boxes are easier to clean than the bags. The variety of products is great.

Cons: So much to choose from? Okay, some of these might be a tad pricy for single-use, but it depends on your budget.

Wishes: Maybe a sample pack of the grilling, oven, microwave, and slow cooker bags, so you could try them all.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

PlanetBox

Are you the carting-food-to-work sort of person? Do your kids take lunch to school? Would you like a food-transportation device that's both a container and a serving vessel?

Well, maybe you'd like PlanetBox.

It's not a box to put your planets in (not even poor downgraded Pluto) but instead it's metal compartmented tray that fits into a cute little carrier. It comes with a couple of metal tins for things that should go into tins, and there are magnets included to decorate the top lid of the tray.

The carrier has a couple of places where you could carry extra things, like a water bottle, extra napkins or wet-wipes or whatever else you need to bring along. And the carrier comes in a whole bunch of colors.

At first glance, I thought the tray looked a little small for an adult lunch, but on closer inspection, it's probably sized pretty well. One compartment would snugly hold a sandwich. Note: I don't buy commercial bread, so I'm not sure how snug. Pretty snug.

And then there are the other compartments. And you could use the front pocket for a thermos with soup or a banana or apple You could tuck in a single-serving pack of chips. And then there are the little containers for cole slaw, dipping sauce ... whatever it is you bring for lunch. And there's spare space in the carrying case, so you could tuck in a magazine or something. An extra bag of chips. Sorry, I'm a little peckish and chips sound sort of good at the moment.

And since space is a little limited, it would be good for portion control. I mean, even if you're eating at home, you could make the sandwich, add a small portion of chips, a few pickles, a salad ... and when lunch time comes, you've got it all ready to go.

It would be cute for kids, too. Just fill it with less stuff, right?

The bags come in different colors, so everyone in the family could have a different one, making it easy to tell who gets the sushi and who gets the turkey sandwich.

Who's it for: Mostly for people who bring lunch to work or school. Could be fun for picnics, too.

Pros: Dishwasher safe tray. Nice tote for carrying.

Cons: The tray might be a tiny bit small for adults with big appetites.

Wishes: A place to store clean and dirty silverware would be nice. And it would be sort of cool if it come with a variety of magnets, so kids could decorate in different ways on different days.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Cherry Blossom collection from Charles Viancin

Let's face it, cherry blossoms are pretty. Charles Viancin has created a set of cherry-blossom-themed silicone covers (for bowls and such) as well as some cute bottle stoppers in the same design.

While these evoke spring, they'll work just as well in summer. And, hey, when winter comes along you can pretend they're poinsettias.

Of course, if you're using them in the kitchen for cooking and storing, it doesn't matter if they match the season or not, right? You might want a bit of springtime in the midst of winter.

But here's the thing. They aren't just decorative - they're functional. For the covers, the protruding bit in the center of the flower makes a nice handle. And there's a hole for hanging the covers, should you want to do that.

Since these are made from silicone, they're flexible, heat resistant, dishwasher safe, and microwave safe. Like other covers of this type, they create a bit of a vacuum seal on bowls, but they remove easily when you grab an edge.

The small covers would be lovely for outdoor dining, to cover drinks.

Who's it for: People who have bowls and things to cover.

Pros: Pretty. Useful.

Cons: Sort of seasonal.

Wishes: None really.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Red Cup Shot Glasses

You know those big red plastic cups that tend to show up at casual barbecues and parties? Well, apparently they're not just inexpensive drinkware, but they've become a "thing." There are a whole bunch of other products dedicated to the look of that classic red cup.

One item that I thought would make a useful gift rather than just a haha-funny grab bag gift was the Red Cup Shot Glasses.

Of course you can use them as shot glasses, but if you don't often serve shots, then they'd be great for individual condiments, flavored butters, sauces, soup shooters, tasters, mise en place, tiny desserts, or for when you want to give your guests some extra stuff that they can add to their own plate.

For being a fun item, these are solid, dishwasher safe, and they stack fairly well for storage. They actually look higher-end than the cups they represent. And let's face it, they look cute.

I doubt I'll ever use mine for shots, but I'll definitely be using them.

Who's it for: People with a sense of humor who like fun and casual serving pieces. These won't match with that heirloom crystal all that well.

Pros: Fun gift item that's actually useful. Comes in a decent box for easy wrapping.

Cons: Possibly too simple as a stand-alone gift.

Wishes: While the red cup is a thing, they'd be fun in a multi-color set.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Livspoon

Although I don't have a huge aversion against unitaskers if they do their job well, I also like tools that perform several functions.

The Livspoons are designed for portion control but they're also pretty enough (and weirdly unique enough) to function as serving spoons. The set of four spoons measures portions of 1 cup, 3/4 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1/8 cup, and the handles are designed to perch on the edge of a bowl so they won't slide into the bowl.

The measurement amount are on the bottom of the spoons, so no one will know they're an exact measure unless you tell them, so it's not obtrusive. Of course, if they're your spoons, you'll know the measurements.

While the portion control aspect is great for folks who are trying to eat specific amounts of food, the spoons are also useful if you're plating food for guests, so that everyone gets an equal amount, and so that you don't end up with the last guest getting shorted on the mashed potatoes.

How sad would that be?

But really, I think the cool thing is how the spoons can rest on the bowl edge. My usual serving spoons have fairly short handles, and it's happened more than once that a spoon has slid into a bowl or casserole dish. Oopsie.

And the wavy handles on the Livsoons makes them look unique, too.

Who's it for: People who want an attractive way to portion food in measured amounts.

Pros: They work. They look nice. They're dishwasher safe.

Cons: Because of the wavy handles, they don't nest completely.

Wishes: It would have been nice to have a 1/4 cup spoon along with the included ones.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

JK Adams 1761 Collection

I've had a few folks ask me about a wooden board that I've used in photos. You can see it here:

Chex Mix!

And here:

Tips for making macarons.

And here:

Green Olive and Pimento Bread.

It's a wooden board from the J.K. Adams 1761 collection. I have a lot of different wooden boards, but what I really liked about this one was the color. I make a lot of ... well ... brown food, like bread and baked goods.

I like using wooden boards and natural colors in photos, but I also like some contrast. I mean, peanut butter cookies on a medium-brown cutting board isn't all that exciting.

This board has a whitewashed look, and it's got gray tones. And it's BIG. Which is great. I tried to take a photo of the whole board, just to show the board to you, but in my small photo space, I wasn't very successful. So here's a photo from their site:

It's got a leather loop for hanging. Most folks would probably use this as a board for cutting bread because it's long enough for large loaves, but I'm planning on using it mostly for photos.

So, when you see it on my blog, you know what it is!

Also from J.K. Adams is this slate board:

Brownie Krinkle Cookies

Slate is a type of rock, and also a color. Like slate gray, right? This type of board is usually used for serving cheese and it's from their Charcoal Slate collection. It's a dark gray - not black - with lovely texture. You can see the edges of the board in this photo.

What I love about this is that while it's dark, it's not totally black, and it's a natural material. The texture is also nice, compared to all the flat surfaces I usually use, like normal dishware and cutting boards. It's also very easy to clean.

I previously reviewed their Trilogy Collection boards, here.

If you like pretty serving items - or if you're a blogger or photographer, the J,K. Adams site has lots of fun stuff to browse through, and new items added pretty often. I found a few things just now that were new and interesting.

Who's it for: Bloggers as well as normal folks who like pretty serving pieces and cutting boards and other gear.

Pros: Good quality products; a lot of variety on their site, so there's something for everyone.

Cons: Some of the items are on the higher end of the budget, but they'll last a long, long time.

Wishes: So far, I've been very pleased with all of their items.

Source: J.K.Adams supplied these to me for my use in photos - I wasn't required to write a review. But... so many people were asking, so I figured you wanted to know!

Vacu Vin Cool Plate

When summer comes along, everyone enjoys eating outdoors. The problem is the uninvited guests. No, I don't mean that goofy neighbor across the street or those relatives that seem to be able to smell a freshly-grilled steak from across town.

I mean the wasps that want to nibble your steak, the fruit flies that flock to the melon slices, and the houseflies that don't discriminate.

Between those pests and the problem of keeping cool foods cool, is it really worth setting up that table outdoors?

The Vacu Vin Cool Plate is designed to make outdoor cooking and serving a whole lot easier.

Those steaks are big. You could easily fit four strip steaks.

It's a pretty simple device - lidded box with a metal tray that sits above a section where you put a reusable freezer pack.

The freezer pack is designed to fit perfectly into the tray, and to make it easier to stuff into your freezer, it folds in half.

One thing I really like about the box is that the lid lifts off easily, but if you lift it open rather than lifting it off, it stays in place in the upright position. That means you can take things out of it without having to hold the lid open. And since you don't need to take the lid entirely off, you don't have to find a place to set the lid down.

The Cool Plate has a lot of uses. For one thing, you can put food in it before you cook it, and the cooling plate will keep it from precooking from the blazing sun while also keeping flying critters away. When the food is cooked, you can use it to keep the food safe and warm. Just remove the rack and wash it - or just remove it - and take out the cooling pack.

You can also use it for keeping foods cool for serving - like those melon slices, cupcakes, or burger toppings and condiments.

This certainly isn't an ice chest or a freezer - it's meant to keep foods cooler than if you left them out in the open. But if you leave this sitting in the sun for a couple hours, it's not going to keep your potato salad completely safe. If you need to keep things cool for a longer serving time, you could refill the bottom area with ice from your cooler or other freezer packs. And of course, try to keep foods in the shade rather than in direct sun.

While the Cool Plate isn't the most attractive thing ever, it's also not ugly. It's marketed to be used outdoors, but you could also use it indoors to hold foods that you want to keep cool but easily accessible during a party, like deviled eggs, cold cuts, or lox for your bagels.

If coolness isn't an issue, it's still a nice serving container with that lid that lifts and stays in place.

Who's it for: People who want to keep foods cool indoors or out.

Pros: It's a low-tech device. I liked the size - big enough to hold enough, but not super-bulky.

Cons: This is going to be one more thing to store.

Wishes: Some folks might want a variety of sizes for different purposes.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

J.K.Adams Trilogy Collection - Cutting Boards for Readers

The J.K. Adams Trilogy Collection might sound like the latest sci-fi series, but it's actually a very cool set of cutting boards.

Okay, let me admit this. I have a lot of cutting boards. But ... I use them. Some I use for cutting, some are more often used for photos. I'm not big into set dressing, so when I take photos I like to have different surfaces for the dishes - or the food - to sit on.

These aren't huge boards that you're going to use for carving a turkey - or even a chicken. The largest of the three boards is 9 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches, so they're best suited for bar boards, for cutting small garnishes or small amounts of ... whatever .... or for serving.

I could see setting out one with cheeses, one with meats, and one with other small noshes.

Or use them for display. Right now, mine are on my kitchen counter, looking decorative. They'd also look good in the midst of some cookbooks that you keep in the kitchen.

Heck, even my friends who don't like lots of stuff on their kitchen counters might make an exception for these.

And, this is totally silly, but I even loved the tag that came with the boards. They're secured with a fat rubber band, with a tag that looks like a library card. That'll probably end up being used as a bookmark in one of my real cookbooks.

If you're looking for a gift for a cook who likes to read, check these out.

Who's it for: Cooks who read, or readers who cook.

Pros: Decorative. Nice wood. Great for small tasks.

Cons: Your turkey ain't gonna fit.

Wishes: I hope they come out with an encyclopedia set with a larger cutting board (maybe fish, vegetable and meat books!) and a dictionary chopping block.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.