Top Picks for the Kitchen ~ As of lately…

Thanks to this blog, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Well, a lot more time than I would normally spend in there. And, I’m not complaining. It’s a good thing! I’ve discovered so many new recipes and have been learning so much. Plus, my family can’t complain. They’ll take a home-cooked meal, any day.

So, I’ve stumbled across a few kitchen favorites that I’ve been wanting to tell y’all about…

First up, I’m ashamed to admit that I am grilling-inept. Actually, I’m afraid of grilling. I think I might do something crazy-wrong and blow up the house if I try to use it. You’re right, I could just LEARN how to do it (what a concept!) but, I just haven’t. Yet. I will. Someday.

I stumble across grill recipes all the time, that I would love to make…but, I don’t. So, a couple weeks ago I was fantasizing about owning a table-top grill, that I could use inside…not even knowing if they existed. I typed it in on an Amazon search, and lo and behold…an indoor grill. An easy, fool-proof indoor grill (Sanyo Electric Indoor BBQ Grill). And, not just any indoor grill…this puppy had over 500 people raving about it in their reviews, saying it cooked as nicely as their outdoor one. Even better, it’s only $40 bones. I bought it.

See that? Marinated turkey…with the lovely grill lines, and everything. That’s right. I love this thing. I still vow to overcome my outdoor grill-fear…but, I may put it off for a while. There’s a tray on the bottom that you fill with water that absorbs the smoke. Other than that, just turn the dial to the heat setting and wait for it to heat up. Reviewers say its great for apartment living. Others love it because they can grill in the winter or avoid going in and out of the house to check on it. I just like it because I’m a nerd, who doesn’t know how to really grill.

Okay, I owe my actual life to this product. I would have dehydrated without it. So, a couple weeks ago, my jar of minced garlic spilled in the fridge. Never let that happen, trust me. The smell seeped into every thing in my fridge, even into the actual shelves…I swear! I pulled everything out of the fridge and washed it, but the garlic smell was still there. Eeek! The worst part was that the smell crossed over into my freezer and made my ice taste like garlic. I live on ice water and I’m not cool with garlic-ice. So, I stopped drinking…and people die that way, I’ve heard. Dramatic, right? Yes. So, I did me-self some research and learned that the Whirpool Refrigerator Deodorizer works like a champ. I ordered it, over-nighted it, and immediately put it in the fridge. I also got the companion Whirlpool Ice Cube and Freezer Deodorizer. By the next day, vast improvement. Two days later, 100% better. I’m loving my ice water again…sweet! Oh, but tell me this…why is it that fridge has a ‘d’ in it, but refrigerator doesn’t? Isn’t fridge just a shortened version of refrigerator? It messes me up all the time!

Next up,Crisco with Pillsbury Flour Spray. This stuff is so genius. Have you ever made a cake where you have to butter the bottom of the pan and then flour it? Or, try to cut your parchment paper to the proper shape? There’s something about it that I just dread. Call me lazy, but I hate it. So, when I saw this can of flour spray at the store, I was skeptical. But, it was worth a shot. Okay. This stuff works perfectly. Just as good as if I butter/floured the pan myself! Perfectly.

Speaking of cakes, which I heart immensely, I have always been irked when I make a lovely, frosted sheet cake to take somewhere, only to have the plastic wrap pull off the frosting. Then nobody wants to try your cake because it looks like you suck at baking. Speaking from experience. It doesn’t seem as bad with a 9×13…maybe because the cake is set lower, but a sheet cake? There’s no escaping the plastic wrap conundrum…UNLESS, you get one of these bad boys…a Nordic Ware Baker’s Sheet Cake Pan with LID!
I’ve seen a 9×13 with lid, but never one of these…maybe I’ve been in a hole, but these are heaven-sent.

And, finally…you’ve heard me mention Mrs. Meyers products before. I love them, still. Every time I use them, I think, “ahh…I love you.” Especially, the countertop sprays and the dish soap. After cleaning the grime from the kitchen, I love wiping the scrumptious smelling countertop sprays across the counters. I love scrubbing the gunk off my dishes with the dish soap…it almost makes these crummy chores feel non-crummy. Almost. Smells are a powerful thing, and I guess it’s cool that the products are made with natural ingredients. I’ve found Mrs. Meyer’s products in Target, Harmons, Fresh Market, and Amazon…to name a few. I actually just buy them in bulk on Amazon. It’s cheaper that way.