Showing posts with label kitchen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchen. Show all posts

December 7, 2014

Gadgets and Gifts for the Home

From stocking stuffers to office parties and hostess gifts, San Francisco based Joseph Enterprises has delivered functional and novelty products to people around the world for almost thirty-five years and releases its “Gift for Everyone on Your List” line just in time for holiday shopping. 

October 27, 2014

Trudeau Has Something For Everyone

Trudeau offers a variety of cleverly designed practical accessories under $50 that are wonderful to give as hostess gifts, or to be placed in the dinner table, which will be appreciated by everyone.

October 26, 2014

Flavourful Stew made in the Breville Risotto Plus

I made this hearty, flavourful stew in the Breville Risotto Plus cooker. I found it awesome that I can sauté, steam, make rice and risotto, as well as use it as a slow cook all in the same bowl with this Risotto Plus. I really like how the food caramelizes and cooks in the sauté mode, which I can then switch to either rice, steam, or risotto, or slow cook either in high or low setting all using the same bowl without additional work.

September 27, 2014

Cooking on Circulon Pans

Having good pots and pans is a must for every cook. Circulon, a global leader and innovator in non-stick cookware has launched a newly designed Prime Collection that is available exclusively at Canadian Tire. The collection includes: cookware sets, stockpots, skillets, roasters and an electric griddle starting at $49.99. I think this refreshing choice of cookware delivers a wonderful cooking experience. Circulon pans are manufactured and inspected to ensure highest quality standards, and are guaranteed to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal household use for the lifetime of the cookware.

insink Is An Eco-friendly Product For Our Kitchen

If you are worried about climate change and want to make a difference, then you will like this innovative product that conserves water, time, energy and money. I try to always be conscious about my actions, and environmental impacts and was glad to check out the insink designed by a Toronto based dad, Tonis Tollasepp. insink is being supported through the Kickstarter community, and I think it is a wonderful product that needs our support to come to the market. You can show your support here on his Kickstarter campaign page by raising capital by pre-ordering.

May 8, 2014

Win a Basket of Scotch-Brite™ Sponges and Say So long To Grime and Scratches

Whether it is breakfast or lunch, after school snack or dinner, our kitchen is the center of it all. Mess after mess, it seems never ending. Having the perfect products to help keep our kitchen clean and welcoming, and being able to say so long to grime and scratches is a relief for everyone in my home and me.

January 13, 2014

Check This Impressive New Dishwashing Finish® Power & Free™ For Yourself

I really enjoyed using the new dishwashing solution from Finish® that requires no compromise in allowing our dishes to be sparkling clean. It truly makes me feel good knowing that fewer harsh chemicals have helped us to achieve those same great results.

December 10, 2013

Our Holiday Baking Traditions and Baking Cupcakes

I love baking! The love for baking and cooking is embedded in me probably because of helping out as a young child in the kitchen when my grandma, aunts, cousins and mom get busy making a variety of dishes. We used to get together and make lots of goodies to give family, friends and neighbours during special occasions and festivals. I love continuing this tradition with my family and get everyone in the mood to bake and share.

August 2, 2013

Strawberry Banana Milk Bars

With the summer heat we are always looking for ways to cool down, so I made this delicious milk bars or popsicles with strawberry and banana. In June when it was strawberry season in Ontario, it has become our tradition to take the kids and pick our own strawberries in a local farm close to home. I usually remove the top and cut the strawberries into two and freeze it. 

April 10, 2013

Top Chefs Canada is back on air with a chance for us to win

Top Chef Canada is back on air with its 3rd season. Sixteen of Canada’s most talented chefs are competing for the coveted title and the $100,000 cash prize that is presented by SpongeTowels, one of Canada’s favourite paper towel brands.
Contest:
SpongeTowels is also providing one lucky viewer a chance to win - cooking demonstration and dinner

November 25, 2012

Our kitchen renovation DIY project using Aspect metal

kitchen renovation
We renovated our kitchen and changed how our kitchen looks using Aspect Metal peel and stick tiles. This DIY project was very exciting as it changed the whole look of our kitchen giving it a sleek, sophisticated, modern and a clean feel that we really like. My husband did all the work on his own and completed the project within a couple of days during the weekend. The project would have been completed sooner, however because of time limitations he did the project a little bit at a time.  
aspect tiles kitchen renovation
We had wallpaper prior to doing this project and had a few prep work to do. He removed the wallpaper, cleaned it up, fixed up the wall, primed it with an oil based primer and left it to completely dry before starting to paste the tiles. The instruction that came with the tiles said that it would work well only on flat, primed, smooth walls so we wanted to make sure the wall was perfectly ready :) We read the instructions very carefully twice before starting and I highly recommend this. The video on this site is also very helpful to watch before starting the project.  
aspect tiles kitchen renovation
The instructions on the tile box has a list of tools we may need.  
We used...
hacksaw for the large pieces
chisel for small pieces
sandpaper to smoothen the sharp cuts
utility knife
pencil, paper, cloth, primer, brush
adhesive glue
drill (only needed if want to put any shelves or screws for hanging purposes)


Before sticking the tiles we measured, then measured again and decided that the subway pattern was most suitable for us.  There were lots of design ideas online as well as on the instruction sheet, which was helpful.  

aspect tiles kitchen renovation
My husband drew the middle line before pasting the tiles starting from the centre and out.  He also did the bottom row close to the counter to make sure the tiles will be aligned correctly.
We chose the long grain, brushed champagne tiles.  Each box has 8 tiles that are 3"x6", and to cover our area we needed 12 boxes.
aspect tiles kitchen renovation
When doing this projects we encourage and recommend that...
  • You measure everything twice :)
  • When cutting think about the grain because if the grains are not in the same direction it will look different depending on the lighting and angle; unless you want the different shades as part of your decor
  • Use glue adhesive to stick the tiles it is better in the long run
  • Remove the film on the front just before placing so the tiles don't get any scratches
  • Throw away the front and back peel immediately to avoid slipping on these
  • Start from the centre so the pattern will flow and look good
  • We wanted to put a shelf so we had to make holes into the tiles so we drew the location of the holes first on a piece of paper then made the points on the tile and carefully drilled it
  • After cutting don't skip on sanding the edges
  • We can use a clear or coloured caulk to seal around the bottom and edges 
  • Get matching switch plates, this is something we forgot and had to hurry to Home Depot :) and found decor wall plates from Atron.  The Aspect tiles site recommends outlet covers from Wall Plate Warehouse.
aspect tiles kitchen renovation
There are lots of pros in using these Aspect Metal tiles:
  • The look is fabulous and gives the space a contemparary feel.
  • Instantly adds a whole new beautiful look, which also adds value to the space.
  • A modern look with the metal for an affordable price and a fraction of the cost compared to using real tiles.
  • We can do it ourself and not have to pay contractors and experts.
  • Easy to maintain and clean by simply wiping it with a soft cloth.
  • The tiles are eco-friendly as it made with 50% recycled materials and the tiles are 100% recyclable 
  • There is a good choice of colour we can choose from; brushed champagne, stainless, copper and bronze.
  • There are two types of grains we can choose from long or short grain. 
  • Once the project is complete we will feel really good :)
aspect tiles kitchen renovation
My husband really enjoyed the whole process and he says he liked how he felt when every tile was placed :) which is good news for me as I can think of other projects to do.  My children and family/friends who came said how good it looks.  My four year old suggests that we decorate the entire living room with these tiles :)

These tiles are available online and at home hardware stores such as Home Depot.  Aspect metal tiles will look good as backsplash, in small areas of the wall to add accent, in cabinets and to put detail around fireplace etc.  We really enjoyed the process of doing this project and are enjoying how good the kitchen looks now.  If you are thinking of doing something to spice up your kitchen or other areas around the home think metal and choose these tiles from Aspect ideas.
kitchen renovation
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Updated September 3, 2015 In Reply to a question from a reader (Thank you Stacey):
Was curious how they have held up. More info about the additional glue you used would also be interesting. Did you take the foam backer off first?

Answer 
The Aspect tiles are holding up great since we placed them in 2012. We did a kitchen renovation (Cabinet transformation) and decided to keep the aspect tiles because it still looks new. We did not remove the foam backing as it is not supposed to be removed just the peel from the sticker was removed before each tile was pasted. There is a film protecting the tiles which was removed after the tiles were installed. The glue that was on the peel off wasn't as strong (the items in 2012), so I used the "Weldbond" universal adhesive that can be found at Homedepot or Lowes, you could use any construction adhesive. I primed the wall before installation so the tiles stuck firm.
Also another tip, if you need to cut the tile its best to use a utility knife and keep scoring it and then snap off.

June 10, 2012

Architec kitchen gadgets

Architec kitchen gadgets are functional and trendy, which would be suitable for any type of kitchen.  The design is well though out for our convenience.  These cool gadgets are sold at all these retailers.

I like the style of this prepscolander.  The handles are comfortable to hold.  This colander comes in 1Qt and 4 Qt.  The base has a gripper, so it won't slide.  It is easy to clean, can also be put in the dishwasher.  The extra wide flare top makes it easy to transfer content without spilling.  Children would enjoy this prepscolander when they are helping in the kitchen, as the size is small enough for their little hands.  It is lightweight and unbreakable.  
When my 3 year old son saw this colander, he looked at it and said, "This is a good size for me to use... (silent pause) and play with :)"
1Qt colander, 11" x 14" Gripper and barboard

These unique cutting boards come in trendy colours.  The boards have non-slip gripper base, so it doesn't move or slide when we cut.  The grips don't leave marks on the counter.  I really like the design and the safety feature.  It is easy to clean, can also be placed in the dishwasher.  The boards are made out of food grade material, which will not dull the blades of the knives.  
The barboard is 5" x 7", it is convenient to take on our summer BBQ trips :) and perfect for the small jobs in the kitchen such as cutting lemons.
I have stopped using my wooden cutting board as I really like this gripper board.  This gripperboard is the large version of the barboards.  It comes in 8" x 11" and 11" x 14".  
The boards can be stored conveniently in the cupboards or hung to show off the cool looking gripper side, which makes a unique colourful deco in the kitchen.
The Stretch hot cooking bands can be used in place of butcher twine, string and toothpick.  These disposable reusable cooking bands create less garbage.  The package is designed to store and hold the bands, which can be reused.  It also has a L-Hook and stands on the shelf for convenience and display.  The bands stretch to fit our task.

The HotGrips have two sides, which can be used as a silicone trivet and potholder.  It takes less space to store.  It can also be hung as it has a hole on the top.  As the HotGrips use gripper traction technology it holds the pots safely.  This dishwasher safe HotGrips made out of silicone can hold up to 600F.  It comes in 4 beautiful colours.

I like this cute recipe card holder to keep on the counter to hold quick notes, grocery list and reminders.  It is intended to hold a maximum of 8 pages and recipe cards.  Hope the company will find a way to hold the magnetic ball to the holder so we won't lose it.
Anyone using Architec products will find it cool, unique and appreciate the colourful functional design of their products.  

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May 10, 2012

Designerliners for wastebaskets



These Designerliners are fancy decor bags for our trashcans.  These disposable bags made in USA are biodegradable.  
Muriel Wiener came up with this creative idea to "dress the mess".  She has a selection of 11 colours and design combinations to fit into any home decor.
Here is a list of available designs:
Polka dot pink, orange, navy blue and green
Gingham gold and red
Leopard black and blue
Toile red and blue
Tattersol black

We can re-use these bags if we wish depending on what type of trash is put in it.  The designerliners I received were the large size 24" x 24" blue toile.  They were pretty big, so I put them in my kitchen indoor recycle bin.  These bags are strong enough to hold the content and I could easily take it out, get rid of the recycle and put it back in place or throw it away depending on the condition of the bag.

For the designs to show the bags have to be placed inside out.  Friends and family that visited told me that it looks cute and ended up looking into the trash, which is definitely a different perspective on how the waste is looked upon :)
I also placed it in the bedroom trash container, where I put old paper and such so I don't have to throw these bags away each time.

Designerliners are also available in small size 17.75" x 19" bags and medium 21" x 24".  I think I would prefer the small bags to place in the guest washroom.  It would also be neat if there were a variety of designs in a package to change it up.  A pack comes with 12 designerliners for $9.95.  It would be nice if there were more bags in a pack especially if the small size packages contain more liners.  

The designerliners also make custom design liners for companies.  These decorative waste liners are available online and on amazon.

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April 23, 2012

Gloves Off eco-friendly cleaners



It is hard to find cleaning products that are safe around children that are not corrosive or have horrible fumes. I am glad I got a chance to test Gloves Off, which is an eco-friendly line of cleaning products from Planet People. The products are all natural blends of essential oil and ingredients derived from plants. There are no harsh toxic chemicals or fumes.

I liberally used the Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover in the washroom and kitchen. I didn't smell a thing, unlike when I use the other brands I have to cover my nose and ask the children to leave :)
I would not say that it does miracles because I tried it on surfaces where there has been rusts for a long period of time. Hard water staining is very hard to get rid of and I have tried a few regular traditional cleaners on this rust before that didn't work fast as well. I think with regular use of this product the rust will wear off. However using Gloves off is a better option than using chemicals with toxic and fumes.
Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover can be used in all types of surfaces and appliances. When I used it in the kitchen sink it did make a big difference as it was sparkling clean after I put a little bit of Gloves Off Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover and scrubbed it with a steel wool.

Tough stain remover removes all type of stains such as dried latex paint, pen, crayon, marker, make up, pet, food, grease, chewing gum, adhesive, soap, oven grim etc. This could be used in any type of surface including fabric, first test in a small spot. This product can be poured directly, let it penetrate on the surface, wipe and rinse if needed. When applying on fabric stain apply a small amount, blot with a wet cloth and wash separately in the laundry.
I used Tough stain remover to clean pen marks off a rug. I used it liberally, rubbed and washed it. This mark has been there for a while and I didn't know how to get rid of it and wanted something that wouldn't leave a patch like when we use bleach. So I tried this Tough stain remover and it did remove the marks. It also removed the stains in the microwave and cooker.


I usually take precautions and wipe everything especially during seasonal changes. I am glad this time I got to try the Gloves Off all purpose cleaner & disinfectant. Before I got to know Gloves Off, I use to dilute Dettol with water, or dilute vinegar or baking soda, which usually had an after smell.
Gloves Off All purpose cleaner & disinfectant is a registered disinfectant with Health Canada that kills 99.9% germs, so for me it is better to use this than diluting products. It is made form essential oils and plant extract, if you know the smell of ajwain seeds then it smelled exactly like that. It can be used anywhere as it kills bacteria, virus and eliminates odour removing germs without ammonia and bleach. It can be used as a cleaner, disinfect or and deodorizer by shaking it well, spraying and wiping. There is no need to rinse. If you are using in areas where food will have direct contact rinse the area afterwards.

Although it is safe, I would prefer to have gloves on or use many layers of cloth to clean the surfaces without having direct contact with the cleaning product because it maybe strong for our hands. The biggest bonus of Gloves Off is that it doesn't have fumes and is safe for the environment and us.

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