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When I was growing up, my mom cooked dinner six nights a week. She is 100% Italian so we always had delicious meals with plenty of leftovers. My sister would always want to learn to cook and bake. I, on the other hand, didn’t mind having a personal chef (sometimes short order cook). When I moved into my now-husband’s apartment, I prepared dinners that consisted of cereal, scrambled eggs, shake and pour pancakes, French toast and my specialty, Elio’s Pizza. Jason, calmly, but seriously asked me the following:
- Do you know what a grocery store is?
- Do you know how to make anything other than breakfast foods and Elio’s Pizza?
I remember my husband driving to Acme and said “This is called a supermarket. This is where you buy fresh produce, meat, fish, and other items to prepare suitable dinners.” I tried familiarizing myself with the store layout by walking up and down the aisles. This was all a new experience. I missed my mom preparing meals, but knew I had to be an adult and learn how to cook.
Jason taught he how to cook everything. Four years later and I have baked a whole chicken independently. I was the girl that thought all chicken came frozen. Yep. People do change. An old dog can learn new tricks. I want to share with you some of the tools I have used that has helped me tremendously in the kitchen.
Simply Calphalon Nonstick 10 Piece Cookware Set & 5 Piece Nylon Utensil Set
The Simply Calphalon Nonstick 10 Piece Cookware Set and Calphalon 5-Piece Nylon Kitchen Cooking Utensil
This was my go-to when I first started learning how to cook. My husband now calls me the Crock Pot Queen. Here is one of the first recipes I made in my crock pot:
Rosemary Lemon Chicken
- Place a package of boneless skinless chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Pour a cup and a half of chicken broth into the slow cooker.
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the chicken broth. Slice another lemon and place on top of the chicken.
- Take springs of rosemary and lay them on top of the chicken.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Turn crock pot on low and cook up to 8 hours, or on high for approximately 4 hours. Feel free to add garlic or parsley.
- Serve over rice.
I have a happy husband every time I make this recipe. And yes, I have a 5-quart Camouflage Crock-Pot.
- Fill jar with 20 ounces of filtered water.
- Add a handful of washed baby spinach.
- Add a banana.
- Add strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, and mango. (Fresh or frozen)
- Add chia seeds.
- Add a few ice cubes.
- Add a drop of your favorite essential oil. I like lemon or peppermint. (Contact me to learn more about ingesting essential oils.)
- Hit the “Smoothie” option on the Blendtec. Enjoy.
Pressure Cooker
Nope, it won’t explode. I promise. I was afraid of pressure cookers too, until I started using one. It takes 20 minutes to have dinner ready using one of these bad boys. I use the Elite Platinum 8 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker.
- Brown 8 boneless pork chops in pressure cooker. Put aside.
- Place washed baby red potatoes in bottom of slow cooker.
- Add one roughly chopped white onion.
- Add two jars of marinara sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Add pork chops.
- Set pressure cooker for 22 minutes.
- Mangia!
These are my kitchen lifesavers. If I am not cooking with my pots, pans and utensils, I am making something in the crock-pot or pressure cooker. The Blendtec prepares all of my smoothies, soups, and desserts within minutes. I had absolutely no cooking background and needed equipment and appliances that work efficiently and simply. Now, my husband is happy when he comes home to a nutritious dinner. My mom is proud that I have learned a lifelong skill. I would strongly recommend the above items to anyone who wants to cook delicious meals without hassle.
What items do you use most often? Have a recipe to share? I’d love to hear from you.
Namaste.
I sort everything by category and date. Before I go to the supermarket, I make a list of everything I need to purchase. Then, I put an asterisk next to the items that have coupons. When I am in the store, when I get an item, I pull the coupon from the compartment and slip it into my pocket. When I use my club savings card, and buy items that are on sale, in conjunction with a coupon, I save the most money.
that are sourced from Nepal. (They have a fair-trade agreement with the farmers and are naturally sourced.) These yak chews are very hard, and dogs must soften them with their saliva before chewing a piece off. Bailey and my foster dogs will spend HOURS licking and biting little pieces off of the hard chew. I would strongly recommend these being eaten outside or on a surface that can be cleaned. What I love about Himalayan chews is that there is no waste. When a small piece remains, heat it in the microwave and it becomes a yummy yak puff.
. I prefer the braided bully sticks since they are more difficult for the dogs to break apart. These are softer and more pliable than the Himalayan chews, but still a tasty treat to occupy Fido. I would have to say that this is Bailey’s favorite treat.
toys are multi-purpose and a great investment. I sometimes put treats inside (your dog must roll the KONG around to get the treats out), or freeze peanut butter or water for a tasty treat. You can also make mealtime interactive by placing kibble inside the KONG. I appreciate that KONG toys can be easily cleaned and are relatively inexpensive.
, and often show Bailey how it’s done. Take small treats and put them in the jug. Fido’s job is to tug and manipulate the jug to get the treat. Bailey has turned this toy into a chew toy (she tries to bite through the rope), but the foster dogs are motivated to get the treat. It is a great brain teaser and keeps them mentally stimulated.
surpassed my expectations. She absolutely loved chewing the edges and ripping apart the middle section to get to the plastic part inside. (Pictured is the Floss version, I get the 360 Clean version). On the 360 Clean version, there is a treat pouch that you can freeze for teething puppies or add Fido’s favorite treats for added motivation. Besides keeping her and the foster dogs busy, the GUMI Dental Dog Toy helps floss and remove plaque from her teeth. This toy has provided hours of entertainment!
Realm of Vibes 