Game Day Meals and the Kitchenware to Make Them

Are you ready for Superbowl weekend? I am...almost. I know what game day meals and snacks I'm making for our Superbowl party, but I still need to get some of the stuff to make our game day meal. Really it's just tortilla chips and Mexican dip and football-shaped cookies, but that sounds like a delicious Game Day meal to me.

To make the Mexican chip dip, I'll definitely be using my slow cooker. If you need an awesome slow cooker for game day meals, check out the Hamilton Beach 33967 Programmable Slow Cooker--it has a probe mode for cooking meats to perfection!

If you're going to a game day party instead of hosting one, remember to take a host/hostess gift. For casual parties like Superbowl weekend, food and drink are the most common host gifts, but plastic plates, cups and flatware are also excellent kitchen gifts to help out with game day meals.

Are you ready to feed the crowd at your Superbowl party this weekend? What recipes and kitchenware will you use to make your game day meal?

Cookware Gift Idea: Cuisinart MCP-12 Stainless Steel Set

If you're looking for a cookware gift to surprise a budding chef, the Cuisinart MCP-12 is a sure way to go. Currently the #2 bestseller on Amazon, this cookware set uses an aluminum core for maximum heat conduction and stainless steel outer layers for good looks and easy cleaning. The Cuisinart MCP-12 makes an excellent cookware gift because it includes all the pieces you use most, and even a few extras, such as a steamer insert.

The best parts about giving this set as a cookware gift are its extra capabilities: the Cuisinart MCP-12 is dishwasher-safe (unlike a lot of other cookware) and it's safe in the oven up to 500 degrees.

You can feel confident about giving the Cuisinart MCP-12 as a cookware gift. Cuisinart prides itself on its "Heat Surround Technology," or the specific details and method of the tri-ply construction. This technology helps the pans heat up faster at a lower setting and eliminates hot spots. Even more convincing, this cookware set has an average customer rating of 4.5 stars (on Amazon).

Would you give the Cuisinart MCP-12 as a cookware gift? Have you used the set before and have tips to share?

High-end Gifts in Kitchen and Dining

Sometimes high-end gifts fit the occasion better than other kitchen gifts. Weddings are a good example: couples receive lots of kitchen and dining staples, like towel sets and slow cookers, as wedding and bridal shower gifts. Giving a newlywed couple a high-end gift makes your gift stand out from the rest. And honestly, how many glass candlesticks or crystal goblets are they going to receive? Probably only yours.

Plenty of other examples of high-end gift situations abound: the gourmet chef who has every kitchen appliance known to man, the hostess who throws several elegant dinner parties a year, a unique housewarming gift. High-end gifts in kitchen and dining aren't always expensive; they just look extra fancy. Glass candlesticks, crystal serving trays, fine glass stemware, glass tabletop decor, and even crystal wall sconces are all great examples of dining decor that looks high-end but doesn't have to be expensive.

While the recipients of these high-end gifts may not use them everyday, they'll be glad to have them when they host parties, prepare fancy holiday dinners, or want to change up their kitchen and dining decor.

What high-end kitchen gifts have you given or received? Where have you found deals on fancy kitchen gifts?

Cookware Review: Paula Deen Signature Porcelain

My husband and I received the Paula Deen 19241 Signature Porcelain 12-piece Cookware Set for our wedding  just over a year ago, and it has been a wonderful set. We use it almost every day and it still looks new and performs admirably.




This Paula Deen cookware is nonstick, and it's fabulous. There are absolutely no flakes or chips. After a year of daily use, ours has a few marks from metal utensils, but no deep scratches. Food slides right off the pan, even eggs, and burned-on food comes off without a fuss. The nonstick coating also makes cleaning a breeze. The only time I need to soak my Paula Deen cookware is after cooking something thick or with dregs that dry to the pot, like chili.

One thing I love about this Paula Deen cookware is that the pieces heat up very quickly and evenly. I can cook canned soups and chilis in less than 5 minutes, and sauteed checken is done in about 10 minutes or less. Plus, there no hot spots.

Another thing I love about this Paula Deen cookware set is the glass lids. I like being able to check the progress of the food without lifting the lid. The rubberized handles are also great, and they're nonslip and comfortable to hold.

The only disadvantage of this set is that the handle on the smallest pot is a bit too heavy for it, so it sometimes tips over when empty. This isn't usually a problem if there's food in the pot or if the lid is on. Also, I believe the set must be handwashed, but I don't have a dishwasher anyway, so it's not an issue for me.

This Paula Deen cookware set is wonderful and I highly recommend it. It includes standard-sized pieces and is perfect for most cooking adventures. I received it as a wedding gift, and it would make an excellent starter cookware set for a college student.

What are your thoughts about the Paula Deen Signature Porcelain cookware set?

How to Use Wishlists to Find Kitchen Gift Ideas

Many online shopping portals have a wishlist feature where users can save specific products that they might want to get later. If you're having trouble thinking of the perfect kitchen gift idea, browsing the combined data of the wishlists can generate some great ideas.

Amazon.com is a good example. You can navigate to any category in the store (such as Kitchen and Dining) and click the "Gift Ideas" button in the blue bar across the top (the "Gift Ideas" button is on the right under the "Cart" button). This takes you to the "Most Gifted in Kitchen and Dining" page, which features a "Most Wished For" box with the top ten products in several subcategories. Click the side arrows and browse until inspiration strikes!

What do you do to find the perfect kitchen gift? Share your inspiration and ideas!

Kitchen Gifts for Game Day

If you're not planning a party for Game Day, chances are somebody you know is. Get the host a kitchen gift he'll really appreciate (and use at least once a year) by considering how he could use it at a Superbowl party.

One staple of good Game Day parties is a slow cooker. Perfect for cooking thick chilis, moist meat for shredding, or barbeque sausages, the versatile slow cooker can make main dishes and appetizers for the party and keep them warm for the duration of the game. For the host who likes perfectly cooked meats but doesn't want to grill in February, consider a programmable slow cooker with a probe thermometer, like the Hamilton Beach 33967 Set 'n Forget 6-quart Programmable Slow Cooker. This model features a the traditional manual mode with High and Low settings, a program mode that cooks for a specific amount of time, and a unique probe mode that cooks until the food reaches a certain temperature, which it knows thanks to the included probe thermometer. The Hamilton Beach 33967 can easily hold a whole chicken and other large roasts and cuts.

If a slow cooker isn't quite what you had in mind for a Superbowl party host gift, consider other Game Day entertaining options such as team-specific serving trays and grilling utensils.

Are you planning or attending a Game Day party? What Superbowl party kitchen gifts are you giving or hoping for? 

Giving KitchenAid Appliances & Accessories

If the person on your gift list loves KitchenAid appliances and accessories, giving a KitchenAid gift is always a smart idea. KitchenAid is a favorite brand of many cooks and bakers for several reasons:

• KitchenAid has an exceptional warranty and replacement process
• The brand has embraced lots of colors and designs to match any style
• KitchenAid appliances are known for being highly reliable

Before you purchase a KitchenAid appliance as a gift, check out reviews and forums to find out what the most popular choices are and if they're a good match for your budget and the recipient's cooking needs. Articles and reviews like this one about the KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials Hard Anodized 12-piece Cookware Set often include tips, explanations, and more information than you could find in other places.

If you're stuck for ideas on which KitchenAid accessories or appliances to purchase as gifts, consider these best-sellers:

KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Empire Red
Empire Red is the most popular color of KitchenAid stand mixers. If your intended gift recipient already has a mixer, consider mixer covers and a large variety of mixer attachment packs.

KitchenAid KSB560MC 5-Speed Blender with Polycarbonate Jar, Metallic Chrome
The polycarbonate jar is lighter than glass and doesn't break if you drop it. The chrome color is perfect for modern-style kitchens.

KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials Series
This line includes various cookware sets and individual pieces as well as matching tea kettles.

What KitchenAid appliances do you own and love?

New Year's Resolutions and Healthy Kitchen Gift Ideas

Many of my New Year's resolutions revolve around my health, such as losing weight and working toward a healthier lifestyle. Kitchen gifts that help your friends and family keep their health-related goals are always welcome, especially if they've already fallen off the bandwagon and need a push to get back on.

A common goal for many people is to eat more fruits and vegetables. The benefits of a plant-based diet are well-documented, but the switch can be difficult when you're used to fast food and frozen meals. To help a friend (or yourself) keep this resolution, consider giving a juicer, such as a 5-star Cuisinart juice extractor that allows you to consume more fruits and veggies in liquid form than you would be able to eat in solid form.

Other kitchen gifts to help you keep your healthy New Year's resolutions could include food steamers, vacuum sealers, fat-reducing grills, salad spinners, food scales, and many other products. These help you eat more greens, preserve foods, reduce fats and other unhealthy food components, and make sure you're getting the right amount of each food.

What are your health-related goals this year? What healthy kitchen gifts would you like to receive or give to a friend?

Occasions for Kitchen Gift Ideas: College and Marriage

Going off to college and getting married both represent a new phase in someone's life, making them perfect occasions for kitchen gifts. College students and newlyweds both move into new kitchens, are probably still learning how to cook for themselves, and need all the gifts and help they can get. A student starter kitchen set or a standard 10-piece cookware set are perfect.

You can find these types of kitchen sets just about anywhere, and usually for an affordable price. If you're searching online, look for "complete kitchen sets," "starter kitchen kits," or any variation of these search terms.

If a complete kitchenware set doesn't work for you, consider giving other kitchen essentials. These include anything the gift recipient might take for granted, such as towels, salt and pepper shakers, or sandwich makers. Basic kitchenware always makes a good gift and is varied and affordable enough to fit any taste and budget.

Is Hard Anodized Cookware Safe?

Yes. Hard anodized cookware is simply aluminum that is submerged in a sulfuric acid bath and subjected to an electric current running through the bath. This process creates a thick coating of aluminum oxide, which substantially hardens and strengthens the aluminum while retaining its ability to conduct heat. This coating also resists corrosion and abrasion.

While hard anodizing the aluminum produces an almost non-porous surface, meaning it's practically nonstick even unfinished, most hard anodized cookware, such as the T-Fal Signature Hard Anodized 12-piece cookware set, will have a nonstick coating added at least to the skillets.

Because the process of hard anodizing is often used for industrial and commercial uses, many people wonder if hard anodized aluminum is safe to cook food in. Hard anodizing was actually first developed for restaurant chefs because they needed durable pans that cooked fast but could withstand the use and abuse of a professional kitchen. If it's good enough for a gourmet chef, it's definitely safe to use at home.

3 Ways to Save Money on Expensive Kitchen Gift Ideas

Lots of kitchen gift ideas are pretty affordable, especially if you're thinking of small items like kitchen gadgets or mixing bowls. But when the perfect gift is something extra nice or a brand-name product, such as All-Clad Copper Core cookware, the price usually becomes a deterring factor. Here are three ways you can save money and find deals on the upscale kitchen gifts.

Watch and wait.
Deals on the more expensive items are often seasonal. If you discover a great Christmas kitchen gift in January, take advantage of the intervening time to regularly monitor the item's price at several stores.

Search famously low-priced stores.
Well known for selling products online at lower-than-retail prices, Amazon.com is a great example. Watching and waiting applies here too, if you have time. Also keep an eye on the sellers who use Amazon to sell their own products; they have to offer the product at the same or a lower price than Amazon does.

Comparison shop.
Have you ever searched for a product or brand name on Google and seen several products near the top of the page? That's Google Shopping, the search engine giant's comparison shopping engine. Many comparison shopping engines exist to help you find the best deals on the products you're looking for.

There are plenty of other ways to save on pricey kitchenware, but these three ideas will help you get started. The best time to think of gifts for the coming year is now, so you have time to find the best kitchen gifts. Plus, the more time you have, the more you'll likely save thanks to watching prices and thinking clearly.

Kitchen Gift Idea: Stainless Steel Cookware Sets

Cookware sets can be amazing kitchen gifts if you get the right kind for the cook on your list. Stainless steel cookware, for example, is perfect for the sleek, modern kitchen and a cook who knows the ins and outs of cooking without the aid of a nonstick coating.

When you're looking at stainless steel cookware sets, look for one with "ply" or "clad" in the title. This means the stainless steel surrounds a layer of another metal, such as copper or aluminum, with much better heat conduction.   A good example is the Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 13-piece cookware set. This set makes an excellent kitchen gift idea because the stainless steel is gorgeous and easy to clean, the aluminum core provides fast and even heating, and the set contains all the pieces experienced cooks use most.

When giving a stainless steel cookware set, be sure to include a stainless steel cleanser as part of the gift to keep the steel looking great. Bar Keeper's Friend is a well-known example.

How to Use Best-seller Lists to Find Kitchen Gift Ideas

Coming up with the best kitchen gift for the someone on your list can be daunting. Best-seller lists can help you out when you're stumped for ideas. Most major online shopping venues keep track of the best-selling products in each category. To access the Kitchen Best-sellers list at Amazon.com, follow these steps:

1. Go to Amazon.com
2. Hover over Home, Garden and Tools in the left navigation (under Shop All Departments)
3. In the pop-up menu, click on Kitchen & Dining
4. On the Kitchen & Dining page, click the Best Sellers button at the top left, just under the search bar; OR navigate to a subcategory and then click the Best Sellers button

You can also read best-seller lists composed by bloggers and writers, who combine the data from online shopping venues with their own reviews and experiences. Check out this example if you're interested in hard anodized aluminum cookware.