Entries Tagged 'Cooking' ↓

Featherlight meringue produces deliciously elegant, light cookies. These desserts are flavored with fragrant toasted hazelnuts and dipped in melted bittersweet chocolate for a rich, luscious treat.

Chocolate-Dipped Hazelnut Meringues

• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp. fine sea sealt
• 1 cup superfine sugar
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups hazelnuts, toasted, skinned and coarsely chopped
• 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

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Opens a bottle then glides over the top and makes a tight seal to keep beers from going flat or spilling. Perfect for bottles sized for more than one sitting. Made in Germany

This bottle opener can be used to open any crown cap bottle, ranging from a standard twelve-ounce beer to larger twenty-four or even forty ounce bottles. In the event that a twist off cap becomes stuck or impossible to open, it can even be used to pry those caps as well.

The resealing function is what sets this gadget apart and can also be used for a wide range of pop-cap bottles. One simply flips over the implement and, using the metal guides to grip the rim at the top of the bottle, slides the rubbery panel over the opening to ensure a tight seal over the beverage — preventing the contents from going stale or spilling when turned on its side. Hermetus Bottle Opener and Resealer $8.00

www.Kaufmann-Mercantile.com

If your on of those wives who love their non stick pans, reading the article below might sway you to switch them out for a healthier cooking alternative. Or if you cannot part with them at all, here are some tips to keeping them in tip top condition.

Health Concerns: Teflon contains highly toxic chemicals that may be released into your foods when the pan becomes scorched or starts to peel. The chemicals that manufacturers use to create the seemingly magic lining of nonstick cookware could end up damaging your liver or thyroid, or messing with your immune system. Reduce the risk of endocrine- and immune-system damage by ditching Teflon and other cookware made with fluoropolymers and fluorinated telomers. When replacing your pots and pans coated in Teflon, you should consider replacing them with cast iron or stainless steel cookware.

Replacing: If you must keep your teflon pots and pans replace them every two to three years or sooner if they have burned or the coating has begun to peel. This will depend on the wear of the pan, which can be determined by how well you have cared for it.

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Create up to four individual-sized pies full of your favorite fillings with this simple-to-operate pie maker. Whether its savory meat pies, vegetable pies, quiches or sweet fruit pies or tarts, most pies take just 8 minutes to cook. $99.50.

The “Mini Pie Cookbook makes it easy to create single-serving pies that the whole family will enjoy for snacks, dinners and desserts. Former pastry chef Abigail Johnson Dodge, a respected expert shows you how simple it is to assemble and bake pies using an electric mini pie maker. The charming desserts range from fruity fillings like apple-cinnamon, tangy cranberry-pear, plum-ginger, and strawberry-rhubarb to decadent flavors like s’mores, chocolate and caramel-banana. Of course, the classic are here, too, with recipes for seasonal favorites including pumpkin and pecan. Best of all, these delicious petite pies bake in just ten minutes without even turning on the oven. $19.95

www.WilliamSonoma.Com

While I was in New York over Halloween stuck in a massive snow storm, My friend and I decided to stay in and cook these tasty soft pretzels from scratch. I was incredible shocked at how easy they were to make and how yummy the results were. Since I have a rather sweet palete I rubbed butter on a few and topped them with cinnamon and sugar. – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
• 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
• Vegetable oil, for pan
• 10 cups water
• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• Pretzel salt

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