You know how I like kitchen gadgets that simplify my life and are easy to clean. I pick my big mandolin slicer when I need julienne strips but I would prefer a hand held option for when I only need to slice one carrot. I found this julienne slicer that seems to do a good job on Elena Pantry.

Another option is the Kuhn Rikon Julienne Peeler with Blade Protector, which costs less ($15 USD vs. $22.99).

+ Via Elena Pantry

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I bought for the first time a package of Kumato yesterday. Called the brown tomatoes, the fruits exhibit darker green, brown up to a darker red. It is sweeter than the red tomatoes that we are accustomed. The producer of Kumato, Sunset says it has an intense aroma and surprisingly sweet, juicy flavor.

The Kumato grabbed my attention because the color is perfect for a fall table. Serving a Caprese salad is a time saver but a Caprese salad feels like summer. Plus, the classic row presentation is too simple for a chic sit-down dinner. Not anymore. Look at how Sunset dished up their Kumato Caprese salad. I would slightly modify their recipe by adding some basil in the middle of the stack.

You could mix two or three kinds of tomatoes in a stack to add even more dimensions to your salad. If you do, make sure to select tomatoes with the same diameter.

Three Mozzarella Slicers and an Egg Slicer

We all experienced it. Making consistent slices of mozzarella with a knife is hard. This is where a mozzarella slicer comes to your rescue. I listed three slicers that people seem to appreciate. Except for the Tomato and Mozzarella Slicer by Rösle who catches juice in the base, the other mozzarella slicers on the market look like high-end egg slicers. I am curious to know if we can do both with one slicer. Does anyone know the difference, if any, between a good egg slicer and a mozzarella slicer?

1. Mozzarella Slicer at Williams-Sonoma $25 USD
2. Rosle 12755 Tomato and Mozzarella Slicer $29.95  USD
3. Mario Batali The Italian Kitchen Collection Mozzarella Slicer $24.99 USD
4. Leifheit Pro Line Stainless Steel Egg Slicer $13.99 USD

MORE:
+ Sunset Kumato Caprese Salad recipe

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I am looking for big single letter cake pans to write my husband’s name. I am looking for letters that would be more than 3-inch tall. I think the adjustable Alphabet/Number Cake Pan lacks refinement. I want my e and my o to have curves like this CAKE I spot on I love Dust. If you know a source, please share.

+ photo by I love Dust

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If you are looking for a twist of the typical muffin cups, look at these Tulip baking cups. They are designed to fit the standard 2-inch muffin pans.

These four-petal cups are made of Swedish greaseproof white or brown paper. They come in three sizes. Make sure you get the tallest model (2 3/4) since it is the only one that form a uniform tulip shape. The smallest sizes are randomly folded. Plus, taller muffins look more sophisticated.

You may want to revisit my tall muffin presentation where I discussed how to make your own tubular muffins. The raffia string creates a modern rustic look. For a more stylish look, replace the raffia by a beautiful paper band hold in place with an elegant ribbon and a decorative button.

SOURCING:
+ White Tulip Baking Cups $3.95 USD for pack of 24
+ Brown Tulip Baking Cups $3.95 USD for pack of 24

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A Spanish name for a Swedish retailer is a good clue that you are dealing with a creative crew. Cosas sell their own products or products manufactured in cooperation with designers and craftsmen.

I like to browse their catalogue from time to time to discover what I consider to be the most interesting items. Bengt Ek Design designed a superb aluminum kitchen scale that show a clock on one side and a graduated dial on the other.

The red shelf edge paper would deliver a charming old-fashioned look for an apple pie station or a bake sale. Then, the stainless steel salt and pepper set from Define has modern line. They stand on their own outside the rosewood tray.

SOURCING:
+ Kitchen scale with clock from Bengt Ek Design 170.43 EUR
+ Red Shelf edge paper 5.83 EUR
+ Stainless Steel Salt & pepper set with a wooden tray 29.54 EUR

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I guess that a lot of college students will ask this toaster as a housewarming gift. I totally understand the appeal. You know by now that I love bringing color into my home. It is not the first time that Bodum introduced color in an unusual but tasteful way.

The Bistro Toasters is not just a pretty thing. It has nice features that would be appreciated by moms and dads. The 900-watt Bistro 2-slice Toaster is made of stainless steel that is cover with a heat-resistant rubber exterior. It is safer. The little fingers cannot be burned by touching the toaster. It is also easier to clean. No more worries about finger marks on the toaster. Cool features are a defrost mode and a cancel button.

Writing this post makes me want to change my 15-year old toaster. I would like a red one to repeat the bright red center of my kitchen cabinets.

Bistro Flatbed Toasters by Bodum

The Flatbed toaster is something that I never seen before. It will be soon available. I read that it is:

• Great for Bagels, Croissants, Baguettes & More
• Toasts one side and defrosts four traditional slices of bread at once
• Comes with an adjustable Timer
• Toast larger breads without crushing them

I am curious to know how well it performs. If you have ever tried something similar, I would like to get your input. The Flatbed toaster is available in the same 8 colors.

SOURCING:
+ Bistro 2-slice Toaster by Bodum choice of 8 colors $79.99 USD at Amazon.com
+ Black Bistro Flatbed Toaster by Bodum $79.99 USD
+ Bodum Toaster Collection

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I love the ingenuity of the design behind every Royal VKB products. Their motto, Thought for Food says it all. This Dutch housewares company always succeed to grab my attention. If only, I could find a Canadian retailer who carries the entire range of Royal VKB.

A new product, Table Bin would appreciate by students who live with roommates. Designed with outdoor dining in mind, it can be practical for a small family. The concept is that you can filled the bin with food waste, place the utensils in the side pocket, stack dirty dishes on top on the lid and clean up the table in one batch.

Royal VKB developed clever double-duty measuring products that come in an array of colors. They have look and function. I told you before about Mix and Measure, a series of bowls with a graduated scale inside the bowl. You can get an air-tight lid that features a spoon rest on the reverse side.

The Cup and Store canisters come in aluminum and glass. The canister integrates a measuring cup, the lid, for easy pouring. Plus you save space since the jars can stacked into another.

No more need of a scale with the Balancing Bowls. Fill one half of the bowl and the bowl will tilt when you reach the indicated weight. This is not all, you can use the bowl for servings chips and other snacks.

As you can see, Royal VKB imagined stylish practical products that can save you time and space. For that, I gave them a 10.

SOURCING:
1. Mix & Measure by Jan Hoekstra € 9,95 to € 24,95 per bowl
2. Cup & Store Aluminium by Arian Brekveld € 9,95 to € 14,95 per jar
2. Cup & Store Glass by Arian Brekveld € 7,95 to € 9,95 per jar
3. Table Bin by Officeoriginair € 29,95
4. Balancing Bowl set by Jan Hoekstra € 14,95 for set of 2 bowls

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Some quick links to start the week.

+ First Sunday Suppers shows us how to preserve lemons, a must in Moroccan cuisine. You can find their twist on the lemon chicken tagine. Their recipe has preserved lemons, green olives and golden raisins.

+ An original moving announcement from FPO (for print only). The recipient can cut the pieces and assemble a moving truck. You can carry it on your purse and get it out when you need something to get your kid occupied. Via Snippet & Ink and Oh So Beautiful Paper

+ The last thing fits the color palette of my blog. It is fun tableware that I wish I knew where to buy. Antrepo designed  this salt and pepper shaker set as two rechargeable batteries. Because of the cool concept, I forgive them for putting only one hole on the pepper shaker. Via Death by Kerning and Lovely Package

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If you are looking for a unique gifts for a foodie with a love of modern design, browse through the catalogue of Eva Solo. They give unique shape to everyday housewares. Eva Solo products are not cheap. There are an indulgence. Therefore, they are perfect gift ideas.

Salad Sinner by Eva Solo

The Salad Spinner reinvent the old technique of washing salad. Your grand mothers used to do that with a tea towel. Now you can do it more efficiently and more stylishly with their salad spinner. I really like the look.

After you rinse the leaves with your hands (which you must always do whichever method you use), squeeze the top of the bucket together to form a spout and pour off the water. The lettuce is now ready for spinning. You need a little bit of vertical space. Swing the bucket around in the air – this you can do either indoors or outdoors. In the process, any surplus water and dirt collects under the drainage plate.

The bucket is made of soft TPE rubber, which is approved for foods, and has a nylon cord handle. The drainage plate is made of stainless steel. The bucket is available in creamy sand, spring green and steel grey.

Other Gift Ideas

The Eva Solo’s silicone potholders are available in new colors. I like it because you simply rinse them to remove small spills or put them in the dishwasher for a thorough wash. The flexibility of silicone means that they follow the form of the pots and pans your need to carry. If you want, you can place the potholders on a hook near the stove to have them close whenever you need.

You will be the stylish camper with the thermo picnic flask. In fact, they look as amazing that you can walk the city with the half-liter water flask.

SOURCING:
+ Salad Spinner by Eva Solo $118 USD
+ Eva Solo Flexible Potholders $45 USD for a pair
+ Mat or polished Thermo Water Flask 0.5 litter $99 USD 1L $188

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When it comes to kettles, you first have to decide if you are looking for a stove model or an electric model.

My preference goes to a classic teakettle that you put on the stove. I own a beautiful Italian design stainless steel whistling kettle. Many  friends told me over the years that my kettle looks great. Unfortunately, my husband does not like a stove kettle. Therefore, we stopped using it. I stored it just in case.

But the latest innovation in teakettle, water temperature gauge may change my mind. The bright color of the porcelain enameled teakettle made me wish for a red Cuisinart PerfecTemp Porcelain Enameled Teakettle.

The ultimate feature I have seen is the variable temperature electric kettle. Since we drink several types of teas at home, this will be heaven. It will ensure that I get the right temperature for his morning tea and my French-press coffee. The Breville Variable-Temperature Kettle beeps when water reaches the selected temperature and can maintain that temperature for up to 20 minutes.

SOURCING:
+ Cuisinart PerfecTemp Porcelain Enameled Teakettles $99.95 USD
+ Oxo Uplift Teakettle $49.95 USD
+ Dijon Whistling Teakettle $69.95 USD
+ Grenadine Round Teakettle by Staub $131.95 USD
+ Breville Variable-Temperature Kettle $149.95 USD

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More and more people are composting. Composting starts with a kitchen compost pail to store your vegetable peelings, fruit scraps, egg shells, coffee grinds and and other organic waste before you transfer them in your outdoor composter.

If this wish to join this trend, you will be glad to know that they are many compost pails on the market that will not be an eye-sore in your kitchen. Although I spot beautiful ones made of ceramic, reviewers have pointed out that they find those too heavy. This is why stainless steel is the material of choice. I also find a bamboo compost pail. Make sure to select one with a strong handle.

Do you compost?

SOURCING:
+ Norpro Grip EZ Stainless Steel Compost Keeper $44.85 USD
+ Norpro 94 Stainless-Steel Composter Keeper $42.99 USD
+ RSVP International PAIL-BOO Bamboo Compost Pail 3.25-qt. $35.99 USD

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The Warm Chicken with a lemon couscous salad recipe by Donna Hay is a dish I prepare twice a month at home. It is delicious and fast to make. For everyday entertaining, this dish nicely pairs with a Gentil Hugel or Les Jamelles Sauvignon blanc.

My husband sometimes cooked the chicken breasts on the BBQ but most of the time, I use a griddle pan on my gas cooktop. I tried several things but until now, my chicken was always a little dry. Not anymore! I did not change my technique. My success relies on two factors. Plus, I am proud that I cooked a juicier chicken without adding fat.

Using Another Type of Chicken

First, I used Halal chicken which is now available at my local grocery store. I switched since the week before, a foodie friend told me that she tried the Halal chicken for the first time. She thinks that it tastes much better. She is right. It will be Halal chicken on my kitchen from now on.

New Stoneline Cookware by Shopping Clodine

Secondly, I used the Griddle Pan with 2 sprouts that I received for free from Shopping Clodine to test drive their products. Made in Germany, the pan is made of natural stone and die-cast aluminum. You need to season it before the first use. Then, there is no need to add oil or butter. But I may use a tiny bit for the taste.

All Stoneline products have an innovative, scratch-resistant, non-stick coating and come with a 25-year limited warranty. It is the best griddle pan I used so far. It is a keeper! I am glad that I got it since I was on the market to replace mine. I stopped my search.

They also sent me their Mezzaluna with a bamboo cutting boards. The design is handy. You store the mezzaluna inside the main round cutting board. It also comes with a removable flat cutting board. I have been using it over and over to cut my herbs from my herb garden.

I received two more samples that I still need to test. At first glance, they look great and seem to be well-constructed. You will be pleased to display the bamboo mortar and pestle on your counter. The mortar is deep so you will not make a mess and the pestle feels comfortable. The assorted set of 3 bamboo cutting boards are pretty. I am thinking of keeping them for when I need wooden trays to serve food.

The packaging is in French and English but for now, the Web site is only available in French. If you are interested by these products, Shopping Clodine ships anywhere in Canada. If you cannot read French, try ordering by phone at 1 877 CLODINE, I supposed (have not try) that they must have at least a bilingual operator. You can save up to 50% on shipping if you buy 2 or more products. You can also pay in 3 installments.

SOURCING:
+ Griddle Pan with 2 sprouts $89.99 CAD
+ Mezzaluna from Bamboo Cutting Boards $49.99 CAD
+ bamboo mortar and pestle $29.99 CAD
+ Cutting board set $29.99 CAD for 3 assorted boards

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