Yesterday, I shopped at another supermarket than my usual one. All natural, preferably organic, peanut butter was on my grocery list. I want 100% peanuts, that’s all! No added sugar, no added salt, no molasses, and no added oil.

Since that grocery store carries many organic brands that I did not, I started to read the ingredient list. I was shocked to see how many organic peanut butters contain other ingredients than peanuts. Do not be fool by the front label. Do not assume when you see organic that the final product is healthy or healthier.

Reading the nutrition facts is one half of the equation. You also need to look at the ingredients to know what is inside. In winter, we often replace fresh tomatoes by a can of tomatoes since the canned tomatoes bring more taste to our recipes. It is not a problem since tomatoes need salt anyway. But you need to know to adjust your recipe.

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You often see those symbols on plastics. Sadly, it is easy to misinterpret them. It happened to me the other day when I bought the eiPott egg cups. Buying dishwasher safe tableware is a must for me. Therefore, I am a little bit disappointed of my purchase.

People often confuse the cup and fork symbol for the dishwasher safe symbol. The thing is that there is not universally approved symbol for dishwasher safe. The cup and fork means that the material is safe for food use.

It is strange that this area of the food industry has no standards. The use of symbol on products eliminate the need for language translation. Sometimes, the instructions are written on the packaging but not on the item. Do the brands expect us to recall the product care for every item we purchased. In fact, I only bought dishwasher safe tableware to not have to remember which one is safe, which one is not.

I hope this will help you make good purchase decisions.

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This white and red backyard shares the South Beach hip vibes. This is the outdoor space of a couple with young children.

The magnificent backyard of Doris and Anthony Lapico was featured in Canadian House and Home last summer.

The couple divided their huge backyard in activity zones. From the draped cabanas to the open air bar in the pool house to the ceiling fans over the dining tables, every detail contributes at making this stylish outdoor a paradise.

7 Design Tips for the Ultimate Outdoor Entertaining Space

If you are planning to redo your backyard, remember the 7 design tips for an ultimate outdoor entertaining space:

1. Every wonderful backyard starts with great space planning. Think about the function, the circulation path and the flow when you design the areas.
2. Instead of one huge dining table, Doris opted to line up 3 dining tables. When needed, you can split the tables between the kids and the adults.
3. Provide the ultimate comfort by installing an awning plus a couple of wall-mounted ceiling fans over the dining area. You get more design options and can cover a larger surface if you opt for a non-retractable awning.
4. Placing the bar inside a pool house with a full window wall extends the bar usage to rainy days or cold nights. It is also simpler and cheaper to install a bar fridge, an ice maker and a sink if your bar is inside.
5. Do not be afraid to add glamour to your décor. Play with contrasts to surprise your guests. Here the chandelier and the ornate mirror add sophistication to modern furniture.
6. Your backyard should look and feel amazing at daytime and nighttime. You want to fully enjoy every corner all day long. The activity that you do may change during the course of a day but all the space must stay usable.
7. Backlighting is an amazing technique to add drama. Softly illuminate the areas where you wish to promote intimate conversations.

Photo credits: Stacey Brandford for Canadian House & Home – July 2007 issue, pages 122-127 – rights reserved

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+ My 5 design tips for the perfect backyard for entertaining

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The high-quality cookware makes a difference when cooking. They last longer but more importantly they will cook better because they distribute heat more efficiently.

A set provides the basic pots and pans that you need on a daily basis. You will add specialized pots as you need them.

Although a superior cookware set can cost a lot, it is money well spent. Cookware in large retail chains go on sale at 50% off a few times a year. So check the store flyers to spot your favorite cookware.

Finishes and base compositions

Copper pots and pans work incredibly well. I like their charming look. But they require too much work to keep their beautiful shine. This is why, stainless steel rules on my house. The only exception is my enameled cast iron Dutch oven by Le Creuset.

My basic cookware set has a copper inlay base. Some higher-end sets have a copper core with a stainless steel finishes. This is the case of the Copper-Core collection by All-Clad. I just added to my wish list.

Stay away from non-stick

I know that non stick cookware is really popular. Believe me, I do not enjoy cleaning and modern stainless steel cookware is a lot easier to clean. Except for the average size frying pan to cook your eggs, stay away from non-stick cookware. I am sorry but you cannot cook properly in those.

I used the stainless steel cookware all my life. In the worst case, I do a couple turns with a light duty scour pad. I let my pots and pans soak in hot water and dish liquid (I used Sunlight or Dawn) for a few minutes after they cooled down. As clean as new!

What to look for when buying a cookware set

Bring this checklist when you go shopping for your next cookware.

1. Extra-thick base. A superior cookware is heavy because of its 3 to 5-ply construction.
2. Double-rivet handles are more robust and durable.
3. For safety reasons, go for long, stay cool handles. But also select a handle that feels comfortable in your hands. Hold the pots and pans in your hands before buying a set. Like I said, you will use it for a long time. So take the time
4. Heavy lids stay in place. Look for a shape that promotes water circulation.
5. Oven safe cookware is a must; broiler safe is the ultimate solution. Make sure the lids are also oven safe.
6. A 12″ (30-32 cm) everyday pan with loop handles and a lid is practical to move the pan from the stove top to the oven to the table. Buy it separately from the set. I own two such pans and use them several times a week.
7. All metal handles, because they support higher oven temperature. I bought my second everyday pan with loop handles because the handles of the first one are not all in metal. I was preparing a delicious recipe that was calling for an oven temperature higher than 350 °F. Luckily, I bought my Jamie Oliver Italian Series Ragout pan at 50% off at The Bay two years ago.
8. Buy a set that supports all stove top types. If you buy a gas, glass, ceramic and induction stoves all have their requirements. The finest cookware sets are typically built for all stove top types.
9. Here is a quick test if you are tempted by the new Electrolux  Induction Hybrid cooktops, do the magnet test. You can use a decorative kitchen magnet. If the magnet sticks to the base, the cookware is induction cooking ready.
10. Dishwasher safe is a matter of a personal choice; some people do not like to put their cookware in the dishwasher. I am lazy when it comes to cleaning; therefore dishware safe cookware is a must for me.

I selected 5 high-quality cookware sets for you or to give as a wedding gift. See Sourcing for details.

>>> Sourcing:
Buy online: Lagostina Pro-Clad 10-Piece Cookware Set [sears.ca] – price: $899.99 CAD
Buy online: Tri-ply Copper 10-pc. Cookware Set by Calphalon [cooking.com] – price: $449.99 USD
Buy online: Copper-Core 10-pc. Cookware Set by All-Clad [cooking.com] – price: $1,199.99 USD
Buy online: J.A. Henckels 7-Pc. Classic Clad Cookware Set [sears.ca] – price: $599.99 CAD
Buy online: MC2 Master Chef 2 7-pc. Cookware Set by All-Clad [cooking.com] – price: $339.99 USD

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Instead of talking style I will talk about function. Whenever you are designing an outdoor space for entertaining, you must fulfill the function before the styling can begin. My 5 tips are to design a backyard for grownups.

Plan well defined areas

Staying at the exact spot for the entire party during is quite boring. The best party designers know that time seems to pass faster if you move your guests around from one area to the next.

To make the best use of this trick from the trades I suggest you plan a barbecue / food preparation area, a lounge area and a dining room. Place the lounge area as far as you can from the dining room.

Do not put too close either the barbecue from the dining room because of the heat and the smells. Plan to get a few sitting places close by the barbecue. A simple bench works fine. This way, a small number of guests can hang around comfortably with the cook.

Create a bar station

Nice outdoor bar furniture is widely available in stores so that custom build furniture is usually unnecessary. I suggest wood or stainless steel finishes for their durability. I really like the sleek look of the stainless steel shelf unit than we see here in the backyard of Peter Fallico, a popular host on HGTV Canada.

If you can, plan three or more bar stools. One design element that I adore is the long, deep cooler box. It is so chic. You can have it custom build to fit your space. Think about having a cover shelf for when you do not use it as a cooler.

Mix out the lights

Lighting creates the ambiance. It is as important outdoor as it is indoor. Plan for electric fixtures but leave room for candle lights and solar battery-operated movable lights. This way, you can modify the lightning according to the mood suitable for your current event.

Vessel is a company who makes great portable models for adults and children. You can see several luau portable lamps hanging along the modern Moroccan inspired lounge from an episode from Take it Oustide TV series.

Provide some shaded areas

Sun may be too hot sometimes and too much of a good thing makes it bad. I always protect the dining table from the sun because eating under the sun is not pleasant. It hurt the digestion. You can plan for a removable at will shading solution.

On this point, many backyards missed the boat. Putting some shading structure creates a sense of intimacy that is desirable on a backyard. It adds drama. And with such a large selection of sun block outdoor fabrics, this is no reason who cannot find one that you like.

Have a fire place

Everybody enjoy a fireplace. For colder nights, they are even a necessity. Since this is not something that can be moved easily, place it wisely. People like to circle around a fire. But the fire should not feel uncomfortable when you sit on the lounge or the dining room.

To enjoy your backyard longer, think about adding patio heaters. They are quite affordable these days.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Lighting products by Vessel
Photo credits:
Peter Fallico’s Backyard taken from Canadian House and Home magazine, Cottage Issue July 2007
Four projects from Take it Outside TV series

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