cooking essentials

My mom is looking for a new napkin holder. The one she normally uses for Winter has a fat, little snowman design. After a couple of years, she has become sick of the cutesy image staring up at her during dinner, so I asked you to head off to market in search of a new napkin holder for her. You looked for holders that are sturdy, yet stylish, festive, and functional. You saved your discoveries in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Napkin Holder. Since we are replacing her Winter napkin holder, I think this sleek, icy stainless-steel napkin holder is appropriate. The napkins rest inside making them easy to grab with messy hands. Great find gruaig_rua! To check out all of the napkin holders, browse the collection below.

To learn more about the bookmarking feature of TeamSugar please read GeekSugar's explanation.

One of my New Year's resolutions for 2008 is to eat more salads. To help me do so, I'll need new salad tongs. Can you help me search for some sublime salad tongs? The tongs should be fun, yet functional. Look for eclectic tongs that would be wonderful on a dinner party table. Save your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Salad Tongs. I'm excited to get started on my resolution and to see what you discover!

GeekSugar has put together an explanation on how to use TeamSugar's bookmarking features.

For a list of my favorite online stores to help you get started in your salad tong search, read more

Pot holders make excellent hostess gifts because people don't often replace their old and dirty ones. I like to keep a few extra new, unused pot holders on hand for the unexpected invitation to a dinner or party. I just wrap them up and surprise my hostess with a cute kitchen necessity. However, I just realized that my supply is absolutely empty! Can you help me out by heading off to market in search of pretty pot holders? Look for pot holders that are printed and fun, yet practical. Steer clear of anything too plain or boring. Save your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Pretty Pot Holders. Thanks for your help!

GeekSugar has put together an article that explains how to bookmark on TeamSugar. Check it out for more details!

Don't know where to start looking? Check out a list of my fav online shops when you read more

With the cold weather narrowing in on us, I can't help but crave comforting, slow cooked soups, stews, and sauces. In order to make the most delicious dishes, I've decided to invest in a new Dutch oven that will last the rest of my life. A Dutch oven is a large pot with a tight fitting lid. No steam escapes when closed, making it the ideal cooking vessel for braising and stewing. Let's head off to market in search of a beautiful Dutch oven. Look for durable, long lasting pots in fun colors or designs. Bookmark your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the tag Dutch Oven. Happy hunting!

To better understand how to use this fun feature, read geeksugar's guide to bookmarking on TeamSugar.

To get you started, browse a list of my favorite online stores, read more

To be an extraordinary baker like YumSugar, not only do you need skills, patience, and time to practice, but you need the necessary tools as well!

As I was looking through the Yum Market on TeamSugar, I noticed that you've saved a lot of the essential basics. Now is a good time to take a look through your cabinets and pantry to make sure you have plenty of sugar, flour, and baking soda for the upcoming holiday baking.

Also check for the important equipment: kitchen timers, mixing bowls, cookie sheets, measuring cups and spoons. If you are more advanced, you may want to get some of the special extras highlighted below. A cake decorating gadget, pie caddy, springform pan, and cake stand are all fabulous to have, but not 100% crucial.

I plan on adding this cute little individual pie slice pan to my growing collection of baking tools. Found by ljc_sugar, this will be wonderful for pies, puddings, soufflés, mini cakes, and much more.

To learn more about the bookmarking feature of TeamSugar please read GeekSugar's explanation.

Last night was the first night I felt settled into my new apartment. By settled I mean I finally unpacked my kitchen! Desperate to learn my way around the new kitchen, I decided to treat myself to a delicious and tasty meatloaf sandwich. As I was whipping up a quick basil mayonnaise, I reached for the pepper grinder only to realize I do not have one!!! Can you help me find an awesome pepper grinder? Look for one that is easy to turn when hands are wet and grinds a decent amount of pepper with each turn. Bookmark the pepper mills in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Pepper Grinder. Good luck, I can't wait to see what you discover!

For more on the bookmarking function, please refer to geeksugar's helpful how to.

Not sure where to start surfing? Check out a list of my favorite online stores, just read more

My father and I are thinking about purchasing a new oven. The one that currently sits in our kitchen is about 25 years old. It functions fine, but the temperature setting is incorrect and part of the ceiling is caving in. Burned bits along the bottom ignite in flames — even right after it's been cleaned — causing a smoky mess.

I know nothing about buying ovens and was wondering if you could help me research them. Search for a modern oven with convection heating and self cleaning modes. Bookmark the ovens you find in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, New Oven. Thanks for your help, my dad and I really appreciate it!

Read geeksugar's description on bookmarking to learn more.

For a list of my favorite online stores, read more

A few weeks ago in the Kitchen Goddess group on TeamSugar there was an interesting discussion of food related tips. Tchan01 is new to the culinary world and asked the goddess' for their fabulous secrets and helpful hints. Eaker pointed out that unwaxed, unflavored dental floss works perfectly to split a cake in two. According to her, it's much easier than sawing through it with a knife. It's an exceptional tip and keeping dental floss in the kitchen and not just the bathroom is a must do. Use the dental floss to tie up rolled meats instead of kitchen twine. I always forget to buy kitchen twine and when that happens, the floss certainly does come in handy!

How about you: Got another crafty use for floss in the kitchen?

With the summer high-kicking into full swing, it's about time I highlight some of my must have grilling accessories. My dad is a huge fan of grilling - as am I - and during the summer we use the bbq every night. With the proper tools you can make everything from pizza to quesadillas - including steaks and fish - on the grill. Start with the basics: a good set of tongs, a long headed spatula, and a strong wire grill brush. Before you begin your 4th of July festivities, double check to make sure you have enough propane in your gas grill or enough charcoal briquettes for your regular bbq. Bamboo skewers, a grill rack for vegetables and flaky fishes, and a deluxe basting brush are useful, but not essential accessories. With the help of these practical tools, you'll find that grilling is a cinch. I can't live without these must haves, but how about you? What are your must have grilling accessories?

For Father's Day my mom and her sisters decided to go crab crazy and get some crab-related gifts for my grandpa Al. My aunt is sending him a bushel of fresh crabs from his home state, Maryland, and I am in charge of getting all the necessary tools to enjoy the crab. Last week I asked you to head off to market in search of crab crackers, crab forks, fun napkins, and any small special extras. You saved your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Crab Tools.

You found everything necessary to enjoy crab to its fullest, from a crab cake cookbook, to individual butter warming bowls - there was even a silly crab hat that I totally can see Al sporting. The crab tool set with easy grip handles is just the thing he needs to eat that bushel of fresh crabs. Thanks for finding the perfect crab tools mellie_608! To look at all that was found, scroll through the images below.

To learn more about the bookmarking feature of TeamSugar please read geeksugar's explanation.