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5 Must-Have Essentials For Healthy Cooking

Michele Foley — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:21:47 PST

When it comes to healthy cooking, I'd be a wreck without my must-have kitchen tools. From gadgets to cookware basics, these items help keep my fat, sugar, and sodium levels down while making sure that my nutrients for the day are always maxed out. Keep reading to see which kitchen essentials help inspire every meal to be a healthy meal.

Source: Thinkstock

Hi-Tech Living at the Stovetop

Kelly Schwarze — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:30:50 PST

Want to add a futuristic edge to one of the more relatively primitive parts of the house? At CES, luxury appliance company Thermador introduced the Freedom Induction Cooktop, which is the first full-surface induction appliance to let you cook on any part of the surface. Position cookware of any size and shape anywhere on the stove, and get started on that complicated Winter soup you usually have too little space to make.

All those pots and pans now crammed on the Freedom Induction Cooktop are controlled with a 6.5-inch color touchscreen display that powers the heating level, cooking time, recognizes the location of each pot on the cooktop, and instantly updates as pans are moved around the surface. Now, a stove is the last place you normally want a touch panel, but the induction heating ensures the surface remains cool, while maintaining the same power as an ordinary gas stove.

The Freedom Induction Cooktop will be available July 2012, and with a $5,000 retail price, we'll list it among our luxury dream home must-haves for now. At-home chefs, would a hi-tech kitchen appliance like Thermador's new stove make it to your wish list?

Sweet Weekend Treats: Camera Cookie Cutter Set

Kristy Korcz — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 07:49:57 PST

If you're in a baking mood, or are considering edible gifts for your holiday gift giving, check out these Camera Cookie Cutters ($18) that will show off your love for cameras (and baked goods). Coming in a set of three that includes a SLR, a rangefinder, and a vintage twin reflex camera, there's something for everyone. And if your giftee isn't so into taking pics, no problem - everybody loves a cookie.

Now You're Cooking: Alex Guarnaschelli's Tech Tips For the Kitchen

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:32:28 PST

The mother of all cooking holidays is fast approaching, but you don't have to let it stress you out. Thanks to technology, you can keep your kitchen in order and clutter-free. Take it from the Food Network's Iron Chef America star, Alex Guarnaschelli - she's partnered up with Microsoft to mix food and tech to help you move gracefully from Thanksgiving to Christmas and beyond, without burning your nerves.

Ditch the Paper: I used to have a million scraps of paper for grocery lists and recipe ideas, but now I organize it all on my phone instead. There are a lot of apps out there for this, but I really like OneNote, available on Windows Phone 7 phones. OneNote also has an audio-notes feature that I can imagine my mom using to record some notes for me on our family recipes.
Simplify Cooking: Cookies are always a holiday staple and can be made in advance to save time on the big day. I can make my favorite cookie recipes from memory - the ones my mom and I bake every year - but when I’m looking for something new, there are search tools that make recipe hunts a lot easier. For example, Bing has a recipe search tool that includes pictures and can narrow down results by cooking method and occasion.
Keep It Clean: I always feel better when my counters are clean - and I’ve found the same is true for my PC. I like to keep recipes and notes off of my desktop and online. SkyDrive is an easy tool to use to store files for free, and I can access my SkyDrive from my PC or phone, and send photos or meal ideas to my family and friends.
Get Out: As much as I enjoy creating a fulfilling meal for my family, sometimes you just have to let someone else do the work. One of my favorite Windows phone features is Local Scout - anywhere I go I can scroll to Bing on my phone, press the Scout button, and see what restaurants and bars are close by, including reviews.

Hear about the gadgets Alex hopes to find under the tree this year after the break.

7 Nifty Gadgets to Help With Healthy Fall Cooking

Heather Dale — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:07:59 PDT

This time of year inspires me to stock up my fridge and get back to making wholesome, hearty dishes. I can't help but feel warm and fuzzy inside when I come home from an afternoon hike and smell a roast in the oven or a sauce simmering on the stove. To help you get back in the spirit of Fall cooking, I've found just the right gadgets that will make healthy flavorful cooking a breeze. Take a look!

Source: Flickr User snowpea&bokchoi

Panini Press Advice Wanted!

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:05:44 PDT

Kitchen gadget-lovers: fuzzles needs our help. She recently asked the community for panini press advice:

I have so far remained steadfast in my resolve to not purchase a panini press, but I am faltering quite quickly. A pending move has spurred most of this. I am thinking that this would be a great counter-top piece for super-quick sandwiches while settling in. Well, that and the fact that I will be living about 3 miles away from one of the best, if not THE best, Mom and Pop Italian delis in the metro. In short, we're talking preventative wallet-pummeling, folks. Sound good so far? The problem is, I want to find a quality press for around 50 clams. Is this even possible? Any input about your individual panini experiences, past and present, would be greatly appreciated. The good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between! Thankful and passionate culinary fondles in advance!

At $80, the panini press that I have is out of her budget. However, if you're a sandwich lover, fuzzles, I recommend you definitely invest in a press. I've used mine countless times; it's so fun having a panini party! Do you have a panini maker? Share your tips with us below.

Top Off Your Labor Day Cocktails With Geek-Approved Ice Cubes!

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:21:45 PDT

The long weekend ahead marks the last hurrah of Summer, which calls for BBQs and cool cocktails. Don't let your drinks bore your guests - top off your backyard cocktails with some of these geek-approved ice cubes.

10 Household Items That Can Substitute For Toys

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:45:46 PDT

With 65 million people sitting in Hurricane Irene's path this weekend, its safe to say that most East Coast families will be spending a lot of time inside in the coming days. Though tots may have a closet filled with toys to keep them entertained as the storm takes its time moving up the coast, kids need a change of scene to liven up their play. Some easily convert household items into play things, but others need some guidance. These home staples make great toys for kids of all ages and can keep your children entertained indoors while the wind is howling outside. Here are some of my favorite ways to keep my children on the move and creative when a hurricane is a-brewing.

Want to Inspire a Good Eater? Bring Them Into the Kitchen With These Tools

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 04:31:26 PDT

Let your lil ones help whip up their next meal! Youngsters love to help, and when they see their finished product on a platter, they're more likely to try their creation. Bringing tots into the kitchen doesn't have to be a scary experience. Mama's cooking utensils may be too big and unsafe for lil hands, but these fun kid-sized tongs, graters, and knives are ideally suited for lil sous chefs. Pick up your favorite ones and step back as your pint-sized Tyler Florence gets to work on her latest gastronomic creation.

Source: Josefine Bentzen

What Is This?

YumSugar — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 03:21:30 PDT

We're encroaching upon Summer, which means lots more exciting produce. If you're a big fruit eater, you might spring for this kitchen tool. Can you name it?