Processing Food Is Super Easy and Efficient With the Bellemain Potato Ricer

I've mentioned this before (and probably will again), but having good kitchen equipment is important and very much worth the cost. And although I love having fun electronic things that make kitchen work easier and faster, there is something to be said for good time proven kitchen gadgets that are non-electronic.

One of those fabulous pieces is from Bellemain. It's the Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer. I have been enjoying the chance to try this out and see all it can do.

I grew up helping my Mom use her potato ricer. It was one of those basket gadgets with big metal handles that were hard to press and the food (almost always potatoes) would come out the holes on the sides and the bottom. The Bellemain Potato Ricer is not quite like that. There are holes that the food comes out, but they are only in the bottom. I love that! You can control where you want the food to land. I distinctly remember the food kind of going places it shouldn't have when I helped my Mom with her old potato ricer.

The basket of the ricer is larger than the one my Mom used to have. I was pleasantly surprised with how much it can hold making the time needed to get the food from the stove to the table much faster. The handles of the ricer help make the process faster too and are very comfortable. The extra-long handles position your hand farther from the fulcrum point of the ricer, which multiplies the amount of force at the basket with less effort at your end. Plus, they have silicone cushions for even more comfort. It is really easy to get a lot of food pressed through in no time.

The ricer comes with three changeable discs. All of them are easy to insert and remove and when storing the ricer you can keep all three in it so as not to lose them. Use the coarse disc for homemade pasta, egg salad or fibrous vegetables like sweet potatoes. The medium disc is great for potatoes. The fine disc strains cooked fruits and vegetables to the right consistency for those on a soft food diet and is perfect for making home made baby food.

The ricer is made from chrome plated stainless steel. It is sturdy and solid, but not so heavy to prevent you from using it with a large quantity of food. I love that it has a small bowl rest extension that lets you suspend the ricer over a bowl while allowing your hands to be free to transfer food from the cooking pot to the basket. Also cleaning is a breeze. It is dishwasher safe and the pressing mechanism inside the basket swings out and clear of the basket making cleaning it super easy!

I'm really glad to have added this tool to my kitchen and am looking forward to using it a lot more.

You can find your own Bellemain Stainless Steel Potato Ricer HERE!

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.

It's Time To Start Thinking About Canning Season!

For years I have been canning food. It's one thing that has helped our family keep the food budget in check. Although I don't can as much as I used to, I still love to make some special items and keep some good basics in stock all the time.

Bellemain has a fantastic canning tool set for the beginner or expert canner.  They have put together 6 great utensils needed by anyone who cans, all in one convenient set. 

The pieces included in the set are a funnel, jar lifter, magnetic lid lifter, tongs, bubble popper/measuring stick and lid remover wrench. Each of the pieces is well made and light weight, which is nice since often with canning there is some heavy lifting involved.

The tongs, jar lifter and lid remover wrench have handles that are rubber coated for comfort and easier gripping. The jar lid wrench is one tool that you don't see too often when searching for canning supplies, but it is a very welcome piece to have as many times the sealed lids are very well sealed and  the rings are difficult to get off. I like that the funnel is plastic too. My old one is metal and often it got too hot to hold while I was using it.

I really like the bubble popper/measuring stick. Mine for as long as I can remember has always been a wooden spoon handle or knife. This plastic tool is the right length to fit into any size jar to make canning much easier. I love the measuring part at the end. You can accurately measure the height of the produce in the jar with it without guessing or estimating. There is 1/4", 1/2", 3/4", and 1" measurements. You simply set the measurement edge in the jar rim and you can see how close your contents are to the rim of the jar for proper processing. Easy!

I haven't done any canning yet this year, but I am really looking forward to it and being able to use these tools often. Just testing them out and seeing how well they work was fun and has gotten me excited about canning again! I often canned food and gave them as gifts and I am planing on doing that again this year!

You can purchase this set of Bellemain Canning Tools HERE! 
Right now they are being sold for a phenomenal price, $9.95!! That's a tremendous deal!!

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.

Do You Have A Chef Or Griller In Your family? We Have What You Need For Them!

Lisa here! Lois sure knows the kind of things my husband and I love to use. Are you searching for a great gift for a grill lover? Birthday, Father’s Day, picnic or family cook-out, well, look no further! This 2-pocket Chef’s Apron by Bellemain is just the thing you need!

The apron has 2 extra large pockets, and an extra long string tie that can tie in front or back and will fit most anyone. It’s made of durable poly cotton with soil release for easy cleaning. It’s machine washable and can be dried using the tumble dry low setting. It measures 27” x 34.25”.

It’s very comfortable and even looks great and stylish! My husband, Bill, loves how large and useful the pockets are and that it is black with white pinstripes (manly looking). The strap around the neck is not adjustable and may be a little large for smaller women like myself, but if I tie it around the front, it fits snug and stays in place.

I love practical gifts, and with warm weather on the way, this will get a lot of use. I would definitely recommend this apron, it’s the perfect gift for the cook in your life.

You can purchase your own Bellemain 2-Pocket Chef's Apron HERE!! 

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.

Bellemain Stainless Steel Strainers Are A Wonderful Addition To Any Kitchen

Having good kitchen tools is something a lot of cooks don't realize until they get them and then they know what they have been missing!

Bellemain makes some wonderful kitchen products and they recently sent me a set of three graduated Stainless Steel Strainers. The three strainers are extremely versatile. They can handle all kinds of items, both wet and dry.

What I found is that the mesh is very fine. It is a close grid so the openings, although being very small, are able to drain or filter what needs to, down to very small particles. This is super nice for things like broth to get every bit of "debris" from cooking removed or jams to filter out small seeds. The mesh is fine enough to catch things other strainers won't.

Having three sizes makes doing things so much easier. You don't have to fumble with just one strainer that is either too big or too small for the job. The smallest (3-1/8") fits a large mug, perfect for pouring loose leaf teas through. The medium strainer (5-1/2") is great for washing grains, straining sauces and other small batch jobs. The large one (7-7/8") sifts flour, washes fruit and drains pasta. They also store easily together.

I really appreciate the loops for hanging them up. All three can hang from one hook or separately. The Bellemain Strainers are made of strong, dishwasher-safe stainless steel. A solid rim band anchors the mesh as well as the handle and loop, so there are no worries about the pieces coming apart under pressure. Plus they can hold a lot. I have had strainers in the past where the mesh bends and gives. This won't happen with these strainers. They are sturdy and very well made!

Here are the basics you need to remember:
Fine Mesh Works with Most Liquid and Dry Ingredients.
Graduated Sizes Fit a Variety of Containers.
Hanging/Support Loops.
Built to Last a Lifetime, Guaranteed.

I can recommend these to you with no reservation! I love mine!!

You can purchase your own set of Bellemain Stainless Steel Strainers HERE! And they are at a fantastic price!!

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.

The Bellemain Electric Kettle Would Be a Wonderful Gift For Anyone In Your Family!

I love having a good, fresh cup of tea, or a nice cup of hot cocoa when it's cold, but I don't like putting a mug in the microwave to boil, because each mug boils at a different length of time. I also don't like running water through the coffee maker because of the bits of coffee residue left in it. I don't have a traditional stove top kettle that takes 10 minutes (or it seems) to boil water either.

What's a girl to do? Well the best thing I can recommend is to use the Bellemain 1.75 Quart Cordless Electric Stainless Steel Kettle. This is such a nice appliance to have in the house now! I love it!!

Here is a little from the company you should know:

Boiling water for your tea, coffee or instant soup is now more convenient and safer than ever. With the Bellemain Cordless Kettle, there's less waiting around, and no worries about a dangling cord, overheating, boiling dry or accidental spills.

• 1500 Watts of Power for Rapid Boil Faster than a stovetop kettle or the microwave, the Bellemain heats water in just 2 minutes! 
• Kettle Lifts Off the Corded Base for Safe, Easy Use Putting water in and pouring it out are so much easier when there's no cord to get in your way, or get wet and possibly give you an electrical shock. 
• Auto Shutoff When Water Reaches Boiling Point This built-in safety feature ensures that the Bellemain will never overheat or boil over, which could damage the kettle or create a fire hazard. The Bellemain will also shut off automatically when the water level gets too low, to prevent boiling dry. 
• Power On Light and Locking Lid for Safety With many kettles, you can't tell if they're hot except by touching them (ouch!). When the Bellemain's power light is on, you'll know just by looking. The locking lid is another great safety feature: it prevents accidental spills while you're pouring. 
• Water Level Gauge A clear plastic panel in the handle tells you when there's danger of overflowing or boiling dry. 
• Adjustable Length Cord Stores in the Base For safe, convenient storage, the cord wraps inside the base. When you're ready to plug it in, pull out just the length you need. 
• 1-Year Limited Warranty The Bellemain is made of durable, brushed stainless steel for dependable quality and service. It is backed by a 1-year limited warranty.

I can not tell you how convenient having this electric kettle is! Even when the kettle is full it boils really fast. I can have a cup of tea ready in 2 minutes. 

When the water boils you just pick the kettle up off the base and pour out the water. Then set it back down, but now the kettle is turned off, so it does not continue to boil. That's great. It prevents it from boiling dry and you don't have to worry about remembering to turn it off. But the kettle remains hot for quite a long time! I was very surprised at how long it stays warm. That makes things really easy for having a second cup or if someone stops by after you have had your cup poured for a while. Saves time too. But you need to watch little ones around this so they don't get burned!

It is really easy to fill and know how much is in it with the gauge on the kettle. The on/off button is super easy too, and lights up when it is on with a soft blue light. And I love how the lid stays put! You have to purposely push the button for it to open, and yet you don't' have to mess with it to pour.

One thing that is super nice is the cord storage on the bottom of the base. You can wrap it around and only have as much cord out as you need, keeping a bunch of extra cord off the counter. It's also nice to not have the cord attached to the kettle itself!

We have used it for just boiling water for tea & cocoa, but also to get a head start on boiling water for meals. It really does help speed up things. My son loves it for boiling water for ramen noodles.  I think this is one thing any home could use!!

You can buy your own Bellemain 1.75 Quart Cordless Electric Stainless Steel Kettle HERE!

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.

Bellemain Heavy-Duty Pastry-Chef Quality Oven Safe Cooling Rack ~ Best I Have Ever Owned

As a baker I really appreciate quality pieces to use while I bake. Bellemain has a wonderful Heavy-Duty Pastry-Chef Quality Oven Safe Cooling Rack. This is the best cooling rack I have ever used!

If you work hard to get your baked treats to deliver mouthwatering perfection, and you prefer to use chef quality kitchen tools, at a home-makers price like I do, then you'll love the cooling rack from Bellemain.

You see, most cooling racks are designed to do one thing: cool. Yet every culinary master knows that the secret to perfect treats isn't about how your baked goods "cool", it's about how they SET. Most cheaper brands not only rust and break, they fail to SET your baked goods correctly, resulting in wasteful, brittle, dry, burnt (or worse) soggy delicacies.

The Bellemain rack on top of one of my other racks. You can see the size difference in the air pockets.

That's why Bellemain cooling racks perfectly sized air pockets allows your baked goods optimal circulation for SETTING while supporting even your most fragile delicacies. The air pockets are much smaller than other cooling racks. That helps the food to set and also prevents things from shifting and trying to fall through the openings as it sets.

Here are some specifics:
 • Eliminate overly crispy, burnt edges and bottoms, and condensation with patented and perfected Air-flow Circulate & Set Technology
 • Prevent toxic transfer of rust and metal-shards (what you'll get with cheap brands)
• Decorate with Ease: Reduce risk of your fragile treats breaking by decorating them right atop your cooling rack (many home chefs get more than one so they can keep cooling and decorating in batches) Here's more ways Bellemain cooling rack saves you time, energy and money:
• Keep Counters Safe: Prevent heat scorching of countertops while quick-cooling casseroles, hot pans, cakes, pies and more
• Love bacon? Crisp up more mouthwatering goodness by placing bacon atop cooling rack in the oven or place bacon atop cooling rack to drain tasteless grease after frying and baking (for optimal heart health)
• Healthy Diet Trick: Air-dry your freshly washed fruits and vegetables and create dried fruits by setting slices out in the sun

The rack is much heavier than traditional racks and it has 3 sets of feet. Most have two causing the racks to bow in the middle with heavier weighted things or from consistent use over time. Plus the feet do not sit on the outer edge of the rack. They are set in giving it even more stability as you use it. I love that, especially since I bake a lot of cheese cakes and those can be very heavy.

It's also larger than most cooling racks. It is 17"x12" and completely fills a baking sheet. Traditional racks are only 16"x10" and leave gaps between the rack and the sides of the baking sheet. Fitting snugly in your baking sheet makes a big difference!

I love this rack and highly recommend it to you!

You can purchase your own Bellemain Heavy-Duty Pastry-Chef Quality Oven Safe Cooling Rack HERE!!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

A Great Colander At A Great Price ~ Bellemain Mico-Perforated Stainless Steel Colander

I have several kitchen tools I use a lot and one is my colander. I think it's dirty more than it's clean I use it so much.

Recently I was sent the Bellemain Micro-Perforated Stainless Steel 5-Quart Colander. I can't remember the last time I had a new one, and I love this one.

Here's a little from the company first:

• No more watching your spaghetti or rice slip through the holes. No slow or incompletely draining water. No worries about warping, scratching, rusting or tipping over. Whether you're boiling pasta, steaming vegetables or washing fruit, the Bellemain Stainless Steel Colander simply makes your life easier. 
• Micro Holes Keep Tiny Grains from Falling Through Less than 1/16" in diameter, the Bellemain's perforations prevent even cooked rice and orzo from going down the drain. And while you might think water would drain more quickly if the holes were larger, actually the opposite is true. 
• Closely Configured Holes Drain Water Faster Why does water go through mesh strainers so fast? Because there is less solid surface to slow it down. That's the principle behind the Bellemain's mesh-style perforations. The entire bowl, from the bottom to the rim, is perforated, so there's nowhere for water to get trapped. 
• Solid Ring Base Won't Tip Over The problem with colanders that have separate feet is that if one foot lands in the sink drain, the whole bowl tips over. The Bellemain's base is one solid circle of stainless steel that keeps the colander safely level. It also keeps your food elevated above the floor of the sink and whatever water hasn't yet gone down the drain. 
• Dishwasher Safe, 18/10 Stainless Steel Every part of the Bellemain is solid, practically indestructible stainless steel, so you can expect many years of trouble-free performance. When you've finished draining your cooked or washed food, just throw it in the dishwasher. What could be easier!

That's an entire 1 pound package of kale in the colander. It holds a lot and handles all of it well.

I love the ring base on it. My old one had three little feet that really did not sit up very high. The ring is a much larger surface to hold the colander safely still and higher than other colanders.

You can also see how small and abundant the holes are. Water and other liquids drain through quickly and it keeps smaller things from going through when you don't want them to.

The handles are very comfortable to hold and pick up with. Even when I have had 5 pounds of potatoes in it, the handles were enough to handle the weight and still feel like I had a secure hold on everything. They are also large enough for my guys to hold on to, and my grown up boys both have large hands.

This is a great colander and can hold up to any job you give it. So far I have strained broth from cooking turkey, drained boiling pasta, washed a lot of vegetables, and more. It's done a great job. Clean up is easy even when you don't have a dishwasher. I wanted to make sure it was easy to clean either way and I took a stiff brush to it and lightly went over the holes. Everything cleaned out completely and the colander is looking great after a lot of uses.

A great colander at a great price! You can purchase one for yourself or as a gift for a cook you know HERE!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.