A good basic Chopper For The Average Home Cook

As far as I am concerned, there is nothing like kitchen tools that help make a job go faster. One of those kinds of tools I like are food choppers.

Native Spring has a Classic Stainless Steel Food Chopper that is good to help make sometimes long jobs, shorter.

The chopper top and blades are made of stainless steel. The handle and the small cup on the chopper are made of plastic. The blades of the chopper are nice and sharp and cut through pretty much everything easily.  With each push of the handle on the top the blades go down, cut and then rotate a quarter turn as they go back up to then chop the next time in a different spot. The chopping action is fairly smooth and easy to control. Like other choppers I have tried, this one can work fairly fast to get the job done easily.

For the most part I like this chopper. It is easy to use and it is not big and bulky. Again, the blades are sharp and they cut well and it is easy to clean with rinsing in hot soapy water. My problem is the cup on the bottom. The plastic just seems a little cheap to me. I am afraid one good drop and it will break.

Also the base of the cup does not come off easily, and I find that disappointing. Sometimes I don't want to chop in the cup. Also having the cup attached and the bottom not coming off easily, you can't use the chopper if it is not and it limits how much you can chop in it. Once the food reaches a certain level, it is hard to continue chopping and getting complete cuts all the way through. You have to do much smaller batches. I have gotten the bottom of the cup to come off, but it sticks a lot and it is hard to remove.

Overall, it is not a bad chopper and does a good job cutting things up fast. It is just not one of the best I have tried. It would be good for an average cook, but not for a serious cook.

You can purchase the Native Spring Classic Stainless Steel Food Chopper HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Quality And performance All In One Great Kitchen Tool

When was the last time you really thought about your spatula turner? Or have you ever really thought about it?

Well as a fanatic about kitchen tools and gadgets, I've thought about them probably more than I should, although not as much as the people who make them. I want something that is going to last a long time, work with all my pots and pans, work with all kinds of foods, and be easy to take care of.

I think I found one! No wait, I have!

Home Dejour has a really, really nice Spatula Turner that I have been quite impressed with. The handle and the turner part of it are made from silicone, and not just your average silicone. This spatula can handle things that are hot up to 600°! And if you forget that, it's printed on it. I wish everything silicone had the temperature limit printed on it. I don't always remember. Plus the silicone makes the grip on the handle comfortable to hols and not slippery.

The inside of the handle and going into the turner part is stainless steel. It is super sturdy and can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. The whole turner is hand washable or you can toss it into the dishwasher. The silicone is stain resistant and really nice and flexible. I love how you can push down on it in a pan and it gives well without worrying that it might break.

The turner is a good size too. It is a little longer than most and it will hold a sandwich really easily, as well as other larger sized foods like pancakes. For the most part, the length of the spatula is good. If I had to find one thing I didn't like about it, it would be that I would want the handle to be just a little longer.

This is not a cheap spatula, but you get what you pay for! I have always believed in getting good quality things so you don't have to buy them again for a long time! This is one of those things!

You can purchase the Home Dejour Spatula Turner HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

What To Use For The Best Fresh, Steamed Vegetables

I love having freshly steamed vegetables. For one reason I know exactly how long they are cooked and to the texture my family enjoys the most. For another, they are just so much better for you than canned or frozen veggies!

But all vegetable steamers are not the same. Bamboo ones are nice, but they take up so much room and let's be honest, they don't really get completely clean because of the bits and pieces that can get stuck in them. Eeewww! The metal steamers, well some are just cheap, cheap metal and fall apart or bend and get wonky after only a few uses!

Sunsella has made a fantastic Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamer that I have really been enjoying! The fact that it is stainless steel and not any other cheaper and flimsier metal is wonderful! It won't rust. I've had a few do that over the years. It felt sturdy the first time I took it out of the box! I knew it would hold up for some time.

Like all metal steamers, it opens and closes easily and takes up very little space in a drawer of cupboard. I have taken to keeping mine in the sauce pot I use it the most in. If I don't need it, it just sits where the pot usually does, but I know where it is and it is not jammed in a drawer somewhere!

It fits almost all pots. I have even used it in my bit 6 qt pot and have had great results. We used it to steam large wedges of cabbage and it was fantastic!! It filled enough of the pot to keep the pieces from falling through and it was so easy to get the cabbage wedges out by picking up the steamer.

I've said it before and I will most likely say it again, having quality kitchen gadgets and utensils is important. Buy quality once and use for a long time instead of buying cheap and replacing over and over and over.... This is a steamer I can highly recommend to you!

You can purchase your own Sunsella Vegetable Steamer 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.

A Must-Have Tool In My Kitchen

In every kitchen, there are things that I would consider essential to have. Most of us would think of measuring cups and spoons, rolling pin, and such. But one tool I always have considered essential is a simple tool often overlooked.

Sunsella was kind enough to send me this tool to test out. It's their Stainless Steel Pastry Scraper & Chopper. Yes, I already had one, but I enjoy finding tools that are even better or as good as the ones I already have. This scraper/chopper is a very nice tool!

The whole thing measures 6" x 4 ½" in size. The blade is made of a quality stainless steel that will resist rust and hold up over a long period of time. It is a substantial piece and heavy to deal with a lot of work, but not too much so to make it uncomfortable to use. An old scraper/chopper I had would bend and give when I used it. This one does not by any means! It's quality!

The handle is very comfortable. I like the way it feels when I grip it. On one end there are indents on both sides for your thumb to sit in. I like how they put the indents on both sides so it can be used by right or left handed people easily and comfortably.

The edge of the blade is not sharp like a knife, but it does help cut through doughs, some breads and foods easily and neatly. No sawing or wiggling to get the blade through. I love how the edge of the blade has a ruler so you can know exactly how much you are cutting off. That is a time saver to me and very much appreciated! The corners of the blade are slightly rounded too so it will not cut into your cutting board.

When I have used it to scrape things up and scoop with, it has handled a good amount. Cleaning up dough off my counter is very easy using this. This scraper/chopper is a quality item and one I think every kitchen should have!

You can purchase your own Sunsella Stainless Steel Pastry Scraper & Chopper HERE!

This reviewer has been compensated with receiving the product free in order to bring you an honest review. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Quality Products Are Important For Any Kitchen, Like Measuring Spoons

You've heard me mention many times how important it is to have good kitchen equipment, things that will do the job well and last. It's ridiculous to spend money over and over buying replacement product after replacement. It's a waste of money and time!

Measuring spoons is one thing you will use a lot, so it makes sense to buy something of value and quality so you don't have to buy them again in a few years. Kitchen Zest has a great set that will be a valuable addition to any one's kitchen.

What sets this set of measuring spoons apart is what they are made from. They are made from marine-grade stainless steel. What that means is that they will never rust or react to the chemicals from ingredients for food, homemade beauty or cleaning products. They are solid and sturdy.

I really like the soft-grip handle. It's very easy to hold, even with the arthritis I have in my hands. The handles are engraved with the measurements in both standard and metric. They include 1 tablespoon, ½ tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, and ¼ teaspoon. I do wish it included a ⅛ teaspoon as well, but that's because of some recipes that I make a lot that require that measurement.

The measuring spoons come on a stainless steel ring, making it handy to hang up or to just keep all of them together in one place. The ring opens really easily so you can get just the one spoon you need or remove them all. They are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning too.

I'm very pleased with this set of Kitchen Zest Measuring Spoons. They feel comfortable in my hands, reach well into all my spice containers, don't stain or retain odors, and are easy to clean. They are well worth the price, which I think is very reasonable!

You can purchase your own Kitchen Zest Measuring Spoons HERE with a black  or green handle!

The reviewer has been compensated with receiving the product free in order to bring you an honest review. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

A Fantastic Vegetable Steamer From Sunsella

I love having freshly steamed vegetables. For one reason I know exactly how long they are cooked and to the texture my family enjoys the most. For another, they are just so much better for you than canned or frozen veggies!

But all vegetable steamers are not the same. Bamboo ones are nice, but they take up so much room and let's be honest, they don't really get completely clean because of the bits and pieces that can get stuck in them. Eeewww! The metal steamers, well some are just cheap, cheap metal and fall apart or bend and get wonky after only a few uses!

Sunsella has made a fantastic Stainless Steel Vegetable Steamer that I have really been enjoying! The fact that it is stainless steel and not any other cheaper and flimsier metal is wonderful! It won't rust. I've had a few do that over the years. It felt sturdy the first time I took it out of the box! I knew it would hold up for some time.

Like all metal steamers, it opens and closes easily and takes up very little space in a drawer of cupboard. I have taken to keeping mine in the sauce pot I use it the most in. If I don't need it, it just sits where the pot usually does, but I know where it is and it is not jammed in a drawer somewhere!

It fits almost all pots. I have even used it in my bit 6 qt pot and have had great results. We used it to steam large wedges of cabbage and it was fantastic!! It filled enough of the pot to keep the pieces from falling through and it was so easy to get the cabbage wedges out by picking up the steamer.

I've said it before and I will most likely say it again, having quality kitchen gadgets and utensils is important. Buy quality once and use for a long time instead of buying cheap and replacing over and over and over.... This is a steamer I can highly recommend to you!

You can purchase your own Sunsella Vegetable Steamer 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.

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.