Gluten Free Foodies Holiday Shopping Guide 2011 - Kitchen Tools

I know one of the reasons why I love baking and cooking - it's the KITCHEN TOOLS!
It's that time of year to share my favorite finds of the year and I can't wait for you to get them too!

Sous Vide Supreme
All I can say is that if you love to entertain or you cook for a large family or just like to slow cook then the Sous Vide Supreme is for you!  Sous Vide aka soo-veed is a French term for "under vacuum".  The food is cooked at a precise temperature while it is immersed in a water bath.  You will not overcook the food so it is perfect for those in your family that are chronically late.  This method allows you to cook the other food for your meal while the main course is staying perfectly cooked - moist and warm. It is just like having a Sous Chef in your kitchen!

I was so lucky to spend some time with a demo unit from Sous Vide Supreme and I have to say it was so easy to use, just a little prep time, in it goes and off you go to enjoy your day.  A few hours later and you have the most amazing steak, pork, chicken or fish - tender, moist and flavorful.  You can make all sorts of things with the Sous Vide Supreme - drinks, desserts, soups, side dishes and more. There are several books to guide you to this new, simple and healthy cooking method. The Sous Vide comes in several colors and sizes.  This is one appliance that will look great on your counter top and you will not want to put it away.  You will use it all the time.

I spent my time making meat. Great to make extra to have leftovers for lunch the next day. You can even keep the food sealed and put the extras in the freezer. The meat was perfectly moist and tender every time! I enjoyed every minute of it because it was so easy and I had fun creating some flavor combinations to try - Apple Brown Sugar Pork, Curry Coconut Pork and Aji Lime Chicken were some of my favorites.  My absolute ... by far most surprising was steak! Don't tell anyone but I do not like to cook steak.  The Sous Vide Supreme made me look like a Top Chef because it in just a short time my steak was cooked to perfection and then I seared it on a cast iron grill pan.  Now I love to cook steak ... the Sous Vide Supreme way!

Santa are you listening???
The Sous Vide Supreme is on my wish list this year! 



I love the look of shiny chrome and black in my kitchen appliances. There is just something about having fun waking up in the morning and looking forward to making a good cup of coffee that is worth getting out of bed. So, I recently took a turn back in time and bought an "Old School" Percolator Coffee Pot by West Bend .  It reminds me so much of my grandparents. I have to laugh because the minute I got it, I had to make coffee ... even though it was 9 PM at night!
The sound percolating ... the aroma and the clear, crystal-like tip allows you to see that beautiful, rich brown coffee swishing through brewing just waiting to be poured into a cup of coffee! If you like your coffee really really hot, this is for you! No filters and easy to use! Love it!

So of course I had to continue my chrome theme after getting tired of turning on my gas stove - $$$ - just to heat up some water for tea or a hot drink. It is fast and really hot, too! Love it!
Electric Cordless Hot Water Kettle by Aroma
I found both for around $30 on Amazon.

Chef'n Tongo 9" Tongs - I use them for everything - removing waffles from my non-stick iron, tossing a salad, roasting vegetables, removing just about anything that I need to grab and move.  The Tongo Tongs are ergonomic and have a one-handed release, nothing fancy, just easy.  They have a big silicone head which makes grabbing anything big or small simple to move safely from one place to another. They come in a variety of colors but I just love my fun red ones! I would have to say they are my most used tool in the kitchen since I received them as a gift.

Sistema Large Square Storage Containers from Storables for Gluten Free Flour mixes.  It is so hard to get into a bag of flour and it is so precious that you don't want to spill the slightest bit.  Storing them in these containers helps to keep the flours fresh, organized in your GF pantry and easy to get in to measure. The variety of sizes can hold my 1 lb - 5lb bags of GF flour perfectly.  I usually cut the information from the Gluten Free Flour mix so that I know what the ingredients are and I tape them to the top of the lid.  I make a printed label for the front of the bin so I can see which of the bins contains the GF flour that I am looking for when they are stacked in my pantry.

They also have a variety of other containers to take your Gluten Free lunch from home and go! The sandwich or picnic keeper is my favorite because I can store a small portion of chips, carrots, cucumbers or other favorite veggies and then the sandwich is in a section in the container, sealed off to stay super fresh.  The divider on the other side keeps the extra goodies separate so that if one is slightly wet like carrots, they don't touch and your chips will stay nice and crispy.

TIP - I suggest getting a gift certificate from Storables for your favorite Gluten Free friend or family member.  They can shop online or in the store. Every January, Storables has a big organizing sale and this is a great time to save money and get these wonderful storage boxes.  Also, it is so much easier for someone to pick out what they need when it comes to organizing.  I would  share this posting and tips with them, so that they know about the products and sale. I love Storables and their awesome staff! 

I have mentioned the Weck Jars in previous postings but ... I love them!
It is worth mentioning again.  In the Seattle area you can find them at Crate & Barrel but you can also find store locations in your area by going to the Weck Jar website. I use them for everything! They just look so nice and when you put homemade treats in them ... they are a great gift!

Happy Gluten Free Foodies Holiday Shopping!
xo 
Lisa