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How Wolfgang Puck Saved Thanksgiving

November 29, 2013 by Renee

Last month we received a Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven to test out.  The idea is that this table top oven works on the same concept as a pressure cooker- except in an oven form. When you close and lock the oven door, the pressure sealed compartment browns your foods perfectly while locking in juices and cooking much faster. It bakes, roasts and much more in less time.

The first thing we made was a rotisserie chicken, which turned out perfectly! It was so incredibly delicious- juicy and flavorful. Just like a chicken you’d pick up in the market’s take out section. This is a really great feature of the oven.Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2 Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2168

Pleased, we then made some cupcakes in it and those turned out really well too. They baked perfectly and around five minutes faster than my regular oven- which for something that only takes 20 minutes normally, that’s a striking 25% faster!Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2-2 Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2-3

We pulled it out today when we realized that not everything was cooking that well in our regular oven. It’s been on the fritz for some time,  it doesn’t always keep temperature and everything was taking much longer than expected. Especially the turkey! It was only supposed to take 5 hours to cook at the standard 20 minutes per pound method, but nearing 6 hours, it was still very undercooked.

So we cut the turkey apart and in shifts, we finished roasting it in the Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven. It worked like a charm. Not only did the turkey have a turn in the oven, but so did all of the side dishes. We also used it for warming everything up right before we sat down to eat too.

Having this extra oven really saved the day! I am really glad we had it here.

Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2275 Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2277 Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2286 Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2278 Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven-2287

There are some drawbacks to the oven though that might cause some raised eyebrows. For one, the steam valve on top is a bit quirky to use and you really have to wear an oven mitt when you turn it, or you could be seriously hurt by the steam it releases. It’s rather hot!  Secondly, the oven itself gets very hot on the outside. It’s an all metal casing and that gets very heated when you are cooking, so be careful not to touch the outside of the oven.

Speaking of the casing, it’s very easily dented. The oven I received first had many dings and dents, and was replaced but even this one has a nice big dent in the side, but because it doesn’t affect the way it cooks, I kept it. It’s just an aesthetic kind of thing and I really wanted to test it out without waiting for a third one to arrive.  I was told that the manufacturer has since changed the packaging to protect the ovens a bit more, so hopefully they won’t be dented anymore when they arrive to the consumers.

Lastly, the timer doesn’t work on the oven at all. I am sure it’s just on my model, but the knob doesn’t do anything.  We have tried it on every cooking occasion, and no luck, so, we just kept an eye on things from the glass window and our estimates were correct with the timing of things being fully cooked.

Even with those few negative things, overall, the positive outweigh them.  The oven cooks really well and in less time than my regular one. The rotisserie will be used often too. That’s my favorite feature.  I’m glad we had the opportunity to test it out.

Having a second oven is a huge help- especially when your primary oven isn’t working well. It is most especially useful on a huge food holiday such as Thanksgiving! It really saved the day! The turkey made it to the table in good time and all the sides were hot!

And that’s one thing I am thankful for!

 

 Disclosure: I received a Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven to test and review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. As always, the thoughts and opinions are my own! 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Kitchen Sink, Product Reviews Tagged With: NaBloPoMo, Product Review, Wolfgang Puck Pressure Oven

T-Fal OptiGrill Review

September 29, 2013 by Renee

Normally we don’t like having a separate gadget for every different job in the kitchen. But in the case of the T-Fal OptiGrill, we are so glad to have this additional appliance. The T-Fal OptiGrill is the first and only indoor grill with Precision Grilling Technology. This means that the grill has special sensors that automatically determines the thickness of the food and it will grill it to perfection.

This really is an “intelligent” appliance.

TFal OptiGrill-1860

There are six different cooking options to choose from- burgers, poultry, sandwiches, sausage/pork, red meat and fish as well as an option to cook manually (great for fruits and vegetables) or to cook from frozen. This last option is awesome and is a lifesaver some nights!

You can actually take chicken straight from the freezer and grill it- and it will cook- thoroughly.  This makes it an incredible tool for making dinner on a busy weeknight when we haven’t had a chance to pull anything out ahead of time. (Which is more often than not!)

The one downfall of this is having to season the chicken once it has been cooked (or cooked partway), but it gave us the idea to preseason, or marinate and freeze individual portions of chicken to grill later.

Here, I had two massive chicken breasts that were frozen together- and they actually cooked all the way through- even though they were an uneven thickness.

TFal OptiGrill-1864TFal OptiGrill-1866

The amount of smoke that I usually produce when cooking steaks, usually sets off the smoke detectors but with the OptiGrill, it was significantly less. A Cooking Level Indicator lights up and changes color to indicate when your food has reached your ideal temperature: Yellow for Rare; Orange for Medium; Red for Well Done. Once it has reached the temperature you chose, it will beep. And you know it’s done!

Our steaks turned out perfectly Medium. (This was also a great time to try out Grass fed beef versus grain fed, but that’s another story for another time. Can you tell which is which?)

TFal OptiGrill-1867 TFal OptiGrill-1869 TFal OptiGrill-1877Perfect!

When we made burgers, they cooked in about 7 minutes flat and were actually done before we had even finished baking the French fries!  Need to work on our timing with that.  But, the best part is that all the unnecessary fat dripped into the extra-large tray, making this a much healthier dinner, without sacrificing taste. The burgers also weren’t dry and retained much of their juiciness because we could choose what level of cooking we wanted without guessing when they would be finished.

TFal OptiGrill-1859

 Look at all that grease!

The extra large, nonstick grill plates enable you to easily cook for several people at once and they are removable so you can put them and the drip tray right into the dishwasher for easy clean-up.

Since receiving the OptiGrill, we have used it on several occasions. We even grilled sausages to accompany breakfast this weekend. Because of its versatility for use and easy care, I think this is one appliance that will have a permanent home on my counter top. I’m looking forward to making some sandwiches on this soon too!

The T-Fal OptiGrill is priced at $179 and is a great option for those who do not have space for a traditional grill or those who love the convenience of an indoor grill. It’s currently only available online but they expect to be in retail locations soon.

 

Disclosure: We received a T-Fal OptiGrill to test at home. All opinions are our own and we were not compensated in any other way for our review.

 

If you want to check them out on Social Media, you can follow them here:

www.facebook.com/optigrill

www.twitter.com/tfaloptigrill

www.youtube.com/optigrill

https://plus.google.com/u/0/100373006917375787518/about

www.pinterest.com/optigrill

Filed Under: Kitchen Sink, Kitchen Gear & Gadgets, Product Reviews Tagged With: Indoor Grill, OptiGrill, Product Review, T-Fal

Maille and A Taste of France Show in Bryant Park, NYC 9/28-9/29

September 26, 2013 by Renee

After returning home from Paris, I was thrilled to have a package waiting for me from Maille. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Maille mustards and it was great to add some more jars to add to my stockpile. The package contained a jar of each of the Dijon Originale, Rich Country Dijon, Cornichons and a jar of Horseradish. It was as if I had a little extension to my vacation!

If you have not been to the Maille flagship store in Paris, it is well worth a trip. Located in the  Place de la Madeleine, the boutique carries an incredible variety of mustard and blends. They even have mustards on tap! You can have  Grain mustard in old Chardonnay, Fine mustard in Chablis or Fine mustard in White Wine pumped right into a lovely ceramic crock. In addition to mustards, the store carries an array of oils, vinegars, dressings and plenty of gift assortments to bring home. You can spend quite a while  just browsing all the different flavors that are available.

I always like to purchase at least one or two jars of their Originale that comes in a decorative glass. We love to use them for juice and cocktails when they are empty and they are fun to collect. Some of my other favorites include the Fines Herbs and the Ancienne, an old style, whole grain mustard that’s perfect on a  roast beef sandwich.

Maille-5255

Even though Maille is actually the number one brand of imported mustard in the United States, and not just imported in my suitcase, though it seems that way whenever I travel home from Paris, there are some flavors that you just can not get in the U.S.-like Celeri rave et brisures de Truffes (celeriac and truffles) and Moutarde à l’Abricot sec et Curry (apricot curry). But you can purchase many types here in the U.S. and online.

Their production process is also quite fascinating. The mustards are made by cutting the  black and brown mustard grains. They are  not crushed. This is done to preserve the natural antioxidant properties, then they are mixed with a blend of vinegars and white wines to create their rich flavors. If they are blended with herbs or other aromatics, they do so using only the freshest ingredients and purees.

Recently, beating out more than 300 mustards, Maille Dijon Originale won the Grand Champion Prize and Maille Honey Dijon earned the Silver Medal at the 19th Annual Worldwide Mustard Competition.

The Dijon Originale, is a  multi- purpose condiment. It goes with nearly everything!  It adds a smooth, mild spice to meats, fishes, sauces and vegetables.  Whisked into vinaigrette or added to mac and cheese, it’s a true kitchen staple.

A secret ingredient in some apple pies, the Rich Country Dijon is made with white wine, cinnamon and ginger. It’s delicious when just brushed lightly on the crust of quiches and savory tarts before they are filled. It’s also amazing on potatoes and used as a marinade with chicken or pork. There are so many uses!

Maille Horseradish actually won a Bronze Medal at the 2012 World Wide Competition for mustards in the category that is usually dominated by U.S. producers. It’s ideal on sausages, roast beef, sandwiches and vegetables- wherever you’d want a sharp intense flavor.

The last time I bought a jar of cornichons, I actually didn’t even get to eat one!  The kids ate them all before I even noticed they were gone! I had to buy them a generic brand so they could have those while I savored another jar of Maille Cornichons! No charcuterie plate is complete without them.

Maille-5142

This is how I love to have dinner several times a month… a simple plate of cheese and cured meats, mustards, olives and cornichons with a baguette and a bottle of wine to share. It’s simple and satisfying.

If you are in NY this weekend, be sure to see the Maille booth at The Taste of France Show that will be held in Bryant Park. There will be vendors representing the many aspects of French life:  Lifestyle, Technology, Beauty, Cuisine, Wine and Spirits, Tourism, Culture, Children and of course, Fun!

There will also be many events over the two days so be sure to check it out! I am looking forward to attending and while I won’t be in Paris, it will feel like it!

The show is free and open to the public. For more information, see the website at The Taste of France Show.

Event Hours:

SATURDAY – September 28, 2013
11:00am-11:00pm

SUNDAY – September 29, 2013
11:00am-7:00pm

 

A bientot!

 

Disclosure: I received the four jarsmentioned from Maille to try. The opinions are my own, and we all know how much I love Paris and Maille.

 

 

Filed Under: Travel, Kitchen Sink, France, Product Reviews Tagged With: France, Maille, Product Review, Travel, cornichons, mustard

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It’s been way too many years since I’ve been t It’s been way too many years since I’ve been to @teaandsympathynyc  We went today for lunch and it was as wonderful as it always has been. Proper sausage rolls, fish and chips and their amazing sticky toffee pudding in custard. We even stopped in next-door for Crunchies. I need to go back and have afternoon tea again. #teaandsympathy #nyc #oldschool #westvillagenyc #westvillage #memories #england #englishtea #english #uk
We have so many tomatoes from the garden so my wor We have so many tomatoes from the garden so my working lunch is a French classic. Tomato tart with Dijon mustard and a little Comte/Gruyere mix. #workfromhomelife #tomatoes #growyourownfood #thanksdavid 😊
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Of the four out of five suitcases that arrived hom Of the four out of five suitcases that arrived home from France with us, I am so happy the one with the butter and cheese made it! The fifth suitcase took a few extra days. A little cheese in the afternoon to celebrate. From @fromageriedulouvre #tommedesfleurs #comte  #ossauiraty #cheese #paris #france #frenchcheese #frenchbutter #lucky #luggagewoes #airfrance
Croque Monsieur with Rosé after a stop to City Ph Croque Monsieur with Rosé after a stop to City Pharma to stock up on French beauty products. All that shopping makes one hungry.  #croquemonsieur #rosé #wine #vin #summer #citypharma #paris #france #beauty #deuxmagots
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