The Seven Days of Christmas Day Seven - Mulitples

Let's recap the first six days of Christmas at iliketocook, shall we?

Day One - Make it Yourself
Day Two - Notebooks
Day Three - a la di stasio cookbook
Day Four - Knives
Days Five and Six - Stuff in Tubes and Glass Jars

And we end the week with Day Seven - Multiples.



Not much explanation here. If one set of measuring cups is good, then two is better. Cause if one is dirty, the other can be used! If one cutting board is in the sink cause it was used for meat, pull out a clean one for the veggies! And so on.

Need a last minute gift for a cooker? Pick up a wooden spoon, a spatula, some measuring spoons and cups and a spatula and wrap them up in a new tea towel. Garnish with a jar of fancy salt or a grocery store gift certificate.

The Seven Days of Christmas Day Seven - Mulitples

Let's recap the first six days of Christmas at iliketocook, shall we?

Day One - Make it Yourself
Day Two - Notebooks
Day Three - a la di stasio cookbook
Day Four - Knives
Days Five and Six - Stuff in Tubes and Glass Jars

And we end the week with Day Seven - Multiples.



Not much explanation here. If one set of measuring cups is good, then two is better. Cause if one is dirty, the other can be used! If one cutting board is in the sink cause it was used for meat, pull out a clean one for the veggies! And so on.

Need a last minute gift for a cooker? Pick up a wooden spoon, a spatula, some measuring spoons and cups and a spatula and wrap them up in a new tea towel. Garnish with a jar of fancy salt or a grocery store gift certificate.

The Seven Days of Christmas - Days Five and Six - Stuff in a Tube and Glass Jars

Where does the time go? Today I'm combining days 5 and 6 together, cause if I don't, you'll be looking at these dratted present posts in January.

Day Five - Stuff in a tube.

I am a huge fan of all the tubes you see below. They are convenient, fast, easy, and always at hand. Not that I always shun fresh ingredients for pre-packaged, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Our grocery stores are completely unreliable when it comes to fresh herbs. And you know, sometimes dried just won't do. So instead of going without or changing the meal altogether, I now keep a tube or basil and cilantro in the fridge. The tubes can't replace fresh in all recipes, but some. Lemon and lime juice are so great to have in the kitchen to add brightness and tang. And when a recipe calls for just 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, or one anchovy fillet, tubes are easier and less wasteful than opening a whole can.


I always put a few store bought food items in Scott's stocking. Sometimes a can of shrimp so he can make his Shrimp Dip, cans of smoked oysters, pate. Coffee. Spices. Cheese too - a kind we've never tried before (keep in the fridge until Christmas morning though!), olives, store bought antipastos and pickles. Heck you could even buy a good quality olive oil or vinegar to put under the tree. And pasta - there are so many shapes beyond spaghetti and linguine. This year he's getting hot sauce, chocolate, smoked oysters and a can of vienna sausages.

Day Six - Glass Jars

Another thing I love in the kitchen are glass jars to store....well, everything. They are so much easier to keep food sealed and organized than in plastic bags tied with a plastic tie. I still do that too though. More than half my jars are reused coming from pasta sauce, pickles, mustard, etc. Just soak off the labels, give a good scrub and they're ready to hold peppercorns, flour or dried basil.

If you're thinking of giving jars as a gift, buy a box of mason jars. The jars in the picture below are 500 ml (2 cup) jars. At this time of year you can get a box of 12 for $10-$15.


Sizes range from half a cup up to liters. The jars can be stacked for storage, you can see what's inside, and the lid will keep your food items fresh and dry and safe from pests.


For me, any jar goes, including a coffee can to hold my lifetime supply of cumin, a mayo jar of dried mint, a mustard jar with 1/100th of a spoonful of poultry seasoning, a pesto jar of bay leaves, and mason jars with almonds, colored sugar, brown rice, bow tie pasta and panko breadcrumbs.

Tomorrow - the December Bread Baking Babes recipe, and Tuesday is Day Seven! Most likely.

The Seven Days of Christmas - Days Five and Six - Stuff in a Tube and Glass Jars

Where does the time go? Today I'm combining days 5 and 6 together, cause if I don't, you'll be looking at these dratted present posts in January.

Day Five - Stuff in a tube.

I am a huge fan of all the tubes you see below. They are convenient, fast, easy, and always at hand. Not that I always shun fresh ingredients for pre-packaged, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Our grocery stores are completely unreliable when it comes to fresh herbs. And you know, sometimes dried just won't do. So instead of going without or changing the meal altogether, I now keep a tube or basil and cilantro in the fridge. The tubes can't replace fresh in all recipes, but some. Lemon and lime juice are so great to have in the kitchen to add brightness and tang. And when a recipe calls for just 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, or one anchovy fillet, tubes are easier and less wasteful than opening a whole can.


I always put a few store bought food items in Scott's stocking. Sometimes a can of shrimp so he can make his Shrimp Dip, cans of smoked oysters, pate. Coffee. Spices. Cheese too - a kind we've never tried before (keep in the fridge until Christmas morning though!), olives, store bought antipastos and pickles. Heck you could even buy a good quality olive oil or vinegar to put under the tree. And pasta - there are so many shapes beyond spaghetti and linguine. This year he's getting hot sauce, chocolate, smoked oysters and a can of vienna sausages.

Day Six - Glass Jars

Another thing I love in the kitchen are glass jars to store....well, everything. They are so much easier to keep food sealed and organized than in plastic bags tied with a plastic tie. I still do that too though. More than half my jars are reused coming from pasta sauce, pickles, mustard, etc. Just soak off the labels, give a good scrub and they're ready to hold peppercorns, flour or dried basil.

If you're thinking of giving jars as a gift, buy a box of mason jars. The jars in the picture below are 500 ml (2 cup) jars. At this time of year you can get a box of 12 for $10-$15.


Sizes range from half a cup up to liters. The jars can be stacked for storage, you can see what's inside, and the lid will keep your food items fresh and dry and safe from pests.


For me, any jar goes, including a coffee can to hold my lifetime supply of cumin, a mayo jar of dried mint, a mustard jar with 1/100th of a spoonful of poultry seasoning, a pesto jar of bay leaves, and mason jars with almonds, colored sugar, brown rice, bow tie pasta and panko breadcrumbs.

Tomorrow - the December Bread Baking Babes recipe, and Tuesday is Day Seven! Most likely.

The Seven Days of Christmas - Day Four - Cuts Like a Knife

knife block found here.

Most important tool in the kitchen? Your knife.

Every kitchen should have at least one good knife.

Mine has just that. One good knife.

If you are looking to buy yourself or someone else a knife, start with a chefs knife. Look for a sharp blade, good heft for it's size, and that it feels comfortable in your hand.

Remember you get what you pay for. If you spend $10 on a knife, chances are it's going to be crap. Spend $70 or ever more, you've got a better chance of it being a keeper.

For reading:
What to look for when buying a kitchen knife
Chef's knife buying guide
What to look for in your first set of knives

Popular:
Henckels
Wusthof
Global Knives

The Seven Days of Christmas - Day Four - Cuts Like a Knife

knife block found here.

Most important tool in the kitchen? Your knife.

Every kitchen should have at least one good knife.

Mine has just that. One good knife.

If you are looking to buy yourself or someone else a knife, start with a chefs knife. Look for a sharp blade, good heft for it's size, and that it feels comfortable in your hand.

Remember you get what you pay for. If you spend $10 on a knife, chances are it's going to be crap. Spend $70 or ever more, you've got a better chance of it being a keeper.

For reading:
What to look for when buying a kitchen knife
Chef's knife buying guide
What to look for in your first set of knives

Popular:
Henckels
Wusthof
Global Knives

The Seven Days of Christmas - Day Three - Cookbook Recommendation

What better gift for someone who loves food than a cookbook!

Josee di Stasio is a cookbook author and show host from Quebec. She hosts a popular (500,000 viewers per week) cooking show called a la di stasio and published her cookbook also called A la di Stasio in Quebec (en Francais) in 2004. This year the book was published in English for us lucky Westerners.


I will admit that I was not familiar with Josee di Stasio until I came across this book, but I was instantly charmed by her. The book is colorful and bright, with colors like lime green, yellow and red leaping out at you from the pages. There are 11 chapters including the usual main courses, side dishes and desserts, and extras such as The Basics: Tips and Recipes with simple recipes for anything from Asparagus to Tomatos, and A la di Stasio Menus, with 27 different menu suggestions for dinners from holiday meals to Saturday nights. The recipes are simple and straightforward and none are overly complicated. Most recipes have serving suggestions and variations provided, which is fun.

There is definitely a Mediterranean influence in this cookbook, and I love it.

I started my exploration of this book by picking 4 recipes: Butternut Squash Soup, Pancetta Chicken Casserole, Roasted Cherry Tomatos and Mandarin Sorbet.

The soup (computer ate my picture) was just lovely; squash and garlic are roasted in the oven until soft, then added to stock flavored with onions sauteed with ginger and curry powder. The ginger and curry really added a zing to the soup.

Roasted Cherry Tomatos

These were gorgeous and so fast and easy. A simple side dish that would complement almost any meal.

Pancetta Chicken Casserole.

Chicken thighs baked with onions, garlic, lemon and pancetta is so elegant and tasty. And it looks cute, if I do say so myself.

Mandarin Sorbet
The easiest and most delicious frozen dessert I've ever made. There are a couple of different riffs of this recipe in the book and I plan on trying all of them.

This is the sort of cookbook that never feels old. Every time I open it I'm drawn to another recipe that I can't wait to try. A fabulous gift to find under the tree on the 25th.

The Seven Days of Christmas - Day Three - Cookbook Recommendation

What better gift for someone who loves food than a cookbook!

Josee di Stasio is a cookbook author and show host from Quebec. She hosts a popular (500,000 viewers per week) cooking show called a la di stasio and published her cookbook also called A la di Stasio in Quebec (en Francais) in 2004. This year the book was published in English for us lucky Westerners.


I will admit that I was not familiar with Josee di Stasio until I came across this book, but I was instantly charmed by her. The book is colorful and bright, with colors like lime green, yellow and red leaping out at you from the pages. There are 11 chapters including the usual main courses, side dishes and desserts, and extras such as The Basics: Tips and Recipes with simple recipes for anything from Asparagus to Tomatos, and A la di Stasio Menus, with 27 different menu suggestions for dinners from holiday meals to Saturday nights. The recipes are simple and straightforward and none are overly complicated. Most recipes have serving suggestions and variations provided, which is fun.

There is definitely a Mediterranean influence in this cookbook, and I love it.

I started my exploration of this book by picking 4 recipes: Butternut Squash Soup, Pancetta Chicken Casserole, Roasted Cherry Tomatos and Mandarin Sorbet.

The soup (computer ate my picture) was just lovely; squash and garlic are roasted in the oven until soft, then added to stock flavored with onions sauteed with ginger and curry powder. The ginger and curry really added a zing to the soup.

Roasted Cherry Tomatos

These were gorgeous and so fast and easy. A simple side dish that would complement almost any meal.

Pancetta Chicken Casserole.

Chicken thighs baked with onions, garlic, lemon and pancetta is so elegant and tasty. And it looks cute, if I do say so myself.

Mandarin Sorbet
The easiest and most delicious frozen dessert I've ever made. There are a couple of different riffs of this recipe in the book and I plan on trying all of them.

This is the sort of cookbook that never feels old. Every time I open it I'm drawn to another recipe that I can't wait to try. A fabulous gift to find under the tree on the 25th.

The Seven Days of Christmas - Day Two - Notebooks

One of my absolute favorite tools for the kitchen is a blank notebook.


I started working on my first notebook when I was 18. I copied recipes from my Mom, my friends (mostly sweets), and my boyfriend-at-the-times Mom's recipes, as he was a fussier eater than even me.


I soon added recipes I copied out of newspapers, magazines and cookbooks. And after I gained more confidence in the kitchen I began adding my own ideas, thoughts and recipes.


I'm still working on my notebooks, adding original recipes as well as others yummy stuff. My favorites are the coil notebooks. They are nice and large and can usually fit full pages printed off the internet or a word document (with a bit of cropping). And they lie flat when you have them open next to you in the kitchen. And? Cheap.


Know someone who likes to cook? Wrap a ribbon around a couple of blank notebooks. They'll be glad you did.

The Seven Days of Christmas - Day Two - Notebooks

One of my absolute favorite tools for the kitchen is a blank notebook.


I started working on my first notebook when I was 18. I copied recipes from my Mom, my friends (mostly sweets), and my boyfriend-at-the-times Mom's recipes, as he was a fussier eater than even me.


I soon added recipes I copied out of newspapers, magazines and cookbooks. And after I gained more confidence in the kitchen I began adding my own ideas, thoughts and recipes.


I'm still working on my notebooks, adding original recipes as well as others yummy stuff. My favorites are the coil notebooks. They are nice and large and can usually fit full pages printed off the internet or a word document (with a bit of cropping). And they lie flat when you have them open next to you in the kitchen. And? Cheap.


Know someone who likes to cook? Wrap a ribbon around a couple of blank notebooks. They'll be glad you did.

The Seven Days of Christmas - Day One - Make it yourself

I love to give homemade treats from the kitchen for Christmas.

Whether gifted out of frugal necessity (as in my early 20's and um, now) or just for fun, homemade food stuffs say "I care!" and "I like you so much that I made you a present!" and "This is how much you mean to me!" and "I have no more money!".

We've made a gifted a slew of sweet and savory foods over the years. Flavored vinegars, caramel corn, cookies, peanut butter cups, bbq sauce, truffles, salad dressing, breads, and probably more have been made and hopefully enjoyed and appreciated by the recipients.

This year I tried 2 new food gifts. The first is Vanilla Sugar. Vanilla Sugar is totally easy to make, requires almost no effort, is cheap and is so fancy pants you won't believe it.

Did I mention it's cheap?

Vanilla Sugar

So you need 2 ingredients: sugar and a vanilla pod. You'll also need a container with a tight fitting lid to keep the sugar in while the vanilla pod is flavoring the sugar, and also some small containers or jars if you plan on gifting some sugar.

Place 3 cups of sugar in your container.

Carefully cut your vanilla bean in half lengthwise. With the back of your knife, scrape out all the yummy sticky vanilla seeds. Add the seeds AND the scraped bean pieces into the sugar. Stir the sugar well, or put the lid on your container and shake.


Set aside and let the sugar sit for 2 to 3 weeks. Every once in a while, shake the container.


When it's ready, pour it through a fine sieve to get out the hard pod bits.


Pour into jars, and gift or keep.



Soy Almonds
from More Recipes from the Best of Bridge.

Not quite as cheap or easy, but addictive and delicious.

1 1/4 lbs blanched whole almonds
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup soy sauce


Spread almonds on a 9X13" baking sheet. Toast at 400' for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir often. Be careful to not let them burn.


Mix the butter and soy sauce together and pour over the almonds. Stir well. Toast for 10 to 15 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until the nuts are coated and fairly dry.


Cool and store in jars.

The Seven Days of Christmas - Day One - Make it yourself

I love to give homemade treats from the kitchen for Christmas.

Whether gifted out of frugal necessity (as in my early 20's and um, now) or just for fun, homemade food stuffs say "I care!" and "I like you so much that I made you a present!" and "This is how much you mean to me!" and "I have no more money!".

We've made a gifted a slew of sweet and savory foods over the years. Flavored vinegars, caramel corn, cookies, peanut butter cups, bbq sauce, truffles, salad dressing, breads, and probably more have been made and hopefully enjoyed and appreciated by the recipients.

This year I tried 2 new food gifts. The first is Vanilla Sugar. Vanilla Sugar is totally easy to make, requires almost no effort, is cheap and is so fancy pants you won't believe it.

Did I mention it's cheap?

Vanilla Sugar

So you need 2 ingredients: sugar and a vanilla pod. You'll also need a container with a tight fitting lid to keep the sugar in while the vanilla pod is flavoring the sugar, and also some small containers or jars if you plan on gifting some sugar.

Place 3 cups of sugar in your container.

Carefully cut your vanilla bean in half lengthwise. With the back of your knife, scrape out all the yummy sticky vanilla seeds. Add the seeds AND the scraped bean pieces into the sugar. Stir the sugar well, or put the lid on your container and shake.


Set aside and let the sugar sit for 2 to 3 weeks. Every once in a while, shake the container.


When it's ready, pour it through a fine sieve to get out the hard pod bits.


Pour into jars, and gift or keep.



Soy Almonds
from More Recipes from the Best of Bridge.

Not quite as cheap or easy, but addictive and delicious.

1 1/4 lbs blanched whole almonds
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup soy sauce


Spread almonds on a 9X13" baking sheet. Toast at 400' for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir often. Be careful to not let them burn.


Mix the butter and soy sauce together and pour over the almonds. Stir well. Toast for 10 to 15 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until the nuts are coated and fairly dry.


Cool and store in jars.

Starting tomorrow - my 7 Days of Christmas.

Good morning to you! Today is December 10, and for those of you who celebrate Christmas, we've only got 2 weeks to go until the big day.

I'm surprisingly organized this year. Got my cards out, the out of town presents have been sent. Except for a couple of work people and new friends I've got all my shopping done. All that's left really is figuring out some meals for the 24th, 25th, and 31st. We are continuing our new tradition of choosing dishes from other cultures for Christmas Dinner. Last year was French Canadian and the year before (our first for this tradition) was a dinner from Sweden.

But anyway, I thought that I'd share some ideas for gifts for people who like to spend time in the kitchen. So every day for the next seven days I'll be posting stuff I think that you should buy your loved ones for a gift - or buy for yourself! Cause I don't know about you, but I can always use some gift buying advice, and I LOVE receiving anything kitchen/food related. And you know, 'tis the season.

See you tomorrow!

Starting tomorrow - my 7 Days of Christmas.

Good morning to you! Today is December 10, and for those of you who celebrate Christmas, we've only got 2 weeks to go until the big day.

I'm surprisingly organized this year. Got my cards out, the out of town presents have been sent. Except for a couple of work people and new friends I've got all my shopping done. All that's left really is figuring out some meals for the 24th, 25th, and 31st. We are continuing our new tradition of choosing dishes from other cultures for Christmas Dinner. Last year was French Canadian and the year before (our first for this tradition) was a dinner from Sweden.

But anyway, I thought that I'd share some ideas for gifts for people who like to spend time in the kitchen. So every day for the next seven days I'll be posting stuff I think that you should buy your loved ones for a gift - or buy for yourself! Cause I don't know about you, but I can always use some gift buying advice, and I LOVE receiving anything kitchen/food related. And you know, 'tis the season.

See you tomorrow!