Knife Skills

Knife Skills – How to Carve/Chop/Slice/Fillet
Published at DK Canada

About the book

The lightning pace of professional chefs' knife skills can be both intriguing and intimidating to home chefs. With, DK's Knife Skills, cooks can learn to chop, slice, dice, carve, and fillet with the best.

Written by three Michelin-starred chefs — Marcus Wareing, Shaun Hill, and Charlie Trotter — and food writer and cooking instructor Lyn Hall from the renowned La Petite Cuisine School of Cooking — aspiring cooks will learn to cut every relevant type of material — from vegetables and herbs, to fish, meat, breads, and fruits.

Including step-by-step color photographs that help a wide variety of cutting techniques easy to understand and simple to master, this practical guide — enables enthusiasts to learn lifelong skills at their own pace.

My Thoughts

A while back, my husband took a cooking class on how to handle a knife at Loblaws and came back with an amazing creation made out of apple.   He quickly proceeded to do another one for us with our apples to show us how easy it was to make one.   And the swans were fabulous!

My husband is a magician when he is in the kitchen.   He can create a new meal just be leaving him be.    One of the things he would love to learn more is how to use the different knives that he has.   So when I saw the title Knife Skills, I knew it would be perfect for my husband.

There are two big parts in the book.  Part one will instruct you on the basics of knife handling.  The section will tell you how to handle a knife, give you an anatomy of a knife as well as an history of this kitchen tool.  It will present you the different types of knives and how to care for them.  Once you have completed the reading of this section, you will be ready to attack the second section of the book which will detail how to use the different types of knife you might have at home.   This specific section is divided in chapters – vegetables, fish & shellfish, meat/poultry/game, doughs & desserts, and fruit.  For example the presentation pineapple shown at page 204 is marvelous.   Unfortunately, they don’t show how to do the swan like the ones my husband did.

While going through the pages, I learned  how to peel a tomato and do a tomato concassé, I discovered how to prepare asparagus and how to trim a globe artichoke which we never did before.  This vegetable is something that I would like to explore more in the future.  When visiting a farm in the area, we saw artichoke growing and discovered its flower which can last for a long time.

This book is perfect for anyone in your family wanting to learn how to handle the knives you have.   Not only will my husband this it is a great book, but I am thinking I will learn quite a bit about it.  And when my kids are old enough, they will be able to learn more about handling knives in the kitchen because of this book.    The book is packed with tips and tricks from chefs and will help you to perfect your knife skills.  It would make a perfect stocking  gift for the chef in your house this Christmas!

Knife Skills is available at your favourite bookstore, even at amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Step-By-Step Baking Cakes

Step-By-Step Baking Cakes Ebook
From DK Canada

About the book

Make sure your baking rises to every occasion.

Whether you want to produce the perfect tart, bake a cake fit for a king or serve up a soufflé that won't sink, Step-by-Step Baking Cakes guides you through 350 baking recipes for every occasion.
80 classic recipes are fully illustrated with step-by-step instructions to ensure you're always on the right track and variations help you add a modern twist. Clear instructions, essential information on ingredients and advice on equipment and storage will help you bake with confidence and have your friends and family begging for more.

From sweet to savory, Step-by-Step Baking Cakes is the one baking bible that you shouldn't be without.

My Thoughts

This specific ebook has been created to give you the flexibility you need when baking.   Essentially, the recipes were taken from The Illustrated Step-by-Step Baking recipe book from DK Canada so that you don’t have to bring the huge version on your counter while baking.   It features 100 of the favorite cake recipes found in the hardcover version I had a chance to review last year.     It also contains four chapters which covers a wide variety of cakes that could be done everyday, during celebrations or just for fun!  Here’s what you should expect in this ebook.

• Everyday Cakes – Victoria Sponge Cake, Angel food cake, genoise with raspberries and cream, swiss roll, ginger cake, carrot cake, lemon polenta cake, sticky toffee puddings, chocolate cake with buttercream, devil’s food cake, chocolate fudge cake, baked chocolate mousse, German apple cake, rhubarb and ginger upside down cake, Bavarian plum cake, banana bread, bara brith.
• Celebration Cakes – rich fruit cake, plum pudding, panettone, stollen, bienenstich, brioche des rois, kugelhopf, chocolate roulade, and my favorite black forest gâteau.
• Small Cakes – vanilla cream cupcakes, fondant fancies, chocolate fudge cake balls, whoopie pies, chocolate fondants, lemon and blueberry muffins, madeleines, scones, Welsh cakes, rock cakes.
• Cheesecakes – blueberry ripple cheesecake, German cheesecake, lemon cheesecake.

To pick your curiosity, here’s some of the recipes you can find in the Step-by-step baking cakes ebook.

You will find easy to glance icons that will tell you how many people you can serve with this recipe, how long it will take to make it, how long is necessary to bake it and finally if you can freeze the cake for future event.  You will get a list of the ingredients and special equipment you might need to do the recipe as well as step-by-step instructions to make it.    Each recipe has it’s own photograph of the final product so it’s easy to see if your creation look similar to the one in the ebook!    Finally, there are multi-touch elements throughout the book.   Sometimes it will be step-by-step photos and instructions that you will have to swipe on the screen (don’t forget to have a towel next to you to clean your hands if necessary).  Other times you will have the opportunity to watch a video to discover what to expect at a specific  step.   You have the possibility of get the view full screen if necessary.  I am please to see that there is sound with the videos in this particular ebook.

I love the idea of having a section of the Illustrated Step-by-step Baking cookbook on my ipad simply because it takes less place on my countertop.   It would be nice to have other sections of the original book available on the iPad eventually.   But this is a good starting point.  After all, what kind of baking do we do more often – probably cakes…

Step-by-step Baking Cakes ebook is available for purchase on iTunes for the price of 5.99$.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

My Cold Cup

My Cold Cup
http://www.mycoldcup.com/

A friend of mine approached me one day with a suggestion of reviewing a new cup on the market that someone at her church had created.    I knew the person a bit and agreed in reviewing the product in question.   Gwenda hand delivered the My Cold Cup to me and I was immediately impressed with the design.

Gwenda Lindhorst-Ko is the Ottawa inventor of a new non-toxic, leak-proof cup designed to keep drinks cold -- dairy, soy, organic milk, smoothies, fruit juices, veggie drinks, ethnic drinks.    She is the engineer and inventor but most important of all she is a mother that saw a need and did something about it.

Watch Gwenda sharing her passion about the cup.

Gwenda wanted a cup that would keep the drinks cold for more than five hours and that could contain just enough liquid for a lunch.    It needed to be something that was wide enough to insert your hand when hand washing it.  At the same time it needed to be unbreakable inside and outside.  We know how kids can something be rough with their things and backpacks are often thrown on the ground in the school yard.  

I tested the My Cold Cup quite a few times since I received it.  The first thing I did was to put some water in it and insert the cold stick.   I left it on the counter for about 6 hours and the water was fresh and cold to drink.    The opening is wide and I love the fact that the cap stay attached to the cup as well.   That way the child don’t have to worry about loosing the top part of the cup.  It was indeed impressive.   Even my oldest son drank it and was in awe of it.  

You don’t have to insert the cold stick in it if you don’t want to.  But I most admit that this is an interesting concept that I haven’t seen in other kinds of bottles in the past.  The cup is also easy to hold no matter the age of the child.   Bottom line is this is the perfect cup for school lunches or to bring at a day camp.

I have a few disappointment that I want to share.   The first one is that there are only two colors available – green and blue.   I personally would love to have a red one and I know my little girl would love to have a pink or a purple one.    Having said this, I think that My Cold Cup should consider expanding the colors as soon as the product is getting known.   We are six people in our family and we like having cup of different colors so we know which one belongs to who.  My second disappointment is that there isn’t a bigger size for adults.   I love to bring water with me when I go somewhere but to be honest having to refill it constantly because I have drank all of it is not fun.   Recently I use the My Cold Cup to go to a writer’s workshop and I had to go in the bathroom to refill the bottle.   I wish there was a 1.5 liters size with the same idea.   Maybe a future product for the My Cold Cup line…

If you are looking for a great cup that will be sturdy and won’t leak in the lunch bag, I strongly recommend the My Cold Cup.   It is a product that was well thought and made by a Canadian mom who saw a need and acted on it.   Encourage Gwenda and get one today!

My Cold Cup can be purchased online or at retail stores in Ontario and BC for the price of 24.95$.  You can also purchase extra freeze sticks for the price of 2.50$ each.  I wish that it would be possible to get a bulk price for purchasing more than one.   With a family of six it’s always nice to have cold drink when we are going outside.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Gwenda for giving me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Plate It Forward

Plate It Forward
From Boom Boom! Revolution
While on facebook one day, I saw an announcement on the Boom Boom! page for a product that was coming.   I thought it was a genius idea and message them to see if it could be possible to receive one to review.   They said yes!    So I waited patiently until it was available and sent to me.

What is Boom Boom! Revolution?
The idea is simple.  The objective of their products is to build community, improve humanity, and champion the belief that doing good is what needs to be done.   Their moniker Boom Boom! is inspired by a boomerang.   What does a boomerang do?  It comes back to you.   The hope is to generate thoughts, actions, and words that will go full circle once launch to someone.

We have experienced this in a different way.   We have the habit to pass along clothing and toys that are not for our kids anymore.   Well believe it or not, this comes around as well as other people have passed along clothing and such to us.
   
When I received the Plate It Forward, I was excited.  Now I only had to pick someone to receive the plate.

What is Plate It Forward?
It's the newest (and tastiest!) way to "pay it forward"…Plate it Forward! Inspired by Card #13 from the Family Deck, this colorful and durable plate lets you pass on two of the most vital joys of life: love and food. Perfect gift for the holidays or any time!   A special message on the plate will give your the steps that need to be done to bless someone.

Step ONE
Make something delicious for someone you care about.
Step TWO
Place your treat on this plate.
Step THREE
Plate it Forward! Deliver the plate to your unsuspecting (and lucky!) recipient.
Step FOUR
High five yourself (and anyone around you) for keeping this act of guerilla goodness in motion.
Now that’s good work!

Our Thoughts
This plate was inspired  by the Family Edition Boom Boom! Card # 13 which encourages you to make something yummy and give it away to your neighbors or friends.   We love to bless others in various ways.   We had recently made homemade donuts which I intended to share.   But when we received this fabulous plate, we also made banana breads (two different ones) and we decided to give a variety of yummy goodies to a friend of our who recently had a surgery.
Here’s the plate before I wrap it up.



One disappointed thing though.   With the cards you can register the one you use on the Boom Boom! site and submit the registration number on each card as you pass them along.   Not so with the plate.   There isn’t a registration number behind the plate so you can’t really register it.   For us, we decided to pass the card along with the plate and I took a picture showing them together with the goodies we were giving our friend and her family.



What I particularly like about this kind of product is that you can do this together as a family.  The kids get excited when they bake something for someone and love to bless others in the process.  In a time and age where often people are self-centered and selfish, it is nice to raise kids who are willing to sacrifice for others. 

I thought it would be nice to include the thoughts of my friend as well.  So here they are:

I’ve been away for the week and haven’t had the time to pass the plate on to someone one.   I like the idea of blessing someone and the plate has a pretty design.

Watch this little video that illustrate perfectly how to use Plate It Forward.


The price tag attached to the Plate It Forward is 16.99$ for one and you can also get a set of two for $29.99.  It can be purchased at their site boomboomcards.com.  The Family Edition of the Boom Boom! Cards is also available on their site for the price of 14.95$

So now our Plate It Forward is gone.   Maybe one day it will come back here.  But even if it doesn’t we have been blessed recently with banana chocolate chips muffins from another friend who came to drop off the Sunday School lesson I will be teaching on Sunday at our place.   So in a way it did came around.  I hope that our Plate It Forward will bless others for years to come!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Boom Boom! Revolution for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

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