The perfect tabletop Griddle/Crepe Maker from Epica.

I was really excited about this. For one, I caught an incredible sale, lol. For two, I had never made crepes before, but have always wanted to. This crepe maker is virtually a tabletop griddle. So, you can cook a lot of other things on here. It is lightweight as well, so it is also highly portable, for travel, RVs, going over to a friend’s home for entertaining. It is insanely easy to operate as well. This product arrives with 1 griddle, 1 pamphlet, 1 wooden spatula, and 1 wooden batter spreader.

Since I had never made crepes before, I researched recipes online. There are a ton, for you novices. The key is to follow the directions perfectly. With my chosen recipe, each recipe called for exactly ¼ cup of batter. Before placing the batter on the griddle, I did a thin coating of olive oil. This allowed for no sticking of my crepe whatsoever. The crepe, however, would stick to my plastic spatula. I had never used one like the wood one included, but I can see how it wouldn’t stick to the wood. I also chose not to use the batter spreader. I decided one new thing at a time, lol. What I did do, was, after placing the batter on the griddle, I actually carefully picked up the griddle, and swirled it slowly, to get the batter to spread out. It worked perfectly like this. Then cook the crepe for 2 minutes on each side. Cook crepes on medium heat, as well. This griddle is a 1400watt griddle, according to the included pamphlet. It states 1200 on the online description. It has a turn number to adjust the heat setting. There is no off switch. You need to unplug it to turn it off, so remember that when prepping. Do that first, and then plug it in. It also states there are 5 different temp settings, but there are no set lines to delineate the settings. Just the min and max settings are noted. But, it’s pretty easy to figure out. I placed it in the middle for medium heat, and that worked perfectly for me. There are little rubber feet underneath the griddle, so it sits very well in place. It did not slide on me at all during use. I have had no issues with cooking on my griddle at all. It is a breeze to clean, as well. Overall, this whole experiment has been fun, and very positive. I am so glad I took the chance on this Epica Crepe Maker/Griddle.

Here is the link to the recipe I used off of AllRecipes: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/16383/basic-crepes/

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon, sold by Perella: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N76NK3C/ref=cfb_at_prodpg

Cooking the cast iron way with Ewei’s Homeware 10.5 inch Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Pan.

I am the main cook in the home, and I cook almost everything from scratch. Cast iron cookware has been a part of our kitchens since childhood. If you haven’t experienced cast iron cooking, you are missing out. Not only is cast iron a highly durable material, that can last a lifetime, but it adds something to your food. Meats are great cooked on cast iron, and all foods get the added benefit of iron to them, from being cooked on it. Cast iron has great heat conduction. Once it heats up, boy is it heated up. You can greatly turn down the heat, while still maintaining great, even cooking. Don’t forget to use a pot holder though, with this pan. This cast iron pan by Eweis Homewares, measures out at 10.5″ (cooking surface), by 1.96″ deep, by 16.5″ to the end of the handle. This is an easy pan to start off with as well. It has already been pre-seasoned. They only used vegetable oil to preseason it. So, it’s ready to go right out of the box.

Care of a cast iron pan is pretty easy. People tend to over think it, really. The key is to wash and dry it after cooking on it. If I let it soak, I only do for a few minutes, and then it cleans easily. Then I try to dry it as much as possible. If you don’t want it out while it’s thoroughly drying, just place it in your oven to dry. While the pan is still a little warm, you can even wipe it down slightly with vegetable oil also. This will keep the pan from rusting. If you let your pan get damp, and surface rust appears, it does clean easily, and doesn’t affect your cooking. There are a lot of hints and tips online, as well.

Cast iron pans can be used stovetop, in the oven, and over a campfire. They are obviously very versatile to own and use. This pan is well made, and great to cook with. With its ridged cooking surface, it’s great to cook different meats on it. This pan even offers the spout, to make draining easier. Overall, it’s a great addition to our home and kitchen. I am really happy with it, personally.

I received this for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. – Ewei’s Homeware 10.5 inch Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Pan, Square Grill Pan.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found her eon Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZNF0MK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Beep, beep, beep….New Sky Techs’ LCD Digital Kitchen Cooking Timer.

Timers are an item that all families use, no matter what their economic position. Be it for cooking, working out, timing your progress, homework, time outs for children, and more. I remember the old wind up models, which are still widely used today. They make that incessant ticking sound, lol. I always feel anxious while those are counting down. I love the silent, battery operated models better. You can focus on what you are doing, without feeling overly anxious with the impending countdown. This particular timer is both compact and easy to store and use. It has a large magnetic on the back, as well as a pop out stand. So, when you are not using it, you can just attach it to your fridge. The timer only measures 3 ¼” wide and 3” tall. It is also only 7/8^th” deep. These are my personal measurements. The only downside is to remember to have a AAA battery ready when it arrives. It will not operate without it, and it does not come with one, lol. The battery compartment is on the back of the timer, and no screwdriver is needed to access the compartment.

The stand on the back just pulls out to use, or push it back on flat, and use the magnetic base to mount it. This timer is pretty easy to use. There are three buttons on it: M for minutes, S for seconds, and ST/SP for start and pause your timer. Press in your time, for example 5 minutes and 25 seconds, the up press the ST/SP button. To pause it, press downward on the same button. Then to start it again, press upwards on it. Now, to clear it, just press the M and S buttons at the same time; that’s it. It is so easy to use The screen is not illuminated, but the numbers are big and easy to read at a glance. When the timer goes off, it makes the traditional beeping sound we all know and love, lol. Overall, it’s a reliable timer. I love the ease of use. I hate the fancy ones, that come with an actual booklet of directions, lol. I mean, really, it’s a timer, for the love of pearl. The directions for this are as simple as I already spelled out, and they are literally just printed on the packaging. I really like this one, and it’s found its’ home on my fridge.

I received this, for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – LCD Digital Kitchen Cooking Timer Count-Down Up Clock Loud Alarm with Magnetic Stand, White

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LMZ86BG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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The best pans! – 8″ Green Earth Frying Pan by Ozeri.

Yes, I love Ozeri pans. They are absolutely fantastic. I have been using them for about a solid year now, if not longer, and they are fantastic. I received this 8” Green Earth frying pan to review. It is perfect for a single person, or if you are just cooking for one that day. But, I love to use this pan for omelets. We make small ones at a time, per person, in our family. These have the most unique finish on them, that seems to be taking off with copycats nowadays. It has a ceramic, nonstick coating. So not your usual, not good for you, nonstick finish. They use what is called Greblon Ceramic. It is from Germany, from nature, and is 100% PTFE, PFOA and APEO free. So, it is very healthy and eco-friendly as well. The pan is also made out of a heavy gauge die-cast aluminum. There are no heavy metals involved. You also don’t have to worry about any chemicals as well. These are extremely important qualities to me. I suffer from extreme food and more, allergies and suffer frequent, frequent, anaphylactic reactions. I also have to cook everything from scratch, and do the majority of cooking in our home. I really can’t tolerate inferior cookware because of all of this. These pans are truly a joy to cook with. They have a real solid feel to them. They are not thin, lightweight pans that will burn half your food, while the other have is raw, lol. I think we have all owned pans like that. These cook very evenly.

However, if you stove is not level, and your burner has issues, this pan is not magical, ok. The handle is also a thick metal, and has a silicon covering over most of the handle. It has great heat resistance, and affords a really great grip. A good enough grip to attempt the omelet flip. The handles is riveted onto the pan, and very firmly done. The inside of the pan has a beehive pattern texture to it. This helps afford the even cooking this pan gives you. Another key feature is the base of the pan. It’s pretty high tech looking. The bottom of the pan is a magnetized bottom. It allows for rapid heat transfer that an induction stove offers. So, yes, these pans are even induction stove friendly. So, if you can’t afford an induction stove, but have splurged for a single burner induction stove for traveling, and back up. Then, you can use this pan on that. That is what we have, lol; the single burner. They do offer these pans in other sized besides the 8” I just tested.

They have something for everyone. This is really a great quality pan. I can’t say that enough. Even though cleanup is a breeze, make sure you use a degreasing top of soap on it. If you have buildup, you will minimize the awesome nonstick feature. Also, you want to make sure you use nonabrasive sponges and soap on this as well, to protect the cooking surface. The pans I have had for around a year now, are all in perfect condition. I hand wash everything, and haven’t had any break down in any part of my pans. I use Dawn dish soap on mine, and that works great. Overall this is a very sturdy, well made pan. It offers great, even nonstick cooking. I really can’t say enough positive about it. I absolutely love it.

I received this, for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – 8″ Green Earth Frying Pan by Ozeri, with Textured Ceramic Non-Stick Coating from Germany (100% PTFE, PFOA and APEO Free).

If you would like to purchase this great pan, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005470CB6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pizza time!!!!!!! – Checkered Chef’s Stainless Steel Pizza Peel With Folding Handle.

We love to make homemade pizza in our home. I have insane food allergies, and we really can’t make frozen pizzas or even, takeout pizza, in our home. If we do not do homemade, we really have no other pizza we can eat. Fortunately, I make a mean sauce, lol. Making homemade pizza is such a great option. We ordered bulk, organic, non GMO flour, and we can really make a healthy pizza for our family. I feel so much better being able to purchase healthy ingredients, and making a yummy, but good for your product. Eating pizza doesn’t have to be an unhealthy choice, just a yummy choice. I have had a pizza peel on my wish list for a long time. I had a wood one in the past, but I really wanted a stainless one. You can use this in any type of oven, and even on pizza cooked on your grill. This pizza peel does measure out at 9 ½” wide and 13” long. The handle extends for use, and folds in for easy, easy storage. With the handle fully extended, it is 22” long. All you have to do is open the handle, and slide the stainless steel ring down over the handle to lock it in to place, and slide it up to fold the handles back in; so easy. It really is a clever design. To top it off, even with the non stainless handle, it is still quite dishwasher safe. The handle is very, very sturdy, and comfortable to hold and manipulate. It has a soft, rubberized coating on it, making it making it easy to hold onto. It doesn’t get hot to the touch, so you do not need to use a pot holder with it either. They call it their Comfort Grip Rubber Handle. It lives up to its name.

Even if you are not using the peel to take the pizza out of the oven, it is fantastic for separating the pizza from my stone. No matter what I put down on my stone, I always have my crust stick to it a little. This is so much better for that. I can remove it from the stone without cutting up the crust, just using a spatula. With a peel, you can turn or remove large items on a grill. Remove pies from your oven, or fresh breads you throw in the oven to heat up, and more. If you are short like me, you can use this to help reach into the oven and pull things to the front of the oven. I have burned myself more than once, removing a hot dish from the oven. You can grab the underside of a dish with this and pull it right to the edge, making it really easy to grab. This pizza wheel is very sturdy, and a solid piece of stainless steel. It is not bendy in the least. I really can’t say enough positive about it. It really is a great add to the kitchen.

I received this at a discount, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Checkered Chef’s Stainless Steel Pizza Peel With Folding Handle.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FGTFBHG

Serving it up in style with Virginia Kitchen Boys’ Large 1 1/2 Quart Ceramic Casserole Dish.

I have been lucky enough to be able to review Virginia Kitchen Boys’ ceramic cookware in their Lavender theme. This is the 4^th piece I’ve received. It’s their 1 ½ quart casserole dish. I absolutely love it. It is also such a useable piece. As like the other pieces, this product is handcrafted here in the USA. It is made out of “100% lead free, cadmium free, non-toxic, all natural sustainable clays and paints.” It is microwaveable, oven, and dishwasher safe as well. You can cook with this in the oven up to temperatures of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be picky about drastic temperature changes. For example, do not take it out of the oven, and put it straight into the sink to wash. Also, don’t take it from being wet from washing it, and place it into the oven. Even though it is dishwasher safe, and has a hard finish on it, I like to hand wash my ceramic wear. I’m afraid of other items in the machine chipping my cookware. This casserole dish has the beautiful lavender decoration going all the way around the outside if it. It is really pretty to serve it. The slick ceramic coating goes around all of the dish, except for the underside, on this one. Since you can cook and serve in this same dish, do not forgot to place a trivet down on the table. Then, when you are done serving from it, when it cools of, you can wrap it and place the leftovers in the fridge, in the same casserole dish. I love convenience like this. You can do so much with this dish. You can just serve cadies, or snacks in it. You can make hot dips, casseroles, salads, baked omelets, and cook meat dishes in it as well. You can make your yummy fruit crisp dessert in this dish, and be proud to serve it to your guests. Hummus is the new craze, and you can definitely serve it proudly in this dish. I love baking brie with fruit preserves, and that can be done easily in this casserole dish. You really can’t go wrong. I love cooking in stoneware like this, because it heats up so evenly, this cooking your food dish so evenly. I am absolutely loving their line of lavender themed ceramic cookware. This casserole dish is going to get a ton of use.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own.”– Virginia Boys’ Kitchens’ Large 1 1/2 Quart Ceramic Casserole Oven-to-table Deep Baker and Serving Dish with Decorative Hand Painted Lavender Design.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016V9SWTO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Serve it up in style with Virginia Boys kitchens’ Large Ceramic 2 Quart Pasta Serving Bowl.

Wow, this is my third stunning piece from the Lavender line of ceramic cookware, from Virginia Boys Kitchen on Amazon. I absolutely love it. This is a 2 quart serving/cooking bowl. You can do so much with it too. The quality lives up to my high expectations. My piece arrived with no imperfections. I am always so relieved when pottery arrives in perfect condition, lol. I also love the fact that this piece was handcrafted here in the good ole USA. That is something I love to get behind and support. Especially when the product is so wonderful. Cooking in ceramic wear like this is so wonderful. It heats up evenly and cooks evenly. The cooking quality is worth the little extra care you need to maintain it. Now, that said, this bowl is highly user friendly. It is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and oven safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s so great that you can cook in it, then bring it to the table to serve in it. Just remember to use a trivet. I love how the Lavender design wraps around the entire bowl. The entire bowl is ceramic coated, even the underside. Always avoid extreme temperature changes with this ceramic wear. Do not take it from stove to sink, or from sink to oven. The drastic change will make it crack, or split in half. You can do so much with this bowl. You can cook casseroles, vegetables, desserts, and more in in. It’s a great pasta serving bowl of course. You can serve soups, salads, fruit salads, and snacks as well in this bowl, too. A large bowl is one of the most versatile pieces you can own in a kitchen. You can even cook a cake in this bowl. I would grease it down with butter, before cooking the cake in it, so it’s easier to get it out when you flip it over. Overall, this is a wonderful piece. I have absolutely no complaints with it, except that I only have one, lol.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys kitchens’ Large Ceramic 2 Quart Pasta Serving Bowl with Decorative Hand Painted Lavender Design.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BCCJR4E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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A beautiful way to cook. – Virginia Boys Kitchens’ Large 8 Inch Ceramic Deep Bread Loaf Baking Pan

I do a lot of cooking from scratch, and that includes bread, and cakes. Both of which are perfect for this stunning loaf pan from Virginia Boys Kitchen. I love this Lavender Series they have going right now. I already have their Lavender baking tray, and now this loaf pan. It is a substantial piece capable of holding a 2lb loaf. This product is made here in the U.S., which is a fact I absolutely love. I love to support products made proudly here in the U.S.A. It is made out of “100% lead free, cadmium free, non-toxic, all natural sustainable clays and paints”. You don’t have to worry about any chemicals leaching into your food with this product. I have cooked with stoneware for years now. It really does distribute heat evenly throughout, which allows for even cooking. It is so worth the little extra care needed for its maintenance. This loaf pan was handcrafted. It is pretty thick, and very well made. The ceramic covering encompasses the entire pan. The very underneath does not have the smooth shiny finish to it. This stone can be used in the oven, and microwave. It can be washed in the dishwasher too. I always hand wash my stoneware though. I always worry about other dishes banging into it, and thus chipping it. It can withstand temps up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit too. You want to make sure that you never take it from oven to sink without letting it cool off first. You also don’t want it to go from wet sink to the oven, as well. Extreme temperature changes will cause it to crack. It is pottery. Try to remember that. It has the pretty Lavender design on both sides of it. You can use it as a serving dish too. You can serve side dishes in it, desserts, and candies too. It’s a beautiful piece that can go from oven to table, and in style too. I absolutely love my new loaf pan. It is definitely a quality piece.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys Kitchens’ Large 8 Inch Ceramic Deep Bread Loaf Baking Pan with Scalloped Edges and Decorative Hand Painted Lavender Design.

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found her on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F9MFUIU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Cooking and serving in style with Virginia Boys Kitchens’ Large Flat Rectangular Ceramic Serving Platter.

I first became hooked on cooking on stones years ago with Pampered Chef. They really do make a difference with cooking. Then the ceramic coated ones came out, and they are so much prettier and are great to serve with as well. This serving tray from Virginia Kitchen Boys is so pretty. I love the lavender design on it. Lavender is such a great flower to begin with, so I am really enjoying the theme of this cookware. This serving tray is 9”x14”. It has a nice, smooth, flat surface. You can make pizza on it. Cook appetizers on it, and then serve from it, and so much more. You do not have to worry about what you are cooking on either. This tray is made in the USA. It is also 100% lead and cadmium free. It is made out of non-toxic, all natural sustainable clays and paints. They state it is an eco-friendly product. You can use this tray in the oven, dishwasher, and microwave. You can heat the tray up, and serve foods on it, to keep the food hotter, longer. Just remember to place a hot plate underneath of it, if you choose to do so. The entire tray is ceramic coated, even underneath. At first glance, your company will think it’s only a tray, not cookware too.

Since it is pottery, it has some weight to it. Make sure you don’t throw it under cool water when hot. It has a higher chance of cracking that way, since it is stoneware. They also suggest not cooking in it over 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though it’s ceramic coated, you do not want to soak it in water before cooking in it. That can also cause it to crack. It may seem, from what I am saying, that this stone is fragile, but it really isn’t. It just has some basic instructions. I have stones that I’ve had for years. They cook so evenly, it’s amazing. Because it’s pottery, the heat really disperses evenly throughout it. I absolutely love cooking on stones. They include a great sheet with care instructions. The instructions never change, so if you already cook on a stone, the instructions are the same for this one. I absolutely love this product. It’s perfect for both cooking on and serving on.

I received this product at a discount, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are 100% solely my own. – Virginia Boys Kitchens’ Large Flat Rectangular Ceramic Serving Platter Tray with Curved Scalloped Edges and Hand Painted Decorative Lavender Design

If you would like to purchase this product, it can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016X3OTX6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Slice and dice with Moderna Housewares’ Ozeri OZK1 Elite Chef Ceramic 3-Piece Knife Set, Black.

I remember when my husband bought me my first ceramic knife. It had that white blade that they all came out with. I wasn’t sure what to expect by a ceramic blade, and was quickly awed by how sharp they were. I am still in awe. They really are sharp, and they really do maintain their sharp edge for a long, long time. I absolutely love this set from Ozeri. It is not only gorgeous, but it functions just as great as it looks. The three knives are done with gorgeous black ceramic blades. They look like regular knives. They are really eye catching! In this set you will get one 3” Paring Knife, one 5” Slicing knife, and one 6” Chef’s Knife. Basically a knife to meet all your cooking needs. One thing that I cannot reiterate enough, is that these knives are beyond sharp. Be careful using them. I have sliced myself so many times with ceramic knives. Much, much more so than regular knives. The handles on these knives are great to hold onto. They have what I call, a finger guard on them. This keeps your hand from sliding down the handle on to the blade, if the blade slips. The handles are firm, but coated, so they feel soft and comfortable in hand. I’m actually very happy with the handles. They title these handles, Ergonomic Handles. I would have to agree with that. The ceramic blades are thick. They do not bend side to side from the handle, even if you push on them, to test them. These are not metal, and will not rust, or break down any metal into your food. Ceramic blades are stated to keep their edge about 10 times longer than regular metal blades. The finish on these blades look like metal. It’s pretty amazing. My older son, who loves knives, still looks at these in awe, since the blades are sleek and shiny like metal blades. He always says they are lying about them not being metal, lol. These really are great for slicing, chopping, mincing, and cutting. I can’t say enough positive, and I really have no cons about them. The only con I have is that these highly sharp knives should come with plastic sheaths, or blade guards, as some people call them. Be very careful if you just throw them into your utensil drawer. Also, if you chip these blades, they are not easy to sharpen like regular knife blades. You could use a knife block, or the storage box they come in to store them. The foam they arrive in is really, really thick, and reusable for storage purposes. They also recommend only hand washing these knives, to ensure the blades fine edge. Since I hand wash everything, that is not an issue for me. This set of Ozeri ceramic knives are a great addition to my kitchen.

I received these for free, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. – Moderna Housewares’ Ozeri OZK1 Elite Chef Ceramic 3-Piece Knife Set, Black

If you would like to purchase this set, they can be found here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ozeri-OZK1-Elite-Ceramic-3-Piece/dp/B016BLNQIY/ref=sr_1_42?m=A3FUY11FKEN472&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1468804839&sr=1-42