Chef Choices

Having the best small kitchen appliances makes cooking easier and more fun. Check out my list of the must-have electric equipment for home cooks! Do you love cooking and baking as much as I do? If so, you’ll definitely want to check out this list of my top 10 favorite small electronic kitchen appliances. While this list doesn’t cover everything I use, these are all items I turn to on a regular basis. Items like blenders, stand mixers, and slow cookers save me a LOT of time and if there is anything we all need more of, it’s minutes in our day! This recommendation series is broken into different post categories to keep the lists from becoming overwhelming. I have not include bakeware, cookware or kitchen tools, which you can find in my other roundups! A FEW NOTES Always shop within y...

The best bakeware makes spending time in the kitchen easier and more fun! Check out my list of the baking essentials to add to your home kitchen. Do you love baking as much as I do? Perhaps you’re just getting started. If so, this list of the best bakeware that every home cook should own will help! While this list doesn’t cover everything I use, these are the items I use on a regular basis.  Today, I’m sharing a list of my top 12 favorite bakeware items. I think anyone who’s serious about baking should consider most if not all of these items. I’ve been breaking this recommendation series into different post categories to keep the lists from becoming overwhelming. This does not include small appliances like blenders, electric cookware such as skillets, or small kitchen tools like whisk...

This orange vinaigrette is refreshing, with sweet, savory, and acidic flavors. Make it today for an easy alternative to bottled dressing! I rarely buy grocery store dressings anymore. They’re so easy to make at home, and the flavors are infinitely better. This salad dressing with oranges is so refreshing and flavorful. It can brighten up boring green salads, and it’s very quick to throw together just before serving. SALAD DRESSING INGREDIENTS Fresh oranges– Always zest first while the fruit is firm. To get as much juice as possible, roll the orange against the counter while pressing gently with your palm to loosen the membranes from the peel. Extra virgin olive oil– Choice of oil is important for dressings because it affects overall flavor. EVOO is fairly neutral, but it enhances th...

What are the different types of flour, why are there so many, and what are they for? I’m here to break it down for you!  There are a surprising varieties of flour available these days. It’s hard to keep track of how many are even available at this point, and I’m constantly learning about new ones (for example, I’d never heard of mesquite flour until I shared a gingerbread pumpkin ice cream sandwich recipe from my friend Alanna’s cookbook). While they share a common name, different types of flour can vary quite a bit in terms of their base ingredients, how those ingredients are processed, and how they’re used in baking. Before we dive in to the different options, let take a quick look at everyone’s favorite word: gluten. What is Gluten? Wheat, rye, and barley contain two proteins cal...