Are you planning to take to the kitchen for holiday cooking and baking? Are you looking forward to greeting everyone coming in from the cold with enticing aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg and roast turkey? If you are, then you may want to try some of my favorite nifty kitchen aids that will make your cooking easier and more enjoyable. You can find these must-haves at your favorite cookware or online store.
Silicon Rolling Pin
Available in various styles, shapes and fun colors, easy-to-clean, nonstick silicone pins make rolling dough and delicate pastries almost effortless. The surface of the pin is completely nonstick-requiring little (if any) flour.
Stainless Steel Tart Tamper
This is a durable and efficient tool that no home baker should be without. The unique two-sided design evenly presses dough into pastry and tartlet shells.
Stainless Steel Rotary Flour Sifter
Comfortable and quick is how I like to describe a rotary sifter. By far, one of my favorite tools as it’s easier on the hands than the squeeze-style sifters.
Microplane Zester
With razor sharp edges and a comfortable grip, the grater zests citrus in seconds. Use it for grating chocolate, hard cheeses and pureeing garlic and ginger instantly. Some models come with a protective plastic cover that slides on and off.
Mechanical Pastry Bag
Much easier to control than a pastry bag, this tool comes with large and small interchangeable stainless steel tips. It has a stainless steel barrel with a see-through window on one side and easy-to-grip press. Just what you need to decorate holiday treats! (I use mine for fancy canapé decorating.)
Your third batch of cookies is out of the oven and on racks cooling. You deserve a break! So put in a holiday jazz CD, nestle up in your favorite chair, and relax with a warming beverage made with one of these amusing gadgets. I think you’ll find (as I do) these little drink wares are quite nifty!
Steam-free Milk Frother
Working directly in the mug or glass, the easily transportable, battery-operated milk frother has a shaft and whisking head made of food-grade stainless steel and turns hot or cold milk into rich, thick foam. Perfect for those home-brewed specialty coffee and hot chocolate drinks!
The Teastick
An innovative interpretation for brewing a cup of tea with loose tea leaves, your leaves are held in a sliding sleeve that you use to scoop up the tea leaves. The stick holds your tea and makes it easy to steep to your desired strength.
Some of our most rewarding social experiences during the holidays involve sharing food and drink with family and good friends. You can create special touches to make your surroundings warm, inviting, and glowing with holiday spirit. Here are a few ideas:
- Tie whole cloves, a cinnamon stick, a slit vanilla bean, whole allspice, a whole nutmeg and the peels from several oranges and a lemon in a piece of cheesecloth. Add the ingredients to a saucepan, and cover with water. Bring the contents to a boil; reduce the heat to low, and simmer, uncovered, adding water occasionally as it cooks away.
- Use a citrus zest scorer to cut swirling patterns in the peels of whole oranges and tangerines. Stick whole cloves in the carved sections (a fun task for the grandkids or your significant other), and arrange the fruit in tiered glass bowls for an aromatic centerpiece or side decoration on a hutch or coffee table!
- Enclose lemon wedges in pretty lace and tie with a thin ribbon for an elegant touch for a seafood buffet or oysters served on the half shell. The lace prevents squirting and wayward seeds.
Cooking tip: When you roast your holiday bird, place coarsely chopped onions or leeks, carrots, celery and whole garlic cloves in the roasting pan to use as your “roasting rack.” The vegetables will elevate the roast allowing heat and air to circulate underneath, and you’ll end up with tasty drippings for your gravy!
Be sure and check back next month for carefree holiday appetizers.
