Fast, festive and, yes okay, full of fat

Love holiday treats but hate holiday baking? Or maybe you just ran out of time? Here are two quick ideas that you can make with ingredients available at just about any corner store.

Treat number one: Slice chilled store-bought cookie dough and place in mini muffin tins. If you don’t have tins, roll the slices into small balls and place them on a cookie sheet. Make an indent in each with your thumb. Bake as directed. Remove from oven. Take mini peanut butter cups and cut them in half before smooshing the pieces into the middle of the muffin or into the indent in the cookie. Let cool. Serve with vintage Port. Or cold milk. Whichever you have handy.

Treat number two: Take a roll of store-bought chilled croissant dough. Unroll triangles. Place a dollop of Nutella in the middle before rolling up. Bake as directed. Instant pain au chocolat. Serve with champagne.

More on breadmakers

 

 

Spent the better part of the last two weeks testing bread machines. So forgive me if I seem a bit fuzzy — I think I may have overdone the carbs!

Because I had one or two blips with these machines, I thought this would be a good time to “test” the company’s customer service lines. I also wanted to compare notes on warranties offered on these products. Here’s what I found. (Machines are shown above in order mentioned.)

Hamilton Beach announced earlier this year that it would offer what I believe is the only five-year warranty in Canada on small appliances. The move was prompted in part by research done by the company indicating that an overwhelming majority of consumers feel that durability, reliability and warranty are extremely important or somewhat important when making a purchase decision. No Duh!

 The HB warranty applies to products purchased only in Canada, and covers defects in material and workmanship. If the item goes on the fritz, the machine will be repaired or replaced — the choice of which belongs to Hamilton Beach — and the cost of retuning defective product or receiving replacement product falls on the consumer.

Hamilton Beach also has a consumer help line, which offers the option of leaving a message requesting a return call rather than waiting on hold. Over the course of a week, I left two messages; neither was returned. There is a Q and A section on the Hamilton Beach website, but breadmakers were not listed as a category. On the plus side, if you lose an instruction book, you can find it easily online here and download it.

Breville offers a one year warranty on defects in material or workmanship. The recipe/instruction booklet for the Breville breadmaker I tested this week directed me to a 1-866 customer line. Unfortunately, it was fully automated, and did not offer the option of getting information on this particular item. So I went to the website and sent in an email query. The response directed me to the nearest retailers that handle and repair Breville products, but did not answer my query directly. However, I realized later that the issue I was having with the fruit and nut dispenser was answered in the troubleshooting section of the instruction booklet and was quickly fixed. Which just goes to show — it pays to read instruction booklets all the way through and to hang on to them.

Finally, I called the line for the  Breadman  machine with a bogus question. There’s lots of options to choose from that will direct your call, although if you’re not aware that Breadman is a Black and Decker product, you may get confused. When I did get through to a customer service rep, however, I did get the information I supposedly needed — from a very patience and polite young man with a charming Southern accent. Breadman offers a standard two-year warranty against defects in material or workmanship.

I really must get out more - just not to the mall

Got a pedometer this week, and was told that I should be walking about 10,000 steps a day. To my utter shame, I am averaging closer to 1,500. But it’s not my fault, I swear. It just seems to get easier and easier to conduct life from a chair in front of a computer. For instance, one hardly needs to go out to shop anymore. There is an upside, of course; I can say with confidence that if I never visited another “power centre” again, it would be too soon. So maybe it’s a good thing that the world of online shopping is exploding. This seems to be especially true of sites devoted to design and décor.  News of two more crossed my desk over the past week. Both are well worth a look.

Dering Hall  is an online design marketplace where interior designers, architects, artisans, and design dealers can show their wares in almost 100 permanent virtual storefronts. The lucky ducks have an “a strategic partnership” with Hearst Magazines, which includes financial support, and print and online media collaboration with Hearst titles ELLE DECOR, House Beautiful, and Veranda. Designer products from the magazines and the accompanying websites will be available during “featured sales”.

There are a few cool features: Dering Hall users can:

follow favorite designers (all look to be U.S.-based at this point, but I did see the magnificent Martha Sturdy on there) through storefronts and automatic weekly email updates. Shoppers must check with individual vendors for information on shipping to Canada.

engage directly with individual designers to ask questions, and order product

find talent in a Designer Directory

browse editorial pages with shopping links

post and share news of Dering Hall merchandise and designers on Facebook

I could easily window shop here for a few hours — if I didn’t have to get up and walk around the block ten times! Of course, unless your daddy’s rich, you may want to be sitting down when you look at the prices, which include $425 for a pillow and $12,000 for a lighting fixture. Granted, both are exquisite — but they may be outside the reach of les pauvre schmoes comme moi. (that's French for "poor schmoes like me".)

 A new flash sales website called The Foundary brings to market a curated selection home and lifestyle products — both from brand names and emerging designers — at up to 70 per cent off retail. It’s the latest venture from the folks at Hayneedle, an online retailer that opened in 2002 as NetShops, offering consumers product from niche webstores. It quickly became one of the biggest online retailers of home and lifestyle products. In August 2009, NetShops became Hayneedle Inc., an umbrella for over 250 stores. At this point it seems more focused on selling — there are no inspirational blogs or lists of tips and tricks. But there is an extensive product selection — encompassing everything from tabletop to furniture to toys.

Alas, the Foundary only ships a few items to Canada. For an extensive online selection that ships to both Canada and the U.S., check out HomeSav, which offers great deals on a wide range of home decor items.  And, ahem, you might want to make a special note to visit their virtual store on Nov. 8, which is when a sale of tabletop and entertaining items picked by me, moi and myself will go on sale. It will be a great opportunity to stock up on lovely additions to your dining/entertaining arsenal, without busting your budget before the gift-buying even begins! 

 

 

 

My best al fresco dinner yet

One of the things I love about the Stok barbeque I’ve been testing is that the interchangeable grills means you can pretty much cook the whole dinner outdoors, without running in and out of the kitchen. And I’m all for dialing down the stress meter during entertaining which is, after all, supposed to be fun for everybody, right?

I recently wowed a gang (if I do say myself) by starting off an al fresco dinner with Persian flatbread brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and Herbes de Provence that I cooked on the pizza stone that comes with the grill. It went beautifully with a melted Brie that I had plopped in a small cast iron pan and topped with Garlic and Hot Pepper jelly from Jelly Boys, a fantastic line of all-natural, home-made jellies that I just discovered at my local farmer’s market.

If you're lucky enough to live near a Longo's, you could also use their house Brie, topped with one of their compotes, which are stellar (see pic below). As a matter of fact, you could do a terrific outdoor party with cheese from Longo's  (they have an excellent offering), olives and artisnal breads.

While we chatted and enjoyed the starter, I shoved a second, larger cast iron pan on the grill, closed the lid and let it heat up for about five minutes. Then I stuck a whole chicken in the heated pan, scattered some garlic around it and shoved a lemon cut in half in the cavity, closed the lid and left it alone for just short of an hour. More chatting and laughter and wine (see below). Just before serving, I squeezed the lemon juice and some salt over the bird, (Thank you Mark Bittman  for the easiest and BEST roast chicken recipe ever.)

While this was cooking, I gathered cherry tomatoes and fresh basil from the garden, and mixed them with pearl Bocconcini cheese before drizzling the whole thing with extra virgin olive oil and salt.

For dessert, we grilled fresh Ontario (natch) peaches  (just skin ‘em, cut in half and brush lightly with melted butter — and grill for a couple of minutes.) Serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla-flavoured Greek yogurt from President’s Choice. Next time, I’ll make fresh raspberry ice-cream with my Hamilton Beach ice-cream maker. 

My new fave tipple for summer meals is Farnese Monepulciano d”Abruzzo Cerasuolo 2010, a lovely rosé at just $8.95 a bottle.  (Thank you, Beppi Crosariol, for the tip. This die-hard rosé lover is so grateful!)

Keep outdoor entertaining simple

Tom Filippou, the executive chef for President’s Choice, and the friendly face you’ve seen on CBC’s Live Right Now nutritional spots, thinks that keeping it simple, and planning ahead for outdoor entertaining, pays dividends for you and your guests.

 “Some folks get over-motivated and try to do too much, which means they are too busy to mingle,” he says. “But if you choose the right menu for your barbeque, you can be become part of the party.”

Mini sliders and sausages are a good choice because they’re easy to handle, and allow for lots of variation. "I always serve them,” says Filippou. “You can have a bunch on one side of the grill while something else is going on the other, and if you have lots of garnishes, guests can experiment and have fun.” Caramelized onions, sauteed peppers and grilled mushrooms make terrific toppings, although I've been known to just plop on some PC tomato-basil bruschetta sauce when I'm feeling lazy.

Indeed, President’s Choice mini portions have been a big hit with shoppers this summer, including me. We went through a lot of the Angus Sliders and the Smokin’ Stampede Brisket Sliders. Also loved the Sweet Italian mini pork sausages. (Make sure to grill extras of these and use leftovers in pastas salads, sandwiches or frittatas.)

All have great flavour, and I love that they’re a manageable size, making it easy for kids and adults to juggle one in one hand, and a glass in the other. Pair them with the mini Ciabatta buns (which you’ll of course toast lightly).

New curated series kicks off at HomeSav

Since launching earlier this year, HomeSav.com has been quickly picking up speed, rapidly attracting both consumer and media attention. The members-only shopping club offers brand-name home décor, furniture and accessories at up to 80 per cent off, with new sales starting every day at 10 a.m. Items, (such as the Crescent Chair above) are available for three days in limited quantities. To become a member, shoppers must register. It's easy to do - and free.

Since learning about HomeSav, I have frequently found items on it I'd like to include in my Hot Home Products column. I tend not to, though, because I feel sure the stuff will be gone by the time I go to print.

Now HomeSav is launching a Designers Picks series; monthly sales featuring products and brands selected by well-known interior designers, artists, and experts. Each will focus on a specific theme or room. The first event begins Thursday, August 25th, and will be curated by Karl Lohnes. Metro newspaper’s national décor columnist, and Home and Decor expert for CTV’s Canada AM.

Karl has lovely taste, and I’m excited to see what he’s chosen for his signature look. And I'm dying to know who else has signed up for the series. I'll keep you posted.

Loving the DeLonghi

Cooking healthy meals is often a huge challenge for student living on their own or time-crunched singletons. One way to help the kids discover their inner gourmet is to give them a counter-top appliance that’s versatile and easy to use. My kids use our Breville Smart Oven all the time and over the years, have begun to make (slightly!) more sophisticated meals with it.

It sounds like De’Longhi’s new Toaster Oven and Panini Press/Contact Grill (shown above) fits the bill, too. It does all the good stuff a traditional toaster oven does, but there’s also an integrated Panini grill. Pressed sandwiches are high on my go-to week-night menu; I tend to grill extra veg — onion, zucchini, pepper, mushrooms — and leave them in the fridge. My veggie-loving daughter can then use them, along with a slice of cheese or meat to make a quick bagged lunch for work or school (see healthy meals above!). Recently, I've noticed that the kids have been adding globs of President’s Choice Smokin’ Stampede Mayo, which does add a nice flavour to paninis.

The cavity for this oven can fit 12-inch pizzas, six slices of toast, an entrée and, I’ll bet, a small chicken. About $220.

I also like the de’Longhi hand-held mixer from I tested this week. Great for salad dressings, quick chopping, whisking eggs, whipping cream, and blending sauces. It comes with a wire whisk and blender attachment, a chopper bowl and blade, as well as a beaker. The bowl lids are good-quality and fit nicely, so you can easily store what you’ve made. That means there’s really no reason EVER to buy bottled salad dressing again. If you’re unsure, start simply; plop some mustard in the beaker, add the vinegar and oil of your choice in a 1/3 ratio, toss in some herbs, garlic, or shallots and blend. Sometimes I use lemon juice instead of vinegar. This baby would also be great for making home-made mayonnaise. 

There are five speed settings, plus a “turbo” setting for hard-core blending. A little tip – if you do buy this item, hang onto the little plastic blade covers that come with it. Using them will help you avoid cutting your fingers accidentally when you reach into the cupboard to fetch it.

Reading, relaxing and rosé-ing

Here’s what’s NOT on my to-do list this weekend. Cut the lawn, trim the shrubs, clean out the garage, or alphabetize the spice rack. Other than that, plans vaguely include a chaise, a bottle of rosé and a pile of books. Who knows – a gossip mag may actually find its way in there — given that Marlene Arpe had the nerve to take some time off her blog, which is one of my secret guilty pleasures. The other one is Coronation Street — guess they’re not secrets anymore.

Some of the titles I plow through may actually be instructive, although I’m handing off one of those that I read this week to my daughter. It’s called Must Have Been Something I Ate, and it’s written by Peggy Kotsopoulos, the pretty, perky resident nutritionist on CBC's Steven and Chris show.

The just-launched book  draws the connection between the food you eat and how you look and feel. Kotsopoulos promises that whether you’re feeling blue or bloated, bitchy or blemished, her tips can boost your health, while keeping muffin tops and man boobs at bay.   

The tone is light and funny (as opposed to preachy) and there’s a ton of good information. Occasionally, it veers toward the simplistic; proclaiming that excess sugar consumption can lead to alcoholism, for example, could do with more explanation. On the other hand, there’s a clear explanation of the role of insulin, good information on why we need and how our bodies use vitamins and minerals, along with explanations on why certain foods either aggravate or alleviate certain conditions.

Kotsopoulos plays the role of healthy food cheerleader well, encouraging folk to start by making small changes. Apparently, it works. Since picking up the book, I’ve chosen tofu over beef for dinner one evening, made a healthy quinoa salad, cooked with coconut milk and stuck (more or less) to my pledge to run every day (call me crazy, but I’m not going to run in the rain). So if  Kotsopoulos’ aim to is to get people thinking about shifting to healthier lifestyles one step at a time, she’s already made at least one convert. For this weekend I am, however, sticking to the books, the chaise and the rosé. Don't try and stop me.

Because size sometimes does matter - especially in the kitchen

This is one of the coolest things I've seen all week. Price Pfister has come out with an adjustable-height faucet.That means it can be raised up or down to suit the size of pot you're using. It’s easy to adjust — just a touch of a button on the handle changes the height. (I LOVE the Delta touchless faucet I have, but immediately thought this one would be great for cleaning out the over-sized pot I use when I make strawberry jam. And that it might even be handy in the laundry room). The new faucet, called Elevate, also has a pull-out sprayer, and swivels 360 degrees. It will work with a four-hole or two-hole configuration. It’s only at select Lowe’s stores, and sells for about $280. Click here  for a demo video.

We didn't even HAVE March Break when I was in school, which I could only get to by hiking 12 miles through bear-infested brush

 
When your kids starts whining that EVERYBODY is going to Florida/Cuba/Bermuda for March Break, you can cooly shoot back with this little info-bite. Just 13 per cent of Canadian families will take off for March Break, according to a survey Angus Reid did for Samsung Home Appliances. The kids may still whine, but it will probably work better than that old chestnut, “and if all your friends were jumping of a bridge, would you want to do that too?”

The survey also shows that cooking or baking is one of the top three at-home activities for kids and parents, along with renting movies and visiting family or friends (although I think we used to call that playing) Naturally enough, Samsung thinks that  induction technology has lots of benefits when cooking with kids. I would have to agree, as induction ranges keep the kitchen cooler, only transfer heat to the pan that’s touching its surface and are easy to clean. For a fuller explanation, visit the Samsung site.

Here are some other tips for keeping your budding chefs safe:

Wash hands:  Make it a rule. Use soap and warm water and wash for 15 seconds (or as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday to You through twice – see post below).  Remind the little rascals to clean between their dirty ittle fingers!

Teach kids early about cross-contamination: Keep raw foods and their juices away from ready-to-eat items and fresh produce. Always use a clean cutting board or plate when chopping up different foods and never sample meat before it’s cooked through. I'd add that you get - and teach kids to use - a meat thermometer.

Be careful with sharp utensils:  Okay – no duh!

I’d also suggest that cooking is also a great way to teach kids about creativity, and a good place to learn that perfection ain't always what it's cracked up to be. The cake that droops in the middle could still taste great. So celebrate it, and the fact that your child made something with his/her hands.