Those of us who enjoy cooking, are always on a lookout for new gadgets, cookware and kitchen appliances, and other useful tools which would make the job easier, faster and still result with a scrumptious meal to put on the table.

I am on that list as well, and even though I already enjoy using my pressure cooker and a slow-cooker/crockpot, I came across yet another very useful kitchen appliance, the rice cooker.

Since I still do not have that one, I read about it on this blog, and it sounds like something I should add to my wish list, and you might find it useful as well.

Don’t let the name fool you, since it is not only for cooking rice.  According to Leah Ingram from Suddenly Frugal, this appliance may also be used to:

steam vegetables

cook seafood

make pasta–as in heat it up in the absence of a pot on a stove, not actually “make” pasta

act as a stockpot for making soup

cook and steam dumplings

Don’t you agree that it is a must have kitchen appliance?

I have a Flavor Scenter Steamer,  made by Black & Decker, which I use for steaming rice and vegetables.

This steamer may also be used for steaming fish, clams and chicken breast, but these are not my favorite foods to steam.

I love using it for steaming my rice, since it is such a clean way to get the job done (no overflowing all over your pot and stove)….what a mess that creates…which is my problem lots of times with cooking rice on the stove.

My daughter does not seem to have this problem, because she actually follows directions when cooking rice, and I seem to skip over some very vital parts in these directions…oh well…this way I had a good reason to own a steamer, and help the economy, at the same time.

I will continue to share posts about my other  favorite kitchen tools/gadgets, but as always, I would love to hear about your favorites as well.

I always loved my mom’s  homemade pasta, especially in her homemade chicken or tomato soup.  I also started to make my own pasta for my  family, and they love it.  It is simple to make,  and out of 2 cups of flour, you get enough pasta for a family of four.  Talking about saving money and having great tasting food!

Of course I was doing it the hard way, until one day my daughter presented me with an Imperia Pasta Maker Machine, and making pasta has not been the same since.

I still make pasta, but now this job is a breeze with this little gadget.
It is quite simple to operate, yet produces wonderful results.
I even used it for flattening the dough rounds for making homemade perogies  (potato dumplings).
A small motor is also available to ease the operation of this pasta maker machine,  if you prefer not to use the crank, but I have not decided on that purchase yet.

It is also very easy to clean, since all you do is use a small brush to brush off the remaining flour and any bits of leftover dough, and wipe it clean with a paper towel.  It is not recommended to wash it with water.

Here are some samples of the final product:

Yummy…..home made pasta.  Doesn’t this make you hungry, and wanting to whip some up for tonight?

If you still do not have this wonderful little gadget in your kitchen, you are long overdue for one, and must add it to your wish list.  You will love it as much as I do!  I know it!  Your family will love your homemade pasta.

If you have been reading my posts, you already know that I love my pressure cooker, but I also use a slow cooker on my days off, especially when I am busy catching up on housework, gardening, or crafts.  It is such a wonderful way to have your dinner cook “all by itself”, while you go about your other business.

I have been using a slow cooker for many years now.  My first slow cooker was a Sunbeam Crocker Cooker-Fryer, and I used it for a very long time, but recently I have purchased a Rival Crock-Pot. I love it so much, that I even purchased one for each of my children, to get them started on experimenting with the slow cooking method.

Every household probably has at least one slow cooker, if not more, but if you are not one of them, then you really should look into it.  Basically it is a two piece pot, consisting of an insulated metal outer shell, with an electric cord, and a stoneware vessel, which is used for the actual preparation of your meal.

Preparing a meal in a slow cooker is probably the easiest way to have a home cooked meal without a lot of fuss.  For your convenience, a small cook book is included with each slow cooker, to get you started with some suggested recipes.  Once you become comfortable with this style of cooking, you will create your own favorite recipes.

It is very easy to use a slow cooker:

1. Select a recipe.
2. Have all your ingredients ready.
3. Follow your recipe directions (since meats usually need to be browned first, to add flavor).
4. Place all your ingredients in the pot.
5. Plug it into an electric outlet.
6. Set it on the recommended setting (low, high).
7. Set your timer (usually 5- 10 hours, depending on a recipe).
8. While you are taking care of  other chores, your home is filling up with a delicious aroma of your dinner.

I will be posting some of my favorite slow cooker recipes in my future posts.
I love reading your comments, so don’t be bashful, and be the first one to post yours.

I am an avid tea drinker, and while most people start their morning with a cup of coffee, I begin my day with a fresh cup of hot herbal tea, sweetened with a teaspoon of honey (Orange Blossom Honey is my favorite).
I use a spoon infuser to prepare my cup of tea, and it is a fun and simple process.

Directions to prepare a cup of tea, using a spoon infuser:

1. Fill your spoon infuser with your favorite loose tea leaves, dried fruits and edible flowers, or other suitable tea herbs.
2. Submerge the filled infuser in a cup of very hot water.
3. Cover, and steep it for at least 5 minutes.

I cover my cup during steeping time, to capture the sweet aroma of the tea. I use tea bags to prepare my tea at work, because it is more convenient, but on weekends I usually prepare a whole pot of tea, and enjoy it throughout the day.

Here is a simple way of preparing a whole pot of tea:

1. Fill up you tea kettle with as much water as your tea pot will hold.
2. Bring it to boil.
3. Place the loose tea leaves in your tea pot.
4. Pour the boiling water over the tea leaves.
5. Place the lid on your tea pot.
6. Place a Tea Pot Cozy (if you have one) over the tea pot, to keep it warm.
7. Let it steep for 15 minutes (due to quantity.)
8. Place a tea strainer over your cup, before pouring in your tea, to prevent any loose tea leaves from falling into your cup.

I have a matching Tea Pot Cozy to keep the tea warm while I am enjoying it alone, one cup at a time, or with my family and friends.  It looks very attractive, and you don’t have to worry about reheating the tea all the time, and stepping away from your guests.

I have sampled a myriad of flavors of tea, but there are always more to experiment with.  My favorite flavors of tea are: Ginseng, Ginger, Green leaf, Chamomile, Mint, and fruity flavored teas.

Drinking tea is very relaxing, and healthy for our body.  Tea contains antioxidant compound of polyphenols, fluoride, and flavonoids.  These properties of tea help the body to fight harmful free radicals, reduce plaque, enhance digestion, restrict buildup of cholesterol, and aid in overall blood vessel health and functionality.  It also possesses anti-aging effects.

A friend of mine enjoys her tea so much, that she, and a group of her friends, get together regularly for a tea party.  I think this is a wonderful idea, and such a pleasant way to spend time together with your friends.

The hostess of such a nice gathering may chose one flavor of tea to share with the whole group, or turn it into a tea tasting party.  In which case she will need to provide a nice selection of various teas, equip each guest with an individual spoon infuser, or even provide several different styles of infusers, and have each guest steep their favorite cup of tea.

The single most convenient, time and energy saving piece of cookware in my kitchen is my pressure cooker.  Most of my meals are ready in 15 minutes, which is at least a third of the time it would take to prepare them the usual way.  Presto Pressure Cooker was my first pot I ever bought, and used it for over 20 years.  During this time I only had to replace the gasket, and the pressure regulator (which I misplaced).  Last year I finally let it retire, and replaced it with Splendid 2 in 1 Pressure Cooker by Fagor.

The Splendid 2 in 1 Pressure Cooker was a great buy, because it consists of a 6 quarts pressure cooker, which also fits inside a 4 quarts pot for easy storage.  It has tempered glass lid, which turns either unit into a saucepan.  It also has a stainless steel steamer basket with trivet.  But my favorite feature on this unit is the safety lock handle, the support grip, and the operating valve, which replaced the noisy, rattling pressure regulator on my old unit.

Some people are unnecessarily intimidated by pressure cookers, but these really are very safe and user friendly now, more than ever before.  I personally never experienced any negative incidents with my pressure cookers, but of course I do follow the manufacturer’s handling instructions, which is a must.

My pressure cooker includes a very nice 50 recipe cook book.  These are my favorite pressure cooker recipes, which I have used for years:  Beef Stew, Beef/Veal Goulash, Italian Sausage with Kraut, and Barbecue Pork Spareribs.  I will share these recipes with you in my future posts.