Rave and Review

Entertain Beautifully with Wendell August Waterfall Chip & Dip Set {Giveaway $60 ARV}

Why does it seem that food tastes better when it’s displayed on beautiful serving pieces?  It can’t just be me that has noticed that the most gorgeous serving pieces are usually empty first or that the manner in which you serve food has a lot to do with how that food is perceived.  I’ve experimented with this firsthand these past few weeks and have confirmed that food is 100% more appealing when served on a Wendell August canvas.

While I was queen of plastic and paper serving pieces in the past, Wendell August has made a believer out of me, and I don’t think I could ever go back to disposable pieces ever again.  In fact, I love Wendell August so much that their amazing handmade Waterfall Chip and Dip Set has been used almost continuously since it arrived. 

Whether it was taken back and forth to holiday gatherings, used as a centerpiece for our parties, or simply as a functional and beautiful accent piece when filled with shelled nuts, everyone has been raving about the Chip & Dip Set from the Wendell August Waterfall Collection.  And, once you see it in person you will see what all the fuss is about. 

From its gorgeously hand-hammered aluminum base to its elliptical shaped bowl, everything about the Chip & Dip Set from Wendell August is simply stunning.  It has a higher shine to it than I had garnered from its pictures on the Wendell August site and in person it is even more gorgeous than I had anticipated it would be.  We’re talking party-stopping elegance that makes it a point of conversation as well as delicious food. 

But, as much as we love beautiful kitchen wares here at Rave Central, we wouldn’t be raving about it if it weren’t absolutely practical as well.  Since our family is big on veggies, chips, snacks, and dips, we’ve tried it with just about every appetizer you can imagine.  From hummus and pita to veggies and ranch, the Wendell August serving set has handled every food beautifully. 

We especially like the size of the 12” tray that doesn’t overwhelm a tabletop but still holds a good deal of food, the low lip of the tray that keeps round veggies from rolling off but isn’t a deep bowl that is hard to fill and serve out of, and the fact that the dip bowl nests wonderfully in the tray and stays in place even when jostled.  It’s this kind of quality that can only come from a company that still makes every product they sell individually by hand right here in the USA and with an attention to detail you just don’t see these days. 

I really couldn’t be happier with the Wendell August Chip & Dip Set and would highly recommend it for anyone that does even a small amount of entertaining each year or for those that are looking for an awesome looking centerpiece that is a beautiful as it is functional.  While you’re checking out the Chip & Dip Set, be sure to take a look at all of the other Wendell August creations.  I don’t know about you, but I have about a dozen new items on my wishlist from the Wendell August collection, starting with the Tracery Oval Tray or Luncheon Tray, their nursery series, and the Dogwood Keepsake Chest!

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Wendell August Waterfall Chip & Dip Set of their very own!

To Enter: Visit Wendell August and let me know what other gorgeous item of theirs you have your eye on.

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway {http://t.co/oRcoymFp} and tag and R&R on Facebook

1 Extra Entry - Like Wendell August on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us both:

Gorgeous entertaining with Wendell August @HandMadeUSA metal pieces! Enter the #giveaway from @RaveAndReview http://t.co/oRcoymFp

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On February 14th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. US addresses only.

The Wendell August Chip & Dip set for review and the giveaway were offered at no charge to us.  All opinions remain 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Relax with a Cup of Tea Forte

I like coffee, but I just adore tea.  There’s something so relaxing about sitting back with a nice full mug of tea and chatting with a friend, so in our house we drink a lot of tea. 

In fact, we have a whole cupboard that is dedicated to our tea obsession.  In that cupboard is black tea, white tea, green tea, herbal medleys and more, with a collection of bagged varieties and loose leaves, some of which are for iced brewing that we drink year-round and some for hot tea during the colder months.  But, until recently, we didn’t have any truly gourmet tea brands in that cupboard, just the standard grocery store faire. 

So, I’m sure you can imagine the cheering that took place when we received the Tea Lover’s dream: a package of Tea Forte selected teas and a glass Tea-Over-Ice brewing pitcher.   I think we had the package open about 10 minutes before we were enjoying our first glasses {yes, just long enough the heat the water} and were immediately raving about the quality and flavors of the two varieties we were enjoying. 

If you haven’t tried their tea varieties in the past, then prepare to be blown away.  Not only do they look super cool with their pyramid shape and their beautiful design, once you try them you will change the way you drink tea.  You see, these aren’t overpriced and over-hyped teas that taste just like the kind you can buy in any discount store, these teas simply taste decadent.  With no bitter aftertaste and no strange mix of flavors, the Tea Forte line is tea as it was meant to be – smooth, delicious, and fun to enjoy.

To make our tea parties even more fun, I simply love the Flash Chill pour-over tea pitcher we were sent to check out.  The design is fairly simple with a two pitcher set that you use to steep, cool, and serve your iced tea in, but it’s that simplicity that will mean it actually gets used.  You simply steep hot tea in the lidded upper pitcher as you’d like, and then Flash Chill your fresh iced tea by pouring it into the ice in the larger, lower pitcher below, making it ready to serve right away.  In just minutes you can have a fresh 24oz pitcher of iced tea that is elegant enough for a dinner party but practical for use every day.

What’s so great about Tea Forte is that their tea is so delicious that you could use just about any of their teas and they would be delectable over ice, but what’s really cool is that they make a full line of Tea-Over-Ice pyramid infusers that are the perfect size and strength for the pitcher sizes.  Whether you prefer fruity varieties, flowery, or classic flavors, Tea Forte has the perfect iced tea pyramid infusers for you.

I know many of you are thinking “but I don’t have a tea cabinet, is this something I would actually use enough to store it?”  The short answer is “yes” - Even if you don’t have a designated tea cabinet or don’t consider yourself a tea connoisseur, the Tea Forte collection is sure to make a tea lover out of you.  If you want a truly gourmet experience, I would also recommend the Tea-Over-Ice pitcher as the perfect complement.  Beautiful, compact, and fun to use, I find myself looking for excuses to brew a batch in our new pitcher!  

Be sure to check out their Specials & Discounts section to get a great deal on the Tea-Over-Ice pitcher and more!

A big thank you to Tea Forte and An Island Life for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

The Amazing Drosselmeyer Nutcracker {Review & Giveaway}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 19

We pride ourselves on having a well equipped kitchen with all the gadgets and gizmos you could ever need, but every once in a while even we are surprised when we find we’ve been missing something so obvious in our collection.  Recently, we had a Drosselmeyer Nutcracker arrive at our door and I don’t think any of us were prepared for the impact it would have on our kitchen.

While we are always up for some almonds or cashews for a quick snack, until recently we didn’t realize how addictive fresh nuts can be.  Perhaps I should clarify that our well equipped kitchen has actually held plenty of nutcrackers before - beautifully designed nutcrackers and nutcrackers that just beg you to play with them to see how they work - we’ve never had one that actually worked.  While yes, they technically cracked nuts as per their definition, they either required too much effort or left such a mess that we quickly realized they lacked the elegance their design implied, and therefore they never got used.

The Drosselmeyer Nutcracker however, manages to combine form and function so well that since the day it arrived it actually has never been put away.  Since my wife hates a cluttered kitchen, it is the rare gadget that either works or looks good enough to earn a spot out on our countertops, yet this nutcracker has succeeded on both fronts.

In terms of eye catching design, this thing just begs to be picked up.  In fact, at a recent get together, I really think every single guest picked the Drosselmeyer Nutcracker up to check it out at one time or another.  And, once the guests began testing it, a few of them joked about it ending up back at their houses.  These threats of thievery stem from the fact that not only is it very sleek and interesting-looking, but it just works so well. 

In terms of design, it's just about as simple of a nutcrcker as we have ever seen.  The basic shape is that of a heavy-duty funnel-esque cylinder and it has a handle on one side.  To use it, you simply drop in any sized nut, squeeze the handle and that’s it.  The funnel shape means there is no lining up the nut in a specific spot, it just falls in as far as it will go, in whatever direction it fits.  The best part is that the cylinder is closed at the bottom so as you break the nut apart all the pieces are contained within, minimizing any mess.

But, not only is it pretty and practical, it's also incredibly easy to use, too.  The handle on the side is cantilevered against a bar inside the funnel that actually breaks the nut, which means you get extra strength in each squeeze through the magic of science.  In fact, it is so easy that our three year old daughter has mastered it and hasn’t come across a single nut she couldn’t get into.  We find her multiple times a day up at the counter cracking away with a smile on her face, and when she sees us watching she just smiles and says; “I’m good at shells.”

After seeing how much our whole family has taken to the Drosselmeyer Nutcracker and how big of a hit it was at our last party, we would highly recommend them for gifts for the hard to buy on your list.  Not only are the Drosselmeyer Nutcrackers an interesting conversation pieces, they are also practical, pretty, and fun to use, which makes them one of our favorite new accessories for 2011.  In fact, we have a second Drosselmeyer Nutcracker on our list this year because cracking nuts has become such a family activity that we need a second!

For more info, videos, and how to buy, please visit drosselmeyerusa.com

 
One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Drosselmeyer Nutcracker of their own {color may vary}

To Enter {mandatory}: Visit Drosselmeyer Nutcrackers online and then tell me something you learned or why you'd love this to help change the way you crack nuts forever!

And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

1 Extra Entry - Like Drosselmeyer Nutcrackers on Facebook - where you can see more about how the nutcracker works... plus, they need some Facebook love!

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about the giveaway { http://t.co/KqVMcq7J} and tag Drosselmeyer Nutcrackers and  R&R on Facebook

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us:

Drosselmeyer Nutcrackers are amazing! Hoping to #win the awesome #giveaway from @RaveAndReview ARV $50! #ravereview: http://t.co/KqVMcq7J

2 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On January 10th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. 

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #31 Vera S said...Oprah says "The world's coolest-looking nutcracker is also the easiest-no stress, no mess. Too bad it can't dance." And with that recommendation who wouldnt want one. :)

A big thank you to Drosselmeyer Nutcrackers for sending a sample to try out and for providing the giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this very Rave Review.

Our ActiFry Holiday Party {Giveaway}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide - Day 8

Have you seen the ActiFry multicooker before?  We were introduced to this PTPA winner a few months back and have been simply amazed at all the entrees, appetizers and desserts you can create with little or no effort.  This amazing appliance is launching this week at Costco, so to celebrate we hosted an ActiFry Holiday Party at our house this past weekend to show friends, family, and neighbors what all you can cook in it. 

In the past few weeks that we’ve been busy planning, hosting, and recovering from our ActiFry Holiday Party, we have been more and more impressed with the ActiFry every day.  When people see the ActiFry box the first time, everyone thinks the same thing: French fries.  And, yes, the French fries and JoJo potatoes you can make in the ActiFry are simply delicious – the perfect amount of crispness, fluffiness, and just a tiny amount of oil – but that’s nowhere near the end of what you can make. 

While we, too, originally fell for the ActiFry just for the fact that it could take our homemade French fries and make them mouth-wateringly good and good for you, we continually are finding that the ActiFry can improve upon other recipes that we have loved for years, too.  From Asian inspired broccoli beef to hot wings to perfectly done veggies, every single recipe we have tried has become a new family favorite.  One look through the included ActiFry cookbook and I guarantee you that your mouth will be watering; they really do have everything from comfort food to gourmet entrees and even dessert. 

It actually took a long time to decide on the final menu for the party because everything looked so good and we wanted to try it all, but we finally made our choice of 7 recipes and gathered all the ingredients so we could try them out with our party guests.  By the time guests started arriving, we had most of the dishes for the night prepped, had roasted the pumpkin seeds and had the French fries cooking so we could start snacking right away.  And, as guests arrived at the party they were immediately hungry after smelling all the great smells coming from the kitchen.  The first response was always the same: what is that that smells so delicious?  The answer: everything! 

Since we wanted everyone to help cook in the ActiFry over the evening, we had recipes set out at each station and bowls full of the ingredients to make them all.  Our first recipe was an appetizer to start things off, the Sweet and Saucy Meatballs.  http://tfalactifry.com/recipes/view/sweet-and-saucy-meatballs-2  We improvised a little with the recipe by adding different fruit juices and varying the amount of pineapple and peppers in our three batches we made, but each finished dish was gone in minutes after coming out of the cooker and everyone was raving about how delicious they were. 

The next recipe we started was the Tuscan White Bean with Sausage, which was one of the more gourmet recipes we tried out.  With ingredients such as escarole, which is something I had never heard about before the party, I was a bit worried that it was going to be a little fancy for our cooking party, but my worries were unfounded.  We made two batches of this recipe because everyone loved it so much, and many guests said it was their favorite recipe for the night.  

Next we did an all-vegetarian recipe, the Rainbow Vegetable Medley, and even though it was competing with French fries, meatballs, and sausage and beans, everyone was still raving about the medley.  I especially liked the lemon juice in the recipe as it added a light and healthy flavor to the veggies and made them amazingly flavorful.  I expect that this will be one of our regular week night dinner recipes as it was so great and so easy to make as well.

Even though we probably had enough food at this point, I really wanted to try out the “fried” chicken wings in the ActiFry, so I had the guys make up the Asian Style Chicken Wings for all of us.  The recipe really couldn’t be easier – you just put them in the ActiFry for 20 minutes and then add sauce and cook for 2 minutes.  While it’s simple {and ambiguous, since you could pretty much add any sauce you would like}, it really was the rave food of the party.  I can’t even tell you how many of the guys came up and said they had never had better wings before, and this is from a group who knows their wings.  I would call that a ringing endorsement

The last dinner recipe we tried was the Green Beans with Almonds and Parsley, which was one of my very favorite dishes.  The green beans were just perfect in their doneness and their flavor was simply amazing.  As with the vegetable medley, the recipe also called for lemon and zest, and it really added that extra kick to the dish, as was the addition of the almonds.  This is the perfect side dish for the upcoming holidays and I plan on making this recipe for a few gatherings. 

Yes, at this point we had plenty of food and really could have stopped cooking, but that would have left our party without dessert, and we can’t have that, right?  And, this dessert was simply amazing, we really wouldn’t have wanted to miss it.  If you like apple pie or apple crisp, you will adore the Chef Ming Tsai’s 5 Spice Crumble.   

While it is nearly impossible to describe just what this machine can do using only text and pictures, once you see it in action you will be simply amazed.  I know our friends were once they saw all that we were cooking for our party.  Even though we had been using the ActiFry for a few weeks before the party, even we were impressed after we tried all the amazing recipes.  In fact, we loved using it so much that we have made a spot for the ActiFry on the counter so we can use it for quick week night dinners and desserts, which is a very big thing for us!

Price: $250 ARV.  Find out more about the ActiFry, its many features and recipes, and where to buy at tfalactifry.com.

Want to win an awesome ActiFry for yourself?  Of course you do!

To enter, simply visit the ActiFry recipe site and comment on this post telling me what you would make in yours if you win!

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!  {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Like ActiFry's Facebook page and comment with what you would make in the ActiFry if you win and @ tag PTPA and Rave & Review

2 Extra Entries {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Simply tweet the following after following us all:

Make healthy "fried" foods easily with the super cool @ActiFry #giveaway from @RaveAndReview & @PTPA! http://tinyurl.com/7xqb8a2 ARV $250!

3 Extra Entries - Blogger Bonus.  Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post and leave an address where I can find your writeup

1 Extra Entry - Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

For more entries, please visit my PTPA ActiFry Party blog post for more ways to enter to win this awesome prize!

On December 6th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: Teressa Bignell, you are the lucky winner!

A big thank you to ActiFry for providing the information and giveaway for one lucky winner.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

How to Host a Dinner Party, ActiFry Style

This weekend I’m hosting my first cooking party ever. 

I’ve hosted potlucks before, cocktail parties, and I’ve had dinner parties, but I’ve never done anything as crazy as let my guests cook. 

We’ll be cooking everything from appetizers to desserts in the PTPA Winning T-Fal ActiFry and would love to have you join us virtually as we see all that this little machine can do!  All Saturday evening you can follow our tweets at #actifryholidayparty to see what we’re up to!  {Bonus: anyone tweeting about the party using the hashtag over the weekend will get extra entries into the super secret giveaway we are hosting next week... woo hoo!}

Does anyone have any advice for me on ways to get it to run smoothly?  Any suggestions on recipes you would like to see someone try out in the ActiFry?

No compensation was received in exchange for this post.

Baking with White Whole Wheat Flour {Gold Medal Prize Pack Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event – Day 3

We’re all trying to eat better these days, making things from scratch whenever we can and substituting healthier ingredients when possible.  This is where Gold Medal white whole wheat flour comes in, as it’s a fabulous way to get your family to eat whole wheat products… without them having any idea. 

Traditional whole wheat flour is brown in color and has a different texture than all-purpose flour, thus leaving your baked goods looking and tasting a bit different than you might be used to.  While this doesn’t bother me or my family a bit since we’ve been eating whole wheat for quite some time and substituting Gold Medal whole wheat flour whenever possible, there are certain foods that are hard to make with whole wheat flour because of the different texture.  Gold Medal white whole wheat flour is 100% whole grain but with a lighter taste and color, which makes it a great substitute because it not only looks more like traditional white flour, it also produces great baked goods that are moist and flaky like all-purpose white flour.

I was thrilled when I received a Gold Medal white whole wheat flour pack a few weeks back in the mail and got to try it out in my own kitchen.  After using traditional whole wheat flour for so long, it was really fun to try a white flour to compare in some of our favorite dishes.  It’s been a long time since we have had white bread around the house and I think I actually forgot how delicious it can be for sandwiches and more. 

The Gold Medal white whole wheat prize pack we received not only included a coupon for free flour, a canister to store it in, and some great recipe cards, it also had a conversion guide for you to follow.  The white to whole wheat conversion guide from Gold Medal walks you through substituting it in your family’s recipes, gradually introducing it in place of your traditional white flour for more delicate items.  This is something I love since it’s hard to know how to best use a new pantry ingredient and it’s always nice to have a guide. 

The included recipes are also great because they certainly don’t look or taste like foods made with healthy whole wheat flour, they are just like what you might find in a bakery case or restaurant.  Seriously… gingerbread cupcakes and double-chocolate lava cake?  Don’t mind if I do!

As much as I love the Gold Medal white whole wheat flour, my favorite thing in the prize pack would have to be the Gold Medal ceramic canister with its retro charm.  Since we have Tupperware overload in our cabinets, we decided to use the canister as a “cookie jar” of sorts for goodies in the house that we could keep on top of the fridge.  Not only is it completely adorable, the kids now know not to even try digging through the pantry because the foods they are looking for are up too tall for them to possibly get at unassisted by us. 

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Gold Medal white whole wheat flour, I would highly recommend trying it.  Not only is it a healthy substitution you can make easily for your family, it’s also really great tasting – in baked goods and everything else you use flour for.  Check out the Gold Medal site to see tips and tricks for mastering the use of the new Gold Medal white whole wheat and for recipes, nutritional information and more!

Tips for Baking with White Whole Wheat Flour
•    Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour looks more like all-purpose white flour because it’s made from a different kind of wheat—hard white spring wheat. Most whole wheat flours are made from hard red spring wheat.
•    Substituting some white whole wheat into recipes will enable you to sneak some whole grain into baked goods while maintaining a similar taste and texture of those made with all-purpose flour.
•    For recipes that depend on the flour for most of the flavor, such as bread and pizza dough, or baked goods that call for sugar and fat—such as cookies, muffins and brownies start by substituting white whole wheat for 25 to 50 percent of the recipe’s flour content.
•    White whole wheat flour absorbs more moisture than all-purpose flour, which can make for deliciously moist and flaky recipes, but also means that baked goods won’t stay as fresh as long as those made with all-purpose flour. If your family won’t be eating what you baked in a day or two, consider freezing the freshly-baked goods until you need them. Place cooled baked goods in a resealable plastic freezer bag.  Freeze quick breads (like scones and muffins) up to 3 months, or unfrosted cookies up to 12 months.
•    Chocolate Chip Cookies are a great recipe to freeze to keep on hand, whenever you want homemade cookies. For a “fresh-baked” cookie anytime, simply microwave a frozen cookie on a paper towel on Medium-Low (30%) about 1 minute 45 seconds or until the edge of the cookie is heated; then move the cookie and paper towel to the counter to stand about 30 seconds or until the chips are cool enough to eat. (Time may range slightly, depending on the wattage of your microwave.)

Want to win a Gold Medal Prize Pack filled with goodies to get you in the baking mood?  Of course you do! 

To enter, simply tell me what you would make with the new Gold Medal White Whole Wheat Flour {click for inspiration}!

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar {2 extra entries, must be verified to count}

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both {daily Tweet, just post link here}

Have you tried White Whole Wheat Flour? Enter the prize pack #giveaway from @raveandreview! http://twrt.me/bjimi9

3) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {2 extra entries}

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage {2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup}

5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  {1 extra entry, must have an active link to R&R}

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On November 21st at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congrats to: #62 Amber said... I "like" r and r on facebook #2

The Gold Medal White Whole Wheat flour product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Gold Medal through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

GreenPan Cookware and Ovenware {Review & Giveaway}

Cozy At Home Event – Day 2

We’ve talked about GreenPan before and how much we love them for stir frying, sautéing, and searing, but something most people don’t realize is that they also make awesome ovenware as well.  Like their cookware, GreenPan bakeware has Thermolon non-stick technology, and offers a PTFE-free and PFOA-free alternative to traditional non-stick coatings to give you worry-free healthy cooking as well as easy cleanup. 

So, what is PTFE and why should you avoid it?  PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE) is a waxy, synthetic substance that is used in most non-stick cookware.  PTFE is known to decompose above 260° C/500°F, releasing toxic fumes into your home while you cook, which your family then breathes in.  Then, as if that wasn’t bad enough, over time the PTFE coating begins to peel and flake and eventually ends up in your food.  Yuck!

Thermolon, the non-stick coating used by GreenPan, is heat resistant up to high temperatures, even up to 450°C/850°F and will not release toxins or peel from the cookware.  Of course, Thermolon is completely PTFE and PFOA free, but another cool fact is that it also consumes less energy during the application process.  Thermolon cannot be overheated {something I love because I love to cook on HIGH, much to the dismay of my husband} and is a better heat conductor than traditional coatings {which just might make it easier for me to cook on MEDIUM from now on, saving energy}. 

If you haven’t had a chance to check out GreenPan before, the first thing that will strike you is how glossy smooth the cooking non-stick surface is.  Unlike other non-stick surfaces that are matte black and have ridges and crevices, the GreenPan has this great light grey glossy surface that foods just slide off of.  As well as making it easier to cook without extra oil and grease, this coating also makes for the easiest cleanup ever – which means you conserve your energy as well as water when cleaning. 

Want to know more about GreenPan and their line of kitchen gadgets, ovenware, and cookware?  You can check it out here www.green-pan.us be sure to follow GreenPan on Facebook to keep up on all their promotions and giveaways!  Bonus - they actually respond on Facebook, so be sure and head over and start a conversation!

Want to win an awesome GreenPan set that includes a 9.5 inch GreenPan Copenhagen fry pan, a GreenPan Dubai Ovenware lasagna pan, and an apron, oven mitt and scrubber {all of the items pictured in this review}? 

To enter simply visit GreenPan and tell me something you learned about their line or something you would love to own.

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

I'm so hoping I win the awesome GreenPan #giveaway from @realGreenPanUSA and @raveandreview http://t.co/CnqpLteQ

3) "Like" GreenPan on Facebook (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

4) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage (2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

5) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  (1 extra entry, must have an active link to R&R)

6) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

7) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {3 extra entries}

On November 16th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US and Canadian Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to:

#85 Shannon said... I really want the Wok!!

Thank you to GreenPan for offering this review to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Béaba Bib’expresso All-in-One Super Cool Feeding Gadget

I was really lucky and was able to breastfeed my first child for 16 months before switching to bottles, but my second take at breastfeeding hasn’t quite panned out like I had hoped.  First there were supply issues and engorgement, and then there were growth issues and latching problems, and finally the choice was made to supplement with formula as well as give bottles of breastmilk this time around. 

Because I was spoiled with being able to breastfeed for so long the first time, I really didn’t understand the pain that bottles, feedings, and formula can be until just recently.  Now I can see why there are a million and a half gadgets for feeding infants and babies - it’s all about making the whole process a little bit easier on everyone. 

When I first decided we were going to supplement, I mistakenly thought it was going to be more convenient, but that’s before I realized what all was involved in warming, preparing, and cleaning bottle accessories after each feeding.  And, the annoyances just keep coming… first, there’s all the bottles filling up your dishwasher, then you need a way to warm up formula, food, and breastmilk, and finally, there’s the sterilizer to keep everything safe for baby to consume. 

I had seen bottle warmers before when I was registering during my first pregnancy, but even at the time I thought they were a bit silly.  Why buy something that has such a limited lifespan, only does one single function, and takes up so much room if you can make do without?  Recently, I found my answer: because having to “make do” for over a year just isn’t any fun. 

What if I told you that there was a super cool new feeding gadget that solves all of these problems and more?  Introducing the Béaba Bib'expresso, the first all-in-one feeding gadget that allows you to prepare bottles, breastmilk, solid foods and more as well as well as sterilize {and store} your accessories. 

Want to hear more about this clever little machine?
 
Now, instead of heating up water for bottles by running them under incredibly hot tap water or in the microwave {which, FYI, is not recommended}, I can make a bottle of formula with the simple press of a button with no fear of hot spots or burning.  Want to heat up breastmilk or baby food?  Simply fill the water tank and press a button and it heats the water to warm for feeding quickly and easily.  If that wasn’t enough, you can also sterilize and store your bottles and accessories with the Bib’expresso!

Features of the Bib’expresso we’re raving about: As cool as the unit is as a whole, it also comes apart and allows you to use each of its functions separately as your needs change.  The upper water tank and sterilizer/storage compartment are both removable for use without the base and both can be used for other functions even after the bottle stage.  In fact, I use the Bib’expresso daily with my daughter, making her cocoa, cleaning her cups and straws, and heating up foods that don’t do well in the microwave. 

Béaba also makes a homemade baby food maker that could be used with the Bib’expresso, allowing you to warm foods made with their Béaba Babycook {which I have heard wonderful things about}.  While I am loving the Bib’expresso for the bottle stage, I really love that it is perfect for warming homemade baby food.  This is going to be a feature I will use for years and years as my kids eat baby food well after bottles are through, and using the microwave is not recommended for heating from frozen.  To save on counter space, I will simply use the top portion of the Bib’expresso on its own and make defrosting and heating incredibly easy.

Béaba Bib'expresso specs:
•    Bottle preparation in 90 seconds.
•    Safe - The bottle is always at the right temperature thanks to direct water control
•    Practical - direct water flow mixes the powder formula and helps ensure more even temperature
•    Easy to Use - just one hand required to prepare the bottle
•    Removable, ultra-compact bottle and food warmer can be used anywhere
•    Microwavable sterilizer/bottle storage compartment included. Can hold up to three 10 ounce (300 ml) bottles. Protects sterilized bottles from light and dust and keeps them handy and ready to use when preparing baby's bottle.
•    Self-cleaning steam system for in-depth cleaning of the device.
•    Product can be used after baby for preparing beverages with hot water such as tea and hot cocoa.
•    BPA-free.

Buy It: The Bib’expresso retails for $129.95 and you can find it at Amazon.com, PamperedTot.com, and at BeabaUSA.com.  More info, images, and web tutorial videos can be found on the Beaba site.

While Béaba provided me with a Bib'expresso to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Béaba, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Knock Out The Fat with George Foreman Healthy Cooking

I love our George Foreman Grill.  Even in our very well stocked kitchen it is hands-down one of my most used kitchen appliances for quick and easy dinners.  By now our Evolve Grill has seen many family meals and the grill plates have endured numerous cycles through the dishwasher, but it still performs just as great as the day it arrived almost a year ago.  So, when given the opportunity to test out the newest contact grill from George Foreman that features a 72 square inch cooking surface with removable dishwasher-safe grill plates, I was giddy with excitement.    

With the launch of their Knock Out the Fat campaign years ago that encourages people to cook healthier by nixing oil and grease, George Foreman Healthy Cooking has been on the forefront of fat-reduction cooking.  It all has to do with their patented slope design that allows the fat to drip away into an easy to wash drip tray while your food is cooked to perfection, which means less fat ends up on your dinner table.  Then they took healthy cooking even further by designing truly non-stick cooking surfaces that need no oil or butter added, another bonus to those watching their waistline.

But, now new independent testing has backed up what we all suspected all along and has shown that the sloped George Foreman Grill removes up to 42 percent of fat from quarter pound burgers made with 80/20 ground chuck beef.  This translates to an approximate reduction of 89 calories per burger!  Crazy, right?

Now I hear you saying, “But, anything cooked that lean couldn’t possibly still be delicious.”  Wrong.

Anyone who has ever tried a George Foreman knows how efficient the design is, and how much oil and grease collects in the drip tray after cooking – something I was shocked about the first time I saw it in action.  But the real surprise came when we tasted our meal and found that the foods cooked on the grill are still incredibly flavorful and, quite simply, delicious.  I certainly didn’t miss all the added fat and grease, and actually think our meals are even more delicious off the grill.

The George Foreman GRP4B Next Grilleration Removable Plate Grill may be a mouthful to say, but once your meal is served you won’t want to do much talking anyway.  This new spin on the classic takes the George Foreman that has been beloved for decades {can it be that long, really?} and brings it into the next generation of cooking – dishwasher safe cleanup.  For those of you that used to own an old George Foreman, you know that the biggest complaint was how to best clean the cooking surface, and you will be happy to know that the company heard you loud and clear. 

You can now use their included custom grill spatulas to scrape off the grill plates after use and then just pop them directly into your standard dishwasher and cleanup is complete.  I found that the grill plates were just as easy to clean as they claimed, and that it took mere seconds to do our post-dinner cleanup, even after the messiest meal.  Even better was that they didn’t take up the whole dishwasher, as it’s not really a convenience if you have to run it as its own dishwasher load, is it?

If you haven’t tried any of the newest George Foreman Grills with removable plates, I would highly recommend them.  We’ve had consistent success with ours and recommend it for anyone looking to lose a little bit of the fat without sacrificing taste. 

Features of the George Foreman Next Grilleration Removable Plate Grill:
•    72 square inch grilling surface lets you cook for 4
•    2 dishwasher-safe removable grill plates for easy clean up
•    Temperature indicator light indicates plates are at grilling temperature
•    Integrated handle is ergonomic & compact
•    George Tough™ Triple non-stick coating is durable & eliminates need for oil
•    Patented sloped grill design knocks out the fat
•    1 ½" floating hinge works to accommodate thick cuts of meat
•    Embedded heat elements provide consistent heat & rapid recovery time
•    Dishwasher-safe removable plates with cool-touch handles for easy clean up
•    2 Plates included: 2 ribbed grill plates
•    2 drip trays catch run off liquids for no-mess clean up
•    2 spatulas are customized for grill
Find out more are at http://www.georgeforemancooking.com/

A big thank you to George Foreman Healthy Cooking and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.  Even though the Next Grilleration Grill was provided for review purposes as were the independent study findings, all opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Infrared Laser BBQ Thermometer from RedEnvelope

Get Out and PLAY Event - Day 16

I love RedEnvelope.  Really, what woman doesn’t?  They seriously have the best personalized products, heartfelt gifts, and unique presents you just can’t find anywhere else.  So, of course I turned to them as I’m looking for the best Father’s Day gifts for all the dads in my life.

Mere moments searching and I found this: the gadget of all gadgets for BBQing, cooking, and even home repair.  Can you say perfect gift for hubby?

The Infrared Laser Barbecue Thermometer from RedEnvelope is like no other thermometer you have ever seen.  Instead of you needing to pierce an object or requiring direct contact, the Infrared Laser Thermometer measures surface temperature from up to 5' away from the object, which makes it perfect for hot surfaces like BBQing, grilling, broiling, and even for household use. 

The Infrared Laser Barbecue Thermometer promises fast and accurate surface temperature readings with just the pull the trigger, and easy to see readings on the backlit LCD screen.  The laser pointer guarantees accurate aim on your object, allowing you to get precision readings from a distance without worrying that you are missing small areas. 

Because the thermometer gives instant readings, it also allows you to get ranges over a large surface, which is especially useful when grilling or cooking when you need to account for hot spots.  The thermometer reads in either F or C degrees from -58 to 1022 degrees F, which gives you a huge range of temperatures. 

Once out of the package, I already loved the Infrared Laser BBQ Thermometer and I was taking the surface temperature reading of everything in sight.  I used it with our new George Foreman grill and it was perfect for giving the correct temperature of three different pork chops to help me get them off the grill before they got overdone.

The BBQ Thermometer is great for non-cooking purposes, too, such as identifying leaks and hot spots on piping, hearths, plumbing, heating systems, ducting, and more.  Of course, it can also tell you that your thermostat is incorrect, you need more ice in your drink, or you might just want to let your tea cool a bit before guzzling it.

Features from the RedEnvelope Website:
•    Measures surface temperature up to 5 ft away without contact
•    Instant digital readings in F or C. (Range bw -58F to 1022F)
•    Large LCD with backlight
•    Not intended for measuring internal temperature of foods
•    Laser pointer ensures accurate aim
•    6 ¾”L x 1 ½”W
•    Note: it does include a laser light. Do not stare into laser light beam
•    Two “AAA” batteries included

The Infrared Laser BBQ Thermometer sells for $59.95, and it is just one of dozens of great gift ideas for Dad this June.  Check out RedEnvelope.com and all their family of brands to find the best Father’s Day gifts, as well as their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RedEnvelope

A big thank you to RedEnvelope for this review opportunity.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.