Category Archives: Useful Tools

The Wooden Rolling Pin: A Kitchen Classic

Rolling Pin Illustration

Classic Rolling Pin Illustration

Article Contributed by Laura Everage

Anyone who has spent any time in the kitchen will tell you that there certainly are essential tools to help you get through mealtime. If you’re an avid home cook, you’ll stock your kitchen with everything from sharp knives to well-seasoned cast iron cookware. And, if you’re a baker, you know that there is one tool that you just can live without . . . the rolling pin. In fact, the rolling pin is a tool that transcends both the cooking and baking genres, proving itself to be an indispensable tool for making sweet or savory pies, noodles, fondant, puff pastry, flatbreads and more.

There are rolling pins for all occasions and choosing the right one for a specific purpose is important. For most home cooks, a wooden rolling pin will prove the most versatile and serves best as an all-purpose rolling pin. Whether it is for preparing pastry for sweet or savory pies, flattening yeast-raised dough for pizza, making cut-out cookies, or cranking out udon noodles, the wooden rolling pin helps get the job done.

While professionals often choose a lightweight, handle-less wooden pin, such as a baker’s or French pin pictured below, most home bakers feel most comfortable with a heaver and handled wooden pin. The wooden rolling pin allows for easier flattening of dough, and the slightly larger barrel requires fewer revolutions, making the task easier.

Mrs. Anderson's Baking Rolling Pins from Harold Import Co.

Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Rolling Pins from Harold Import Co., made of hardwood in the USA.

Many of us have a hand-me-down wooden rolling pin in our kitchens. This pin has served its purpose well through the years, effectively and efficiently performing the task at hand. However, if you have yet to receive the hand-me-down pin from your mother, or are seeking to add a new one to your kitchen essentials toolbox, here are a few things to consider when purchasing a wooden rolling pin:

  • Wooden rolling pins can be made of various types of woods including maple, walnut and cherry. Each wood has distinctive properties, so choose a high quality wood to suit your needs. Strong and heavy, a hardwood is a great choice to resist abrasions through the years.
  • The desired length of a wooden rolling pin is with a 3-inch diameter of the barrel and can vary from 12-18 inches, with somewhere in between being one that suits most needs.
  • A good quality wooden rolling pin will last long enough to hand it down to the next generation. If possible, give it a roll in the store. It should easily roll, and give your knuckles ample room to move across the dough without knocking your knuckles on the dough or pastry board.

Quick Tips on Cleaning Wooden Rolling Pins:

  • Don’t leave a wooden rolling pin in water or the dishwasher – it may warp or crack, or cause damage to the bearings in the handle.
  • Wipe with a dry paper towel, then follow up with a damp cloth. If necessary, lightly use a scouring pad.
  • You don’t want to use soap because it may seep into the wood.

A Classic in the Kitchen

One of the classics of baking is making your own pie dough. While it may seem daunting for some, keep in mind it requires only a few ingredients (flour, Crisco, salt and water), and a little patience. When you have a classic kitchen tool such as the wooden rolling pin on hand, you’ll have it mastered in no time.

If you are wondering how to make a flawless, flaky pie crust, head on over to Family Eats to get a few tips on making the perfect pie crust.

Alligator Onion Peeler Makes Prepping French Onion Soup a Tearless Job

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onion

Contributed by Laura Everage

The Egyptians buried them with the Pharaohs, The Greek used them to fortify athletes for the Olympic Games, and the world has been eating them raw, broiled, caramelized and deep-fried for more than 5,000.

The onion, is probably one of the most versatile vegetable. They come in yellow, red, and white varieties, small or large.

Generally, onions are peeled by hand and knife. It is a simple task, but a task that can cause a bit of frustration — and tears. There are many anecdotes to crying, and ways to make it easier.

How to articles and videos abound, espousing the best method to cut through those outside layers, suggesting to first place the onion in the fridge, in ice water, or even boiling water before peeling with a very sharp knife to minimize the damage to the skin, (and cut down on the release of all those tear-inducing enzymes).

For those who just struggle with the task, or who are peeling a lot of onions at a time, can enjoy the ease of using the Alligator Onion Peeler. A Swedish invention designed to peel the skin off of onions in a quick and efficient manner. (See the Alligator Onion Peeler video.)

Onion, Before Peeling, Perched on the Alligator Onion Peeler

Onion, Before Peeling, Perched on the Alligator Onion Peeler’s Spike

Alligator Onion Peeler

Onion, After First Layer of Skin is Removed From Passing Through The Alligator Onion Peeler’s First Set of Blades

Its razor sharp edges, skim away the layers of skin, leaving a perfectly skinned onion that is ready to be chopped, diced and prepared for use in everything from French onion soup, to a sweet onion potato salad or raw onions for a burger.

Alligator Onion Peeler

Peeled Onion, After Passing Through The Alligator Onion Peeler

Perfect for use with a variety of sized onions, the handy onion peeler is easy to use. Place the onion on the holder, with the root side down. Press down the central part of the tool until it comes in contact with the onion and check to see the knives are centrally located. Press down over the onion. Then, press the upper part slowly onto the oven for the final removal of the skin.

Be careful, as the blades are very sharp!

For a little inspiration, here is a Classic Onion Soup Recipe that will make you want to book your flight to France. In fact, I think I originally found it in an old Jacques Pepin cookbook.

Classic French Onion Soup 

French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup

Makes 6 servings

  • ½ lb. Emmenthaler cheese, grated
  • ½ lb Gruyere cheese, grated
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons corn oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ lbs. pounds yellow (brown-skin) onions, peeled and sliced thin
  • 10 cups homemade or good-quality chicken stock*
  • 1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 loaf French Baguette bread, cut into 36 to 48 slices

In a large bowl, mix together the grated Emmenthaler and Gruyere cheeses; set aside.

In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, heat the butter and corn oil until hot but not smoking. Add the sliced onions and sauté, stirring frequently, for 10 to 12 minutes until they are nicely browned. When the onions are browned, add the chicken stock and garlic. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, at a gentle boil for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Using a food mill, push the soup mixture through it into a large bowl or pan. Add salt and pepper to taste.

NOTE: At this point, the soup can be cooled to room temperature and refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days. To use, return to simmer before finishing soup with bread and cheese.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Arrange the baguette bread slices in one layer on a cookie sheet. Place in oven and bake, without turning, for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until they are well-browned on both sides. Remove from oven.

Place 6 to 8 prepared bread slices in each onion soup bowl. Arrange the bowls on a large cookie sheet.

Turn the oven temperature up to 425 degrees F.

Sprinkle approximately 2 tablespoons of the combined grated cheeses on top of the bread slices in each bowl. Add the prepared onion soup by filling the bowls to the rim (if you need a little more liquid, add a little water to the soup in each of the bowls).

Sprinkle 1/2 cup of grated cheeses on top of the onion soup in each bowl, making sure that it not only covers the soup, but also touches the entire inside edge of each bowl, so that it will adhere to the edge as it melts during cooking.

Tip: For an onion soup not to collapse, the soup bowl has to be filled to the rim with the onion soup and the bread. The cheese layer should cover the whole surface, so it will stick to the sides and form a crust that holds its shape and doesn’t sink.

Set the cookie sheet containing the bowls of soup in the oven and cook for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned. Remove from oven and serve immediately. If the top is not well browned after 30 minutes, place the bowls under the hot broiler of your oven for a few seconds before serving.

For a variation on this traditional recipe, Christina of Sweet Pea’s Kitchen shares her favorite French Onion Soup Recipe.

Laura Everage is a writer, editor, swimmer, yoga-lover, wife, and mother of four. Her days start very early in the morning, but thanks to her favorite beverage, coffee, she is able to start each day on a good note. Laura began her journey in all things food and beverage related nearly 20 years ago, as Managing Editor of The Gourmet Retailer. She continues to write about food, coffee, tea and kitchenware and is currently working on a book entitled Courage in a Cup: Women, Coffee and the Global Economy. Laura is also founder and editor of her own website, Family Eats, and is editorial director/partner of Coffee Universe.Her work has appeared in a variety of trade magazines as well as consumer publications Saveur and Consumers’ Digest. Laura’s knowledge of the industry has landed her appearances on both the Food Network and Fine Living Network. To contact Laura, email Laura@familyeats.net.

Garlic Press Test from the Brooklyn Homemaker

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Garlic Press Test with the Brooklyn Homemaker

Garlic Press Test with the Brooklyn Homemaker

Have you met Tux? He’s the author of a fabulous blog called Brooklyn Homemaker, coming in 4th place in the “Homies” blog awards! HUGE! He shares recipes, stories, and gives in-depth reviews of gadgets too.
In his latest post, Tux de-bunks the garlic press, putting models of all price points to the test.

Read the full post here.

We want to thank the Brooklyn Homemaker for including Fante’s Cousin Umberto’s Garlic Press, made by Harold Import Co., in this line-up of fine garlic presses. We are honored and humbled to be a part of your consideration set.

Want to find a Fante’s Cousin Umberto’s Garlic Press of your own? Check out Whisk of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Also found in fine kitchen shops nation wide.

Raw Vegetable Pasta

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Veggie Pasta Made With The World's Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler

Veggie Pasta Made With The World’s Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler

Creating “pasta” made purely from raw vegetables started gaining momentum along with interest in raw food diets, and has grown in popularity as some seek out gluten-free, low-gluten, or low calorie alternatives to traditional pasta.

If you’re not familiar with raw veggie pasta, it is simply fresh, raw veggies like carrots, summer squash, (shown above) zucchini, as well as other vegetables, turned into strips or curls that resemble spaghetti shaped pasta noodles. There are some helpful tools available that turn these veggies into long spiral shaped pieces, and tools that leave the strips straight.

A great tool for making raw veggie pasta is a spiral slicer, such as the Benriner Cook Helper, if you are going for a curly veggie “noodle.” The Benriner is also a superb kitchen companion when creating a larger volume of veggie pasta, as it turns out a nice big pile of curled strips quickly.

A kitchen gadget that makes quick work of turning raw vegetables into veggie pasta strips, which might surprise you – the julienne peeler.  We put our very own 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler to the veggie pasta making test…

First using the regular blade to remove the rough outer skin of a carrot…

The World's Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler Removing Carrot Skin

The World’s Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler Removing Carrot Skin

The World's Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler Removing Carrot Skin

The World’s Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler Removing Carrot Skin

Then turning the knob and flipping to the julienne blade to turn the inside of the carrot as well as a yellow crook neck summer squash  into a mound of vegetable pasta goodness.

The World's Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler Julienne Blade Making Veggie Pasta

The World’s Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler Julienne Blade Making Veggie Pasta

The World's Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler Julienne Blade Making Summer Squash into Veggie Pasta

The World’s Greatest 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler Julienne Blade Making Summer Squash into Veggie Pasta

Looking for the World’s Greatest™ 3-in-1 Rotational Tri-Blade Peeler? Find yours here and at fine gourmet kitchen shops nationwide.

Settings for regular peeling, soft veggies, and julienne peeling

Settings for regular peeling, soft veggies, and julienne peeling

Strips of Yellow Crook Neck Squash Turned into Veggie Pasta

Strips of Yellow Crook Neck Squash Turned into Veggie Pasta

What next? You can toss the strips into a skillet and warm them, plus top with the creamy sauce of your choice, like Alfredo, pesto, or marinara, for a warm “pasta’ dish. We kept ours simple, tossing the brightly colored carrot and yellow crook neck squash strips in 2 tbs. olive oil, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, a twist of fresh ground pepper, and a few pinches of sea salt, for a chilled salad. Combine, and eat! Delicious.

Veggie Pasta Made with a Julienne Peeler

Veggie Pasta Made with a Julienne Peeler

Interested in HIC kitchenware for your restaurant or home? Contact Us.

Contributed by Nicole Herman, of HIC, Harold Import Co.

Chefs of EaT: An Oyster Bar Put HIC’s Mortar & Pestle and French Beechwood Utensils to the Test

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Our friends Tobias Hogan and Ethan Powell, the creative team of EaT: An Oyster Bar, in Portland, Oregon, have been busy making delicious winter drinks and dishes, a perfect welcome for their guests as they pop in to escape the chilly Northwest winter.

HIC's Marble Mortar & Pestle Used at EaT: An Oyster Bar to Crush Herbs

HIC’s Marble Mortar & Pestle Used at EaT: An Oyster Bar to Crush Herbs

They’ve been using HIC’s little mortar and pestle to crush herbs they use at the bar for some of their house made syrups. Here, Tobias crushed up green cardamom for a cranberry syrup to put in their drink called “A Long Bright Winter” made with the syrup, a little Combier orange liqueur, dash of orange bitters, topped with sparkling wine and an orange twist.

Braise of Rabbit with HIC's French Beechwood Spoon

Braise of Rabbit at EaT: An Oyster Bar with HIC’s French Beechwood Spoon

Here we have a braise of rabbit for a roulade Tobias is making as part of a dinner with R. Stuart Winery, a multi day process. HIC’s French Beechwood Spoons help scrape up the “suc” (juice) to create a “fond” (the tasty brown bits that build in your pan from cooking meat and vegetables) which builds complexity of flavor.

Learn more about Tobias and Ethan here, or say hello on their Facebook Page.

Interested in HIC kitchenware for your restaurant or home? Contact Us.

Contributed by Nicole H., of HIC, Harold Import Co.

Reindeer Cupcake Recipe Using HIC’s Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

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Reindeer Cupcakes made with the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

Reindeer Cupcakes made with HIC’s Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

This holiday season we put our Cannonball Ice Ball Tray to the test, for baking as well as ice making… and feeling in a jolly mood, used it to make reindeer cupcakes.  (You could also create dog, cat, or bunny cupcakes… pretty much any animal with a head and body, just get creative with the decorations!) You can find a Cannonball Ice Ball Tray of your own, here, and in gourmet kitchen shops nationwide.

Reindeer Cupcakes Recipe:

First, prepare batter and fill both traditional cupcake cups (for the body)  and the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray for the reindeer heads.

See our Spice and Pumpkin Cake Batter recipe, and how to bake cake in the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray here. Or, you can use any flavor of cake you desire.

Assembling the reindeer cupcakes:

1. After cupcake cups and cake balls are completely cool, following the recipe found here, use a spoon to scoop a small amount of cake from the top, near the edge, of each cupcake. Create a small divot for the reindeer head to sit in.

Creating Divot for Reindeer Cupcake Head

Creating Divot for Reindeer Cupcake Head

2. Melt baking chocolate in a double boiler. We used Rose’s Silicone Baking Bowl.

Melting Chocolate in Rose's Silicone Baking Bowl

Melting Chocolate in Rose’s Silicone Baking Bowl.

3. Place the cake ball made in the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray into the divot, on top of the melted chocolate, and let cool. This will help hold the head nicely in place.

Reindeer Head on Cupcake Body

Reindeer Head on Cupcake Body

4. Decorate the face, as you choose. We used cinnamon imperials for the nose, dried currants for the eyes, and white icing for the feet and base of the eyes and nose.

5. Creating the antlers – put some melted dark baking chocolate from Rose’s Silicone Baking Bowl (find yours here) into a pastry bag fitted with a fine tip, and pipe the chocolate into antler shapes on a Silpat baking mat. Place in refrigerator to cool.

Reindeer Antlers Piped on Silpat Baking Mat

Reindeer Antlers Piped on Silpat Baking Mat

6. Press the base of each antler into the cupcake behind the reindeer’s head.

Reindeer Cupcakes Made with the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

Reindeer Cupcakes Made with the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

Enjoy!

Interested in learning more about HIC, Harold Import Co.? Contact us here.

Contributed by Nicole H., of HIC, Harold Import Co.

Benriner – The History, and an Interview with Michiko, Granddaughter of the Founder of Benriner

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Benriner Signboard from 1969

Benriner Signboard from 1969. This Signboard shows the Benriner made of tin from before the time of the plastic benriner. With the shift to plastic, mass production became possible, and the customer base expanded from restaurants to the home chef.

Raw, plant based, and vegan dishes are turning up in food blogs and on creative menus throughout the culinary world.  The conversation about this type of cuisine is evolving; preparing the dishes and eating this way is becoming less intimidating due to access to information and education about how to prepare this type of food easily, as well as culinary thought leaders and chefs influencing menus and making these food choices both delicious and available. Eating a more plant-rich diet is thought of as something that doesn’t have to be all or nothing, it doesn’t have to be approached in an extreme way.

An exceptional line of tools to aid in preparing this type of cuisine are the Benriner Japanese Mandolin slicers, from Japan. If you are not familiar with the Benriner name, you may recognize one of the Benriner products by it’s vibrant green color – often seen in the hands of chefs on TV, behind restaurant counters, and on store shelves in its authentic Japanese packaging.

Benriner Japanese Mandolin Slicer

Benriner Japanese Mandolin Slicer

We have had the great honor to interview Michiko, responsible for Benriner’s international marketing, and sister to owner Hajime and grandson of Benriner’s founder, Uyuki Yamamoto, who shared with us the history of Benriner and the company’s evolution.

Michiko and Hajime visited the Harold Import Co. booth at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago, in March of 2013; Hajime even demonstrated the Benriner products in person. (Though the Benriner is so simple to operate, we have never seen it used with the grace and finesse Hajime possesses.) We look forward to welcoming them back in 2014.

Benriner Product Evolution

Benriner Product Evolution

Benriner Product Evolution

Benriner Product Evolution

 The Interview

Nicole Herman, of HIC:   Michiko, Please tell us a bit about your role in the Benriner Company.

Michiko: My role is to assist the company’s overall international marketing today- I have not been so aware of Benriner and its exposure to the world market until I become an adult and see how other people and restaurants use it – until then I was using the cheap slicer for cooking for myself – but after using Benriner (I got the sample from my brother) I haven’t gone back to the cheap stuff- The blade in the cheap kind does not last but Benriner lasts.

N: What was the inspiration for your grandfather to start Benriner?

M: Around 5 years after World War II ended, our grandfather started a company in the 1950’s in Japan, that dealt with lumber and wooden products such as interior doors.  He gathered some skilled craftsmen in the city who were lumber cutting and crafting professionals as well as blacksmiths to start the company. Later he used the idea of Kanna (a small wood shaving device traditionally used in Japanese construction) and with the leftover lumber pieces,  he made a slicer that would cut the food (vegetable)- and  the Benriner Slicer was invented. After he officially built the company to make the slicer, He named the company “Benriner” and started production.

Benriner, 1960 -The year the company was founded.

Benriner, 1960 -The year the company was founded.

N:  What has your brother Hajime changed about Benriner, since he has joined the company?

M: Benriner was once created by our grandfather but after taking over the company, my brother has been making the effort for improving the product quality and also package designs, it has transformed from the “old” outdated design to the country-specific, different designs.  Also Hajime started our official website, www.benriner.co.jp

Iwakuni Castle

Iwakuni city, where Benriner headquarters is located, means “the country of the rocky mountain” in Japanese. This Iwakuni Castle was built by Governor Samurai Kikkawa in 1600.

Nishi River

The Nishi River, meaning “the patterns of sewing the decorated kimono which carries out beauty and goes” flowing through Iwakuni city. The Benriner factory is nearby.

N:  The original Benriner looked different than what we use today. What was the first Benriner like, and what influenced the design of the new Benriner?

M: The transformation from a wooden slicer to a plastic version was inevitable due to the increasing cost of materials- also plastic is easier to maintain, and is durable, it is lighter weight, plus you can add product color variations. Also, advice on what changes could be beneficial are sought out from the users (customers) in order to implement the best possible design that would meet our various customers with different needs.

Benriner 1972

Benriner, 1972. The company started moving the production from wood-based material to plastic. This change increased the production level, though the company was located in the residential area, being unable to expand its plant site.

N:  Did your family use the Benriner in the home kitchen, when you were growing up? Do they still?

M: My mother used it all the time.   She made vegetable salad or dishes with vegetable using Benriner and Turning slicers and thanks to my mother; all family members are not picky veggie eaters.

N: Can you share with us any special meals, or traditional vegetable dishes most often prepared with the Benriner in Japan?

M: Any vegetable that can be used for salad, such as carrot, cabbage, or sweet pepper – Japan has many kinds of dishes with a variety of vegetables, so almost all kinds of vegetables are used – however, Japanese restaurants would make the thinly shredded cabbage using Benriner, or radish strands using the Benriner Turning slicer, which often comes served with the Sashimi dish. A combination of white radish and carrot slices is common too, especially for special occasions such as New Year cuisine, as red and white represents good luck.

Benriner Demonstrated in the HIC Booth at the Fancy Food Show, Circa 1998

Benriner Demonstrated in the HIC Booth at the Fancy Food Show, Circa 1998

N:  The Benriner has had a devoted fan base for a long time. Why do you think it’s maintained such popularity?

M: Cooking is fun and a “happy thing” to do no matter where customers live in the world. I think Benriner products help bring the happiness to their kitchen. Benriner products add variety, and the beauty to the dish – so not only are they versatile to use, but also they help bring the cooking quality to the next level – to some users, cooking is more than just cooking, it can be a creative work – almost an “art.”    The second-to-none quality of blades make it all possible and that is why Benriner continues focusing on the product quality and it is also the strength of the company and its pride.

Benriner Handmade Blade

Benriner Handmade Blade

The spirit is – in a way, like how Samurai takes care of their swards- our mother’s side of the family came from the Fujiwara Clan of Kyoto.  ( I keep the copies of family tree scrolls that go back as far as the 7th century- the original is kept in our grandmother’s house)   It is not overstatement to say that we have a Bushido spirit and takes the pride of the quality and take commitment to bring the goodness to people by doing the right thing.

Benriner Blade Inspection

Benriner Blade Inspection. Though automation has now come into play in making parts of the benriner, this last process of the blade making and inspection is conducted by the hand of a skilled person, even now.

N: Could you tell me what “Bushido” means?

M: It is like “Samurai spirit” that values justice, loyalty and sincerity. In my understanding, Bushido spirit itself is the shared value among Japanese people and their business, and it is instilled in our culture, which may have influenced in our high expectation for quality.

Japan has been famous for its great customer service- however we must not forget that it is supported by each individual’s loyalty and quality standard as I think quality of each individual makes difference in the organization and the society as a whole.

Benriner Craftsman

Benriner craftsman training the young employees making the interchangeable blades in 1970’s. Work site pictures of the years (1970s) back then are very rare so these are very precious pictures – according to Hajime.
The 1970’s in Japan were the years when mass production was enhanced by automation- however the blade making process still required the skilled craftsmanship by hand, and is still passed on today to maintain the supreme quality of blades of Benriner products.

Unless each individual employee commits to the value and high standard of quality, good products and service would not be achievable, so It all comes down to the individuals and their quality and the collective effort, that make the good final outcome-products.

N:  Has it surprised you or your family, that the Benriner is so popular in the US?

M: Yes, in a way- I think it is so especially for the employees in the company.   Those products that they produce day to day get imported to the countries all over the world, to the kitchen where they would not even imagine.   Also health awareness is increasing in the US and more people are eating vegetable and Benriner definitely supports their healthy lifestyle.

N: When did your family first become aware of how much the Benriner is embraced by chefs in the US?

 M: We have been aware of the fact that our products have been widely used outside of Japan by the amount of growing export to the various countries including the US; however as I happened to encounter celebrity-chefs using Benriner products on their TV programs and also saw some food magazines show the recipe indicating the use of Japanese/Benriner slicer, then it became more evident that our products had gained recognition throughout food business industry in the U.S.

I also know the majority of local Japanese and Asian restaurants and markets use and carry Benriner products  – just peeking inside their kitchen I can spot Benriner slicers sometimes.  Also our companies have been exposed to some media coverage either by TV programs and newspapers from time to time.

For example, Japanese TV programs last year lead us to know  some chefs from the top restaurants, such as the one in Mandarin Oriental Hotel to the hip and edgy restaurant near Union Square in New York use Benriner products – so we took a trip to New York to personally meet the chefs.   Also we visited  a couple of kitchen specialty stores in Chelsea and Greenwich Village to visit the store owner and got some good feedback about our products they carry.

Nowadays, individual bloggers and YouTubers post various Benriner related comments and videos, sharing their experience as consumers. Also Benriner products are widely used in the cooking schools as well, so we know “future-chefs” would probably continue using Benriner products, too.

Benriner is widely known as “Japanese Mandolin” but many chefs are using it for making casseroles,  desserts, and many other Western style dishes. I think Benriner as a company owes responsibility to provide more opportunities for US customers to eat variety of healthy meals using vegetables.   I see more people in the US shifting to the healthy diet and hope our products would help add variety of cooking options for their daily menu.

N: Yes, people are discussing the concept of eating more healthfully,  and making more nutritious choices, it’s a popular topic right now. The Benriner is a very useful tool for home cooks who are trying to prepare lots of vegetables. If there is one message or bit of information you would like people who use and love the Benriner to know, that they might not already be aware of, what would it be? Is there anything in particular that you’d like them to know about your family, the company, or the Benriner product?

M: I think the good quality of Benriner products are supported by the loyalty of the employees who stay in the organization for a long time and produce consistent quality products, since many procedures- such as blade making for example, are still done by employees by hand, so  craftsmanship and quality control matter most.

As a descendent of Samurai of Imperial Fujiwara Clan,  I humbly dare to believe that Bushido-spirit, which I respect, is what makes us Japanese people and our cultural/spiritual value peculiar and different from other Asian countries.

White Fox Shrine Benriner

A small shrine on site at the Benriner headquarters. The image of “the white fox” or “Oenari-San” is placed and deified on the right and left in the shrine. The photograph with the priest in white is taken when the head office transfered in 2011 and a shrine was reconstructed simultaneously. The festival of “the white fox” in performed in August every year, and the clothes for the Shinto priest are at this time orange.

Just like Samurai’s sword, it is not overstatement to say that we take our pride to the quality of our blades and no other counterfeit products (such as the one made in China) can achieve the same quality.

More about Fujiwara clan: Encyclopedia Britannica

Benriner, today

Benriner, in Japan, today.

N: As the Director of Marketing for HIC, I want you to know that I speak on behalf of HIC, Harold Import Co, when I say that this experience with you has been an honor. We keep you in the highest regard and give great thanks for the time you are spending to educate us about your history,  your contribution to the culinary world, and for sharing these beautiful photographs that illustrate the Benriner Company’s evolution.

M: Thank you! Cooking brings joy to the kitchen- whether cooking for our family and loved ones, or chefs cooking for the restaurants customers – it is all about making people feeling good & happy.   It would be great if Benriner can play a part helping bring joy and happiness to all our customers worldwide.   While being a small company in Japan, we have been maintaining the high recognition both in cutlery and food business industry for along time, we commit our responsibility to continue providing good quality product and services to our customers.

Article contributed by Nicole Herman of HIC, Harold Import Co.

Looking for a Benriner slicer of your own? Contact HIC.

Learn more about how to use the Benriner, from their original videos: 

*All images and photography in this post are the sole property of Benriner and HIC. No use of these may be made without the prior written consent from HIC.

Cannonball Ice Ball Tray Tested by The Ranting Chef

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Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

Pat Geyer, of Rantings of an Amateur Chef, puts HIC’s Cannonball Ice Ball Tray to the test. Pat conducts a melt test of a regular ice cube vs. a sphere shaped ice ball made in the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray, and captures the event with time-lapse photography. Read more…

Pat embarks on frequent culinary adventures, kindly sharing his lessons and excitement with lucky fans. Check out his blog as he explores recipes, restaurants, gadgets and anything else related to cooking and eating.

Looking for a Cannonball Ice Ball Tray? Contact the HIC team, and we’ll help you out.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted pumpkin seeds. Shown in HIC Oven-To-Table Fine Porcelain Ramekin

Next time you’re craving a salty snack to dig into during home movie or game time, try roasting up a  batch of pumpkin seeds and discover how delicious and satisfying they are. You might find yourself saying, “Hold the popcorn and pass the pumpkin seeds!”

How to roast pumpkin seeds

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cut pumpkin, according to how you’ll be using it. Scrape the soft pumpkin innards and the seeds into a bowl. Pull the seeds from the pumpkin meat with your fingers (This is a great task for kids to help with!) and then place the mostly clean seeds in a colander and clean off the remaining squash meat under cool water. If a little squash meat remains, they’ll still turn out just fine.

Pat seeds dry (paper towels work) then lay them on a baking sheet lined with a baking mat if you have one, or foil.

Raw, cleaned pumpkin seeds sprinkled with salt and chili powder on Silpat baking mat

Raw, cleaned pumpkin seeds sprinkled with salt and chili powder on a baking mat

Drizzle seeds with olive oil or melted butter, and sprinkle with salt and spices. Toss the seeds with the oil and salt on the baking sheet, until evenly coated. Place in oven for about 25 minutes, or until seeds start to brown. Remove from oven, let cool, and enjoy. Want to try something different? We found a great Chili Lime Roasted Pumpkin Seed recipe from the Austin Gastronimist.

Roasted pumpkin seeds

Roasted pumpkin seeds

Ingredients:

  • A pumpkin
  • 2 tbsp. melted butter or oil (we used olive oil)
  • Salt (chili, smoked, or truffle salt is delicious)
  • Optional – garlic powder, cayenne pepper, or cinnamon and sugar. Have fun. Get creative.

Tools:

  • Colander
  • Spoon for scraping the inside of the pumpkin
  • Baking sheet
  • Foil
    Roasted pumpkin seeds

    Roasted pumpkin seeds

    Contributed by Nicole H., of HIC

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Truffle Oil

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Truffle Oil

Roasted Brussels sprouts with truffle oil. Beechwood spoon, made in France, and Rose’s Perfect Pie Plate, both from HIC.

Brussels sprouts – The consistently controversial vegetable.  Most people fall into one of two camps here – you either love Brussels sprouts, or detest them. Whether it’s the smell, the texture, or the bad reputation they bear for being displeasing, many people just don’t embrace the Brussels sprout.  The technique used in this recipe was passed along from a good friend, who has converted many previously averse, to become embracers of the veggie. What’s different in this recipe? It’s all about changing the texture – We’ll roast both whole and sliced Brussels sprouts together, achieving a mix of softer whole sprouts, and crunchier sliced bits. Love pancetta and cheese? You’re covered. Just scroll down to the “Variations” section at the bottom of this post.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Truffle Oil Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound Brussels sprouts, rinsed, ends trimmed, but left whole
  • 1/2 pound Brussels sprouts, rinsed, ends trimmmed, sliced
  • 2 tbsp. truffle oil
  • 1/2 tsp. Himalayan sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Tools

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Brussels sprouts

First, rinse well.

Brussels sprouts rinsed in collander

Brussels sprouts rinsed in collander

Trim the excess stem at the bottom.

Cutting Brussels Sprout Stem

Cutting the Brussels sprout stem

Then, pull the extra rougher leaves off from around the outside of the Brussels sprout.

Peeling Brussels Sprout Leaves

Peeling Brussels sprout leaves

Trim the stem a bit closer, and create a notch in the bottom. The notch aids in more even cooking.

Trim Brussels Sprout Stem Closely

Trim the Brussels sprout stem closely

Brussels Spout with notch cut into the bottom

Brussels spout with notch cut into the bottom

For this recipe we’re mixing both whole and sliced Brussels sprouts, because the smaller sliced pieces, as well as the bits that come off the sprout during the slicing process (don’t throw these out- put them in your roasting pan or pie plate) will become crunchier as they cook along side the whole sprouts, sopping up all of the truffle oil and collecting salt, adding savory flavor and variation in texture.

To prepare the sliced Brussels sprouts, first remove the stems and outside leaves, and cut the notch into the bottom. Then, cut in ¼-inch thick slices. We put The World’s Greatest™ Handy Dandy Super Slicer to work (To be notified when it’s available, Contact Us) which makes quick work of slicing any soft veggie or fruit in uniform widths, plus it locks in a closed position for drawer storage.  To note, if you have tough or very large Brussels sprouts, opt for a knife. The Handy Dandy Super Slicer works well if you have small, delicate sprouts. A Chef’s knife is also  a great choice.

Brussels Sprout in The World's Greatest Handy Dandy Super Slicer

Brussels sprout in The World’s Greatest Handy Dandy Super Slicer

Place both whole and sliced Brussels sprouts in a roasting pan or pie dish. In this recipe, we used Rose’s Perfect Pie Plate. Toss with 2 tbsp. truffle oil until the sprouts are well coated and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. of Himalayan sea salt (you may prefer to add more to taste, after cooking) and a 1/2 tsp. or a few twists of fresh ground black pepper.

Brussels sprouts tossed with truffle oil and sea salt

Brussels sprouts tossed with truffle oil and sea salt

Brussels sprouts in Rose's Perfect Pie Plate, before roasting

Brussels sprouts in Rose’s Perfect Pie Plate, before roasting

Place the Brussels sprouts on the top rack of a 400-degree oven and cook for 20 minutes, then remove and stir so that the sprouts get coated with the truffle oil and salt that has migrated to the bottom of the pie plate. Put back in the 400 degree oven and cook for another 15 minutes, or until sprouts are browned. Note, the smaller pieces may brown more and have crunchier edges than the whole Brussels sprouts. The two compliment each other nicely.

Roasted brussels sprouts with truffle oil and sea salt

Roasted Brussels sprouts with truffle oil and sea salt

Variations:

If you’d like to mix it up, here are a couple variations I’ve tried.

Use plain olive oil if you or your guests are not fond of truffles.

Toss in pancetta with the Brussels sprouts at the time roasting begins. This imparts a delicious flavor, and fills the kitchen with a wonderful aroma of cooking bacon.

Add nuts during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Slivered almonds, pine nuts, or pecans are all delicious, sprinkled on top.

Add a 1/2 cup of grated cheese, such as Grana Padano or Romano, 5 minutes before roasting time is up. Stir in, and roast for the remaining time.

Contributed by Nicole H., of HIC

Homemade Cavatelli from The Ranting Chef

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Fante's Cousin Elisa's Cavatelli Maker

Fante’s Cousin Elisa’s Cavatelli Maker

Heard the Rantings of an Amateur Chef? This is the blog of Pat Geyer, who embarks on frequent culinary adventures, kindly sharing his lessons and excitement with lucky fans. We wanted to share his recent homemade cavatelli quest with you here at The Useful Tool. Pat put our Fante’s Cousin Elisa’s Cavatelli Maker to the test (made in partnership with the Fante family of Philadelphia) teaching readers how to turn out beautiful shell-shaped cavatelli pasta noodles. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to make homemade cavatelli, Pat has you covered.

Cacao, Almond Milk, and Banana Ice Cream – A Rich Chocolate Summer Delight

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Cacao, Almond Milk, and Banana Ice Cream

Cacao, Almond Milk, and Banana Ice Cream

With summer in full swing, a cool treat is always appreciated. We explored venturing beyond our traditional ice cream recipes, and pulled in a few nutritious ingredients to make this rich, chocolatey cacao, almond milk, and banana ice cream.

Cacao Ice Cream Recipe

Cacao Ice Cream Recipe

Cacao, Raw Almond Milk, and Banana Ice Cream Recipe 

Cacao Powder

Cacao Powder

This recipe produces an “ice cream” with an incredibly rich, dark chocolate flavor imparted by the cacao powder, and has a creamy mouthfeel from the homemade almond milk. (You could use store bought almond milk, but the flavor and texture will be a little different.)

Any sweetener of choice can be used in this recipe, but we found that honey and agave nectar both pair well with the rich tasting cacao.

This ice cream was made using a blender and frozen bananas, which is great if you want to get this dessert on the table quickly. If you have an ice cream maker you could first blend all ingredients at room temperature, then  transfer to an ice cream maker to freeze.

Cacao Powder

Cacao Powder

Ingredients:

  • 2 heaping Tbsp Cacao Powder
  • 2 Tbsp Raw Honey or Agave Nectar (or stevia for the sugar sensitive)
  • 1/3 cup cold Homemade Almond Milk using raw almonds (see our recipe here)
  • 2 large frozen bananas (break in 1-inch pieces before freezing)

Tools:

Mrs. Anderson's Baking Silicone Baking Cups and Royal Blue Box Plaid Kitchen Towel

Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Silicone Baking Cups and Royal Blue Box Plaid Kitchen Towel Available from HIC

Place almond milk, cacao powder, and honey or agave in blender and pulse to start mixing slowly. Turning on high power without slowly mixing the cacao powder into the liquid first can cause it to shoot upwards in a cloud of cocoa dust. After almond milk, cacao powder, and honey are mixed gently, increase speed for a few seconds and mix well. Add frozen banana pieces, and pulse to get them moving. Then blend on high until the banana chunks smooth out and an ice cream consistency results. Serve at once, and sprinkle with additional cacao powder if desired. The deep chocolate taste is downright decadent.

*Hot weather tip: If you’re in an especially warm climate, or warm kitchen, ice cream can start to melt quickly after served. Try pouring into chilled ice cream cups (store them in the freezer) to help keep ice cream from melting quickly.

We appreciate our readers, and are interested in hearing more about your culinary adventures. Drop us a line and share what you’re experiencing! We’d love to hear your thoughts, anytime the mood strikes you. 

Contributed by Nicole Herman, of HIC.

Almond Milk Recipe – A Step By Step Guide to Homemade Raw Almond Milk

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Homemade Raw Almond Milk

Homemade Raw Almond Milk

Homemade almond milk is delicious, nutritious, and so easy to make.  You only need a few tools and two ingredients to make classic almond milk. The recipe shared in this post is from a wellness focused friend of mine, who showed me how to use it as a base for smoothies, to add moisture to baked goods, and on oatmeal. (And there are many other uses, including simply enjoying the almond milk’s simple goodness in a tall frosty glass.) The taste is mild, with a different creamier mouth feel and richer flavor than store bought varieties. Once you try homemade almond milk, you’ll see what a delight it is!

Almond milk can also be helpful for those who are lactose, soy, or gluten intolerant, as it doesn’t contain any lactose or casein, a milk protein that’s similar to gluten.

Almond Milk, the Finished Product

Almond Milk, the Finished Product

Almond Milk Recipe – Makes about 3 cups, using the 1 cup almond to 3 cups water ratio described below. If you prefer a thicker milk, you can also try 1 cup almond to 2 cups water ratio.

Homemade Almond Milk Recipe

Homemade Raw Almond Milk Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw almonds, preferably organic
  • 2 cups water for soaking almonds
  • 3 cups water for making the nut milk
  • Optional extras: 2 tsp. cinnamon, and sweetener (1 tbsp. agave syrup, maple syrup, or honey are delicious)

Tools

Step by Step Almond Milk Instructions

Almonds Soaking

Almonds Soaking (overnight is ideal)

Soak almonds a minimum of 8 hours or overnight, so they are totally submerged. You’ll notice they plump as they absorb water. Note, the longer the almonds soak, the creamier the almond milk. They should feel soft when you pinch them, after soaking.

Almonds in HIC's Stainless Steel Mesh Strainer

Almonds in HIC’s Stainless Steel Mesh Strainer

Drain and rinse the almonds thoroughly under cool water using a mesh strainer, after removing them from their soak.

Blending Almonds

Blending Almonds – First Pulse, Then Blend At High Speed

Put the soaked almonds and 3 cups fresh water in a blender.  First pulse the blender, to get the almonds equally broken and prevent clumping. Then blend on high about 1-2 minutes, until the liquid inside is white and the almonds are broken into fine meal. In the picture here, the almonds were not fully blended yet, as you can see by the still large visible brown almond pieces.

Almond Milk Passing Through Stainless Mesh Strainer

Almond Milk Passing Through Stainless Mesh Stainless Strainer (this one pictured, made by HIC, Harold Import Co.)

Pour the almond mixture through a double mesh strainer or nut milk bag, set into a bowl placed below. Use your hand to press all the almond milk from the almond pulp that’s left in the strainer,  or if using a nut milk bag, lift the bag up out of the bowl and squeeze the liquid out of the remaining pulp.

Now is the time to sweeten if desired. Taste the almond milk first, as you might enjoy it just as-is, without sweetener. To add sweetener, rinse the blender and place the strained almond milk back into the blender, and add a tablespoon of honey, agave, or sweeter of choice, blend to mix through about 20 seconds, and taste. I’ve added 2 tsp. cinnamon and it adds a delicious flavor.

Finished Homemade Raw Almond Milk. A Bowl Full of Goodness

Finished Homemade Raw Almond Milk. A Bowl Full of Goodness (click photo to learn more about the porcelain bowl show here)

Fresh raw almond milk keeps in the refrigerator for about 3 days unless cooked to pasteurize.

Using the leftover almond meal collected in the basket of your strainer or nut milk bag: The leftover almond meal can be added to hot cereal, or baked goods as is. You can also spread it out on a Silpat baking mat, on top of a baking sheet and bake it in a low oven until completely dry, and then use in baked goods the same as you would with store bought almond flour.

Other ideas to put that leftover almond meal to use?

We liked this recipe for Raw Cookie Dough Bites from the Detoxinista.

Enjoy! Questions? We’d love to help! Just use the “Leave a reply” link at the top of this post, or drop us a line at info@haroldimport.com

Article Contributed by Nicole Herman, of HIC

Cannonball Ice Ball Tray Does Double Duty – Makes Perfect Round Ice Cubes and Delicious Cake Bites

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HIC's Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

HIC’s Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

HIC, Harold Import Co.’s very own Cannonball Ice Ball Tray, previously known as the Cocktail Ice Ball Tray, was created to take care of the need for an ice cube that will dissolve more slowly, leaving your cocktail or any beverage, chilled but not diluted.  Not only does it achieve this goal, but makes a perfect cake pop or cake bite as well! We will show you how to make them step-by-step, below. The size of each cube – 1.5 inches in diameter, means you can use just one in a rocks or cocktail glass, or add many of these frozen spheres when filling an ice tea pitcher or large glass. The larger the piece of solid ice, the slower it will melt into your drink. To get yours, visit Fante’s Kitchen Shop. Coming soon, to fine kitchen retailers nationwide.

To make ice balls or spheres in the Cocktail Cannonball Ice Ball Tray: Fill the bottom portion (you can tell which is the top, because it has small pin holes to allow air to escape) with water, until it’s exactly halfway up to the top edge of the tray.

Cocktail Ice Ball Tray Fill Level for Making Spheres Shaped Ice Cubes

Cocktail Ice Ball Tray Fill Level for Making Spheres Shaped Ice Cubes

Press the top of the mold down until it fits snuggly against the base. Freeze.

Cocktail Ice Ball Tray Fully Filled and Closed, Ready for Freezing

Cocktail Ice Ball Tray Fully Filled and Closed, Ready for Freezing

To remove, run warm water over the outside of the mold for a few seconds. This melts any ice that could have formed between the ice cubes or spheres, so they can each pop out of the mold easily. Now, set the mold down, right side up, and pull the top half off the bottom. The cubes will be sitting in the bottom half of the mold, and will release easily.

Releasing the Sphere Shaped Ice Cubes from the Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Releasing the Sphere Shaped Ice Cubes from the Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Removing the Sphere Shaped Ice Cubes

Removing the Sphere Shaped Ice Cubes

Berry Infused Ice Balls Made With HIC's Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Berry Infused Ice Balls Made With HIC’s Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Creating berry filled ice balls to slowly infuse your drink with berry flavor is another way to use HIC’s Cannonball Ice Ball Tray. Simply crush fresh or previously frozen berries, such as blueberries, raspberries (shown here) or strawberries, and fill each each round in the bottom half of the tray with the crushed berries, heaping full. Crushing the berries and stuffing and filling each round until heaping full is important, so that the berry mixture is not completely sealed in a thick layer of ice, and will be able to make contact with your drink to allow infusion. Next, add water, and fill the bottom half of the tray until it’s exactly halfway up to the top edge of the tray (as illustrated above). Press the top of the mold down until it fits snuggly against the base. Freeze. Remove ice balls as illustrated above, and place in a glass of fresh water, tea, or juice. It will take a few minutes for the thin ice just covering the outer edges of the berry mixture to start to melt, and reveal the berry beneath. The berry juices will tint your beverage a lovely bright hue, as pictured, and add a subtle berry flavor.

The Cannonball Ice Ball Tray is made of silicone, measures 9.25″ x 3.75″ dishwasher safe, and heat safe up to 500 degrees.

Making Cake Bites or Cake Pops with the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray

Spice Cake Bites Dusted in Powdered Sugar made in HIC's Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Spice Cake Bites Dusted in Powdered Sugar made in HIC’s Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

The Cannonball Ice Ball Tray serves double duty, not only to make ice balls or spheres, but also works brilliantly for cake bites or cake pops! Below we’ll share a really moist spice and pumpkin cake recipe, as well as a step-by-step guide to making cake bites in the HIC Cannonball Ice Ball Tray.

Spice and Pumpkin Cake Bites Recipe

Ingredients (Dry):

1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Spices: 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves)

(Wet)
1 whole large egg plus 2 yolks
1 1/2 cups sugar
¼ cup sour cream
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

Powdered Sugar for dusting

Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. In a separate bowl, mix eggs (room temperature!) sugar, softened butter, sour cream, and pumpkin puree. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet.

How to achieve a super moist cake? Baking maven Rose Levy Beranbaum offers a wonderful tutorial.

Preheat oven to 325, and set the oven rack in the center of the oven.

Using the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray to make the cake bites:

Lightly butter the insides of the rounds of both halves of the tray. Try putting a little butter on a piece of a paper towel and rub the butter into the rounds. It might sound a odd, but doing it this way enables an even and light coating. To see how they would turn out differently, some of the cups in the tray were coated with butter and some with non-stick baking spray. Both popped out of the form equally well after baking.

Use a tablespoon to fill each round in the bottom piece of the mold precisely. You can tell which is the bottom, because it doesn’t have pinholes. The half with the pinholes will be placed on top, and the holes allow for steam or extra batter if overfilled, to escape during baking. Heap the tablespoon with batter, and then fill each hole flush. Go back to the mixing bowl with the spoon to get a bit more batter, and top off each hole so they are overfilled to the point of mounding about ¼ inch above flush, but not so much that it spreads onto the surrounding flat part of the silicone tray.

Press the top half of the mold down onto the bottom half, and squeeze the two together so they fit snugly. Place on a cookie sheet, and bake for 14 minutes. Remove from oven and let the mold sit unopened, cooling, for another 10 minutes.

Removing Cake Bites from the Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Removing Cake Bites from the Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Removing Cake Bites

Removing Cake Bites

To remove the cake bites, slowly pull the top half of the mold up off the bottom half. Use your finger to gently press down on the top of each peak in the mold, to release the cake bite if it seems hesitant to release. We found we needed to do this on a few, but others released on their own.

Once the top half of the mold is lifted off, hold the bottom half of the mold in your hands, and pop the cake bites out by pressing up on the bottom of each round to release them. Because these are made of cake batter, and not cake batter mixed with frosting as traditional cake pops are, they are softer and a bit more delicate (especially when still warm) so handle gently.

If you find a ridge around the circumference of the cake bite where the mold halves meet, it can be scraped off with a paring knife.

Baked Spice Cake Bites

Baked Spice Cake Bites

You can decorate with frosting, glazes, sprinkles, or simple powdered sugar. To achieve the look of the cake bites shown in this post, sprinkle powered sugar on a plate and roll still barely warm cake bites in the sugar until coated, and serve.

Dusting Spice Cake Bites in Powdered Sugar

Dusting Spice Cake Bites in Powdered Sugar

Spice Cake Bites Dusted in Powdered Sugar made in HIC's Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Spice Cake Bites Dusted in Powdered Sugar made in HIC’s Cocktail Ice Ball Tray

Enjoy!

To clean the Cannonball Ice Ball Tray, wash in warm soapy water or pop in the dishwasher.

Article Contributed by Nicole H., of HIC

Cheese Spaetzle Recipe and Spaetzle Maker or “Hobel” Tips

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Cheese Spaetzle or käsespätzle

Cheese Spaetzle or käsespätzle

Spätzle, as my Grandma Esther would spell it, loosely means “little sparrow” and gets it’s name from a time before kitchen tools like spaetzle makers, or “hobels” as they’re also known, were readily available. Historically it was shaped by hand with a spoon or knife and was thought to resemble small birds. Spaetzle is the base of many dishes in a cookbook my Grandma presented to me on my 16th birthday; A fantastic compilation of family photographs spanning 5 generations, rustic recipes laden with meat and starchy vegetables meant to feed a large farming family, ingredient lists calling for everything from goat’s milk to “Aunt Edna’s canned pears,” plenty of spaetzle, and clippings from newspapers and magazines that had significance to my Grandmother either culinary or personal. This book is a time capsule and I smile every time I go through it.

Spaetzle is traditionally used as a base for both sweet and savory dishes, soups, and one-dish meals, as it is in my family cookbook. It’s inexpensive, filling, and can be modified to please a variety of palates. I’ve attempted every recipe in Grandma’s cookbook including spaetzle with cherry sauce made with Grandma next to me, others like squash pie made along side my dad, and the one I’m sharing here – Käse or Light Cheese Spaetzle – I make for my family. Grandma Esther left a sweet message in the book, noting, “Dear Nee Nee, some of the dishes may not be so practical for modern times (Maybe she was thinking of the kidney pie? My ancestors didn’t waste a bit.) I hope you find a few that you can enjoy.” And I have. The flavor and texture of spaetzle is comforting, and brings warm feelings of nostalgia. It’s quick to whip together for guests, plus one batch of noodles can be topped a variety of ways to suit everyone around the table. I hope you might enjoy it too.

Grandma Esther’s käsespätzle or Spaetzle with Cheese Recipe

Spaetzle Ingredients

Spaetzle Ingredients

Spaetzle Ingredients (Makes 2 servings; Modified from original which served 10)

1/2 cup whole wheat flour (this imparts a nuttier, heartier texture)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk

Spaetzle Dressing:
2 pats butter
½ cup grated cheese (my Grandmother used Emmentaler, a harder German cheese) Here is a great website with a guide to German cheeses, for your perusal.
Additional salt and pepper to season

Tools: Spaetzle Maker or Hobel. Visit HIC’s “Where to Buy” page to find one at a kitchen shop near you.

Directions:

Combine the flour, salt and pepper.

Dry Spaetzle Ingredients

Dry Spaetzle Ingredients

Wet Spaetzle Ingredients

Wet Spaetzle Ingredients

In a second bowl, whisk the eggs and then add in the milk.

Create a depression in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the wet ingredients. The flour should be added and blended gently and slowly, scraping from the sides of the bowl, until well combined.

Wet and Dry Spaetzle ingredients

Blend dry ingredients slowly into wet spaetzle ingredients

The dough should be thick but not ridged, like a stiff muffin batter. I find the dough is easiest to work with, when I refrigerate for 10 minutes before placing in the spaetzle maker or “Hobel.”

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Make sure the pot is wide enough to allow for the spaetzle maker to sit on top, if using this device. Place the spaetzle maker over the pot, and clip to one edge.

Spaetzle maker clipping to 4 quart pot

Spaetzle maker clipping to 4 quart pot

Fill the hopper with a ball of dough, filling it to the top. Slide the hopper across, and watch the dough fall through the holes, into the simmering pot below!

Moving dough through spaetzle maker

Moving dough through spaetzle maker

Do this in batches so you don’t get a thick layer of spaetzle accumulating, which can clump together. With this size recipe, and using a 4 quart pot, I found I don’t have to do batches, I can make all the spaetzle at once and there’s enough surface area on the top of the pot to deter clumping. This dough recipe fills the hoper of the spaetzle maker exactly once. You know the spaetzle is done, when it floats to the surface of the pot.

floating spaetzle

floating spaetzle

Stir it gently to prevent it from sticking. Remove the finished spaetzle noodles form the pot with a slotted spoon or dump the whole pot into a smooth surface colander (not a mesh strainer, I find it sticks to the mesh) and give it a light rinse of cold water.

Place the rinsed spaetzle into a bowl with sides high enough to permit tossing, and drop the 2 pats of butter on top. The heat of the spaetzle will melt the butter. Stir in. Sprinkle the cheese into the bowl as well, and stir to combine with the buttered spaetzle. Dish into smaller bowls, and add a little more salt and pepper to taste, if desired. (Or, more cheese on top.) Dig in!

Cheese Spaetzle

Cheese Spaetzle

Article Contributed by Nicole H., of HIC

Carbon Steel Wok Meets Non-Stick Wok. An Interview with Helen Chen.

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Non-Stick Wok

Non-Stick Wok

Carbon Steel Wok

Carbon Steel Wok

Article contributed by Nicole Herman, of HIC

Not once in the time that I’ve had the privilege of knowing renowned Asian Chef Helen Chen, have I engaged in conversation with her and walked away without wishing I’d captured her lesson on audio tape. The consummate educator, she’s candid, personable, speaking in a delightfully up-tempo, animated voice. I recently had the pleasure of talking with Helen a bit about her heritage, which is covered in the first part of this post, and discussing the pinnacle of her kitchen from childhood to present day — the quintessential wok. We address the question often asked, “Which is best? A carbon steel wok or a non-stick wok?”

Helen Chen with her mother, Joyce.

Helen Chen with her mother, Joyce.

Nicole Herman: Helen, your mother Joyce Chen was a well-known Asian chef, so you must have been exposed to a lot of great food and cooking equipment while you were growing up. Is that true?

Helen: Absolutely. In terms of food, when I wrote my first cookbook I made a list of all the dishes I remember my mother cooking at home. I came up with 100 dishes! In terms of being exposed to food, I was. My mother was a fabulous cook, mostly Chinese food. I can’t remember all 100 dishes now; many were specialties from Shanghai where she grew up, and Chinese comfort food, festival foods enjoyed during the dragon boat fest or Chinese New Year. Many times a year we had celebratory food.

Growing up we never had a round-bottom wok, mother didn’t believe in them because she felt it didn’t fit properly on the American stove even with the ring which is used to support the wok when  on a regular range, helping direct heat to the bottom of the wok and provide stability. Mother used a heavy duty pressure cooker pot. This way there were no hot spots; high sides enable stirring without food falling out. Thinking about the traditional Chinese kitchen, it tends to be a spartan place. Mother used the pressure cooker pot and wooden spoons. She wanted a round edge to get into the pan corners and she liked cooking to be quiet. Good knives, both Chinese style and western style, and chopsticks were also important. She used bamboo chopsticks in cooking, for stirring and picking up pieces. Gadgets were at a minimum as not many were on the market. This was in the 50’s – the pressure cooker was aluminum, as I recall. We were living in Cambridge at this time, where I grew up.

Helen's Mother's Wooden Spoon.

Helen’s Mother’s Wooden Spoon.

N: What cookware and gadgets were essentials for your mom, and are they the same products that are essentials for you?

Helen: Mom was the first person to develop a flat-bottom wok, which is my number one go-to tool still today. In China, they had a stove with a hole and the round-bottom wok sat in the hole, with the base close to the heat source. Since we had flat stoves in the US, mother developed a wok for this type of stove. Today it’s called a stir fry pan. In the early days no one understood it because they hadn’t seen one. They thought woks had a round-bottom. It took years to educate people on the benefits of a flat-bottom wok.

N: What are the benefits of a flat-bottom wok?

Helen: A Flat-bottom fits securely on a burner; it’s safer, and more stable. Mother added a skillet type handle instead of the two short wire handles that were common on the round-bottom wok; the latter was impractical as it meant you needed two hands to pick it up, and another person to help you get ingredients out.

Everyone now understands the importance of a flat-bottom wok. In China today, more people use propane and have stoves with flat burners in urban areas and most people there also now use a flat-bottom wok instead of the round-bottom style.

With the Helen’s Asian Kitchen line, we have taken the flat-bottom wok design and made it into a quality piece- added nonstick coating, made with a carbon steel of a heavier gauge, the handles are riveted and not just spot welded. We have good pricing and higher quality. It stems from the original design from my mom, but higher quality.

N: What piece of cookware or kitchen gadget has been the most helpful for you, or made a dish you make easier to create?

Helen: The flat-bottom 14” wok or the 12” stir fry pan.

N: Given today’s modern cookware and gadgets, do you find that creating great Asian cuisine is any easier for the home chef than it would have been, say, 50 years ago?

Helen: Yes. Better equipment has made the preparation easier. A good peeler that’s sharp and doesn’t cut into your hand helps, a good garlic press helps, I find there’s more comfort in today’s tools. Better materials and better designs are safer, easier, and easier to clean. Some of the mandolines out of Japan are very useful for julienne ingredients.

N: Many home chefs enjoy stir fry, but may be intimidated by the idea of using a wok at home. Do you have words of advice to ease the mind of a timid first time wok user or potential purchaser?

Helen: In general, everyone should use a flat-bottom wok or stir fry pan. Don’t bother with a round-bottom unless you have a high end stove with a wok ring built in. For most people, a flat-bottom is best. Look for one with a nice weight. Cast iron conducts heat well, but it’s heavy and hard to move and pick up. Also cast iron isn’t ideal for stir frying because it isn’t responsive to heat changes; it holds heat a long time.

N: What’s the difference between an uncoated carbon steel wok and a non-stick wok?

Helen: The uncoated is carbon steel without any coating except perhaps oil or a clear lacquer to help the pan from getting rusty during the time it would sit on a store shelf.

Carbon steel must be seasoned. This sounds like it might make food taste better but it doesn’t, it just keeps the pan from rusting. Takes a good 6 months of almost daily use for a wok to get really seasoned. If you like to season, get carbon steel. If you don’t plan to use your wok more than 3x a week, the oil you use to season it will eventually get tacky, attract dust, and it may rust. When people see rust, they may think they need a new one. Nope! All you need to do is clean the rust off and re-season. In a Chinese kitchen the wok is used daily, and often sits on the burner just waiting for the next meal to be made in it, so seasoning is not a problem.  If you live near the ocean a carbon steel wok may rust more easily due to the high moisture content in the air.

A non-stick wok comes in many varieties. High end, inexpensive, Teflon or not, plus there is non-stick for different purposes. A skillet has a different nonstick coating than a cake pan or stir fry pan. In a stir fry pan, food is stirred, unlike a skillet where things might just be turned a few times. The nonstick coating must be strong. For stir frying we also tend to use a higher heat and the pan must be able to take a higher temperature. For the woks from Helen’s Asian Kitchen we use the Excalibur® process, developed by Whitford, known as reinforced nonstick and it can take higher temperatures.

N: What do you use at home?

Helen: The 14″ and 12″ non-stick woks from the Helen’s Asian Kitchen line, depending on the food volume that I’m preparing. When cooking for a dinner party, or using a high volume ingredient like noodles, I use the 14” but when cooking for myself I use the 12.” It’s about personal preference.  There’s nothing wrong with carbon steel as long as your know it needs extra care.

N: Helen, for those that choose a carbon steel wok, how would you suggest they season the wok?

Helen: Wash in warm soapy water and scrub to remove any coating or food safe lacquer.  Then use vegetable oil, corn oil, but not butter or olive oil. Heat the pan and add a few tablespoons of oil. Heat it until the oil smokes. Then remove from heat, wipe off excess oil and allow to cool. Repeat.

N: What type of wok is best for a home chef that’s just exploring using a wok for the first time? And what type is best for an experienced chef, looking to invest in a high quality wok?

Helen: I would recommend a high quality non-stick pan coated with a premium non-stick coating like Excalibur. It’s not that expensive, but performs well. If someone prefers to season a pan, then go with carbon steel.

N: How long should a cook expect to keep a well-cared-for wok?

Helen: The pan I started with 7 years ago I still use today. For a well-cared for wok, it should last many years. Don’t put it in the dishwasher and don’t use metal tools that would scratch it.

N: Is there any special recipe that you like to cook in a wok that might surprise?

Helen: I make Italian bolognese sauce in my wok but instead of beef I use turkey. I make a large batch in the 14” wok. I sauté the meat, and brown onions in it. I use the 12” for risotto and also use it for French sautéing. For dessert I make Almond Brittle it the 12” wok.  I hang it on my pot rack and it’s one of the top 2 pieces of cookware I use in my kitchen at home.

N: What’s something that you remember watching your mom make in a wok? And do you make that same dish today?

Helen: Anything stir fry.

To learn more about Helen Chen’s cookbooks and recipes, visit http://www.helensasiankitchen.com/
See the Helen’s Asian Kitchen kitchenware line at:  http://www.hickitchen.com/helen-chens-asian-kitchen.aspx
Where to buy? http://www.hickitchen.com/where-to-buy.aspx
Interested in meeting Helen?  See Helen Chen’s Cooking class schedule

*Not affiliated with Joyce Chen Products

Biography of Helen Chen

Helen Chen

Helen Chen

Helen Chen is a widely acknowledged expert in Chinese cooking. Besides her role as an educator and cookbook author, she also is a product and business consultant to the housewares industry. In 2007 she created and developed a new line of Asian kitchenware under the brand name, “Helen’s Asian Kitchen,” expressly for Harold Import Company in New Jersey.

Having been born in China, and raised and educated in the United States, Helen brings the best of both worlds to her approach to the art of Chinese cuisine. She understands the needs of the American cook as only a native can, yet she is intimately knowledgeable with the culinary practices and philosophy of China.

Helen is the author of Helen Chen’s Chinese Home Cooking (Hearst Books,1994), Peking Cuisine (Orion Books,1997), Helen’s Asian Kitchen: Easy Chinese Stir-Fries (John Wiley & Sons, 2009) and Helen’s Asian Kitchen: Easy Asian Noodles (John Wiley & Sons, 2010). For more information, visit http://www.helensasiankitchen.com/

Aunt Gina’s Lasagna – A Traditional Italian Recipe from the Fante Family of Philadelphia

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Fante Family

Fante Family

Sunday Dinners: The Special Occasions. Contributed by The Fante family.

Since I was a little girl, Sundays were reserved for family.  Both my parents’ businesses – Fante’s (a kitchen wares shop) and Esposito’s (a butcher shop) in the Italian Market of Philadelphia both closed by 2PM in order to have mid-afternoon Sunday dinner.  Along with my sister and 3 cousins, we would spend the whole day at our Nonni’s (grandparents’) home:  going to church, helping cook dinner and playing together. My Nonna would wake up at the crack of dawn to chop all the vegetables for the gravy and start it simmering with the tomatoes which she would put through a food mill to create a uniform sauce.  She would then make the meatballs and sausage, fry them, and add them to the sauce, which would be simmering on low heat by the time my sister and I woke up and made it downstairs for our traditional chocolate chip pancake breakfast (we were totally spoiled).

Filled to the brim with pancakes, we would help her to make the pasta dough and leave it to rest, covered, while we went to church.  When we returned, we would continue to cook the sauce, allowing it to simmer while we rolled out the dough on the manual pasta maker.  All of the cousins took turns working the crank and catching the pasta – it was always at least a 2-cousin job.

Normal Sunday dinners meant fresh meatballs, sausage and gravy served with homemade pasta of some kind.  For special occasions like birthdays and holidays, we would do trays of lasagna. Nonna would supervise all of the extra tasks for making the lasagna, the most important being the fresh grated cheese.  We love cheese!  And did I mention our Sunday dinners included an epic amount of food?  Every week about 12 family members would join us around a table meant for 6, filled with enough food to comfortably feed 30.  These large trays of lasagna require a lot of cheese.  The older cousins were responsible to grate about a pound of parmesan and shred about 2 pounds of mozzarella.  We all proudly sported some scarred knuckles from the rasp we used [that we swear] she had brought with her from Italy.  It was torture.  She eventually replaced it with a large rotary grater which made the job so much easier!   It handled the volume, and it was simple to swap the drums for each cheese.  We could also all take turns since it didn’t require as much elbow grease or Band-Aids. We are so excited to have a new cousin (#6) – Nico!  We can’t wait for the day we can enlist his help to use the grater named after him to make some Sunday dinner lasagna. Here is the recipe for a smaller-portion of our lasagna.  We typically make it with just sauce and cheese. You can certainly substitute bought lasagna for the pasta portions and add meat to customize it to your family’s tastes.  You can also find many of our family recipes (as well as embarrassing family photos) included with the Fante’s line of products.  Buon appetito!

Aunt Gina of the Fante Family

Aunt Gina of the Fante Family

Aunt Gina’s Lasagna

Makes 6 to 8 servings
1 lb. homemade lasagna strips
1 lb. ground meat (beef, pork or mixture)
4 cups salsa marinara (recipe, scroll down)
16 oz. mozzarella, shredded
16 oz. grated cheese (parmigiano and pecorino)

1. Brown ground meat in a fry pan then drain off the fat. Place salsa marinara in a sauce pan, stir in browned meat and heat gently over a medium flame until it’s hot. Stir occasionally to keep it from sticking.

2. Meanwhile, roll pasta dough (scroll down for recipe) to desired thickness and cut into 2 ½” wide strips (Try Cousin Daniele’s Expandable Dough Cutter. Available at Fante’s)

Fante's Cousin Daniele's Expandable Dough Cutter

Fante’s Cousin Daniele’s Expandable Dough Cutter

3. Spoon hot meat sauce into the bottom of a 11” x 15” baking dish.

4. Place a single layer of lasagna strips into the baking dish, lengthwise. Layer with grated cheese (try Fante’s Papa Francesco’s Rotary Cheese Grater or Fante’s Cousin Nico’s Suction Base Cheese Grater, available at Fante’s)  and mozzarella then top with meat sauce. Repeat these steps for the second layer but place lasagna strips widthwise. Alternating the direction of the pasta strips will keep your lasagna from falling apart when it’s cut.

Fante's Cousin Nico's Suction Base Cheese Grater

Fante’s Cousin Nico’s Suction Base Cheese Grater

5. Repeat step 5 to make as many layers as you like. Finish by spooning more sauce on top and sprinkle with grated cheese. 6. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until sauce and cheese are bubbling. Remove lasagna from the oven and let rest for 30 minutes before serving.

Grandma Nadia of the Fante Family

Grandma Nadia of the Fante Family

Grandma Nadia’s Pasta Dough

Makes 2 pounds of dough
2 eggs, at room temperature
4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
4 to 8 ounces tepid water, as needed

1. Place flour on a wooden board, make a well and break the eggs into it.

2. If you prefer, you can mix it in a bowl with a fork or in an electric mixer with a dough hook.

Pasta Dough Step 1

Pasta Dough Step 1

NadiasPastaDoughStep2

Nadias Pasta Dough Step 2

3. Slowly incorporate the flour into the eggs. There should be just enough moisture so the ingredients stick together to form a smooth, elastic ball but not enough to stick to the table or bowl.

Pasta Dough Step 3

Pasta Dough Step 3

Nadias Pasta Dough Step 4

Pasta Dough Step 4

4. You may need to add a bit of water if the dough is too dry and crumbly, or a bit more flour if too wet and sticky.

5. Cover the dough with a clean towel and let it set for about 30 minutes.

6. Use a sharp knife to cut off a chunk from the ball (photo 4).

7. Flatten the chunk of dough with the heal of your hand then roll it out to the desired thickness with a floured rolling pin.

8. Proceed with Step 2 of Aunt Gina’s lasagna recipe instructions, above.

Attilio of the Fante Family

Attilio of the Fante Family

Attilio’s and Mariella’s Salsa Marinara – Marinara Sauce

Makes 1 quart (4 to 6 servings)
36-oz. can crushed tomatoes
5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped (Try Fante’s Uncle Cristian’s Garlic Slicer and Grater, available at Fante’s)

Fante's Uncle Cristians Garlic Slicer and Grater

Fante’s Uncle Cristians Garlic Slicer and Grater

¼ onion, coarsely chopped
Olive oil Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste

1. Sauté garlic, onion and red pepper in olive oil. Remove them from the oil before they brown.

2. Add tomatoes.

3. Simmer for about 40 minutes.

4. After 15 minutes add salt and pepper to taste.

5. After another 30 minutes, check sauce for consistency; if too watery, leave lid off to reduce.

6. Stir often to avoid sticking, especially if the pot you’re using does not have a heavy bottom.

Buon appetito!

 

The Pleasures of the Pomegranate and an Investigation of The Pomegranate Tool

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Pomegranate Seeds
One of the first cultivated fruits, the pomegranate offers a unique, sweet-sour taste that is ideal for nibbling on alone or incorporating into cooling drinks, vegetable salads, tart stews, soups and desserts.

The pomegranate boasts high levels of antioxidants in the form of polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins, all designed to help you stay healthy and strong by fighting those free radicals that can cause certain diseases – and premature aging.

But, getting to the heart of the pomegranate and those tiny seeds (called arils), which are the key to those antioxidants, can be a bit frustrating. The arils, which are surrounded by a shiny, tough, white membrane, can be hard to remove — and often quite messy, Working ones way though the ruby juice and seeds can be an act of devotion – an act that might cause one to throw up their hands and give up. But don’t give up on the delicious taste, versatility, and healthfulness of the pomegranate just because you think it is too much work.

It is often suggested to submerge a halved pomegranate in water in order to more easily remove the arils, and more importantly,  prevent splatter of the ruby red juices. But, I find this still a bit messy and also a bit cumbersome.

The new Pomegranate Tool is a quick, clean and easy way to remove those sometimes stubborn arils.

Here’s how it works: To start off, roll the pomegranate on the work surface to loosen and soften the fruit. Then remove the crown and cut the fruit in half. Place the halved pomegranate  face down in the grid, and cover it with the flexible dome, holding the dome tightly against the bowl.

Pomegranate Tool Pom Face Down

Winner of the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award

Pomegranate Tool Cover onPomegranate Tool With Spoon

To remove the seeds, strike the dome firmly, using a heavy spoon. (The arils will be deposited into the bowl beneath.) If any of the membrane breaks free, it can be easily picked out from the bowl of arils.

Pomegranate De-SeededPomegranate Arils

If desired, rinse the seeds first, and then enjoy.

The three-piece set, which includes the dome, grid and bowl, is easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher.

Pomegranates are typically available in the fall and early winter. For maximum flavor, look for fruits that are rich in color and are heavy, as they will hold more juice. If, when pressed, powdery cloud puffs emerge from the crown, the fruit is most likely dry. You probably will eat them immediately, but if you must store them, keep them whole in the refrigerator for up to three months. The seeds, when stored in an airtight container in the freezer, can also be kept for three months. Find a Pomegranate Tool to take home, here.

See The Pomegranate Tool demonstration from the HIC booth, at the International Home + Housewares Show.

Versatile and Tasty These little gems are great on their own as a snack, tasty when added to yogurt or granola, and a sweet addition on top of ice cream or salads. They add texture, color and a burst of flavor to just about anything you add them to.

Here are a few suggestions on how to enjoy pomegranates:

  • Add some pomegranate juice to maple syrup
  • Add the arils to squash risotto
  • Reduce balsamic vinegar, spike it with a few tablespoons of  pomegranate juice and then drizzle over salmon
  • Create a sweet salsa with jalapeno, yellow pepper, rice vinegar and the pomegranate arils
  • Design a few ‘adult’ beverages including a Pomegranate Caipirinha or Pomegranate Cosmo
  • Incorporate the arils and juice into a delicious Pomegranate Yogurt Dip
  • Add a bit of acidity to a meat or fowl sauce

Once you’ve started eating them, it’s hard to get out of the pomegranate habit. And, the Pomegranate Tool is a handy way to help you enjoy all the flavor and goodness without the struggle.

Laura Everage is a writer, editor, swimmer, yoga-lover, wife, and mother of four. Her days start very early in the morning, but thanks to her favorite beverage, coffee, she is able to start each day on a good note. Laura began her journey in all things food and beverage related nearly 20 years ago, as Managing Editor of The Gourmet Retailer. She continues to write about food, coffee, tea and kitchenware and is currently working on a book entitled Courage in a Cup: Women, Coffee and the Global Economy. Laura is also founder and editor of her own website, Family Eats, and is editorial director/partner of Coffee Universe. Her work has appeared in a variety of trade magazines as well as consumer publications Saveur and Consumers’ Digest. Laura’s knowledge of the industry has landed her appearances on both the Food Network and Fine Living Network. To contact Laura, email Laura@familyeats.net.