Nordic Ware Ramen Rush

Dash MultiMaker – Mini Maker System

Ventray Ginnie Slow Juicer

Brabantia Make & Take Lunch Box

Gourmia 7-Qt. Fry ‘N Fold Digital Air Fryer

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May brought two birthdays to our family – two days apart – and that means a lot of cake baking. This year, we did things a bit differently. For my birthday, which arrived first, I requested something other than a traditional white cake with buttercream frosting. My girls baked a tasty strawberry shortcake cake and it was truly a welcomed change from my usual request for our family-favorite homemade cake.

Just a few days later, we celebrated our son’s birthday – and I did something different; something I haven’t done in decades. I used a cake mix. Not just any cake mix, but an Ann Clark Gourmet Cake and Frosting Mix.

Back in March, I spoke with the folks at Ann Clark at a trade show. I was intrigued with this Gourmet Cake and Frosting Mix after hearing the story behind its development, and that even avid bakers of all things homemade couldn’t tell that it was made from a mix. I thought this was the perfect time to give it a try.

I made the chocolate variety, and was a bit skeptical on whether or not the family would be able to tell it wasn’t from scratch. I am happy to report that there were no complaints from any of us, and it was devoured in its entirety within 24 hours.

If you’d like to give it a try, click here.

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I’ve been a fan of Emile Henry cookware and bakeware for decades. A French company founded in 1850, and located in a small town in the province of Burgundy, France. In fact, a few decades ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Emile Henry family and factory, and even make my own small pie plate from the Burgundy clay — the clay that is still used to manufacture all of their new cooking products.

Recently, I added a new piece to my collection — the Sublime cookware. My 6-quart, round Dutch Oven (in Creme) immediately became a favorite of mine. Not only is it beautiful, with its timeless design, but it is highly versatile — going from oven to table with ease. One feature that I really appreciate is that it is surprisingly light, especially when compared with the other Dutch Ovens I have in my cookware collection. Why is it so light? Its because it is made from natural clay and durable materials, so that you get all you like from a ‘typical’ pot, without all the weight (no metal at all!).

As for how well it performs, well, I got right down to using it and it produced pefect results when I was browning, sauteing, simmering, frying and roasting. And, because the ceramic has heat retention properties, this is the perfect oven-to-table piece of cookware that keeps food hot for longer.

Over the past few months, I’ve baked bread, browned meat and cooked a pork roast for tacos, sautéed veggies and recently made the delicious Kimchi Noodle Soup I shared in this newsletter.

When I test product here in my kitchen, I love to experience a product over a long period of time, asking myself questions such as:
• How often do I use this product?
• Does it perform well for my needs, and as promoted?
• How useful is it for my cooking style?
• Is it easy to care for?
• How versatile is it?
• Would I feel confident recommending this product?

Here are a few of the features that I found really make this a wonderful piece of cookware — worthy of my Family Eats stamp of approval!
• Compatible with gas and electric burners, as well on both gas and charcoal grills.
• Oven and microwave safe (because there is no metal)
• Freezer safe to -4 degrees F
• Resistant to sudden temperature changes (meaning it can be taken directly from freezer to oven)
• Bumps inside the lid, encourage self-basting, keeping things moist inside.
• The glaze is highly resistant, so metal utensils won’t scratch it.
I am confident that you, too, will love the new Sublime cookware.

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I have been testing a variety of essentials for cooking (including gadgets, cookware, toasters and blenders), to taste-testing a range of specialty foods and beveragesfor many years. After returning from the Inspired Home Show in Chicago this past March, I’ve had the opportunity to give a few more products a try in my own kitchen – one of which is the Gourmia 8-Qt. Digital Air Fryer.

This is my first foray into air frying. I know, you have all been air frying for years — In fact, the air fryer category continues to remain strong, with nearly two-thirds of American households owning an air fryer (according to research firm Circana).

Their popularity is due to a variety of factors – affordability, using less oil than traditional fryers, cooking foods quickly and evenly, they’re easier to  clean than convection ovens, and are useful in making breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. 

I am still early in my air-frying journey – and have yet to use it for preparing breakfast, lunch AND dinner, but I have been making the effort to try at least 2 new foods in the air fryer a week. To date, we’ve been doing the basics — potatoes,  crispy garbanzos and beet chips, along with the pizza reheat and potstickers. 

I’m on a learning curve, adjusting my efforts, refining with each new attempt. But that is often the case when attempting a new recipe – or a new method of cooking. It may take a few attempts for me to get those beet chips (or other root veggies) to perfection, but I’m confident that I eventually will find perfection.

I often takes a few attempts toget things just the way you like it. There is nothing wrong with failure in the kitchen – the point is to keep trying and move forward. The more we do this, the more confident we become and when we get things right, oh, the delicious rewards.

Overall – the Gourmia Air fryer is performing quite well for us – and, with each new experiment, I can definitely see that  the air fryer will become a well-used tool in our kitchen. Stay tuned for more air frying adventures from Family Eats. AND, please share some of your favorite ways to use your air fryer — We love the power of community support! You can email me at Laura@FamilyEats.net

And, if you want to check it out — and purchase it, click here.

I also had the opportunity to gain a bit more insight from the company about the air fryer category, and what makes the Gourmia air fryers stand out (specifically, the GAF824).

Gourmia is building a future of multi-functional air fryers that maximize kitchen space, and the Gourmia 8-Qt Digital Air Fryer is just one of the many air fryers that are equipped to meet your space needs in the kitchen. What makes the Gourmia 8-QT Digital Air Fryer stand out is that it was designed for convenience and consistency. It is filled with features, including the 12 One-Touch Cooking Presets (including roast, bake, and dehydrate) and FryForce 360° Technology. It has a large capacity in addition to a large window and light for easy viewing. It is also equipped with Preheat & Turn Reminder and Guided Cooking Prompts – all that, and it has dishwasher-safe parts.

When choosing the right capacity for your needs, consider your household size and how much entertaining you do. (The 8-qt is perfect for my family of 6!) As for what to cook in your air fryer, well that would be just about everything! Gourmia noted, “What you cook in an air fryer varies greatly depending on individual dietary needs and food preferences. However, we are seeing a lot of fried chicken being made.” The company added, “The category has been around long enough now, so consumers are really cooking outside of the box and having fun with it.”

If you are new to air frying, and a little timid about how or what to cook in an air fryer, Gourmia recommends to “start with simple recipes that you are familiar with to get a feel for it and go from there. There are lots of fun and creative recipes out there to experiment with.”

If you are trying to convert cooking time from cooking in the conventional oven to an air fryer, the company notes that “Although there isn’t a specific time, air fryers generally cook about 25% faster,” adding, “You should start checking for doneness a few minutes before cooking time ends.”

As for keeping your air fryer functioning safely and in great working condition, “We don’t recommend liners as they can burn. We also don’t recommend anything that inhibits air flow,” explained Gourmia. Further, “it’s important to thoroughly clean after each use, using non-scratch cleaning products and sponges. The magic eraser and dawn power wash are very useful.”

Thank you, Gourmia, for providing all the great information!

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Get Baking with Ann Clark Cookie Cutters. These fun shapes will transform any occasion. Click the image to purchase.

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The warm weather is arriving and we are all ready to head outdoors to enjoy time with friends enjoying some great food. Here are a few essentials to help keep your backyard BBQ, picnic, or beach adventure delicious all day long. 

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The Grill Press

The Cuisinart Cast Iron Grill Press weighs in at 2.1 lbs and comes with a wooden handle for a comfortable grip. Great for pressing out unwanted fats and oils from meats, adding grill marks to any meat, or for making delicious panini sandwiches or grilled cheese right on the griddle! All that for only 19.99! You can find out more and purchase it here.

Grill Cleaning with Ease

You won’t have to worry about clean-up when you have the GRILLBOT Automatic Grill Brush with Accessories Tools. The powerful three-brush unit is powered by three, high-powered electric motors that work simultaneously to provide thorough cleaning and scrubbing without the elbow grease. Driven by a sophisticated CPU chip that controls the movement, speed, and direction of the brushes, it’s so easy to use — simply turn on, close the grill and let the Grillbot take care of cleaning. Grab one here, and get the grill fired up.

Cooked to the Perfect Temp

ThermoPro TP829 Wireless Meat Thermometer for grilling and smoking is equipped with the strongest and most reliable RF technology. This meat thermometer wirelessly operates on distances up to 1000 feet, precisely monitoring your meat to perfection. Featuring 10 USDA meat presets and various doneness levels, this grilling thermometer helps you cook to perfection every time; The alarm mode of this wireless grill thermometer flashes and beeps once temperatures approach your set range so there is no need to continually monitor your cooking. Filled with features, you can purchase it here.

Cocktails Elevated

This Cocktail Smoker Kit with Torch lets anyone wow their friends with delicious, smoke-infused cocktails. The drink smoker kit comes with a hand-carved wood chimney, a triple flame refillable premium torch, four cases of wood chips (Cherry, Apple, Oak & Pecan), two stainless steel mesh screen, and a beautiful gift box. (Butane is not included). Oh, and it’s more than a cocktail smoker. You can use it to smoke meats, cheese, coffee, and more! Purchase it here.

Camp Coffee

The Stanley Adventure All-In-One Boil + Brew French Press is the perfect choice for camping. The 32-oz container is built with durable 18/8 stainless steel to quickly heat over a stove or campfire. Designed to be space-conscious, the handle folds against to the body so it can easily fit into a backpack. You can also fit a small container of your favorite coffee or espresso in the unit to save some additional space. Get brewing and purchase it here.

A Safe Knife is a Sharp Knife

Keep things sharp with Chef’s Choice 1520 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener. Using 100% diamond abrasives for effective sharpening and honing, the 3-stage sharpener ensure accurate sharpening throughout the entire edge – eliminating any guesswork. Sharpens straight edge and serrated knives. Get your knives in order and order here.

Marinate in Minutes

Save and flavor your food with FoodSaver FS2160 Multi-Use Handheld Vacuum Sealer and Marinator. Designed to easily lock in freshness and flavor, this handheld vacuum sealer removes air from zipper bags and containers with the touch of a button. The unit is also great for marinating your favorite foods, infusing them with flavor in just minutes. This cordless handheld vacuum sealer is compact and easy to store in its convenient charging dock; great for small spaces. This starter set includes a handheld vacuum sealer with charging dock, 2 quart-size zipper bags, and a 10-cup reserve and marinate container. Purchase it here.

Tailgating, Camping, Beach Day Grilling

Take your grill with you! The Kamado Char-Griller E56714 AKORN Jr gives you the power of a full sized AKORN in a portable package. This portable charcoal grill and smoker features dual air dampers, temperature gauge, easy lift handles, and its signature triple-walled insulation, the AKORN Jr. delivers a superior cooking experience in the backyard or on the go. Big enough to fit eight burgers but it’s scaled-down size makes it perfect for camping. Grill for the whole crew with this durable portable outdoor grill! Grab your Kamado Jr. here.

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