Indoor or container gardening is a great alternative to traditional growing practices for those living in a cooler climate. Moreover, individuals who lack space outside can also find great success growing fruits, vegetables and herbs indoors using containers. Keeping plants watered while they grow is the most difficult aspect of a successful indoor garden.

When growing outdoors, the soil holds water naturally and the dew adds to the plant’s water intake. However, indoors, all water is given by the gardener, and knowing when to feed your plants can become confusing.

In addition to understanding when to water plants, giving them the proper balance of light and carbon dioxide is crucial as well. Some plants prefer full sun while others can only handle limited amounts of sun. In addition, indoors, plants are not exposed to large amounts of carbon dioxide. Therefore, individuals must open windows and let in the outside air on occasion to keep their plants healthy.

The following are eight of the best vegetables, herbs and fruits for your indoor garden.

Basil

Gardeners can grow basil annually or as a short-lived perennial. Genovese basil has great flavor and comes complete with a classic aroma. Spicy Globe basil is perfect for smaller spaces as it only grows from 8 to 10 inches tall.

Chives

A chive is a grass like perennial herb with a slight onion flavor. Grolau chives are perfect for windowsill growing and are prolific producers. Garlic chives contain a mild garlic taste making them perfect additions to Italian dishes. To keep the plants healthy, gardeners should cut the leaves back to soil level after harvesting to produce new growth.

Mint

There are various types of mint that are grown indoors. The most common are peppermint and spearmint, and they both grow well in containers. However, mint should have its own container as it will overtake other herbs if forced to share a pot.

Sage

Sage is an herb perfect for container gardening. The dwarf sage will remain around 12 inches tall, and the Berggarten is a compact low-growing but vigorous type of sage. Dwarf garden sage still yields bold flavor but only grows up to 10 inches.

Lettuce

There are many types of lettuce to choose from that all grow well indoors and most types are ready to eat just a short 25 days after planting. Lettuce grows best in a long flat container and requires adequate space in between plants. It is important to not over plant lettuce as it does not freeze. Therefore, gardeners should only plant what they can use immediately.

Beans

Beans are another vegetable perfect for growing indoors. Beans grown on a vine, so it is best set a pot of beans aside a shelf, and allow the beans to grow up the shelf. Gardeners should pick beans when they are ready and not let them sit too long.

Apricots

Compact apricots are perfect for an indoor garden. They do extremely well in pots when set against a sunny conservatory wall. However, gardeners have to help with the pollination process when the fruit is indoors. This is accomplished by using a paintbrush and transferring pollen from one flower to another ensuring they all pollinate well.

Cape gooseberries

This fruit does well in a large pot of at least 1 foot. They produce bushy pot plants with small white flowers bearing red of yellow fruit. Direct sun is best for gooseberries, so placing them near a window is ideal.

About the author

Alex is a writer, husband, father and aspiring urban fantasy novelist. When he isn’t writing for HomeDaddys or completing chores from his “honey- do” list, he’s most likely spending quality time with his wife and kids or working on his novel.

For All Your Commercial Refrigeration and Catering Needs

Fridge Freezer Direct is the ideal place to find refrigeration appliances and catering equipment. If you are in business, then you definitely want high quality equipment. For refrigeration and freezing purposes for both domestic and commercial use, you will find a wide selection of high quality equipment from our store. Our pricing is fair and very affordable.

Do you need heavy commercial refrigeration? For any type of refrigeration, we can cater for it by supplying you with the highest quality equipment available today. We stock chest freezers, catering fridges, commercial freezers, display fridges, refrigerated counters and cold rooms. Bottle coolers are also available. These efficient systems will ensure a simple and efficient way to preserve all your fresh fruits, drinks and any perishables that require a cool environment.

Do you prefer solid door refrigeration systems? If you are looking for solid door freezers and refrigeration systems, we have them in various designs of single, double or triple door fridges and freezers. Cold rooms come as a solid unit or a room designed with freezing temperatures. The room will require a survey and it may come as a blizzard cold room or a cold kit room facility. Both systems work well judging from the feedback we receive from our clientele.

You have a reason to smile if you are a caterer. In our catering equipment department, we cater for you by delivering equipment ranging from sinks, water boilers, pizza ovens, fryers, blast chillers, heated cupboards, Ice machines, Bain-maries and many more. The list is endless. Bain-maries are equipment used to keep temperatures of food warm over time. The equipment is more or less a specially designed water bath with a French name: Bain-marie.

Is display your main marketing strategy? Fridge Freezer Direct has carved a niche in the equipment supply industry through the supply of top of the range catering equipment. If your business relies on the art of product display, you cannot go wrong with the refrigerated counters and displays. The refrigerated counters have one to five door prep counters that suits all your counter needs. Depending with your catering needs, choose from the available variety in our range of counters.

Refrigerated displays range from cake displays, counter top and refrigerated wall displays. The difference lies in the design and refrigeration source. Wall displays have the back wall as the source of cooling with a mounted display that is usually tiered and emanating from the front side. Cake displays are highly fashioned with vertical or horizontal layouts that accentuate the presentation. Counter tops have a heavier base that lies on the floor with the mounted display appearing as the top half part of the counter design.

Are you looking for a display counter that will work flawlessly and fit into your limited space? The refrigeration displays available at our store are ideal and come in all standard sizes for your space. There is equipment meant to work in whatever space you have available in your store. Versatility and flexibility describes Fridge Freezer Direct when it comes to fit and design.

We deliver the best catering and refrigeration equipment at an affordable price. Visit us today and let us help you grow your business.

If you’re planning a birthday party, think of your job of being a host as a special and exciting role. What type of theme and decorations would be the most fun? What kind of food and sweets would make guests drool? Sending invitations, decorating, baking treats and shopping for party supplies for a birthday party don’t have to feel like a burden. Desserts and treats, especially, are party essentials that can be fun and creative experiences.

Here are some options to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth:

Cake Pops

These delicious morsels of rich cake on a stick topped with smooth frosting and dipped in creamy chocolate are not only fun to eat, but gorgeous too. Choose from varieties such as Oreo Cookie Balls, Watermelon Cake Pops, S’more Truffle Pops or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites; they’re all packed with unforgettable flavor and sweetness. For birthday favors, wrap cake pops in plastic, tie with colorful or patterned ribbon and pass out to guests to enjoy later at home.

Decorated Sugar Cookies

Get creative! Take an already sweet and simple sugar cookie and add a layer of rich, creamy icing for decorating. Bake flower-shaped cookies on small dowels and adorn each with colored frosting and sprinkles to make a flower garden. For themed parties, use cookie cutters in the shapes of Star Wars, mustaches, Batman or bow ties. As a party activity, keep cookies plain and set up decorating stations with different colored frostings and sprinkles. Kids will love to decorate and eat their own creation.

Ice Cream Sundaes

Extra sprinkles? Hold the nuts? Chocolate fudge and caramel and butterscotch? Invite your guests to create their own sweet sundae based on their sweet tooth’s personal preferences.

Turn your birthday party into an ice cream sundae social by providing:

• Waffle bowls and Joy Ice Cream Cups
• Nuts and almonds
• Coconut shavings
• Reddi-whip
• Gummy Bears, M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces and Fruit Loops
• Maraschino cherries
• Chocolate, hot fudge, caramel and butterscotch syrup
• Fresh berries

Fruit Tart

Seasonal fruit can be wonderfully sweet, and an assortment of beautiful colors look beautiful on top of a fruit tart. The crust is buttery and flavorful, and the pastry’s creamy layer is a rich flavor that brings everything together. Ask the birthday honoree what his or her favorite fruits are, and use those as inspiration for your fruit tart. Sliced strawberries and kiwis, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries work well for fruit tarts and display beautifully.

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches

What’s more indulgent than digging into ice cream and biting into a cookie? Combining both treats to double the pleasure and eating homemade ice cream cookie sandwiches. All you need are an assortment of large cookies and ice cream; the combination possibilities are endless. Chocolate chip cookies with Blue Bunny’s Peanut Butter Panic. Snickerdoodles with Ben Jerry’s Cherry Garcia. Sugar cookies with Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip. Oatmeal cookies with French Vanilla. Homemade ice cream cookie sandwiches are not only scrumptious, they’re easy to prepare. Simply take one cookie and layer it heavily with ice cream; top the ice cream layer with another cookie and voila!

Creating fancy cakes at home

As sugar craft tools and supplies become more available on the high street and through online retailers, it’s never been easier to decorate fancy cakes for a special occasion. TV shows such as The Great British Bake Off and fancy patisseries such as The Hummingbird Bakery have brought baking and cake decoration to the masses and followed up their success with things that help you achieve professional results at home.

Where to start

If you’ve been taken by some of the breath-taking baked creations that almost look too good to eat either on television or in the increasing number of specialist cake bakeries, you might decide that you want to have a crack at making your own sugar craft masterpiece. But where do you start?

It’s amazing what you can do with a little bit of sugar paste and a lot of imagination

High street kitchenware stores such as Lakeland and John Lewis now do an impressive array of bake ware and decorating kits to get you started with decorating your own creative cakes. However, their ranges are pretty comprehensive and as a novice it might be difficult to see what you need and what looks clever but would never be used in your own kitchen.

Depending on the kind of decorating you want to get started with, the kind of equipment you need will differ. A tiered display of pretty cupcakes would need a stand on which to mount them and a way of piping the icing onto the top. Pretty cakes with delicate flowers on top will need a good rolling pin, royal icing and would benefit from a range of leaf stamps and petal cutters, all of which you can buy in specialist stores.

Have a look online to get some ideas of the kinds of cakes you’d like to create, and then use this as the basis for investigating how you’ll need to equip yourself to get the results you want.

Learning the ropes

As with any craft or hobby, is a broad church that includes everyone from those who dabble occasionally with passable results through to those who are so good they decide to take it up full-time. Most people between these two ends of the spectrum have aspirations to improve, and there are plenty of ways in which they can go about doing so.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to get hands-on and learn from others, there’s likely to be a sugar craft or cake decorating class somewhere near you. Some fancy bakeries offer one-day taster sessions (no pun intended!) or even longer courses for those who want to pick up new skills. Further education colleges usually have catering departments who include baking and confectionery skills as part of their syllabus.

From simple but effective to out-and-out fancy, you’re bound to find something that suits

If you’re not ready to hand over your hard-earned cash or would prefer to make your mistakes out of sight of potential classmates, there are heaps of ways you can learn online. YouTube is a veritable treasure trove of instructional videos that can teach you everything from piping a basic rosette on the top of a cupcake through to icing a decorative wedding cake complete with realistic sugar flowers. Many of the people who post videos will offer a series, taking you from absolute beginner to skilled home confectioner with a step-by-step guide.

For ideas and inspiration, check out the copious books and magazines dedicated to the subject of cake decoration available in bookstores and online. While the titles from popular bakeries might be more costly to buy, there are lots of less well-known books that will tell you all you want to know at a fraction of the price.

Conclusion

Cake decorating is a hobby that’s fast growing in popularity. With the expanding interest comes a whole range of ways in which those new to sugar craft can learn from first principles to advanced skills how to create beautiful fancy cakes at home.

About the author: Sally Lindsay is a nobilia kitchens design specialist and hobby chef at Audus Kitchens. She believes food shouldn’t be only a necessity but also entertaining piece of art. She have been experimenting with different decorative ideas on birthday cakes, cupcakes and crumbles.

Image Credits: Rexness and seelensturm at Flickr.

4 cost-effective kitchen facelifts you can do on a dime!

I’ve been dreaming of a new kitchen for the past 5-years. After all, it’s the room I probably spend the majority of my time in. I started working from home about 6 years ago so I could be home and there for my kids when they got home from school. So, understandably, I spend quite a bit of time, working, preparing meals, entertaining guests, tutoring my kids, and just unwinding with a cup of tea in my kitchen. I figured it was about time to spend some money and attention on this lackluster room.

However, once I started adding up all the sleek, stainless steel appliances, delicately tiled back splashes, heated cork flooring, and new kitchen counter top and cabinetry—my husband and my financial adviser told me to hold the phone! I was going to have to set a budget if I wanted my dream kitchen—and still wanted to send my kids to college. So I made a compromise to do most of the work myself, and frugally as possible by focusing my DIY renovations on the important stuff—fresh paint, upgraded cabinets, new energy efficient appliances, and a few extras.

Here is this frugal mom’s DIY guide to a dream kitchen on a dime.

1. A fresh coat of paint

The walls make up the canvas and set the atmosphere of any room. So if your kitchen is dingy beige like mine was (with the added dents and grease slashes) no wonder it doesn’t invigorate you. So give that “tired and boring” kitchen a renewed sense of creativity by buying a few cans of inexpensive paint to refresh the kitchen canvas. I was pleasantly surprised by the result, which really cost very little time and effort! It just goes to show how a few cans of semi-gloss paint were really inexpensive, and now I can wash the walls to keep it clean from kids’ grimy hands and cooking splats.

2. The cost-savings of energy efficient appliances

A long term investment in your kitchen can be easily obtained by updating your old energy-sucking appliances. I know that new appliances can be pricy up front, but think of the long term financial gains. Swapping the electricity vampire of an oven, fridge, water purification system, or dishwasher with energy efficient models will drastically cut down your monthly utility bills.

3. Consider what’s underfoot

One of the first things I wanted to replace in my outdated kitchen was the floors. However, expensive cork or bamboo flooring wasn’t within my budget—in fact neither was ceramic tile at approximately $2 a square foot. Instead I settled on a vinyl tile flooring that so closely mimicked a ceramic tile that my friends and family can’t even tell the difference.

4. Reface those kitchen cabinets

Replacing all of the kitchen cabinets was also not an option that my family could afford. So instead, I decided to replace just the kitchen cabinet doors. I thought about like this: no one inspects the sides of your cabinets so they don’t see those scratches and dents, they only see the fronts. This way I pick a matching wood stain and replace the fronts, then, once I save, I can order the sides and tops. Talk about the most inexpensive way to give your kitchen cabinets and update!

About The Author

Tina Jacobs is a registered nurse and DIY home improvement maven who has written and blogger for DIY Mother as well as numerous print and online publications ranging in topics from education to health and from home renovations to interior decorating.

The kitchen is a multipurpose space in our home dedicated to cooking, eating, entertaining and socializing. Since the kitchen is where we spend plenty of our favorite pastimes, its design should be not only be functional, but warm and inviting. If you’ve outgrown the look of your kitchen, small DIY upgrades and stylish renovations can significantly improve how you function in this space.

Lighting Replacements

Install new pendant light fixtures above your kitchen table and island. Pendant light fixtures are available in a wide range of of traditional and contemporary styles. Choose from extensive diverse options such as the colorful Pharos Modern Pendant Light (Niche Modern), unique Hand-blown Oculu Design Pendant Lamps (Niche Modern), charming Vintage Canning Jay Chandelier (LampGoods) and classic Bronze Funnel Pendant Light (Home Depot).

Rustic Accents

Home remodeling and design experts at Houzz.com suggest integrating rustic elements to create a warmer ambiance. Install custom wooden blinds for a distinctive and country home appearance. Distressed hardwood flooring will also create the organic feel of a farmhouse; laminate and vinyl hardwood flooring are low-budget options that can still aesthetically mimic the look of real wood. Houzz.com’s ideas include hanging copper pots and pans from a ceiling rack and pairing a kitchen bar or island with antique wooden stools.

Cabinet Refacing or Door Painting

Refacing your cabinetry or painting cabinet doors for a fresh look is a budget-friendly option for revamping your kitchen’s overall appearance. Remodeling the look of your kitchen with contrasting colors or textures can create a dynamic and stunning design. If your kitchen has a warm ambiance, then install dark chocolate natural wood or striking teal cabinet doors to become the aesthetic focal point. Another contrasting design idea is to paint the top and bottom halves of your kitchen two opposing colors. Mix beige with a dark blue-gray hue, white with a scarlet red, citrus with grapefruit pink or turquoise with sunshine yellow.

New Accessories

Upgraded kitchen accessories and tools can instantly change your kitchen’s appearance. Whether you hang organizational boards and racks on the wall to eliminate counter top clutter or swap out old hardware with stylish new handles and knobs, your kitchen will look fresh and made over.

• Crate & Barrel Stackable Glass Storage Jars, Heritage Hill Glass Jars with Lids and Stainless Steel Clip Canisters are decorative storage solutions. Fill jars and canisters with spices, sugar, flour, pasta, candy, snacks or even wine corks to display on countertops.
• Bowls and vases make eye-catching statement pieces. Place Pottery Barn vases in different shapes and sizes in kitchen corners and nooks. Accent vases with flowers, grass, wax fruit or themed ornaments such as seashells, acorns, holly or leaves.
• Chalk board paint will not only add character but also function for your kitchen. Paint the doors of a couple cabinets or your freezer and refrigerator doors. Adorn your chalk board with a running list of groceries or inspirational quotes. Children will also love to use the new surface as a playful canvas for drawing.

Other fun kitchen accessories include a Williams-Sonoma Tuscany cookbook holder, Kamenstein Revolving Space Rack with 16 Filled Jars and a Chateau-Thierry or 1940s Garment Shop Clock from Restoration Hardware.

This post was provided by Best Hoods, innovative and designer cooker hoods which are energy efficient, quiet and attractive with unique features.

Your home revolves around the kitchen, but it’s easy to forget this sometimes, especially in the busy run up to Christmas.   However, with our simple tips and tricks, it’s easy to inject some seasonal cheer in to the most important room in the house:

• Candles. Large church candles of different sizes look elegant huddled together on a window sill. Scented candles are lovely for a Christmas kitchen too.  Vanilla, cinnamon and pine are some of the most traditional holiday fragrances. But you can also find actual ‘Christmas’ scented candles that give your room instant holiday spirit. Candles create a lovely ambiance and warmth in a room. So dot them round your house for a simple, seasonal update.

• Ornaments. Intricate baubles and decorations look great when they’re hung from the handles of kitchen cabinets and on doorknobs.  Apple and pear shaped decorations are given a Christmas twist with added shimmer and sparkle. Pile these up in a glass bowl for a striking centerpiece on Christmas day.  Taking a walk around a Christmas market in your area can also help you to unearth some great trinkets, ideas and inspiration.

• Festive Foliage. Seasonal plants and flowers can’t fail to add little hints of Christmas magic to your house. Poinsettias are the ultimate holiday bloom. But incorporating roses, ivy and mistletoe in to your kitchen will brighten the bleakest of winter days.

• Christmas Candies. Christmas is the time of plenty, so it’s a great idea to fill your kitchen with jars and tins full of treats and titbits. Candy canes, traditional Italian style biscuits and cakes not only taste great but look inviting presented in bowls in the centre of the table.

• Be proud of your kitchen. If you’re hosting Christmas this year, it’s so important that you’re working in a kitchen that you’re proud to show off to friends and family. Make some time before the countdown to Christmas to organise your kitchen. Go through your cupboards and make plenty of room for your festive food and treats. A stylish, statement kitchen is truly the centre of your home.

A new and contemporary cooker hood will transform any kitchen from drab to designer. A hood from Best is beautiful and efficient, and provides the latest in extractor design and technology.  Choose a striking pendant hood – such as the Vintage – to add an extra touch of sparkle to your kitchen.

Dining rooms are nearly outdated, being overshadowed by dinners in front of the TV or everyone sitting down in the eat-in kitchen. Dining rooms are looked at as old fashioned and formal, and meant for more celebratory or important meals. Either because they are used solely for holiday gatherings and formal dinners or because drive-through dining is more your style, your dining room may be suffering. Mealtime should be a chance for families to strengthen relationships while savoring delicious food. If your dining room is uninviting, it is time to revamp the arrangement to ensure the only reason someone leaves is to scurry off and do the dishes.

Wall Décor

Use textured paint, colorful wall paper or do-it-yourself stenciling to liven up the walls in your dining room. For formal rooms opt for a deep jewel-colored paint or sea foam green with brown and gold accents. For a lighter look, rotate between several shades of blue or yellow. Paint is an easy and inexpensive way to update the look of a room. Instead of spending money on expensive custom wall paper, make a stencil of your own. Slip a picture of the design you want under thin sheets of plastic, trace the design, then cut it out with an exact-o-knife. Tape the stencil to your wall and begin painting.

Natural Lighting

Cheer up a dining room with natural and artificial lighting. Over sized curtains can broaden the room, making it appear larger and more spacious, while window shades can block out harsh afternoon sun rays. Use shapely light fixtures to add a pop of personality to the space, either dangling from the ceiling or propped against the wall. A unique fixture can be a statement piece that completes the room while lighting up the whole area.

A Splash of Color

Pair whites, neutrals and pale hues with a bold color to make the room dynamic and visually appealing. Fresh or faux flowers on the table, colored cloth napkins tucked under dishes or ceramic art displayed on a shelf can localize the room and force the eyes to focus on the details of the room. A plant or small tree can add the same effect while bringing a bit of nature indoors.

Mix Chair Styles

According to Heather Freeman from Houzz.com, “mixing chair styles in the same color is a safe way to get an eclectic mix while keeping a consistent look.” Don’t feel limited to only one table and chair style. Find a variety of styles you like and pair together what you think works. Bright blue chairs in a dark room can prevent the area from feeling too heavy while simple wire chairs can accommodate a smaller table without overpowering it.

Built-in Bar

Incorporate shelving or an open hutch into your dining area to store and display fancy dishes and decorations. Find something that has drawers or doors to store non-decorative items such as cloth napkins, place mats or seasonal dishes. A shelf or hutch can add depth to the dining room while utilizing the space for storage. For an extra pop, paint or glue wallpaper to the interior backing of a shelf or hutch. The change will bring displayed items out from the dark and into the spotlight.

Five Tips for Making Cooking Much More Enjoyable

The following is a guest post from Rachel Barnard

The kitchen is one of the most used areas in your home.   In fact, it probably sees more traffic, spills, people, celebrations, and disorganization then any other room in your home. However, if your kitchen is really disorganized, chances are you can’t find anything, cooking and meal prep is an absolute nightmare, and your time there is very stressful.

Don’t fret! It’s not difficult to get your kitchen organized and uncluttered. Simply use the following effective tools for keeping your kitchen organized…

1. De-clutter the mess

Sometimes it’s best to start with a clean canvas. In the case of a messy, disorganized kitchen, I recommend pulling all of your kitchen items out of each cabinet and drawer to see what you have, what you use, what you need, and what you can get rid of. So that means getting rid of all the plastic containers with no lids, duplicate items, broken items, or things you forgot you had and never use. As you’re doing this be ruthless and take no prisoners.

2. Make kitchen essentials easy-to-reach

As someone who uses a lot of spices to cook, it makes sense for me to put the things I use often—things like ground pepper, oil, vinegar, spices, big stir spoons, knives, cutting board, and oven mitts close at hand. Plus, I make sure to put the spices and oven mitts close to the oven—where I’d actually need them. Do this for your own kitchen essentials so they’re easy to get your hands on.

3. Make use of void space

I’m talking about under-cabinet space and empty space over the stove. I even had my husband install shelving along the side of our cabinets so I could use it for spices, and we have under-cabinet pot lighting that I can use for chopping after sundown. You can use this space for all sorts of items—cookbooks, spices, dish towels, oven mitts, etc. And you can hang racks for pots and pans or pegs or hooks to keep utensils, pot holders, mugs, and dish towels where you need them.

4. Divide things up

Your cutlery shouldn’t be thrown willy-nilly in a drawer. Instead, add some order by getting some drawer dividers for your cooking utensil drawers –even my junk drawer has one so it’s not overflowing and junky.

5. Save with style

Lastly, I use a magnetic box that I get a magnetic sorter box to hang on the side of the fridge for coupons, takeout menus, a notepad and pen, and other papers that tend to accumulate on the counter tops. Each type of paper should have its own section in the sorter.

Bio: Rachel Barnard is a self-confessed shopaholic and contributing writer for Style Cynics, a fashion and celebrity gossip site that features the latest buzz and the hottest styles like the great plus size selection of this year’s prom dresses.

I am always quite sad when summer starts to wind down.  The days get shorter, the evenings get cooler and the kids, after long busy days and later than usual bedtimes, start to show signs of summer exhaustion.   The back-to-school shopping starts and the long hot days at the beach and picnics in the park become favorite memories.

But back to school also means exciting school projects, spirit days, sporting events and new friends.  September is actually the beginning of a new year in a lot of ways.  So with that in mind, here is a round -up of all of the best summer posts here on Moms Kitchen Gadgets.  As always, thanks for being a part of it and I hope you are looking forward to a happy and healthy fall season.

• The best gourmet coffee maker for your home.  A wonderful way to bring the gourmet experience into your own kitchen.
• My top 10 picks for the most useful and helpful OXO kitchen tools.
• The absolute best kitchen gadgets stores to find and buy your favorite kitchen gizmos.
• It wouldn’t be summer without a few easy picnic food ideas now would it?
• Super adorable novelty salt and pepper shakers that would dress up any summer table.

And I also added a new review for one of my kitchen’s most used appliances – my Keurig Single Serve Coffee Maker.  If you need a new one or are thinking of buying one for a gift this Christmas, this review will help you out.

Of course, if you’re looking for other reviews on a few of Mom’s most essential gadgets, you are in luck!  Check these out:

• Find out which KitchenAid Attachments I recommend for those who love their stand mixer.
• Why this medium sized food processor was the best choice for my newlywed sister.
• Back to school means plenty of sandwiches right?  What better appliance to own than a bread machine?

So there you have it.  Just a few of the highlights from around here this past summer.  So poke around a little – you never know what you may find.

Cheers!