MySecretPantry.com BLOG

Curious Chef Featured In NY TIMES

2009-11-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Cooking Utensils Developed By Kids, For Kids!

Once upon a time, kids who showed an interest in culinary arts were given a packet of instant brownie mix and a miniature oven powered by a light bulb. But if your budding Jacques Pépin is begging for the latest Viking combi, indulge him instead with the latest cooking utensils from Curious Chef. The tools — including a whisk, spatula and rolling pin — are all bisphenol-A-free and scaled down to fit a child’s hands; the nylon serrated knives are effective for chopping a tomato, not your little sous-chef’s fingers. The 27-piece Foundation Set ($60;
MySecretPantry.com) even comes with an apron and a chef’s hat. Anyone for petits fours?

ANDREAS KOKKINO

Another Great Review on the Morningware Halogen Oven

2009-10-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

Don't just take our word for it! Click here to read a fantastic review of the Morningware Halogen Oven from Vickilynn Haycraft of the Charlotte Housewares Examiner. She has even included a recipe for Vickilynn’s Whole Wheat Yeast English Muffins/Biscuits. Vickilynn has been a student of health and nutrition for 30 years, Vickilynn Haycraft has over 20 years of actual hands-on experience reviewing and personally using different tools of the homemaking vocation, focusing on the areas of health and nutrition. Vickilynn is a magazine columnist, product reviewer and cookbook author, as well as being full-time wife and mom to 5 children.

Great Place to Get and Exchange New Recipes Ideas

2009-10-20T16:15:00.000-07:00

Found a great place to discover new recipe ideas on just about any ingredient you can imagine. www.keyingredient.com is free to join and you can peruse 1000's of recipes, exchange your recipes with other and organize your recipes all in one location. You can join in about 30 seconds and best of all it is free. We did a quick search on chicken broth and the site brought up 6403 results. Didn't have time to look at all of them but there were certainly a gaggle of yummy sounding recipes. Let us know how it works for you.

Cooking with Your Children

2009-10-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

Inside all children is a natural desire to explore the world around them through a hands-on discovery process. Add in the ingredients of fun, some one-on-one time with adults, and the love for home cooked food, and you have stirred up the essence of Curious Chef®.

Mysecretpantry.com is very happy to offer this complete line of cooking utensils for your child. The Curious Chef® line is a complete kitchen utensils line designed specifically for the budding chef in your kitchen. Curious Chef® wanted children to truly have their own set of kitchen tools and accessories so they could get excited about the cooking experience itself. In no time at all, your children will be gathering at the kitchen counter to concoct their very own edible creations. Made of nylon and silicone, this new line of children’s kitchen tools by Curious Chef ® are safe, made for tiny hands, and best of all, they actually work. Everything from nylon knives to measuring cups this line is all about creating a positive and fun experience in your kitchen by incorporating the elements of safety and vibrant color throughout our entire line.

The 27 piece Foundation Set is a great starter set for your assistant chef by providing all the tools necessary to get them started. The
Party Event Kits are party activities that end up with yummy food to eat. The Build-a-Kitchen sets allows your assistant executive chef to build-up their kitchen tools as their curiosity and confidence in the kitchen grows.

The Curious Chef® line of kitchen utensils are designed for ages 5 and up are sure to provide you and your child with memories that will last a lifetime. All products comply with all relevant standards including CPSC lead- and BPA-free and package materials are made from recycled and/or earth friendly materials.

“In the childhood memories of every good cook, there's a large kitchen, a warm stove, a simmering pot and a mom.” Barbara Costikyan (10/22/84 New York Magazine)

Great Father's Day Gift Idea's

2009-06-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia Father's Day is a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting, and to honor and commemorate fathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide and typically involves gift-giving, and special dinners to fathers and family-oriented activities. The first observance of Father's Day is believed to have been held on July 5, 1908 in a church located in Fairmont, West Virginia, by Dr. Robert Webb of West Virginia at the Central United Methodist Church of Fairmont. Mysecretpantry.com would like to suggest a few gift ideas for your Dad.

The Pigtail Flipper has a sharp, spiral snare at the tip is cleverly designed to lightly pierce the edge of virtually any solid food for turning. A quick flip of the wrist and your food is turned to the other side. This is a 2 piece set features the 19" Pig Tail which is great at the BBQ and also handles indoor cooking tasks with ease. The 12" Baby Pig Tail is a wizard at the stovetop. Use it for sautéing, griddle work, and in the wok. Makes a great gift for the "Master Chef".

The Outset Digital Remote Meat Thermometer has two probes allowing you to monitor one or two items at the same time enabling you to create two separate levels of doneness. You can also cook to 2 differing levels of doneness on one food product. This digital cooking thermometer with two probes cook’s meats according to your taste level - from rare to well done - without the guesswork.

Bon Jour's best frother, now ready at all times. With the rechargeable
BonJour Primo Latte™ Frother there is no need to replace batteries again. Features a rechargeable base for easy countertop access.If your espresso maker doesn’t froth milk, you can still make creamy lattes and cappuccinos with this hand-held frother from BonJour.

The Margaritaville Tahiti let's you blend 3 separate 24-ounce frozen drinks so you can offer your party guests a variety of perfectly blended drinks in a flash. Simple to use and easy to drink. Just fill the extra-large hopper with ice, pour your ingredients into one of the blending jars, and press one of the six automated drink settings. That’s all it takes! The pre-programmed settings will shave the ice and blend the perfect Margaritas, Daiquiris, Coladas, Mudslides, Mojitos and Smoothies every time. It does all the work, and you get all the credit!

New All Natural Flavored Cane Sugars

2009-04-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update to let you all know about an exciting new product line we just added to our store. Essential Cane™ has created a new and innovated assortment of flavored cane sugars produced without preservatives, additives, essential oils, or artificial colors or flavors. Essential Cane™ bonds natural, evaporated cane sugar that is pure and unrefined with exciting real flavors of Italian espresso beans, toasted sweet onions, Korintje cinnamon, whole fruit, berries, lemon and lime all with no extracts or colorings.

Available flavors are Blueberry, Cinnamon, Clove, Dark Cocoa, Espresso, Ginger, Green Chili, Habanero, Lemon, Lime, Raspberry, Sweet Onion, Tangerine and Vanilla Bean.

These flavors are wonderful for everything to rimming a glass of your favorite drink, to cakes, cookies and brownies. Perfect for creating quick and easy sauces for ham, seafood's, poultry, beef and even vegetables.

We have had the opportunity to use many of these flavors in our test kitchen and have yet to create anything that wasn't quick, easy and delicious. For a simple sauce we combined a little white wine, water and the Tangerine Flavored Cane sugar in a sauce pan and reduced that by half. When then finished it with a little butter. We grilled up some scallops on the BBQ and poured the sauce right over the top. We think the highlight of this sauce was that it wasn't overly sweet and had a great burst of citrus flavor which is a fabulous compliment on just about any seafood. Next time we are going to sauté in a little diced Jalapeño in our sauce for just a bit of heat. The uses for these wonderful flavored sugars are truly limited only by your imagination.

To learn more about these exciting new product simply click on the link. Cane Essentials™

2009-01-19T10:43:00.000-08:00

Get Ready Now for the Perfect Valentine Brunch

The kids can help with this easy Valentine brunch. But you must order now to get your shipment by Valentine's Day. The Kalorik Heart Waffle maker makes perfect, heart-shaped golden waffles (6" diameter.)

The Kalorik Heart Waffle maker is so easy to use, it's child's play. A green light comes on when the unit is done preheating. Add waffle batter and the green light will come back on when the waffles are ready to serve.

Put the golden waffle on a red plate, add ¼ cup of cherry pie filling on top and dollop with whipped cream for a real Valentine surprise for your sweetie! Making whipped cream is a snap with the rechargeable BonJour Primo Latte™ Frother. It's great for mixing whipping cream.

For a little something special, get a bottle of champagne from your Bon Jour™ Seven Bottle Wine Cooler. It keeps champagnes chilled to the perfect serving temperature. Add orange juice to a ¾-full glass of the bubbly for a traditional Mimosa. Or pour peach juice instead for a heavenly Bellini to accompany your heart-shaped waffles.

Kalorik Heart Waffle maker has six temperature settings to control desired doneness. The unit has decorative stainless plate for the top cover as well as a base with nonskid pads and cord storage.

* Overheat safety protection / Cord storage at the bottom
* Makes perfect heart-shaped golden waffles (6'' diameter)
* Six temperature settings control desired crispness
* Non-stick coated cooking plate
* FDA approved coating

Order your Kalorik Heart Waffle maker now at http://www.mysecretpantry.com/prodinfo.asp?number=KWM17885

2009-01-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

4 Kitchen Appliances to Help You Make for a Healthy 2009

If your New Year resolution has to do with improving your health for 2009, then you'll want to check out these four healthy kitchen appliances. The Healthy Kitchen brand of high performance appliances was developed by world-famous Dr. Andrew Weil.

Andrew Weil, MD is a national best-selling author of Eating Well for Optimum Health, and The Healthy Kitchen. Dr. Weil is an internationally-recognized expert on integrative medicine and medicinal plants. He designed the following four Healthy Kitchen appliances for your healthy living.

1.) The Healthy Kitchen Power Blender's powerful 600 watts allows you to make everything from smoothies to pureed baby foods. It crushes ice, makes drinks, purees vegetables, makes salad dressings, purees hot soups and sauces and helps in the preparation of other recipes that call for blending. The pulse setting is perfect for crushing ice and other hard items such as cheese and spices.

2.) Enjoy the benefits of wholesome grain with Dr. Weil's Multi-Use Rice Cooker. The three functions make for perfectly prepared white, brown, and quick rice. The steamer basket allows you to steam vegetables or make a full combination meal. This Multi-Use Rice Cooker has an automatic timer, a keep-warm indicator, and a reheat function. The delayed timer will make sure that your rice, soup or stew is ready for you the minute you walk in the door.

3.) Dr Weil's Healthy Kitchen Professional Juice Extractor enables you to have 82% more juice extraction for apples and 15% more juice for other fruits and vegetables. Full of vitamins and minerals, fresh fruits will add to your health in 2009. Once the fruits and vegetables are juiced, the pulp remains. This pulp contains fiber and cellulose that can be used to thicken stews and soups or added to sauces for additional flavor and nutrients. Yum!

4.) The Healthy Kitchen 2-Tier Electronic Steamer has two levels to conveniently prepare two foods at once. With an automatic timer and stay-warm feature, Dr. Weil's sensational steamer comes complete with instructional booklet and healthy cooking charts for rice and grains, vegetables, fish and seafood, meat, eggs and more. Dr. Weil advises on his website: "No matter how you cook vegetables you're likely to lose some nutrients. A study published in the November 2003 issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that broccoli cooked in the microwave lost up to 97 percent of its antioxidant content but lost only 11 percent when it was steamed. Another study showed that spinach cooked in the microwave retained nearly all its folate but lost about 77 percent of this nutrient when cooked on the stove. (I imagine it was over cooked. I like to steam-fry spinach for just a few minutes until it is bright green and just wilted.)"

Delicious healthy food recipes developed by Dr. Weil are included in the instructional booklet of each Healthy Kitchen appliance. Pick any one of these four appliances to make for a healthier 2009.

2008-12-23T10:16:00.000-08:00

Enhance the Tastes of the Season with Natural Rubs and Seasonings

It's easy to put a modern twist on traditional foods with today's natural rubs and seasonings. Gather your friends and family around the table to enjoy the special foods that the season affords.

1.) A New Twist for Squashes
Fresh white squash, zucchini or acorn squash are sensational when grilled or baked, and taste even more fabulous when rubbed with Nantucket Off-Shore Garden Rub 1.0 oz Tin —a minty Mediterranean mélange flecked with fennel and red pepper.

2.) Carmel Apple in a Cup: the New Apple Cider
Caramel is the perfect flavor partner for autumn's apple cider. With Minglir's Flavored Drink Sticks Caramel 30 per container, you simply stir in the caramel flavor-coated stick allowing the seasoning to melt into your cup of cider. No mess, no fat, and no added sugar. Just a perfect apple cider. Be sure to taste your beverage once or twice as you stir to control the level of flavoring. Once the taste is just right, discard the Minglir caramel flavoring stick.

3.) The Unexpected Turkey
A succulent roast turkey is always a favorite for the hoidays. But why not spice up Grandma's recipe with Big Acres® Perfect Poultry Spice & Rub? This aromatic blend is a perfect compliment to your turkey, duck, Cornish game hens, chicken or quail… and veggies too!

4.) Wild Game and Poultry
A successful hunting season means fun sauces, stews and rustic country roasts. The Mediterranean Coast Gift Pack contains the Tuscan Villa rub which blends herbs of the region and adds tremendous flavor to your wild game, or use as a dry rub on pork roasts or poultry.

5.) Football Fest Favorite: Buffalo Wings made Easy
With Flavor Magic Zesty Buffalo Wing Seasoning Sheets -- not only can you bring this legendary dish home -- but now you can trim the fat while enhancing the entire flavor. Try it with chicken tenders, pork or shrimp, for a low-fat, no fuss alternative to common wings. Or, turn an ordinary hamburger into a Buffalo Burger with no effort.

All-natural, aged red pepper is the secret ingredient and the favor is authentic and vibrant… with just the right amount of heat. Simply lay the seasoning sheet on a plate, place your wings on the sheet, wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Then grill, broil or bake! 12 sheets per package.

2008-12-18T08:13:00.000-08:00

Uncommon Wine Tours Make Great Holiday Gifts

We all think of Napa and Sonoma as the consummate in the wine cellar experience. However, you needn't travel far to find a unique tasting experience. Excellent grapes may be growing in your own backyard. Here are a few of the unusual winery experiences available to you.

The good life: Cruise Tour of California Wine Country
Enjoy evening views of San Francisco's city lights as you float past the city of love aboard your small cruise ship. But don't leave your heart there because you'll cruise far up the Napa River where the next day you'll be escorted to frequent tastings. You'll savor premier Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, Pinot Noirs as well as reserve bruts from the best known wineries in California. With wine experts on board, CruiseWest offers wine country tours that make your getaway memorable for years to come

Before you sail, check out My Secret Pantry's Deluxe Wine Cellar/Cooler 7 Bottle Capacity. The Bon Jour™ Seven Bottle Wine Cooler is designed to keep wines at the perfect serving temperature. Featuring stainless steel door panels and thermoelectric convection cooling system, temperature is controlled by dual fans that circulate air for even cooling of the irresistible wine from your wine country cruise.

Wine tasting in the Great White North?
On any given Sunday you can get away from the bustling city of Toronto with a SUNDAY BRUNCH ESCAPE. Your personal tour guide whisks you off to hidden wineries that you are sure to enjoy. Next choose from a delicious brunch at Queenston Heights Restaurant located on top of the Niagara Escarpment or a romantic brunch at the famous Betty Restaurant in Niagara Falls. After brunch you travel to two more award-winning wineries in Niagara Wine Country for private wine tasting before departing. Sip, swirl and savor!

Romantic Train Ride through Canadian Vineyards
The SUNDAY BRUNCH ESCAPE package is also available by train from Toronto. Opt to return to Toronto via romantic rail. When you get back home with your favorite bottles, make sure you have the Wine Saver HOME® Wine Preservation System set up and waiting. The Wine Saver HOME® is the first multi-bottle preserve-and-serve wine system that will dispense wine at its peak freshness—ensuring the integrity of your wine for weeks at a time using Argon gas.

Ride the Iowa Wine Trail
The Iowa Wine Trail In the upper Mississippi valley wine region, celebrates November Holiday Wine & Food with tickets for $20 dollars per day. Good for either Saturday or Sunday and provide access to as many as five wineries on one of the weekend days. Sip wines such as the White Schoolhouse, a crisp refreshing white stirring up memories of lemon custard and finishing on subtle sweet peach and tangerine notes. Or stop at Two Saints Winery where they believe that wine is good for the soul.

And although Iowa is no where near the balmy islands, don't forget to pack your Picnic at Ascot Bahamas Sunset Wine Carrier, a state-of-the-art Thermal Shield™ insulation cooler that keeps your wine at the perfect temperature. The wine glass compartment is perfect to hold a second bottle of your favorite Iowan wine.

Virginia: The "I Love Lucy Wine Experience"
A happy weekend escape from Washington DC, this may be our favorite Uncommon Wine Tour. You may add it on to any Virginia Wine Country Tour group package. Remember that classic scene when Lucy crawls into a wine barrel to crush grapes? Now you can too! Take off your shoes, climb into the wine barrel and learn the art of crushing grapes between your toes. Stock up now on the "Wine Away Red Stain Remover."

2008-12-16T07:25:00.001-08:00

Five Benefits to Infrared Cooking

Start enjoying these five benefits of healthy, fat-free infrared cooking now:

1. Cook the inside of your food without burning the outside

Infrared ovens and infrared grills use safe infrared technology to cook food faster and thoroughly without generating the high heat that triggers unhealthy results. (Recently, the American Institute for Cancer Research reported that high-heat grilling and broiling causes red meat, poultry and fish to produce higher levels of cancer-causing compounds.)

2. Infrared cooking requires no additional fats or oils

When preparing poultry, meats, pork, and more, infrared cooking requires no additional fats or oils making it the ultimate heating source for preparing healthy and delicious meals.

3. Seal in natural juices and enhance your food’s organic flavor

Infrared heat is the secret cooking heat used by five-star restaurants around the world. Infrared heat molecularly warms food from the outside-in thus browning or even-baking foods.

Infrared energy does not dry out your food. Infrared cooking actually drives moisture deep into the food being roasted or grilled. This flavor-enhancing process creates a succulence that is difficult to replicate with conventional grilling, baking or roasting methods.

4. Save time for less-stress meal preparation with infrared cooking

Infrared ovens can cook up to 50% faster, saving up to 75% energy, with no defrosting and no preheating. Save additional time because you no longer preheat your oven or grill. Infrared ovens save you time for defrosting: simply place the frozen meat inside the oven and the unique system starts cooking frozen food immediately. Many infrared ovens are designed to be dishwasher safe for easy clean up saving you more time. Less stress IS more healthy!

5. Scientific findings report infrared heating more healthful

Science News recently reported that a Korean team of food scientists completed a comparative study between conventional oven and infrared heating. The group compared green tea leaves that were roasted and dried using conventional oven heating with leaves heated by infrared irradiation.

"The Korean team has shown for the first time that a tea's concentrations of antioxidants and a host of other desirable chemicals are higher when roasting is done with FIR. Drying leaves with FIR, however, tended to diminish those chemicals." writes Janet Raloff in her Science News report.

The Korean team concludes that infrared roasting "could be a useful method for increasing the health-promoting properties of green tea."

If infrared heating increases the health-promoting properties of green tea, just think what healthful benefits infrared heating can lend to your family's food.

2008-12-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

Best-Kept Secrets for starting new Family Traditions

Have a holly, jolly Christmas or Hanukkah with friends and family gathered around classic Hot Chocolate Makers. Here's My Secret Pantry's tip for starting a new family tradition this holiday season. Featured in O Magazine, these cheerful hot chocolate makers comes in over seven styles including the 32-ounce Peppermint Swirl Hot Chocolate Pot with a candy-cane striped handle, the Penguin-shaped ceramic pot or the Snowman-shaped ceramic pot.Fight breast cancer by choosing the pink pot and hot chocolate mugs. Order now and get a FREE sample of McStevens Cocoa.

McSteven's offers Hanukkah Double Chocolate Cocoa in a colorful 8-ounce tin. This double chocolate formula contains no tropical oils and is 99% caffeine free. Ideal for making coffee mochas or delicious mocha smoothies. This half-pound tin or the oval 2.5 ounce tin makes handsome Hanukkah gifts.

Another Best-kept Secret: Flavored Hot Chocolates

Try Cinnamon Twist flavored hot chocolate and leave the Chocolate Cream flavored hot chocolate for your favorite Santa Claus. Buy the Victorian Four Taste Cocoa Gift Set to taste or gift away. The set includes four flavors of cocoas including Vanilla Caramel and Butter Pecan packaged in colorful snowy Victorian Christmas scenes.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer loves flavored hot chocolate! Your kids or grandkids will have fun making their own cup of delicious hot chocolate from some of their favorite holiday characters' tins. Each Rudolf Collection Cocoa Gift Set includes 2.5-ounces each of Chocolate Creamy, Vanilla Sipper, Peanut Butter and Caramel Cocoa's. YUM!

Downhill Tip: Stock up for the Ski Trip

This convenient 6.25-ounce tin of Chocolate Mint Creamy Cocoa instant drink mix will fit into you ski bag with no fear of spillage. Put three tablespoons of the dry mix into a mug, add hot water, stir and enjoy! Who needs schnapps with this delicious chocolate that comes with its own smooth hint of mint? Clever gift idea for the skiers and snow bunnies on your list. Made by McSteven's.

What's so nutty?

The delicious taste of chocolate and hazelnut are combined together to make this creamy cocoa truly nutty. That's what. Get 6.25 ounces of McSteven's Chocolate Hazelnut Creamy Cocoa instant drink mix. It comes in its own tin. No tropical oils and 99% caffeine free.

How can I choose?

Creamy Cocoa Mocha or Creamy Cocoa Vanilla or Creamy Cocoa Chocolate?

Is there such a thing as 'too many choices' when it comes to chocolate? All are favorite flavors available in the 6.25-ounce oval tin and each is perfect for those chilly nights. Starting new family traditions is easy with McSteven's flavored cocoas. All contain no tropical oils and are 99% caffeine free. Don't forget the marshmallows!

2008-12-09T09:01:00.001-08:00

5 Quick Tips for Making Traditional Spritz Cookies

Traditional spritz cookies are a European family favorite when it comes to the Christmas holidays. Thought to come from the German word, spritzen -- to inject, spritz cookies are made by pressing -- or injecting -- buttery dough through a hand press. Scandinavian households have spritz cookie presses that were handed down through the generations.

But here are some modern tips for making traditional spritz cookies easier and faster than Grandma did.

Tip #1: Use the Wilton Cookie Pro Ultra II Cookie Press. It comes with 16 different cookie shapes that include merry snowflakes and Christmas trees, and four fun mini cookie designs. The comfortable, lever-action press is easier on your hand than was Grandma's syringe-like plunger.

Tip #2: For even better dough-control, splurge and buy the Wilton Cookie Master Plus Cordless Cookie Press. You can use it for cookies or crackers. Simply touch the "forward" button to press dough through barrel. Holding the "forward" button longer will give you larger cookies and crackers; holding the "forward" button for less time will yield smaller.

Tip # 3: Use room temperature dough. One of the problems Grandma had was getting stiff, buttery dough out of the press. With room temperature dough, you won't have that challenge.

Tip # 4: Don't grease your cookie sheet. The dough needs to adhere to the cookie sheet before it will detach from the press. The grease will prevent the dough from adhering. Likewise, don't use non-stick cookie sheets. Shiny aluminum cookie sheets at room temperature work best. If the metal sheet is warm, the dough won't stick to its surface.

Tip #5: Try putting your cookie sheets in the freezer for several hours before making the cookies - the dough will stick to your frozen cookie sheet just like your tongue would. (Don't try this at home -- or on the frozen flagpole in front of your elementary school building.)

Tip #6: Remove the cookies from the oven once the peaks and bottoms of the cookies turn golden brown. Allow to stand on the cookie sheet for a few seconds after baking.

Tip#7: If your design gets lost after baking, you are pressing out too much dough.

Tip# 8: Although baked spritz cookies freeze well when placed in freezer bags, the raw dough does not.

Use the eight quick tips for making traditional spritz cookies and your holiday cookie baskets and plates will be more festive than ever.

2008-07-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

Dr. Andrew Weil and Healthy Living

Dr Weil has committed his life “to being the leading resource for health care education, information, products, and services and to providing consumers with a range of best-in-class products and services to enhance their health and well-being and help them live a lifestyle guided by the philosophy of integrative medicine.”

As the Founder and director of the Program in Integrative Medicine (PIM) at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona, where he is also clinical professor of medicine and professor of public health, his opinion and expertise is widely regarded around the world. He is an internationally recognized expert on integrative medicine, medicinal plants, mind-body interactions, and the future of medicine and health care.

He has used his knowledge and commitment to ultimate health to improve all areas of our lives. From supplements to cosmetics Dr. Weil has investigated, improved and produced a large number of products all designed to improve the health and lifestyle of people around the world. He’s even created a line of pet-food to enhance and improve the lives of our furry friends.

Most recently Dr Weil has partnered with Spring Switzerland, a division of Waterford Wedgwood, to create a line of kitchen appliances. The cookware is made of a 5 ply bonded 18/10 steel rather than the typical 3 ply.

It is designed to ensure that user’s food does not come into contact with the aluminum of the various products. Specially formulated "rolled edges" prevent your ingredients from interacting with the aluminum. Why go to such great lengths? There are many studies and theories on the effects of aluminum and the development of neurological problems including Alzheimer' disease.

In addition to a sleek modern design and easy to use cookware Dr Weil’s appliances come with a lifetime warranty. Whether you’re steaming, blending or juicing Dr Weil’s cookware is designed to help you live the happy, healthy life you deserve. He even donates all of his after tax profits to the Weil Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting integrative medicine through training, education and research.

2008-07-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

Marinade Meat in a Snap

Summertime days seem to slip away so quickly that many find themselves standing in front of the refrigerator searching for something to make for dinner just about the same time their stomach is telling them it’s past time to eat. A refrigerator full of meats and sauces is all well and good, particularly if you have a grill just waiting out the door. How do you handle the marinating time required by most sauces when your stomach is growling now?

You have a few choices…

Choice #1 Throw the meat on the grill and forget about the marinade. This choice works fine for those urgent situations when you don’t care that the meat is tough and tasteless you’re just glad to have food in your stomach however if you like to enjoy what you’re eating, this isn’t the best option.

Choice #2 Marinate it for 15 minutes even though the package says “marinate overnight” and hope for the best. This option is about as effective as option number one. The marinade hasn’t had a chance to soak into the meat and therefore you’re let with a hint of flavor if the marinade on the surface hasn’t burned off the meat all together.

Choice #3 Go out to eat or call for pizza and forget about that meat. All too often this is the choice we fall back on however with the rising cost of gas, groceries and take out or restaurant meals this isn’t the most economical or healthy option. Besides, we want to keep looking good in our swimsuit, right? Eating out definitely doesn’t help with those plans!

Choice #4 Grab the Reveo™ MariVac™ Food Tumbler from the cupboard, place your meat and your marinade in the tumbler and marinate your food in mere minutes rather than hours. The Reveo MariVac works by using a high powered vacuum which sucks air from the barrel. This vacuum process stretches the meat’s fibers which in turn pulls moisture and marinade all the way through the meat. The tumbling action works to massage the meat making your next meal a tender, juicy meal in minutes rather than hours.

You’re starving, the sun is getting low in the sky and the hungry eyes of your family members are looking at you for sustenance. What do you choose? Grab the healthy meat of your choice and your favorite marinade and do yourself and your family right!

2008-06-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

Benefits of an Auto Can Opener

Has this ever happened to you? You’re making spaghetti sauce or chili and opening multiple cans when you slice your finger on the sharp edges of the lid or inside the can? Your sauce is happily bubbling away while you’re running around the house looking for a band aid or heading to the hospital for stitches.What about losing the lid inside the can? Why are those darned things so hard to fish out? And we’ve all pulled out the can opener and cringed at the crud which seems to gather on the mechanism. Do you really want that touching your food, probably not.

Good news…you don’t have to anymore. The Automatic Lid Lifter by Kuhn Rikon makes opening cans effortless- unlike other can openers that can be difficult to start, this inventive design automatically attaches itself to cans, and with a few simple turns, removes the entire lid leaving no dangerous sharp edges. When you're done, you press down on the white button to close the jaw on the lid for convenient hands free disposal- simply release when you're ready to drop it into the recycle bin. The ergonomic handle makes it comfortable to use. The exclusive Lid Gripper safely and easily removes lids, leaving a smooth edge that is suitable for resealing with a plastic lid (dog and cat food cans, coffee cans). It’s known by some as "touchless" because your hands never need touch the lid – no more cuts or messy fingers.

The Auto Safety Lidlifter from Kuhn Rikon is truly a revolutionary approach to lid removal. This deluxe can opener has a one-piece polymer handle design and an ingenious mechanism that automatically clamps the cutting head to the can's edge. This unique can opener leaves no sharp edges on either the lid or the can. By cutting the middle of the top rim sharp edges are eliminated. It attaches to the can automatically and actually cuts through the outside of the lid rim itself.

The Swiss-made Kuhn Rikon remains totally clean because it never touches the food. Recycling is breeze, no more sharp edges or dirty lids. Place on top of the can with two half circles lined up with rim and knob pointing 10 minutes to 12 o'clock. Twist knob clockwise. At 3 o'clock, the LidLifter will automatically grip the lid and begin to cut. After a full circle around the edge of the can, you will feel less resistance and the can is open. This amazing tool makes opening cans quick, clean, easy and safe.

It makes an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys cooking and makes a great addition to a newlywed starter gift or bridal shower basket. Of course, you won’t be able to resist getting one for yourself too! Find fun and top-of-the-line kitchen utensils at My Secret Pantry today!

2008-06-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable Swiss Peeler

Whether a beginning cook or an experienced chef a good peeler is an indispensable tool. It’s one of the most used and necessary staples in any kitchen. The wonderful Swiss Peeler by Kuhn Rikon is hands down the one that stands above all the others.

A best seller for over twenty years the original Swiss Peeler is the best vegetable peeler on the planet! The peeler features an incredibly sharp carbon steel blade, and is designed for right or left-handed use. There’s even a potato eye cutter. To add to the sleek functional design the peeler is offered in a variety of vivid colors.

“A good peeler is an essential tool, and luckily you don’t have to pay a premium for it…Made for right – and left handed use, has a high impact plastic handle and works better than any other fancy peeler out there.” praised a reviewer from Real Simple Magazine.

Other brands of peelers can have a tendency to become rusty and have a rigid quality making it difficult to attach and move smoothly on any food. The Swiss Peeler’s incredibly sharp carbon steel blade provides great traction – it digs into food without slipping so you can work quickly and effortlessly. The cut is smooth and the peel is broad and thin, resulting in little waste. It’s great at peeling even thick-skinned vegetables like butternut squash.

So comfortable to hold in your hand, this great peeler makes jobs like peeling potatoes, apples and other fruits and vegetables so effortless. The molded plastic handle offers a secure grip, even when your hands are wet. A circular cutter removes eyes from potatoes and the carbon-steel blade is perfectly designed to stay sharp.

Many of the other peelers on the market are either too thin and poorly made or far too large and clunky to handle and use efficiently. The Swiss Peeler is perfectly designed and built – with great style and incredible function.

Small and light it even tackles hard jobs like winter squash. To use the peeler you simply place the peeler on top of the vegetable and pull. The razor-sharp swivel blade closely follows the contours of even the thickest skin vegetable. And far easier than a paring knife is the very handy potato-eye cutter.

Not only is this peeler tops for peeling fruits and vegetables but is known to make beautiful chocolate curls! Every aspiring chef must have this easy to use and professional quality peeler as a kitchen staple. My Secret Pantry carries a large variety of colors, get one today!

2008-05-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

Plan a Perfect Boating Picnic

It just isn’t a warm weather season without spending some time outdoors. Fresh air and sunlight make for a cozy afternoon for two or a fun getaway for the family. Visit your favorite lake or spend an afternoon cruising on your boat. To top it all off, plan the perfect picnic.

Picnicking on water poses unique challenges. While it’s okay to chase paper napkins on land, they become an instant water hazard should they blow off the boat. Therefore it’s best to picnic with cloth napkins and store food in heavier containers. Another challenge to picnickers with smaller boats is that there are no means for cooking food. An ideal picnic on the water may be cold fried chicken and a variety of cold salads.

That being said, boating can bring out the romantic side of people. A picnic basket stocked with wine, smoked salmon, fruit, and cheese may be the ideal solution.

While a traditional wooden picnic basket may be perfect for a park picnic, a cooler on wheels may be a better solution for boating. They’re durable and many picnicking coolers come complete with wine storage and a variety of compartments. If you’re prone to forgetting to bring a blanket – it’s taken care of with the Picnic Time Pioneer Driftwood Basket, which comes complete with a blanket included. It also comes with utensils, plates, napkins, cutting board, cheese knife, wine glasses, salt and pepper shakers, and corkscrew.

The Picnic Time Excursion Picnic Trolley comes complete with service for two or four. The insulated cooler compartment is divided so the cold items stay cold and the other items stay dry. The cooler wouldn’t be complete without the accessories. Everything is included as above except the blanket. Don’t forget yours!

A relaxing afternoon picnic deserves a delicious meal. Be sure to cook all of your food ahead of time and package it in reusable containers for easy handling and serving. Pulled pork barbeque sandwiches with a kicked up Barbecue Sauce like Big Acres Mango Peach Chili BBQ Sauce will make for a spectacular meal.

Your drink preference depends on who is attending the picnic. For a loving couple, a bottle of wine is the order of the day. A bottle of soda or some bottled water will wet the whistles for your family picnic. With the insulated coolers, they will stay cool while you feed the ducks in the lake or lie on the boat deck and enjoy the rays. While it may be true that there’s nothing better than a day on the water - your day will be enhanced with the right picnic equipment. Combined, they make for a perfect summer day.

2008-05-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

Microbreweries have taken the nation by storm. From coast to coast you can find a good mircrobrewery in just about every town. This trend of small time brewing has given folks a taste for freshly poured beer at home. If you’re among those who enjoy fresh draft beer taste, the Krups Beer Tender is made for you.

Not only does the Beer Tender pour a perfect draft, the design is sleek and attractive. The Beer Tender is perfect for a Heineken DraughtKeg – a five liter keg which pours about 14 twelve ounce beers. Reminiscent of a tap you would see in a fancy well-known pub. Now, it’s in your home and being ogled by your guests. Better yet, it is pouring fresh, cold, draft beer for you and your guests.

With this beer dispenser each glass is a perfect glass of Heineken beer. According to Heineken, the perfect pour of a Heineken beer is when the foam head lines up with the horizontal line of the red star on a Heineken glass. That type of precision can occur if you have the Krups Beer Tender on board.

The digital display lets you know when the draught beer has reached the exact temperature for serving. A keg beer is served cold. The overflow of the head is skimmed to seal in the carbonation and the flavor. If the beer gets too warm, the sensors within the beer dispenser will let you know.

The beer dispenser will rival home microbreweries. Fine beer connoisseurs often learn to brew their own beers to share with their friends and family. One big difference is the ease of the process of beer dispensing. The Beer Tender dispenses beer from a keg that fits into the dispenser. Even cooling provides a beer that is as tasty and full of flavor with the last glass as it was with the first.

Microbreweries are also full of flavor but require a bit more work. Microbrewed beers are served at room temperature. They have little to no head which allows the drinker a full-bodied taste from the first sip. Home brewers can experiment with different ingredients to flavor their beer.

If you’re planning for a party, you’ll need to begin your home brew at least a week in advance to be sure the beer is ready. With Krups Beer Tender, just pop a new keg in the chamber and you are ready to go. It couldn’t be simpler to get great tasting beer any time you want. Get a delicious beer fast and consistently good, invest in the Krups Beer Tender. Your guests will thank you.

Find the latest Beer Tenders at My Secret Pantry.com! My Secret Pantry offers a wide variety of party essentials like; spice rubs, frozen margarita machines, grilling accessories and much more!

2008-04-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

The Benefits of Washing Your Produce before Eating It

We’re only now beginning to grasp the concept of what years of ingesting pesticides has done to our health and the health of our children. Because of this, there are now more organic food options than ever before. On top of this widespread education about the harmful effects of pesticides, we’ve had to face serious food recalls. In the past 12 months we’ve seen the recall of spinach, cantaloupes, soy beans and more than 200 other food products. This contamination can be deadly.

Fortunately, it is a problem that we can help to resolve. There are a number of companies dedicated to ensuring food safety. It’s a simple solution actually. Wash your produce.

Washing your produce not only protects you and your family against harmful side effects it could you’re your life and the lives of your loved ones. Pesticides have been linked to learning disabilities in children, autism, infertility, cancer, gallstones, neurological issues like dementia, and organ failure. Pesticides aren’t generally what get our attention because the results of pesticide consumption doesn’t show up on the evening news. Rather it is the extreme cases of E. coli or salmonella contamination that scare people into action. Remember the spinach recall in 2007?

If every one of those people who had eaten that spinach contaminated with E. coli last year, had taken the time to properly wash their spinach, many lives could have been saved and many people would have been able to avoid serious illness. The trouble with many produce products, including spinach, is that it isn’t easy to wash. The leaves stack together, they stick when wet and it’s difficult to ensure that every leaf is getting clean. Additionally, if it isn’t thoroughly rinsed, food can end up tasting soapy. Who wants that?

One way to solve that problem is to take advantage of the produce cleaners available on the market. These cleaners work by enabling you to spray your produce in a contaminate free bowl. They’re also soap free and instead work by utilizing Ozone to cleanse your produce. No rinsing necessary. The spray cleaner works to ensure that the entire surface area of your produce is clean and toxin free. Additionally, the bowl ensures your produce is clean and safe and it also helps to disperse the cleaner over the entire surface of your fruits or veggies.

Keeping you and your family safe from the harmful effects of pesticides and bacteria is really as simple as taking a few minutes to wash your produce with a soap free product designed specifically to ensure the health and safety of your produce. My Secret Pantry offers the safe and easy systme to keep your family healthy.

2008-04-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Link Between Toxic Chemicals and Human Health

There is growing evidence that we’re slowly poisoning ourselves, our loved ones and maybe worst of all our children.We’re not talking about simple medical issues either. Herbicides and pesticides, for example, have been linked to fertility problems, birth defects, learning disabilities and an increase in various forms of cancer. Mass production and the desire to keep production costs down when growing produce is costing us our lives.

Here are just some of the toxins we ingest on a daily basis and how they affect our health. Organophosphates are absorbed by a plant's tissue where they kill bacteria, fungi or parasites. Exposure to this chemical has been shown to increase the risk of childhood Leukemia and Parkinson's. It has been shown to have an effect on the developing brain and nervous systems of the unborn and young children. Carbamates are classified as non-persistent but are still highly toxic to humans. They are suspected to cause cancer and they have been linked to organ damage including the lung, kidney, and liver. They have been shown to damage both the neurological system and the immune system. Organochlorines are fat soluble, which means they tend to build in your fatty tissues. While many of this class of pesticides have been banned from use in the US, it is still used in many other countries. Organochlorines interfere with fertility and development of embryos. They also affect your endocrine, immune and nervous systems. They have also been linked to cancer. Children are the most likely to suffer the consequences. In fact reports from the FDA and reports published by the Environmental Working Group have found that: more than a 250,000 children in the United States between the ages of one and five ingest a combination of 20 different pesticides every day. That’s a shocking statistic when we know that childhood cancer, autism, and neurological issues are on the rise in this age group. What can we do about it?

Don’t use pesticides or herbicides on your home garden.

Buy organic when possible.

Filter your water.

Get involved in government policy to ban harmful pesticides and herbicides from your community, state, and federal government.

Wash your produce.

Possibly one of the simplest solutions is to wash your fruits and vegetables with an ozone solution designed specifically to eliminate pesticide and herbicide residue from your fruits and vegetables. Washing all produce, even organic produce, will also eliminate harmful bacteria including E. coli and salmonella.

MySecretPantry.com offers an incredible new product called the Lotus Sanitizing System that eliminates all pesticides and herbicides from your food with ease.

2008-03-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

Three “Must Do’s” Before Cooking with Grilling Planks

Grilling planks come in a wide variety of unique flavors. They also provide a unique way of grilling that was brought to us by the Native Americans a long time ago when they used to roast their food on open fire pits.

Today, getting that smoky flavor is as simple as pairing the right Gourmet Grilling plank with your favorite food. While the most difficult part of using a gourmet grilling plank is deciding what to grill first, to get the most out of your grilling planks for long life and great smoked flavor there are three things you must do when cooking with gourmet grilling planks.

#1 Soak the grilling plank for at least one hour to add moisture to the wood and resist burning. To spice up the flavors add salt to the water. You can also add one cup dry white wine, apple cider, citrus or berry juice for more flavor. The temperature on your grill should be around 325-450 degrees depending on the recipe. Each grilling plank comes with its own set of instructions and recipes.

#2 Place the prepared planks on the grill and heat for two minutes with the lid shut. Once the plank begins to crackle, you are ready to start cooking with your new grill planks. Place the food on top of the grill planks. The grill planks will give your food the great smoky flavor you have always longed for.

#3 When you are finished grilling be sure to place the grilling plank in a container full of water. To clean up the plank of any debris or food use a mild soap and scrub gently with a cloth. This will keep the plank from re-igniting and helps to extend the life of your planks.

Now comes the tough part…deciding what you’re going to cook next with your gourmet grilling plank! Enjoy! Find the best grilling planks at MySecretPantry.com .

2008-03-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Mini Aero Garden

The mini aero garden is an incredible way to have home grown herbs, spices or vegetables without taking up much space. It can deliver home grown vegetables and spices all year long right from your own kitchen counter.

Imagine being able to pluck fresh basil from your indoor garden to season your famous spaghetti sauce. Are you in the mood for a salad? Just walk over to your AeroGarden and harvest as much or as little fresh lettuce as you’d like to eat. Do you enjoy having fresh flowers in your home? The Mini AeroGarden gives you year round fresh flowers. Imagine fresh mini roses on your table every day!

The Mini AeroGarden is smaller than the Classic AeroGarden. Just like the Classic AeroGarden there are no weeds to deal with, no pesticides, herbicides, no mess and perfect for those who live in condos or apartments. You don’t need to be a farmer to have these fresh home grown spices and vegetables all year long. No green thumb is required and it is even 100% guaranteed by the manufacturer.

The aero garden has the latest plug and grow technology and is almost fool proof. It even reminds you when it is time to add water and nutrients. There are organic-based time released nutrient tablets for healthier plants.

It also works great as a seed starter for those who do have a green thumb and enjoy having an outdoor garden. The aero garden uses NASA tested aeroponic technology to grow plants faster and more reliably than with any other method. The system automatically turns the grow lights on and off. The aero garden uses microprocessor controlled adaptive growth intelligence to monitor the plants natural growth cycles from seed germination to the advanced growth cycle. It comes in a unique and stylish black and stainless steel finish that will give your home something to talk about and enjoy for many years to come.

For more great Aero Garden products visit My Secret Pantry.com.

2008-02-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

Learn How To Create Mouth Watering Pulled Pork

Looking for a way to create mouth watering pulled pork? American favorite, pulled pork is a dish that differs by region. Folks from Tennessee and Texas each have their own recipes and ask someone in South Carolina and you’ll get an entirely different version. And the Hawaiian version is something to be experienced. One thing is certain, the foundation for pulled pork starts with a good cut of meat.

The foundation, the essence of pulled pork is a good boneless pork shoulder or butt roast. The butt roast is actually the upper part of the pork shoulder; the lower portion is called the picnic. A pork butt generally weighs between six and ten pounds. When visiting your butcher it is helpful to know that the pork butt can also be called:

• Boston shoulder roast
• Boston roast
• Boston butt
• Shoulder butt
• Shoulder blade roast

Experts recommend choosing a cut that has a smooth, firm, white fat cap and a good amount of fat marbling. Ideally the meat will be a reddish-pink color.

So how is pulled pork prepared?

While sauce and seasonings vary by local, the pork is cooked the same. Place pork in a slow cooker with preferred sauce and seasonings.

Hawaiian Pulled pork is created with liquid smoke and Hawaiian salt. Try the Hawaiian Island Seasonings for an authentic taste.

Tennessee Pulled pork is made with straightforward tangy BBQ sauce. Try Big Acres Rich and Mild BBQ sauce or if you like it extra spicy try Big Acres Hot and Spicy BBQ sauce. A large variety of spices and BBQ sauces can be found at My Secret Pantry.

Cooking time will vary by the weight of the roast. However it generally takes between six and ten hours to cook. You know it’s done when you can reach into the pot with two forks and pull the pork into shreds. When you can do this, remove the roast from the cooker and pull it into shreds. The shredded meat will be returned to the sauce and combined. Now it’s ready to eat! Grab a bun and your favorite sides and you have a meal fit for royalty!

2008-02-08T18:54:00.000-08:00

Learn How To Smoke Your Own Meat Quickly And Easily

Looking for that unique flavor that only smoked meat can provide? Ever considered smoking your own meat? While it seems like a task best left for experts and certainly not a winter activity, smoking bags make it easy for even the most novice chefs.

Smoker bags make it easy for you to have the delicious flavor of smoked meats and the convenience of your home kitchen; in fact you can make it in your own oven. They don’t use any chemicals or sticky messy glues. All you need is an oven or grill, your favorite meat and an Alder Smoker Bag.

With bags for vegetables and every meat including; fish, pork, chicken, and beef, simply place your meat or vegetable of choice into the bag. Fold the bag tightly and place in your oven on a cooking sheet or tray. As the meat cooks the bag will rise about ten to fifteen inches. Once your meat has cooked the appropriate amount of time, time and temperature vary depending on the meat and directions that are on the bag. Remove the bag from the oven. Don’t cut the bag open. Let the bag remain sealed for about ten minutes to let the smoke permeate the meat.

Now it’s time to cut the bag open – stand back and watch out for steam. The bag will be hot! The food will be ready to eat, however if you like your meat to be crispy on top, place it back into the oven until browned.

Prefer a more outdoor cooking experience? Place your smoker bag on a hot grill. The cooking process is the same and the result is just as delicious. And for those who are short on time and are looking for a simple one step process, meat, potatoes and vegetables can all be placed into one bag for a complete meal that is both nutritious and delicious.

A full variety of smoker bags can be found at My Secret Pantry.com.

2008-01-25T17:17:00.000-08:00

Taking A Recipe From The Past - And Never Lose It Again

Sometimes the simplest and most basic solutions are the best. Take organizing recipes for example. Some folks try to organize their recipes online. That’s fine for storage but what do you do when it’s time to actually make the recipe? Put your computer in the kitchen? Even if you have a laptop, the kitchen counter is probably the least safe place you could put it. Liquid and computers don’t mix. You could print the recipe out each time you need it but that’s a real hassle. You could also just run back and forth from your computer to the kitchen. That means of course that you’ll have to memorize each step which again is another hassle.

Why not use the same tried and true solution your great grandmother used, and probably your grandmother and your mother too? The good “old fashioned” recipe box. Of course it doesn’t have to be “old fashioned.” MySecretPantry offers recipe boxes in a variety of designs and materials including stainless steel. Whether you have a modern kitchen or prefer classic country, you can find one to fit your taste. They also offer recipe cards to write or print your favorite recipes on. Stick with what works, organize your recipes today, before they get lost or eaten by the dog. Grab a recipe box and recipe cards today.

Here are two great recipes to get you started.

Molasses Marinated Salmon

2lb Salmon Filets
½ - ¾ cup molasses
2 tbs canola oil
4 tbs soy sauce
2 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp garlic

Whisk molasses through garlic together in bowl. Place salmon filets in a baking dish and pour mixture over the top. Cover and marinate for 1-3 hours.

Remove from refrigerator, uncover, and bake for 9-12 minutes or until the fish flakes easily, at 375 degrees.

Smoked Cheese and Scallion Muffins

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbs baking powder
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp dried thyme leaves crumbled
1 large egg
1 cup milk
½ cup chopped fresh tomato
¼ cup thinly sliced scallions (green onions)
4 oz smoked gouda, provolone, or mozzarella cheese cut into ¼ inch cubes
4 tbs melted butter

Heat oven to 375. Prepare muffin tins with cooking spray (do not use foil or paper cups) Mix dry ingredients, flour through dried thyme, in a large bowl. Whisk egg and milk together in a separate bowl. Stir in tomatoes, scallion, cheese, and butter. Pour mixture over dry ingredients and fold in until mixture is moist. There will be lumps.

Scoop mixture into muffin pans and bake for 25-30 minutes. Makes 12-14 muffins. Serve warm.

My Secret Pantry can assist you with any of your baking needs!

2008-01-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

Cookbook Holder – Counter Clutter or a Truly Useful Kitchen Tool?

Cookbook holder? When this little item first landed in my kitchen, I scoffed. Why add another item to an already full kitchen when you can make due simply placing your cookbook on the counter? And then I actually used the cookbook holder. It was already in the kitchen, I might as well give it a try, right? Here’s what I found.

No more sticky, and unidentifiable, stuff on your cookbook pages. Open up any cookbook in my kitchen and you’ll find myriad stains. Olive oil, barbeque sauce, vinegar, wine, chocolate, you name it; it is permanently embedded in the pages of my books. Guess what? A cookbook holder actually keeps your cookbook clean. Now, instead of guessing what some of the obscured and blurry words are, I can actually read the entire recipe.

No more burning the sauce while you’re trying to find your place. Okay, I admit it. The old can on the book to hold the pages down doesn’t really work. Inevitably the pages will slip out from under the can, the book will close and I lose my place. Typically this means a burnt something while I try to find my place again. Not good. A cookbook holder keeps your book open so this never happens. You never lose your place which means better food and significantly easier meal prep.

Cookbook holders actually look good on the counter. Do you have a few favorite cookbooks? Cookbooks that not only have a few great recipes but also look really pretty? They have pictures inside that look so good they make you want to cook, and eat? Those are the books you put in your cookbook holder and leave on the counter. Not only do they add a touch of class and color to your kitchen. They make you want to cook and eating a good home cooked meal is one of the true luxuries of life.

Where can you find a good cookbook holder? MySecretPantry offers three of the best cookbook holders you’ll ever see. Whether you want to mount it under your cupboard or you want a countertop version that can accommodate any size cookbook, they have what you need. They’re made from beautiful hardwoods and will enhance every kitchen décor and every chef’s life.

2007-12-28T16:28:00.000-08:00

Simple Tips And Tools To Lose Those Holiday Pounds

Holidays are notorious for being a time of indulgence. All those delicious cakes, appetizers, and libations can make your clothing just a little too tight. Not to worry, My Secret Pantry can make taking off those extra pounds fun and delicious.

Here’s how: Rather than grab that frozen pastry for a quick breakfast, why not grab your favorite smoothie ingredients? Smoothies and freshly made juice are a great way to start your day on a healthy note or to slip a healthy snack in. VitaMix Blenders make whipping up a nutritious juice or smoothie quick and easy.

Dieting doesn’t have to be dull or tasteless. Spices, sauces, and seasonings available at My Secret Pantry! They add zing to salad dressings, fish and poultry, and make every meal tasty and special.

A countertop garden makes eating a salad both easy and satisfying. The AeroGarden grows tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, and a wide variety of vegetables easily and quickly. Now you can have a fresh, delicious salad with every meal and watch those extra pounds fade away.

One of the keys to losing weight is to make sure you’re getting the water you need to help your body all the way down to the cellular level. Adding a cup or two of green tea into your daily diet will not only help you get the fluids you need, the ingredients in tea offer substantial health benefits. It’s good for you!

There’s nothing better for a weight loss routine than eating at home where you know exactly what is going into your food. The huge variety of cook’s tools available at My Secret Pantry will help you bring out your inner chef and makes eating at home fun and nutritious.

Take a look at the Nu-Wave Pro Infrared Oven, you can literally cook a five course meal in half the time and it’s all nutritious and delicious.

2007-12-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

Grab 2008 By The Horns And Get Healthy With My Secret Pantry!

Whether your resolution is to have more family and friends over or to get healthier, My Secret Pantry has everything you need. We’re talking serious fun, delicious goodies, and yes, even tools to make getting and staying healthy easy and fun.

A common New Years Resolution is to get and stay healthier. Think how much easier it would be to get and stay healthy if you had a tool that could whip up a nutritious smoothie or glass of fresh juice with the flip of a button. The VitaMix Blender, can split the time of any recipe in half with its high-powered motor, varied speeds, and easy clean up.

Sometimes eating healthy just gets boring. Really, how many plain chicken breasts can you eat before you’re just tired and that giant hamburger looks like the best thing on the planet? Instead of letting that chicken breast get boring, spice it up! My Secret Pantry offers an abundance of seasonings and spices that will bring your healthy foods to life. Whether you like it fiery, tangy, sweet, or savory there is a spice for you. And not just spices, we have sauces too.

During the winter, fresh veggies tend to end up on your plate in fewer quantities. Rather than let the weather affect your diet, grow a salad on your kitchen counter with the AeroGarden. Seriously, you can grow lettuce varieties, tomatoes, green beans, spinach, peppers, eggplant and so much more.

Struggling to make sure you stick to your New Year’s Resolutions isn’t any fun and it won’t help you stick to them. Take advantage of all the tools and resources available at My Secret Pantry to make your New Year everything you want it to be.

2007-12-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

Vita Mix Blenders Take The Cake

Think blenders are just for making smoothies? Think again. There’s a reason the Vita Mix Professional Series Blender is the preferred brand of The Culinary Institute of America®. There’s a reason they use it in their 41 teaching kitchens and bakeshops.

Why you ask?

From A-Z it will make any recipe simple and delicious. Here’s just a small portion of what you can create with your Vita Mix Professional Blender.

Apple Butter
Brie, Roquefort and Toasted Walnut Fondue
Crab Cakes
Dirt and Worms (Chocolate pudding with crushed chocolate cookies and gummy worms)
Lemon Chive Béchamel Sauce
Mango Salsa
Nut Butter, Peanut, Cashew, or Almond
Onion Soup
Whole Wheat Banana Nut Quick Bread
X-Treme Chocolate Peppermint Shake Yogurt
Zucchini with Herbs De Province Sauce

What makes this blender so diverse and capable? The Vita-Mix blade speed offers variable speed adjustments from very slow up to a full 37,000 RPM's, which means recipes that require a delicate touch are just as easy as those that you want to whip into a frenzy. Their patented accelerator tool makes it easy to process thick, dense ingredients that would bring other blenders to a smoking, screeching halt. No other blender is capable of recipes ranging from banana nut bread to Béchamel sauce – and everything in between. To top it all off, this blender practically cleans itself. Simply place a few drops of dish soap and hot water in your blender, turn it on and watch it clean itself – really.

Vita Mix is also dedicated to the continued development of the culinary field. Every purchase of a Vita-Mix® CIA™ Professional Series machine benefits The Culinary Institute of America® Scholarship Fund and directly benefits aspiring chefs.

If you’re looking for the perfect blender, one that comes with a 7-year guarantee, one that can handle any recipe from A-Z, and you like to give a little back to aspiring chefs, Vita Mix is your solution find it at My Secret Pantry.

2007-11-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

Gift Sets, A Perfect Gift For Any Season

Holiday shopping is just about upon us and you’re probably going to be faced with the age-old question, “What do you buy for the person that has it all?”

The answer is actually quite simple – food. No, not a fruitcake, unless your recipient happens to like fruitcake, I’m talking about gourmet spices and rubs - the kind of unique and tasty items that everyone loves to receive. Best of all, there are six varieties to choose from, so you can find the right gift pack for any taste buds or personality.

Choose from:
The Latin Flavor Gift Set with blazing flavors Mesa Rosa Chipotle, San Juan Sazon Spice, Cayman Citrus, Puebla Mole Dryglaze, and Saffron rice.

The Asian Fusion Gift Set with tangy Thai Garden and Mongolian Ginger BBQ spices and a Pan Asian Zing Dryglaze. Add a zing to any Asian meal with Siam Jasmine rice and Emperor's Chinese Black rice.

If the decadent Mediterranean Coast flavors are more to your recipient’s liking then give them the Mediterranean Coast Gift Set with Portofino Risotto Tice, Tuscan Villa, Herbes De Provence, magical dried leeks and shallots and Mediterranean Sea Salt.

For the flavor of India try the Indian Heat Gift Set with Baby Basmati Rice, Himalayan Rice, Punjab Red Tandoori, Kashmir Garam Masala and Bombay Blitz Dryglaze.

And for the folks that would rather stay in the good old USA, how about the American BBQ gift set with a tour of the best BBQ in the country including, Chicago Steak & Chop and Sonoma Pepper, Bayou BBQ, Kansas City Classic Rub & Santa Fe BBQ Dryglaze.

Kick these wonderful gourmet gifts up a notch with a travel book of the area, cookbook, or appropriate cooking utensils and you’ll have a gift that will be appreciated for many years to come.

If exotic spices and rubs do not match your recipient’s personality, what about a Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker for those that like to party or a Find a Cure Hot Chocolate Maker with mugs to benefit Susan G Komen for the Cure.

You can’t go wrong giving the gift of fine food to those hard to buy friends. Come to think of it, you can’t go wrong giving the gift of fine food for the rest of your friends either. It is perfect holiday shopping made easy!

2007-11-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

The Nu-Wave Oven Pro Can Cook a 16-Pound Turkey and More

With the Thanksgiving holiday rapidly approaching, there’s nothing more intimidating than a houseful of guests expecting the perfect turkey. Moist on the inside, crispy brown skin on the outside and done to complete juicy perfection all the way through - it’s enough pressure to make even gourmet chefs quake in their shoes.

Fortunately, smart chefs have found a way to make the process from frozen turkey to perfectly cooked and delicious bird as simple as mashing those potatoes.

How do they make it so easy? The Nu-Wave Oven Pro, a countertop infrared oven, combines the power of conduction, convection, and infrared to cook perfectly moist and tender Thanksgiving turkeys. It also grills burgers, steams veggies, bakes cinnamon rolls and broils fish to perfection – and in less time than it would take you to cook them the standard way.

Without the Nu-Wave extender ring, you can cook up to a 10 lb turkey, however when you add the extender ring, you can increase the capacity of your oven by 50% and can cook up to a 16 lb. turkey. That’s enough turkey to feed 16 people.

It’s important to know that the Nu-Wave oven, the only countertop infrared oven to win the Chefs Best Award, is dishwasher safe, easy to store and it doesn’t produce smoke so your home doesn’t fill up with unpleasant scents. If you’re like many people in this country, doing what you can to save the environment and conserve energy, you’ll be happy to know that the Nu-Wave oven is rated at 1500 Watts compared to most conventional ovens at 3400 Watts, and uses as little as 30% of the energy of conventional ovens.

Because the oven is so versatile you can cook your entire Thanksgiving meal in it. Cook your dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, and even your pumpkin pie before or after you’ve cooked your turkey and your Thanksgiving dinner will be earning 5 star results. The time it takes to get it all done will be cut in half – leaving time to enjoy friends and family instead of being chained to the kitchen.

2007-10-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

What are the benefits of using the Jura-Capresso Coffee Maker vs. the standard coffee maker?

Standing in your kitchen at 6:00 in the morning making coffee is not likely on the top of your favorite things to do list. Separate the filters, measuring the coffee, and praying that it isn’t too strong or worse too weak is not a challenge that many desire first thing in the morning.

Fortunately, someone solved the problem. Imagine getting up in the morning, pushing a button and getting the perfect cup of coffee every single time. Jura-Capresso Coffee Therm Coffee Maker grinds your beans and brews your coffee based on your personal preferences. Simply program your preferences and go. You program the amount of coffee you want to grind, anywhere from 2 to 10 cups and then you choose how strong you like your coffee. The Jura-Capresso does the rest. No paper filters to deal with, the Jura-Capresso comes with a gold tone filter. You also don’t taste the chlorine in your water because this coffee maker has a built in charcoal filter that removes it. When was the last time you could keep a pot of coffee warm for four hours? The Therm coffee maker has a stainless steel thermal vacuum carafe and it doesn’t drip like most coffee pots do.

The last advantage that the Jura-Capresso has over standard coffee makers, it looks gorgeous on your counter top. The high gloss finish is easy to clean and stays shiny. The sleek design fits into any décor. Not to mention the Jura-Capresso coffee makers have concealed cord storage. No more unsightly tangled cords on your counter. The Jura-Capresso line of coffee makers means no more messy filters or grinding your beans yourself, no more bad tasting coffee and no more ugly coffee pot on your counter. Getting up in the morning is looking a lot brighter. MySecretPantry.com is your one stop shop for the Jura-Capresso line.

2007-10-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

There’s nothing better than a rich cup of hot chocolate on a cold, gray winter day. But did you know that all cups of hot chocolate are not equal? It’s true. There’s a big difference between a packet of store bought powder mixed with a cup of hot water and hot chocolate like your grandmother used to make. You remember, the kind of hot cocoa that made you grateful to be a kid and that still can make you smile.

That kind of feeling can be replicated with a ceramic hot chocolate maker. These handy little pots heat your milk to just the right temperature. To top it off, they come with a hand mixer so you can whip that chocolaty goodness into a delicious creamy froth.

Only one thing could make your hot cocoa any better – a deluxe hot cocoa mix like McSteven’s Premium Creamy Chocolate Cocoa or their Double Chocolate Cocoa. Premium cocoa generally offers cocoa that has a high chocolate content and are free of tropical oils are usually 99% caffeine free.

Imagine your next cup of hot chocolate, warm mug in your hands, steaming creamy goodness topped with the perfect amount of chocolaty foam. There’s only one question left to ask, do you top it with whip cream and chocolate sprinkles?

Before winter hits and those cold days start keeping you indoors, stock up on hot chocolate goodies from My Secret Pantry so you can have a premium cup of chocolate whenever the mood grabs you. Grab a hot chocolate maker, a comfortable mug, and a tin, or two, of premium hot cocoa and soon you’ll be in hot chocolate bliss.

2007-08-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

Three Secrets for Grilling

Barbecuing is in full swing! Here are three secrets to better grilling!

Nothing tastes better than a dinner grilled and seasoned to perfection.

There are actually three methods to grill the perfect barbecue meal. You can use a dry rub, marinade, or a juicy sauce. The key to each method are the ingredients or spices that you use and the form the spices take.

For example, ground pepper is much more flavorful when ground fresh and to the size indicated in the recipe. You don’t want large chunks of pepper in a sauce but you might prefer a more coarsely ground pepper if you’re placing the spice right on your meat or vegetable. Additionally, when using dried spiced, take a moment to crush the spices in your fingers or in a bowl. The crushing action releases the flavor and will enhance the meal.

When in doubt, follow the recipe. Here are a few suggestions for each grilling method:

Dry Rubs.

Dry rubs work for any meat choice whether you prefer fish, beef, chicken or pork and they do well to season potatoes and other easily grilled vegetables. For both meats and veggies garlic or freshly ground peppercorns are a quick seasoning. Consider also adding gourmet salt to any vegetable or meat.

To kick it up a notch, try this fantastic dry rub on lamb.

· 2 cloves of garlic, minced.
· 2 tablespoons of dried rosemary
· 1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper.

Combine the ingredients and rub on 4 lamb loin chops. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Grill and eat!

Marinades.

Most any food will benefit from a marinade before grilling, including Portobello mushrooms. Marinades are simply a combination of three ingredients: an acid, oil, and flavorings. Acids can take the form of citrus juices or vinegars, oils and flavorings are up to your imagination. Popular and tasty flavorings are garlic, sugars, and herbs like cumin, oregano, basil, rosemary, mint, and even fennel.

Try this marinade on your choice of meat.

· 2 tbsp soy sauce
· ½ tsp ground ginger
· 1 tbsp lemon zest
· 2 tsp sesame oil
· 1 garlic clove minced
· 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
· 1 tsp brown sugar.

Mix all ingredients together. Place meat, like flank steak or chicken breasts, into a large bowl or resealable bag and add marinade. Refrigerate overnight. Discard marinade, grill and enjoy!

Barbecue Sauces.

Barbeque sauces are perhaps the most common method of flavoring your grilled meats You can make an amazing sauce at home if you have the right spices and seasonings. Mysecretpantry.com also carries a wide variety of grilling sauces.

Try this easy recipe the next time you're tempted to grill and you'll amaze your friends and family with your culinary skills.

· 1 cup chili sauce
· 1 cup ketchup
· ¼ cup steak sauce
· 1 tbsp ground tamarind seeds
· 1 tbsp minced or pressed garlic
· ¼ cup freshly grated horseradish
· 2 tbsp dry mustard
· 1 tbsp hot sauce or Tabasco
· 1 tbsp buckwheat honey.
· 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

Combine all the ingredients together and brush on your grilled meats as they cook. Of course don't forget to save some for dipping.

Mysecretpantry.com has all of your barbeque items and more! Enjoy grilling this summer and don’t forget to spice it up!

2007-07-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Central US Picnic Spots

Picnic season is upon us and seeking the best picnic location is a sport for many. The following are the 10 best picnic locations in the Central United States. Organized by state, they’re evaluated by scenery, accessibility, and amenities.

Nebraska

Nebraska might not top your list of scenic states but a visit to Scotts Bluff National Park is sure to change your mind. Eight hundred feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff is a natural landmark and has served as the path marker for those on the Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express Trails. Today, Scotts Bluff National Monument preserves 3,000 acres of unusual land formations, which rise over the prairie land below.
Picnic at the well-appointed visitor’s center and enjoy the scenic views. After lunch, you can hike the Saddle Rock Trail, drive to the summit, visit the Oregon Trail Museum, and take a step back in time to relive life on the Oregon Trail during Living History programs on summer weekends.

Iowa

Pikes Peak Colorado? Nope, visit Pikes Peak State Park near Marquette, Iowa. This park offers fantastic picnicking opportunities where you can enjoy some of the best views in the Midwest from the overlooks and trail viewing platforms.
In addition to being an ideal picnic location, Pikes Peak State Park has been called a hiker's delight. On its trails, you will find sheer walls of Decorah limestone, and fossil remains including brachiopods, gastropods and cephalopods and no hike is complete without a view of the amazing Bridal Veil Falls.

Illinois

Looking for a place to picnic, run, hike, canoe, fish, camp, bird watch, ride horses, hunt, and scuba dive in the middle of Illinois? Look no further than Kickapoo State Recreation Area near Danville, Illinois.

Named after the Kickapoo, a Native American Tribe, this area has a long and rich cultural history. In fact, many archaeological excavations have provided evidence of a prehistoric village on the Middle Fork River near the park.

Kansas

Smack in the middle of this flat landers state you’ll find Kanopolis State Park in Marquette. The park features a full-service marina, beaches, picnic areas, and trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. There is something for everyone.

Wisconsin

Pattison State Park features the highest waterfalls in Wisconsin and the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to this fantastic landmark, Pattison has three picnic areas with tables, grills, water, and rest rooms. The largest is near the 300-foot sand beach on Interfalls Lake, which also offers a sunning area, and well appointed bathhouse. The 1,436-acre park also has nature programs and guided hikes, a nature center, camping, 9 miles of hiking trails, and abundant wildlife.

Wyalusing State Park offers 170 picnic tables in open shelters. Wyalusing State Park, 500 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers, is one of Wisconsin's oldest parks. You can visit Indian burial mounds, canoe, and spend hours bird watching. It's a place to go for fishing, boating, bicycling, picnicking, and enjoying nature.

Missouri

The Katy Trail State Park, which was built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad, allows visitors today to travel through some of the most scenic areas of the state.
Though there aren’t any designated picnic tables or locations, the smooth, level grade is ideal for bikes or wheelchairs, and the trailheads make restful picnic spots.

After your picnic enjoy a hike along the route of the Missouri River. The trail travels through a variety of landscapes and is an ideal location to spend the afternoon.

Oklahoma

Twin Bridges State Park, near Fairland Oklahoma, is known for a country atmosphere, excellent fishing, lighted boat ramps, campgrounds, lake huts, playgrounds, volleyball court, horseshoe pits and of course amazing picnic facilities. These picnic facilities provide tables, individual shelters and group picnic shelters.

At the opposite end of the state you’ll find Lake Texoma State Park. This 1,882-acre park is Oklahoma's second largest lake, and one of the premier fishing locations in the Southwest. In addition to fishing, the park offers swimming, camping, picnic areas, horseback riding, trail rides, hiking, playgrounds for the children, hiking trails, riding stables, full service marina and guide fishing services.

Arkansas

When in Arkansas you must visit the Arkansas Headwater Recreation Area. The AHRA is home to the Arkansas River, one of the world's most popular whitewater rivers for kayaking and rafting. In addition to water sports there are abundant opportunities for other recreational activities including hiking, wildlife watching, mountain biking, and of course picnicking.

Collegiate Peaks offers a panoramic view of the Arkansas River Valley. For group picnics there is one covered pavilion with 6 picnic tables and two covered pavilions with one picnic table each.

Some fun things to take while picnicking are cookies, barbecue ribs and don't forget that fresh lettuce on your sandwiches!

2007-07-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Southeast Picnic Spots in the United States

Picnic season is upon us and seeking the best picnic location is a sport for many. The following are the 10 best picnic locations in the Southeast United States. Organized by state, they’re evaluated by scenery, accessibility, and amenities.

West Virginia

The Highland Scenic Highway, a designated National Scenic Byway, has four developed scenic overlooks each with picnic tables, rest rooms, and a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The Highland Scenic Highway is the region's highest road - at 4,500 feet above sea level. Interested in a little activity after your meal? Many trailheads are located near each overlook.

North Carolina

Falls Lake State Recreation area, near Wake Forest, offers picnic areas at several locations including:

· Beaverdam
· Highway 50
· Rollingview
· Sandling Beach

All four areas offer outdoor grills, drinking water, restrooms, and tables.

South Carolina

South Carolina is one of those amazing states that simply begs to be explored, however many of the state parks require reservations for the picnic shelters. One spectacular location, available without reservation is Chattooga Picnic Area located in Sumter National Forest. A grand stone and timber picnic shelter provides a reprieve from the summer heat and a curving boardwalk meanders beside a cool streamside forest.

Georgia

Welcome to the rolling green hills of the Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest. Visit the Brasstown Bald Picnic area to take part in all that the forest has to offer. Brasstown Bald offers magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and access to several trailheads ranging in difficulty from easy to moderately hard. The visitor’s center, a half-mile hike from the picnic area, offers a view from atop the highest mountain in the forest.

Florida

Head to the southernmost tip of Florida and you’ll run into a chain of barrier islands extending off the southern tip of Florida in warm, tropical waters otherwise known as the Florida Keys. Look no further than John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo. This park features three picnic and swimming areas, including Cannon Beach where you can find the remnants of an early Spanish shipwreck about 100 feet offshore. Far Beach is the place to relax beneath palm trees and swim in calm waters but the main attraction is an underwater park where you can view the coral reefs and sea grass beds by snorkeling, scuba diving, or taking a glass bottom boat tour.

Alabama

Monte Sano State Park Picnic Area offers three picnic areas that include playgrounds, hiking and biking trails, restrooms, grills, and wheelchair access. Additionally the park offers fishing, a space and rocket center complete with an IMAX theatre, and if golf is your thing then bring your clubs and play a few holes on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Tennessee

Pinson Mounds State Park consists of at least 15 earthen mounds, a geometric enclosure, habitation areas and related earthworks in an area that incorporates almost 1,200 acres. Pinson Mounds is a national historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition to the archeological wonders, the park offers 24 individual picnic areas. Each picnic spot has a table that seats six to eight people and a grill. There are also two large picnic shelters that can accommodate up to 50 people each.

Kentucky

Mammoth Caves National Park. Eat underground? No. But the Mammoth Caves National Park offers Picnic sites at several locations in the park. The Headquarters Picnic Area is located north of the main Visitor Center parking area. Picnic tables are also available at Maple Springs Day-Use Area, Houchins Ferry Picnic Shelter, Dennison Ferry Day-Use Area and Sloan's Crossing Pond.
After your picnic you can take advantage of the many activities that Mammoth Caves has to offer. Of course you can take one of the many cave tours; you can hike, bike, ride your horse, canoe and kayak, take a riverboat ride, watch a film, and stay late to enjoy a campfire program.

Mississippi

Chewalla Lake Recreation Area, located inside Holly Springs National Forest is an ideal setting for family fun and fishing. Chewalla Lake is for those want a natural, tranquil experience with those important amenities that make it easy to please the entire family. Picnic, fish, hike, picnic, or simply lie on the lawn and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds, Chewalla Lake offers it all.
Picnickers will enjoy each of Chewalla Lake's 40 picnic units, which feature a table and grill and a nearby trash receptacle. A covered group picnic pavilion sheltering eight tables can be reserved for $40. The picnic area is handicapped accessible.

Louisiana

Slip out of the big easy and visit Lake D'Arbonne State Park. This 655 acre park comes complete with pine forests, rolling hills, five fishing piers, and a beautiful lake. The visitor’s center offers a swimming pool and a tennis complex. Picnic pavilions are available, or bring your favorite blanket and enjoy this fantastic park the old fashioned way.

2007-06-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

10 Must Haves For Your Next Picnic

Have you ever arrived at your perfect picnic location only to realize that you’ve forgotten something important? With this handy checklist tucked inside your picnic basket, your future will be full of perfect picnics.

Blanket or tablecloth. There’s nothing worse than arriving at a picnic location and finding an absolutely filthy picnic table. Always pack a tablecloth and/or blanket to keep your picnic safe and clean.

Extra plates and utensils. I cannot tell you how many times my children have dropped their plate or fork on the ground at a picnic. Always pack extra plates and utensils to make sure that everyone has what they need.

Napkins. Just like plates and utensils, a busy picnicking family will run out of napkins just when they need them the most. Packing extra napkins or those handy wet naps is a sure way to make sure you always have clean hands.

Bottle opener. Keep this kitchen tool in your basket at all times. In fact, if you can find a bottle opener/corkscrew tool then you’re in good shape.

Bug spray. Doesn’t sound like a picnic item but when you’re without it is when you’ll likely need it the most. Bugs seem to be drawn to picnickers and having spray handy means that your picnic won’t be ruined by biting insects.

Sunscreen. I used to coat my family with sunscreen before we left for an outing and then assume that they’d be safe from burning, however there always seems to be a lake or stream to play in and the sunscreen washes off. Now I keep sunscreen in my car, picnic basket, and purse. Don’t leave home without it!

First Aid kit. Cuts and scrapes happen. If you have a first aid kit with you, they’re no problem. Without it, they can be painful lessons.

Trash bags. Some of the best picnic locations are remote, meaning there isn’t a trash receptacle nearby. Always take an extra bag or two with you and you can easily, and cleanly, carry out your garbage. It’s important to preserve our favorite picnic spots!

Matches. It never fails, you get to the picnic site, pull out the charcoal and hot dogs and guess what? No matches, or worse you have the matches but they’ve fallen into the cooler and they’re soaked. Always pack a book of matches and keep them in an airtight bag or container.

Condiments. Those little ketchups, mustards, salt and pepper, and packets of mayo are lifesavers. You can keep them permanently in your picnic basket and you’ll never be without.

Of course the perfect picnic isn’t complete without a picnic basket or cooler and delicious gourmet food and beverages! Keep this checklist, and these items together inside your picnic basket or cooler and your picnicking future will be delightful and carefree.

2007-05-11T20:51:00.001-07:00

10 Best Southwest Picnic Spots

Picnic season is upon us and seeking the best location is a sport for some. The following are the 10 best picnic locations in the southwest United States. When you go on a picnic at these places you must have the right picnic basket. My Secret Pantry has a complete selection of some very functional picnic baskets.

They’re ranked by scenery, accessibility, and amenities.

10. Mesa Verde, Colorado This amazing national park offers you a glimpse into history. Ancestral Pueblo people resided here for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.
9. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado This Park hosts 31 picnic areas with fire pits, tables, and grills. While picnicking, you can view mighty Bull Elk, marmots, and picas, and a menagerie of birds, bugs and bunnies. After lunch, take part in more than 350 miles of hiking trails or join your children as they take part in one of the park’s many programs just for children. Romantic picnic enjoy a quiet hike or a scenic drive on Trail Ridge Road, which rises to an elevation of more than 12,000 feet.

8. Sedona Canyon, Arizona Of course you could visit the popular Grand Canyon in Arizona but why not visit the location that has been voted the most beautiful place in the United States? Sedona hosts a variety of parks and picnic spots however one of the more beautiful locations is the Red Rock Crossing/Crescent Moon Ranch picnic spot. This beautiful location has Cathedral Rock as a backdrop. Bring a picnic lunch and a pair of binoculars for bird watching. This location offers picnic tables and vaulted toilets.

7. Arches National Park, Utah Arches National Park preserves over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, like the world-famous Delicate Arch, as well as many other unusual rock formations. It is an absolutely amazing experience. The colors, textures, and formations will make you feel like you’re dining on another planet. Both the Devil’s Garden Trailhead and the Visitor center near Courthouse towers host picnic areas with tables, grills, fire pits, and bathroom facilities.
6. Hoover Dam, Nevada or Arizona Lake Mead on the Hoover Dam offers spectacular boating, amazing scenery and a variety of picnic locations to choose from. Visit Shaded picnic areas with tables, water, fire grills, and restrooms are located at Callville Bay Las Vegas Bay Boulder Beach Cottonwood Cove and Katherine.
5. Red Rocks, Nevada Just 10 miles north of the famous city of Las Vegas you’ll find red sandstone cliffs jutting 8000 feet into the air. In addition to a 13 mile loop and several short hikes the conservation area offers Picnic sites at Red Spring and Willow Spring pullouts. Additional pullouts, offering views of wooded canyons and desert washes, are located at Icebox Canyon, Pine Creek Canyon and Red Rock Wash.

4. Taos, New Mexico hosts the Rio National Gorge recreation area where visitors can experience the beauty of the Rio Grande and Red River. Wild Rivers has five developed campgrounds and a picnic area, each with tables, grills, drinking water and restroom facilities. The park also offers 10 hiking trails, 3 bicycling trails, and a 13-mile backcountry byway for those that prefer to see it all from their cars.
3. Angel Peak National Rec Area, New Mexico If you’re seeking isolated beauty and a quiet picnic without the distraction of other visitors, this may very well be the location you’ve been seeking. Off the beaten path, the view from the picnic area is of a rolling expanse of pastel-colored badlands, cliffs and dry washes. The picnic area offers pit toilets, fire grills and concrete table and chairs protected from the harsh sun by metal sun shelters. Want to see something truly amazing, stick around for sunset or plan an evening picnic. It’s a view you’ll never forget.

2. Kodachrome Basin State Park, Utah Another quiet location amongst our top ten, Kodachrome Basin often gets ignored due to it’s famous brothers and sisters. Nonetheless, it’s earned its spot on our top ten. National Geographic actually named this location because of its amazing colors and contrasts. The Park encompasses 2,240 acres and several picnic locations with full facilities, tables, and even a general store if you forgot to pack something!

1. Big Bear Lake, California The forests surrounding Big Bear Lake offer trails for hikers and walkers at all skill levels. For the adventurous, high peaks offer 360-degree panoramas. A Sky Chair takes you to the top of Snow Summit so you can hike down while enjoying spectacular scenic vistas that include superb views of Big Bear Lake and lush forests. Entry into the National Forest is free, but parking requires an Adventure Pass from the U.S. Forest Service. Picnic locations are found throughout the park as well as bathroom facilities.

2007-03-28T23:25:00.000-07:00

Did You Know…How Does the AeroGarden Grow?

You know that the AeroGarden produces spectacular vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit but what you might not know is how it works. How does the AeroGarden grow? It’s actually much simpler than you think. Inside each AeroGarden unit is a small microprocessor programmed to provide an optimal environment for your plants. How does it know what environment to provide? Because you turn the dial on the front of the AeroGarden to tell it what you’re growing. Instantly the humidity, nutrients, and compact fluorescent light requirements are adjusted to meet the needs of your plants.
Even more interesting than the internal microcomputer is the science that goes inside each and every seed and nutrient tablet. AeroGrow scientists have taken years of NASA aeroponic research for large scale operations and patented a small scale, organic approach for the mass market. The seeds are designed for fast growth and a large yield. Each nutrient pellet is derived from minerals salts such as the same type of mineral salts you might find in typical multi-vitamins; and is designed to neutralize your tap water for optimal growing conditions.

2007-03-05T20:52:00.000-08:00

History of Peppermills

Because of its unique flavor and pungent aroma, black pepper (Piper nigrum) has been the most widely traded spice in the world for over three hundred years. Peppercorns from the Piper nigrum plan are bright red berries that turn black when they are dried and harvested. A pepper mill is then used to ground the peppercorns into a powdered spice called pepper.

For centuries, a mortar and pestle were used to crush peppercorns into powdered spice. Since the 14th century in Greece, brass coffee mills performed double duty to ground coffee as well as spices such as pepper. In 1842, the modern pepper grinder was created by Peugeot of France, the famous automobile manufacturer. Peugeot designed the internal grinding mechanism with grinding and channeling grooves that line up to crack the peppercorns and then grind them into powder. This internal mechanism is at the core of the pepper mills manufactured today, whether manually operated or battery operated.

The internal mechanism of a pepper mill can be made from stainless steel, nylon or ceramic and each material has its own benefits. Stainless steel is extremely durable, nylon won't corrode and ceramic is strong and porous. Pepper grinders with a mill crank are turned manually to grind pepper. Battery operated mills and mills with squeeze handles practically operate themselves and involve less labor.

The outer of the unit of the pepper mill can be made of wood, metal, glass or plastic and is designed to be decorative. Pepper grinders are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and some pepper grinders are even handcrafted from special woods such as ebony or teak. There are even pepper grinders that have built-in salt shakers on the top.

Fresh pepper also offers a wealth of health benefits. Pepper stimulates taste buds to increase hydrochloric acid secretion and improve digestion. Black pepper prevents gas, helps to naturally promote sweating and urination and has antibacterial and antioxidant effects. Also, a little know benefit is the outer layer of the peppercorn actually stimulates the breakdown of fat cells.

Australian food specialist Simon Johnson sums up pepper grinding the best in his book Providore. He accurately states that if you could only take one spice to a desert island with you, it would have to be pepper because nothing compares to the aromatic hit of freshly ground pepper.

2007-03-05T20:40:00.000-08:00

Simple Tips to Get Started In Aeroponics

Adventurous growers have found that creating small-scale aeroponic systems is a fun and easy thing to do.

While aeroponic and hydroponic systems vary slightly in how they distribute nutrients to plant root systems, the cost of the small-scale systems is relatively the same.

Hydroponic systems work by providing a continuous flow of water and nutrients over the roots of your plants whereas aeroponic systems provide a generally consistent mist of nutrients and water onto the roots.

Both systems are available online or in stores as ready-made kits. Prices for a store bought kit begin around $150 and can go as high as $3000. Ready-made kits are wonderful for the first time grower or if you have limited space to garden indoors.

If you're more of a do-it-yourselfer, then home-made systems are an option and are limited only by your imagination.

Four requirements for a home system:
1) Support the plants above your nutrient solution.
2) Aerate your solution to provide oxygen to the roots.
3) Prevent light from reaching the roots by enclosing them in a supported structure.
4) Provide adequate light to the plant via exposure to natural sun or by using grow lights.
Styrofoam, aquarium pumps, and hangers have been used by the resourceful grower; just remember to take the size of your mature plant into consideration. For example; tomato plants need plenty of room for upright growth and support.
Short plants like lettuce and some herbs will usually support themselves but will need room to spread out. PVC pipe with holes drilled in it for each plant can work well. Additionally, if you're opting for an aeroponic system, small sprayers can be bought for $.50 online or at your local nursery.
First time growers can spend as little or as much as you'd like to get your system up and running but once you've established a system your costs are minimal. Besides nutrients, kits generally cost about $30-$40, the only other purchase you will have to make are the plants or seeds and that's the fun part!

2006-08-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

Seasoned Skewers

Seasoned Skewers started with a simple, but revolutionary, idea: what if we added flavor to our food from the inside out? In a world of marinades, sauces and rubs, flavor just doesn't make it all the way inside. But what if the sweet tang of your barbecue chicken actually got past the skin? Imagine the center of your roast having the same garlic herb taste as the crust. Now you can with our Seasoned Skewer Kits. A full selection of flavors are available at mysecretpantry.com that include, Citrus Rosemary, Garlic Herb, Honey Bourbon, Indian Mango Curry, Mexican Fiesta and Thai Coconut Lime.