Product Review: Dishers

I admit, I am a closet kitchen gadget lover. It's a trait I inherited from my mom, who loves to have all the new and cutest kitchen gear available. However, I've been blessed (and yes I say blessed) with small kitchens and limited drawer/counter space since I've had my own space to clutter up.

So I've had to curb my desires for fun stuff and go for functional instead. "Everything must serve many purposes" is my mantra, adopted from Alton Brown of Food Network's Good Eats.



Looking at dishers, those shiny kitchen devices that resemble ice cream scoopers, they appear to take up a lot of drawer space for perhaps only one purpose. However, I have to say that once I gave in and tried it, I would highly recommend getting one small to medium size disher for your own kitchen.

They're great for scooping cookies of equal sizes, forming meatballs, even measuring pancake or muffin batter. I have a smallish one that is perfect for mini-muffins, and if I need to make bigger muffins, I just use two scoops instead of one.

Yes, it takes up room in the drawer, but it's handy for so many things. If you have a disher, what size is it, and how do you like to use yours?

A Review: Worcestershire Sauce

I was once told by a timid cook that she was afraid of Worcestershire sauce. There's nothing to be afraid of here! (Except perhaps spelling it correctly.) This dark lovely condiment is a fermented combination of a dozen or so ingredients which may include vinegar, molasses, high fructose corn syrup, anchovies, water, onions, salt, garlic, custard, tamarind concentrate, cloves, and natural flavorings.

Worcestershire sauce is greatly versatile and can be used in both cooked and uncooked food. It can serve as a part of a marinade or as a steak sauce. It can be integrated into meatloaf and burgers or added to Chex mix to give it that extra special enhancement.

Sometimes I like to add it to things just to see what happens.

Yes, that picture above is of a whopping 18-ounce bottle of Worcestershire sauce. How long does it take for a family of two adults and two small children to get through 18 ounces of Worcestershire sauce? A LONG stinkin' time. But we did it! :oD

Product Review: Floured Baking Spray

Can I just make an editorial comment here? The No-Stick Cooking Spray with Flour is a product made by Crisco.

I was enamored by the amazing commercial footage which touted how easy it would make baking for me and how efficient and quick preparing pans would soon become. Have you ever seen those commercials?

Well, I'm here to tell you that it DOES work. It IS faster than greasing and flouring a pan the old fashioned way. However, it's not nearly as glamorous as the commercials made it out to be. For one thing...

1. The spray does not stay a floury white after spraying onto the pan. It turns clear like any other spray.
2. The product DOES coat fairly evenly, but a few applications may be necessary for the corners.
3. And the nozzle collects this horrid yellow goo at the top after just a couple consecutive sprays. Gah!

Needless to say, this is a two-sided review of Crisco's No-Stick Cooking Spray with Flour. While it's an effective product for those bakers out there who are in a hurry, if you get grossed out easily, then perhaps you ought to stick to tradition and get out the paper towel and shortening.