Reviews Are In: Kitchen

It's true. Silicone Bakeware is not perfect. However, it is absolutely light years ahead of the old fashioned caked-on, crusty, uneven-baking pans of yesterday.

My advice: invest in high-quality silicone bakeware from a known brand name. I made the mistake of buying Smartware when it first came out. No so smart. It was deemed "advanced and revolutionary." But for starters, the pieces weren't even of standard size. Who uses a 6 cup muffin pan! And their cookie sheet liner was measly.

However, I decided to give silicone another chance. My husband and I love angel food cake. But we haaaate the cleanup of the metal pan.

So, we sprung for a KitchenAid® Silicone Tube Cake Pan. After the first day, we threw

the old metal pan in the trash! The silicone pan was amazing. We're talking gorgeously even baking to a rich toasty brown. We both call it "photo quality" cake!

It's all we use now and we plan to give KitchenAid's other silicone products a try.

For me, coffee is almost more essential than breathing on some days

I love the stuff...and am forever on the quest for the best brews, richest coffee beans and smoothest blends. Years back when I visited Paris, I quickly learned that the French have us beat when it comes to coffee. I didn't speak the language, so I struggled to get details about their heavenly brew from the hostess at our hotel. I couldn't see the contraption they used, but finally did extensive research when I got back home.

It's called the French Press. The beauty is in its simplicity. I got one for my birthday back in August. I have been in coffee nirvana ever since.

How to brew French Press coffee:
1) Buy coarsely ground beans (This is the best type for the French Press).
2) Measure out the proper amount (My press came with its own scoop. I double it, since I like my coffee very rich.)
3) Pour hot water over the grounds.
4) Stir water and ground to ensure saturation of grounds.
5) Let stand for 4-5 minutes.
6) Press down plunger slowly. This pushes the grounds to the bottom and separates them before pouring.
7) Pour into your cup and enjoy.

Trust me, you'll never go back to your wimpy coffee maker again.

I own the Bodum 3-cup French Press coffee maker. It's perfect for single servings--which is great for me, since my other half doesn't do coffee. I'll be buying a larger press soon for when we have company. I can't wait to serve them the best coffee I know of!

Take it on the road!
I also found a great way to grab your French Press and go, with the French Press Commuter Mug. It means you can just pour your water and go. Then, 5 minutes into your commute, you're sipping away at your rich, yummy java. Believe me, it's saved me from road rage on more than one occassion.

The key with the French Press Commuter Mug is to make sure you use coarsely ground beans! I made the mistake of using regular grind one day and got a bit of gritty grounds with my first sip. Eek.

Have you tried a French Press? Tell us what you think!