Skinny Bitch_ Ultimate Everyday Cookbook - Kim Barnouin [35]
LE CREUSET: A standard in professional kitchens and restaurants around the world, industry giant Le Creuset carries everything from enameled cast iron and frying pans to textiles and kitchen accessories. Another great option for those who appreciate bright accents for cooking.
www.lecreuset.co.uk.
COPPER POTS
Perfect for quick warm-ups or foods that cook quickly like beans, lentils, soups, and sauces. They distribute heat evenly and are typically lined with tin or stainless steel so the copper doesn’t find its way into the food. You will have to give copper pots a bit more TLC as the exterior really wears its age and use, but it’s a great, safe choice in cookware. Note: Copper pots can contain nickel. If you have a nickel allergy, check with a retail associate or the company you’re purchasing from to make sure you’re in the clear.
360 COOKWARE
I use this energy-efficient cookware line more than my blow-dryer. 360 Cookware uses vapor technology to heat food at lower temperatures without any excess water or added fats. Using food’s natural moisture, it cooks evenly from all sides while preserving the flavor, texture, and healthy vitamins and nutrients. Because it cooks food so quickly, it continues to save my ass in a pinch.
QUICK TIP: IF YOU NEED TO WHIP UP SOMETHING QUICKLY, 360 COOKWARE IS A GODSEND. FOR AN EASY SIDE DISH, I HEAT UP TWO TABLESPOONS OF OLIVE OIL, TWO TABLESPOONS OF WHITE WINE, A TEASPOON OF EARTH BALANCE AND A PINCH OF SALT AND PEPPER. THROW IN SOME VEGGIES LIKE BROCCOLI OR CAULIFLOWER, COVER AND SIMMER FOR A FEW MINUTES. VOILÀ! YOU GOT YOURSELF A NUTRITIOUS DISH.
STAINLESS STEEL
Available at most grocery stores and cooking retailers, stainless steel pots and pans are durable, easy to clean, resistant to stains, chips and rust, and they don’t affect the flavor of foods.
Cutting Boards
These aren’t just any cutting boards. These are tree-huggin’ cutting boards made for healthy living. Cut the shit and start cutting on something that doesn’t wear down Mother Earth.
TERRA VERDE BAMBOO CUTTING BOARDS
This sexy, two-toned bamboo cutting board is chemical- and dye-free. The makers hand-select the bamboo to ensure they are not using varieties that are food sources nor habitats for the Giant Panda.
www.amazon.com
BITCHWORTHY: BAMBOO IS 16 PERCENT HARDER THAN MAPLE. THE STRONGER, DURABLE SURFACE EQUALS FEWER KNICKS, WHICH CAN HARBOR NASTY BACTERIA. BAMBOO’S NATURAL DENSITY IS ALSO WATERPROOF TO SCARE AWAY GERMS AND BACTERIA.
BLACK EPICUREAN CUTTING SURFACES
Made from an earth-friendly natural wood fiber laminate, Epicurean cutting boards are maintenance-free and heat resistant up to 350°F. Basic and nice on the wallet, they are a good choice for the beginner chef.
www.surlatable.com
PRESERVE PAPERSTONE RECYCLED PAPER CUTTING BOARD
Scraps put to good use. Designed with a petroleum-free coating and 100-percent post-consumer recycled paper, this board is a conversation starter. It’s tough against use, dishwasher safe, non-porous, and affordable. Time to start planning your next dinner party.
www.bedbathandbeyond.com
THE SKINNY: CLEANING A CUTTING BOARD
YOU WEREN’T GOING TO LET IT SIT THERE ON THE COUNTER, COLLECTING DUST, FOOD BUILD-UP AND STAINS, WERE YOU? IF YOU WANT TO GET A LIFETIME OF USE OUT OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL BOARDS, WASH WITH CARE. DETERGENTS AND DISHWASHERS CAN BE ROUGH ON THESE GUYS AFTER CONTINUOUS WASHES. ALWAYS SCRUB WITH HOT WATER AND MILD SOAP, AND DRY WITH A CLEAN TOWEL. TO GO THE EXTRA MILE, CREATE YOUR OWN ANTIBACTERIAL SPRAY:
DO-IT-YOURSELF ANTIBACTERIAL SPRAY
1. : GRAB A SPRAY BOTTLE OR SPRITZER
2. : POUR IN TEN DROPS OF PURE LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL
3. : ADD ONE CUP OF WATER
4. : SHAKE WELL
5. : SPRAY ON CUTTING BOARD AND DO NOT WASH OFF
Beyond the Essentials
Once you start getting the hang of things in the kitchen, cooking can get addictive. You spend your free time looking for new recipes and walking through the aisles of Sur La Table aimlessly. Before you know it, you’re pulling all-nighters to make pistachio cookies for your