A 'Sweet' New Ritz Cupcake Apron

Cupcake fans will definitely want this new Ritz cupcake apron that I just discovered on Amazon. It is a 100 percent cotton twill apron, machine washable of course, which is done in a very appealing cupcake print on a blue background. There is just something so 'sweet' about it, pun intended.

It is a perfect gift for anyone who is in love with cupcakes and, best of all, it is priced at less than $20 on Amazon. Add to your order a couple of packages of sprinkles or a cupcake cookbook, and Amazon will ship your purchases to you for FREE.



Quick Links:

Order this cupcake apron from Amazon.
Find lots more cupcake aprons on Crazy About Cupcakes? Tie on a Cupcake Apron!

Mini Cupcake Maker Bakes Up Big Batches of Fun

Cupcakes are all the rage and this top-rated mini cupcake maker is a customer favorite. Whether you just need a few cupcakes or you're looking for a way to bake cute mini cupcakes without heating the oven, this is the perfect new kitchen appliance.

The nonstick surface makes this electric cupcake baker easy to clean and easy to use for quick cupcakes, muffins, or cornbread.  One satisfied customer even uses it for brownies! You or your favorite young kitchen helper can bake seven cupcakes at a time using standard mini-cupcake paper liners. Use one of the recipes included in the box or any storebought cake mix.

This mini cupcake maker would make a wonderful gift for a parent or grandparent to use to help teach a child or the grandkids to bake. One customer loves it for slumber parties. Empty-nesters or seniors who are learning to cook for two again will love that they can bake just a small batch at a time.

Decorations not included, but what a great way to get a head start on a cute, trendy, mini dessert that everyone will love. Click here to order the Smart Planet Mini Cupcake Maker - eligible for free super saver shipping at Amazon.com.

Shish-Kebab Skewers for the Grill

Summer's a great time for grilling, and grilled shish-kabobs are a fun and delicious meal to serve to family or to company. Besides the meat and veggies, you'll need a good set of skewers. We like these unusual but very functional Fire Wire Stainless Steel Flexible Grilling Skewers.

The Fire Wire skewers are long, so they'll hold plenty of food. They're also flexible, so they'll conform to the shape of your grill. Another feature satisfied customers like is the fact that the ends of the skewers hang out over the sides of the grill, staying cool enough to turn with your bare hands. One happy customer posted a video review with a demonstration. Look for it here among all the great 5-star reviews.

Another nice feature for those who like to prepare food ahead of time is that you can put the meat and vegetables on the skewers and then put them in the marinade. Since the skewers are flexible, it's easy to fit them into a bowl or a bag with the marinade. After your company has arrived and the grill is ready, simply lift the kabobs out of the marinade and place them on the grill.

Fire Wire skewers are available in a set of two, so you'll likely want to order a couple or more sets. We think this top-rated skewer set is a bargain and would make a wonderful gift for your favorite king or queen of the grill.

Quick links:
Buy Fire Wire Stainless Steel Flexible Grilling Skewers here
Find some great shish-kebab recipes here

Fun Tableware! Invite Some Ants To Your Picnic!

A summer dinner is even more fun with some fantastic dinnerware or accessories like this red gingham and ant earthenware serving platter.  Piled high with hot dogs or sandwiches, it will add a lot of summertime fun to your picnic table. 

This 16 inch by 11 inch oval platter features a red and white gingham pattern and a hand-painted ant design. A round serving platter is also available.

Boston Warehouse also features this checked pattern in a three-piece serving bowl set, a condiment set, a plate set and they even have an ant-shaped salt and pepper shaker.

These red and white dishes are a lot of fun, positively brilliant for summer entertaining. I would be serving my best-ever glazed baked ham on the platter and my best-ever Hawaiian potato salad in one of the serving bowls.  Naturally, you can use the pieces however you wish.

I was thrilled to see more additions to the ant collection this year on Amazon. Don't forget that Amazon offers FREE shipping on orders worth $25 or more.

Whatever you choose to serve on these pieces, they are sure to inspire a smile. The Boston Warehouse collection would be a top-rated gift choice for anyone who loves entertaining in the summer or for anyone who loves and collects ants!

Quick Links:

Boston Warehouse Red Gingham Ant Collection on Amazon.

My complete best-ever recipe collection.

JA Henckels Carving Knife Set

The J.A. Henckels Carving Knife Set is one of Amazon's top quality carving sets, perfect for carving your baked ham, roast turkey or roast beef.

This set includes both a carving knife and a fork to make slicing your ham easy. The blades are high-carbon, stainless-steel and welded to synthetic black three-rivet full-tang handles.



Henckel knives are definitely known to be amongst the best knives that you can buy.  I cannot imagine a better gift for the kitchen ~~ whether it be for your Mother's established kitchen on Mother's Day or for the newlyweds as a wedding gift.  A gift of a top-quality knife set lasts a lifetime plus, if you purchase this set from Amazon right now, you will be buying a $260 knife set for just $100.  A pretty amazing bargain on a beautiful gift item.



Quick Links:

Buy your Henckels, J.A. Knife Set from Amazon.
Check out my Best-Ever Glazed Baked Ham Recipe.

French Bull Mosaic Patterned Apron

I'm in love with French Bull's mosaic patterned apron. This weekend when I baked my ham and pulled on my old apron, I was reminded of this one. Somehow it just makes me think 'baked ham.' If I had an apron for every meal, I would surely strap this one on when I threw together our holiday baked ham.

A brilliant combination of color and pattern in a bold design by designer Jackie Shapiro, the mosaic pattern (just one of French Bull’s distinctive apron designs) has origins from South America and South East Asia.

There is something about the fresh, colorful pattern that draws me in and the pink, of course, makes me think ham.  Made of an oxford cloth in 100 percent cotton, it is, of course machine washable.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that there are some coordinating melamine dishes available! This apron just left my ham dinner and became my BBQ apron!

This apron would be a wonderful gift for anyone who wants to stir up a little fun in their own kitchen or as a hostess gift, a wedding gift or even a Mother's Day gift. It is sure to please someone on your shopping list, adding a couple of the melamine plates, table linens or serving pieces would elevate an already special gift choice into an extra special one.



Quick Links:

Check out French Bull's Mosaic apron and dishes on Amazon.
The Best-Ever Glazed Baked Ham Recipe.

Pillivuyt Porcelain Asparagus Drainer and Server

Springtime is asparagus time where I live and I cannot wait for the first tender spears of asparagus to appear at the local farmer's market.

The Pillivuyt factory in France makes classic and unusual porcelain pieces of the highest quality. They use old-time craftsmanship combined with modern techniques to create unique items for today’s cooks.

Imported from France for us by a seller on Amazon, this top-quality porcelain asparagus drainer is oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. It is a practical piece, is simple and elegant at the same time, plus it is lead and cadmium free.

Asparagus is a key ingredient in my Easter dinner menu and the Pillivuyt porcelain asparagus drainer and server would make a beautiful presentation piece on any Easter table.  A top-rated gift choice for springtime, for Easter or a for wedding or wedding shower.



Quick Links:

Buy the Pillivuyt Porcelain asparagus drainer and server from Amazon.
See my complete Easter dinner menu.

The Best Asparagus Pot or Steamer

Cooking asparagus in an asparagus pot is the best method as it allows the tougher end part of the asparagus to boil in the water while the rest is steamed.

If you love asparagus, you might want to invest in an asparagus pot.  This one, the All-Clad stainless asparagus pot with steamer basket, is Amazon's top-rated asparagus pot. It is a tall, thin 2-quart cooker, ideal for cooking asparagus perfectly. Made of a high-quality 18/10 stainless steel with a polished inside and satin outside.

Extensive details about this pot are available on Amazon by clicking right here but in short let me say that it is Amazon's bestselling, top-rated pot and that it comes with a solid warranty.

Amazon customer Esther Schindler said, "I'd wanted an asparagus pot for years, but somehow could never bring myself to purchase one. Who needs another single-purpose item? Just how much asparagus do I think I'm going to eat? Yet, as others have pointed out, this is less a one-item pot than it initially seems. It'll be perfect for a couple of ears of corn on the cob, for hard-boiling eggs, and for steaming a few artichokes."

Another top-rated kitchen tool for the cook in your life or, for even, for you.



Quick Links:

Buy this asparagus pot from Amazon.
Visit my traditional Easter dinner menu plan.

Recipes For Asparagus

Asparagus lovers rejoice; it is almost asparagus season. If you are looking for some fantastic recipes for asparagus, check out this cookbook, The Asparagus Festival Cookbook, which was written by Jan Moore, Barbara Hafly and Glenda Hushaw and which promises many wonderful, top-rated recipes.

This asparagus cookbook was written after the first hugely successful three-day Asparagus Festival in Stockton, California in 1986.

The festival attracts a huge crowd of asparagus lovers every year in April where the highlight no doubt is ‘Asparagus Alley.’ Under the big tent, cooks prepare this delicious, nutritious vegetable for the crowds.

The Asparagus Festival Cookbook shares many of the prize-winning recipes from the cook-offs over the years. It would make a wonderful Easter time or springtime gift for the cook in your life.



Quick Links:

Find more ideas for your Easter dinner at A Tasty and Traditional Easter Dinner Menu.
Buy this collection of recipes for asparagus from Amazon for just $5.95.

Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Taker

The Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Taker is one of the BEST cake carriers out there.  If you have someone on your gift giving list who bakes a lot of cakes and cupcakes, you just might want to consider gifting him or her with this top-rated kitchen tool.

Owners everywhere love it because it makes transporting cakes and cupcakes so easy.  The base is reversible. One side (shown) holds 18 cupcakes and the other side, which is flat, holds a single- or double-layer rectangular cake.

Even if you don't carry cakes to school events, church outings, picnics or parties, this top-quality Tupperware product is perfect for keeping your baked goods fresh.

This cake taker works like a charm, is sturdy, dishwasher friendly and, perhaps most importantly, backed by Tupperware's LIFETIME warranty. 

To read a complete review of the Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Taker, click here. To place your order on Amazon, just follow the link shown below.



Quick Links:

Order your Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Carrier from Amazon.
A Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Taker Review.

Happy St. Patrick's Day Cookie Bouquet

A cookie bouquet filled with St. Patrick's day goodies right down to the green beer! A hand decorated pot of gold cookie along with leprechauns, shamrocks and a rainbow complete the St. Patty's day cookie bouquet. Each cookie is carefully hand decorated by a cookie artist, carefully packed, and then shipped out to the customer. What a unique and delicious way to say Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick`s Day

Quick Link:
Gourmet Cookie Bouquets for All Occasions

The Manga Cookbook

The Manga Cookbook teaches international readers about Japanese cuisine. It was created by Manga University for fans who have wondered what the manga characters were eating in the comic books that they love to read. Adults as well and children will enjoy learning how to make popular Japanese dishes. Everything is explained step by step with comic illustrations. The Japanese are very concerned with the presentation of the dish and that comes through in this cookbook. The Manga Cookbook covers beautiful Japanese garnishing tricks as well as basic recipes for steamed rice and noodles. A few reviewers complain that some of the ingredients called for and some of the instructions are vague, but over all it gets great reviews and has reached the top of Amazon's list of Japanese cookbooks. If you know a manga fan that likes to cook, surprise them with this unique and fun cookbook!

Quick Link:
The Manga Cookbook

Martha Stewart Blue Collection

Looking for a top-rated and practical gift for someone who loves her robin's egg blue kitchen? One that will stand the test of time? That will last forever? Then you might want to consider the small kitchen appliance collection by Martha Stewart and KitchenAid.

These two great businesses have joined together to make a beautiful series of kitchen tools that have a solid reputation as workhorses, including the KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5-Speed Blender shown here. The line also includes a stand mixer, a hand mixer and a food processor, all worthy contenders of a gold medal in the kitchen.



Quick Links:

Read more about Martha Stewart's Blue Collection at:  Martha Stewart Blue Collection KitchenAid Appliances and Home Kitchen Tools

What a "Delish" Apron for a Rachael Ray Fan!

You don't have to be a Rachael Ray fan to love this bright yellow "Delish" apron, but it's definitely a fan favorite! What a fun gift this would make for a special cook or foodie in your life. Pair it with a Rachael Ray cookbook for a unique wedding shower gift. The apron is also available in khaki or white, and in a longer version as well as children's size, perfect for your favorite kitchen helper or future TV chef!



Quick links:
Find this "Delish" apron on Zazzle.com
More about Rachael Ray

The Lenox Butterfly Meadow Dinnerware Set

What a gorgeous dinner-ware set! The Lenox Butterfly Meadow dinner-ware set is a lovely one and it is striking my fancy for a number of reasons. The first is that it is a beautiful mix-and-match fine china set featuring butterflies and flowers, which can be used everyday.

Not only is it beautiful, it is also practical and is safe from the freezer to the oven and to the table as well as in the microwave and the dishwasher.

It is one of Amazon's top-rated dinnerware sets and, if you do not care for Corelle, the Lenox dishes set moves from 8th place on Amazon's bestselling list to 1st place.

This dinnerware set by Lenox features outstanding Amazon customer reviews and is currently on sale for 60 percent off PLUS it ships for free which makes it a pretty good deal. Now if only I needed a new set...but maybe you do?

Lenox says that with this set, you will "create a buzz at your table with this dinnerware set filled with images of butterflies, bumblebees, dragonflies, and flowers."



Quick Links:

Read more about the The Lenox Butterfly Meadow dinnerware set at Amazon.

Mr. Bar-B-Q Cast-Iron Ribbed Fajita Platter Set

Mr. Bar-B-Q Cast-Iron Ribbed Fajita Platter Set is a top rated gift for anyone who loves to get in the kitchen and make wonderful meals. The Cast Iron Fajita Platter Set is the perfect way to make sizzling hot fajitas and also works great for serving other types of food like steaks and vegetables.
Heavy cast iron absorbs and retains heat at the high temperatures required for searing strips of steak or chicken, as well as green peppers and onions. This Fajitas Platter Set has special ribs in the platter which raise the meat above the grease, which can then be poured off by means of two lips, one on either side. In addition, the set contains a padded mitt for safety, as well as an oval, lacquered wooden base to keep the cast-iron platter from slipping during serving.  Mr. Bar-B-Q covers the fajita set with a five-year warranty.
Here is an easy to fix Chicken Fajitas Recipe you can make when your Fajita Platter Set arrives!

Presto 02970 Professional Salad Shooter Electric Slicer and Shredder Review

The Presto 02970 Professional Salad Shooter Electric Slicer and Shredder is an amazing, top-rated and AFFORDABLE kitchen tool. Small and compact, we use it regularly in our house for grating cheese for our pizzas and for grating carrots for our salads and even for our best-ever carrot cake recipe.

We are not the only ones who rave about the Salad Shooter by Presto. Here is what a few of Amazon's customer reviewers have had to say:

"After reading the reviews, I was still a little skeptical and thought could shredding cheese really be that easy? Well it's easy, breezy and completely mess free!! The parts you do use are dishwasher safe so you're done with your shredding and cleaning in minutes. The motor is powerful and the slicer works great as well. I cannot imagine being without this neat gadget in my kitchen!" ~~ Marla

"I use this for one thing and one thing only...this thing rocks for shredding cheese!" ~~ K. Daum

"I used to spend hours and many layers of skin shredding cheese for enchiladas, lasagna, cassaroles, etc. and the salad shooter makes quick, easy and painless work of the whole process! Since we started eating healthier, whipping up a quick salad is an effortless task with this product and clean-up is a snap!" ~~ S. Myers

If you have been thinking about buying a Presto Salad Shooter I cannot help but politely wonder what you are waiting for. It really is a wonderful kitchen tool and would make a fantastic gift for any and all of the home cooks on your list.

If you are undecided, maybe Amazon's remarkable 40 percent discount will convince you. The Professional Presto Salad Shooter list price is $69.99. Amazon's sale price? Just $42. You save almost $28, a whopping 40 percent!

A wonderfully practical top-rated kitchen gift.




Quick Links:

Read my complete Presto SaladShooter Review.
Buy your Presto 02970 Professional Salad Shooter Electric Slicer and Shredder from Amazon.
Check out The Best-Ever Carrot Cake Recipe.

Waechtersbach's Heart-Shaped You Are Special Today Plate

Do you own a Waechtersbach You Are Special Today plate? For many families, a You Are Special Today plate is a time-honoured tradition.

This heirloom-quality, heart-shaped plate is beautiful and perfect for Valentine's Day as well as for celebrations throughout the year. Use it to celebrate birthdays, graduations, promotions, jobs well done and goals achieved.

Use a You Are Special Today plate to make any day extra special. If you want this for Valentine's Day, you'll have to act right away (and consider upgrading the shipping method to a faster method in order to make sure you have it on time.)

You can read about Waechtersbach's complete collection of You Are Special plates and mugs at Waechtersbach Plate: A You Are Special Today Family Tradition or order yours from Amazon by clicking right here.

Quick Links:

Waechtersbach Plate: A You Are Special Today Family Tradition
Order your You Are Special Today plate from Amazon.

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers

This beautiful KitchenAid mixer has 1,376 five star reviews at Amazon so we can safely say it is a top-rated gift. It is the work horse of the kitchen and cooks rely on its sturdy, dependable service. A flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip are included, as is a one year warranty. Making cookie dough, pizza dough, creaming butter, mixing meat loaf, and whipping egg whites are all jobs that the KitchenAid handles with ease. The KitchenAid Artisan Mixer makes baking a breeze and you will not know how you got along without it. This is a great gift that any cook or baker will appreciate at any time of the year!

Quick Link:
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers
This item qualifies for free shipping.

Flirty Aprons' Sexy Pink Valentine's Day Apron

Another lovely Valentine's Day apron, this one is sexy and flirty.

Perfect for any woman who loves to cook and wants to look good in the kitchen, I think it would be an absolutely adorable Valentine's Day gift.

It features long, adjustable neck ties which allow it to fit every waist, from 20 to 75 inches and also has flattering scooped sides and curved base.

Made of a sturdy yet soft designer fabric with 2-ply construction and strong stitching to hold up for years of use.

Flirty Aprons won't fade and they won't disappoint. They actually have nine fun patterns, from this one called 'Chic Pink' to 'Pink Chocolate' and 'Frosted Cupcake.' You can see all of Flirty Aprons' aprons at Amazon by clicking right here.



Quick Links:

Buy this Flirty Apron from Amazon.
Find A Sweet Heart Apron For Valentine's Day.