Snack Time

If you are looking for a snack that won't stretch your waistband, try pretzel crisps by Snack Factory. This is a better version of the pretzel because it is thinner and crispier and less calories. I have not had these before and I decided to try the garlic parmesan. They were crunchy and flavorful. It felt like I was eating a piece of Italian goodness. About 10 crackers is 110 calories and these are more filling then they might seem. They are also pretty large, so it's not like you are eating mini pretzels. One of the cool things about this bag is that there are ideas for 10 second appetizers. This one was to melt a piece of mozzarella on the crisp and then top with a cherry tomato and basil. I will be making this, except I would use a sundried tomato. This would be perfect for a small get together or for a wine and cheese night. They have many different flavors, so this is definitely a snack that you need to try!

Potatoes with a Twist

This may look like an ordinary potato, but I assure you that it is not. I had an extra baking potato hanging out in my frig and wanted to do something more than just microwave it. This is a version of the classic baked potato I found on Pinterest, that is not only fun to eat but full of flavor. This is called a Hasselback potato. Apparently, the name came from a restaurant in Sweden called the Hasselbacken Hotel Restaurant and is their version of the baked potato. Anyways, I found this on Pinterest (of course) on a blog called Seasaltwithfood. It was super simple to make and definitely more fun to eat than a plain, microwaved potato.

You can find the full recipe on my Pinterest board or on the Seasaltwithfood blog. Let me just break it down for you. Slice a potato almost all the way through and sprinkle with salt and pepper. The recipe calls for sliced garlic to be placed in the slots, but I only had minced garlic. I just took a knife and spread some on the top and then in between the slices. Top with a bit of butter and bake at 425 for 40 minutes or until the outside is crispy and the inside is tender. I decided to be a little unhealthy and add a bit of shredded cheddar cheese to mine. I wanted to play with my food, so I finished cutting the slices all the way through and ate potato like "chips", but you can also eat it with a knife and fork. This is a "neutral" food, where you can do pretty much whatever you like to it. You can sprinkle on fresh herbs or add different cheese to it. Whatever you decide to do, you will make this potato the shining star and definitely something people will talk about. So go ahead and slice, bake, and play with your potato!

Essential Kitchen Tools

The kitchen is a place where magic happens and you can create some of the most wonderful things for your tummy. However, without the right tools it can be very time consuming. Creating the perfect toolbox for the kitchen doesn't have to expensive or overwhelming. What I have found is that it is an evolving process. I love finding new things that make being in the kitchen fun. One year for Christmas, I had found a garlic zoom at Williams Sonoma. All it was was a little circular box with wheels and a blade. You put the garlic cloves in and rolled it on the counter to chop the garlic. Let's just say garlic got put in everything.

I think that some of the essentials are a spatula, whisk, tongs, kitchen scissors, turner, and a spoon. From there, you begin to see what you might need based on the things you like to make. Kitchen tools are there to make your life easier, so for me I make pasta a lot and a pasta or slotted spoon comes in handy all the time. Once you have the essentials, then you get to add fun ones that you don't absolutely need to have but are just fun. I bake quite a bit, so a cake tester is very useful. Luckily for me, I got a really cute one, but toothpicks are usually something that are on hand and do the job just as well.

One of the newest ones, I have gotten is a lemon and lime juicer. I don't do a ton of juicing, but when I have to it's a pain. Somehow my hand is not as effective and I feel like I am wasting a lot of juice, especially with limes. I have seen the individual colored ones, like orange, yellow, and green for oranges, lemons, and limes, but not one like this. It can be used for lemons and limes. The larger bottom section holds the lemons and the middle section is for limes. All you do is put the half of whatever you are juicing in the appropriate section and squeeze. I think that it will be much better than me squeezing them by hand.

Though you can buy garlic chopped or minced, somehow using freshly peeled garlic makes everything ten times better. Since I use a lot of garlic, I decided it was time to invest in a garlic press. This one has a removable tray for easy cleaning. However, I was slightly upset when I found out this one did not have an awesome cleaning tool that pushes the garlic remains out of the holes. Oh, well. If you have never used one before, all you do is put the peeled clove in and squeeze directly into the pan.

I know that you are probably thinking that this is a pretty expensive toolbox, but it doesn't have to be. I am not a seasoned chef, so I am okay with not having professional grade tools, which can be very pricey. The higher end kitchen stores, like Willams Sonoma and Sur La Table, have these tools, but are more expensive. I have found that Marshalls has a lot of these for about half the price and they have well known brands like KitchenAid. I hope that you have a better idea of how to put together your own kitchen toolbox. Feel free to leave any questions you have. Let me know what your favorite kitchen tool is and if you know of any places to get great deals on tools.