The Cook’s Kitchen

Anyone who knows me would say I am a pasta fanatic. I adore all types of pasta, and will eat it simply with a bit of olive oil or with a flavorful sauce. So, when the opportunity to taste a new brand of pasta was presented, I jumped a the chance. I […]

Armstrong Cabinet Products’ ChefCenter™ was named a winner in HOME Magazine’s 10th annual Kitchen and Bath Awards. Based on style, efficiency and innovation, HOME editors selected 10 products that have raised the standard for the modern-day American home. The winners were honored at a gala awards ceremony at Chicago’s N9NE Steakhouse, Ghost Bar during the […]

Every time you go to the grocery store, you’re probably good for five or six plastic shopping bags.  And going from store to store on a Saturday morning filled with a list of errands, the mountain of plastic bags can really add up.  So besides the fact that plastic shopping bags are not environmentally friendly, […]

The inlaws were over for a visit this weekend. We wanted to bring them someplace special. We loaded up the Chilemobile and headed to the City. We brought them to “Ferrry Plaza’ in San Francisco, California. The ‘Ferry Plaza’ is a World Class Food Destination. There is a farmers market, food shops, restaurants, and anything […]

Well what do you know, there’s a Penzey’s within a couple miles of where I work.  I’m so in trouble!  Walking in for the first time was like sensory over load.  There were six different paprikas, several curries from around the world, and so many custom blends that the combinations were endless.  Each spice is […]

For quick biscuits that taste close to homemade, I gotta give two spatulas up for Grands! Southern Style Biscuits.  These frozen biscuits go from hockey pucks to fluffy rich biscuits in 17 minutes in a 375 degree oven.  The resealable bag means that you can prepare two or three biscuits now and have more for […]

Do you have an Uncle Ben? We all have a favorite Uncle that has a secret recipe or way of cooking. Does he share his secrets with you without having to kill you? Well I am trying a box of rice from my ‘Corporate Uncle Ben.’ He has released two new recipes. They are boxed […]

About a week before Easter, I was driving through my supermarket parking lot, when I saw something that literally made me slam on my brakes. A new chocolate shop had opened up, practically in my own backyard! Forget the supermarket! I pulled into the closest parking space and headed inside.
The name of […]

I’m an interesting breed of man: I certainly share a love of power tools (and I use my trusty power drill whenever I get the chance), but I get a certain satisfaction from my kitchen tools that power tools just don’t provide.
For instance, there is something intensely satisfying about cutting butter into flour with my […]

Here’s something I have learned about entertaining – if you serve even the most basic food in teeny portions, it seems way fancier and is much more fun to eat.
I love tomato soup! My favorite comfort food of all time is tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Of course the tomato soup of my childhood […]