Must-Have Tools for Home Cooks

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Chicken Picatta is my signature dish. I got the recipe from Giada De Laurentiis and it’s my go-to dinner. I can whip it up in no time and it’s always delish. Good thing Jay likes it because he’ll be eating it for the rest of his life. haha! I’ve been trying to expand my menu and try new things in the kitchen though — but the tools you have are just as important as the foods you cook.

I reached out to Chef Lisa Schroeder from Mother’s Bistro in Portland, Oregon to get the 411 on what tools home cooks need to have to be successful. Here’s her list:

Home Cooks Essential Kitchenware

by Lisa Schroeder

With the right equipment cooking is easier and faster. Cook like a pro with these basic but essential items every home cook should have. Whether you are buying for yourself, or for a bride, you simply can’t go wrong with these classic items.

1. Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer, preferably the “Professional” (they have all kinds of grades with varying levels of horsepower… this model is the heaviest duty)

2. Set of good knives like Global, Wusthof, Shun (Most important knives: an 8-10 inch chef’s knife, paring knife, and a bread knife. Read more

10 Most Common Decorating Mistakes

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I’ve said it before — I’m not good at home decorating yet. I just haven’t found my stride with it. So in the meantime my bedroom looks like a college dorm. We didn’t win the “Angie’s List Worst Bedroom Makeover” contest. But the good news is that I’m totally fine with not being the worst at anything! There will be other opportunities to transform my space — like this list right here. Expert designer Lauri Ward gave me a list of the most common decorating mistakes and how to fix them. Are you guilty of making these?

10 Most Common Decorating Mistakes

by Lauri Ward

Everyone makes the same errors when it comes to decorating, no matter the style of their furniture, the size of their home or their budget. An example of these errors is using questionable traders. When you are decorating your home you want it to look as beautiful as it possibly can. This makes using a reputable trader essential when deciding who to use. Read more

12 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

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Living in New York City is expensive but Jay and I have noticed that we spend most of our money on food! Once you realize how much discounts can help you save money (even if it is just a couple of dollars), your shopping habits could change for the better. When it comes to eating healthy, it isn’t always easy. Buying junk food is cheaper, which is why many people decide to go for this option. With that being said, it isn’t the best for us.

 

We love to eat out but it’s pricey so we do try to use the skills we’ve learned on Food Network or from Guy Fieri to whip up our own masterpieces. Sometimes it works out — sometimes we order pizza to make up for it.

I’m not really a coupon girl but I do know that they will save you loads of cash if you can invest time in finding them. But I’m lucky to have this checklist from Teri Gault of TheGroceryGame.com to help. Teri started this business because she had a knack for clipping coupons and saving money. So she used her skills to create a business where members can reduce shopping time and save money by using coupons at the right times.

How to Save Money on Groceries

by Teri Gault

As CEO of www.TheGroceryGame.com, I LIVE by a list for everything in my life. If my day is getting stressful, it’s usually because I haven’t made a list of all the odds and ends for my day. I’m constantly planning something for which I need a list. And then I tend to make lists of lists! Since I primarily exist to help people save on one of the most expensive line items in their budget, groceries, it only seems fitting that I provide a checklist on how to save on every trip to the market without using a pair of scissors. Read more

I’m Going Back to School With Oprah

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Visit to The Oprah Winfrey ShowWhen Oprah went off the air in May 2011 no one was more upset than me. OK, well maybe my best friend Danielle. And OK…maybe lots of other people all over the world too. Danielle, our friend Jessica and I were fortunate enough to be in the audience for one of Oprah’s last shows.

Through the 25 seasons we learned valuable life lessons, makeup tips and met characters we would never have known existed without Oprah to show us. Not being able to check in with her everyday has left a huge void.

But thankfully that void will be filled today. I’m going back to school…and my teacher, once again, is Oprah. Danielle and I have planned a viewing party to watch the first episode of Oprah’s Lifeclass on OWN. We are two of the over one million students who will attend class. There’s still time to join the class by signing up online.

Here’s why you should join us:

1. It’s Oprah! You know people will be talking about this tomorrow — so why not be a part of history?

2. You’ll reconnect with the show you love. She will use portions of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to teach lessons that matter most to her.  If you were a fan of the show — this is a great opportunity to see a bit of insight into each episode. Read more

Website Makes Your Life Easier With Lists

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List nerds rejoice! I’ve found a website where you can upload all sorts of lists and share them with others all over the Internet.

I’m all about this site because I share the exact same philosophy. Give me what I need to know in easy, bite-sized blurbs.  They make it easy to share and add to lists.  You can even embed them on blogs and in emails.  And it’s lots of fun to make these lists and get suggestions from other people.

There are lists about just about anything on the site like:

“I Don’t Know How She Does It” List

Ways to Observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month

12 Tips for Packing for a Move

I even made one of my very own! Check it out and please add your own secrets for getting more accomplished at work.