Cinco de Mayo

It’s not too late to plan a Cinco de Mayo party.  What can be better than a party with casual Mexican food, beer and margaritas?  We love the idea of a famiy friendly taco bar. Prepare a large pot of seasoned taco meat, heat up some  black beans and chop up various toppings and you’re done.  This is such an easy way to feed a crowd.

Set the buffet table with colorful linens and flowers than add earthy Heath Ceramics for a beautiful Mexican inspired table. 

Of course, margaritas are a must for the adults.  We like these fun and spicy margarita recipes that go a flavorful step beyond the traditional margarita.

Jalapeno Margaritas

Pulse 1 thin slice jalapeno, a handful of celery leaves, 6 ounces fresh lime juice and a spoonful of confectioners’ sugar in a blender. Mix with 16 ounces tequila and 8 ounces orange liqueur in a pitcher; chill. Serve on the rocks in salt-rimmed glasses.

Pineapple Chili Margaritas

Wet the rim of 4 short glasses and dip in a mixture of 2 tablespoons coarse salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder. Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds of the way with ice. Add 1 cup tequila, 1 cup pineapple juice, 1/2 cup fresh lime juice and 11/2 tablespoons agave nectar. Shake well, then strain into the glasses.

Recipe Source: Food Network

The kids should also have a fun beverage.  Go to your local Latino market and buy some colorful Mexican sodas like Jarritos.  The unfamiliar beverage will really make the kids feel like they are trying something exotic!  Plop them in a large bucket full of ice so everyone can help themselves.

Finally, Download some Mexican  music to the ipod to set the mood and you’re good to go.

The Accesserator

Judi Roaman is the voice behind the very popular design blog The Accesserator.  She  just posted today about our Rösle collapsible strainers.  Judi came across the Rösle collapsible strainers while in Milan.  We love them as much as Judi and let her know that they are available right here in the US from Didriks.  As always, we will ship them anywhere is the contiguous US free of charge.

Here is Judi’s exuberant post on the Rösle Strainers:

Induction Cooktops

Many cooking enthusiasts are selecting induction cooktops.  Induction cooktops offer a safe alternative to gas or electric stoves and they are becoming the preferred cooking method of home chefs.  Induction cooktops use electromagnetism to transfer energy instead of a  flames or electrical coils.

How does it work?

Traditional electric cooktops use some form of electric resistance to create heat, which is transferred to the saucepan and its contents. Induction cooking is based on magnetic fields: each ‘element’ (an induction coil) generates a magnetic field that induces heat in steel cookware placed on top of it. In essence, the pot becomes the element that cooks the food, so the cooktop surface doesn’t get as hot as other cooktops. Induction cooktops have the same instant control as gas and are the fastest of all cooktop types to heat and cook food.

What are the Benefits of Induction Cooking?

• Induction cooking uses 90% of the energy produced compared to only 55% for a gas burner and 65% for traditional electric ranges.
• Induction provides extremely fast boil and re-boil, over 50% faster than gas or electric
• The surface of the cooktop does not heat up, so overflows and spills do not stick. The cooking surface stays cool even during the cooking cycle.
• The flat surface is easy to clean

What type of pots and pans are best for induction cooking?

• Pots and pans must be made of steel, cast iron or other combinations of metals that will react with the magnetic field.
• The Mauviel M Cook Series have the perfect pots and pans for induction cooking.

Adapted from Eartheasy.

Next Page »