Junk In My Trunk: Orange (Citrus) Peeler

Junk In My Trunk is a series about the tools that I own & why I can't live without them...this week is all about items made for a specific purpose but work amazingly well! This item brought oranges back into my home and has saved my nails from an unmistakable orange hue --- the Pampered Chef Citrus Peeler.

Oh, little orange stick how I love you so. The notched edge (top left) cuts easily through the peel making it easy for the rind to be removed. Any remaining pith (the white stuff between the fruit and the peel) comes off with the notch on the opposite side (top right). The bottom side helps pry the peel away from the fruit, helping your hands stay more clean.\

Junk In My Trunk: Pineapple Corer/Slicer

Junk In My Trunk is a series about the tools that I own & why I can't live without them...this week is all about items made for a specific purpose but work amazingly well! You remember my post yesterday about my apple wedger? Today's goes hand in hand with that! This is one of my all time favorite kitchen gadget brags --- my pineapple corer/slicer. LOVE!!

 

If you like pineapple as much as we do you MUST have one of these! Like the mango slicer, it makes quick and easy work out of a once tedious job. After I core and slice my pineapple, I use my apple wedger to cut the slices into chunks then freeze any leftover (which rarely happens) for smoothies. Pineapple slices are also tasty dehydrated but they do loose a ton of their volume in the process.

Junk In My Trunk: Apple Wedger

Junk In My Trunk is a series about the tools that I own & why I can't live without them...this week is all about items made for a specific purpose but work amazingly well! Today, is something you may already have at home...the apple wedger.

I have gone through a few of these because I use it so often. Think outside it box...you can also use it for pears and other semi-hard fruits. It also works great for chunks of onion (like for kabobs) and for potato wedges for fries. I have tried it on a tomato and an orange without much luck (may work with a newer wedger though, mine is getting dull again).

But the thing that I love cutting with it most is (drum roll please...) sliced pineapple!! That is right - fresh or from a can, the cylinder or pineapple slices fits perfectly and easily becomes pineapple chunks with your apple wedger!

Junk In My Trunk: Cherry Pitter

Junk In My Trunk is a series about the tools that I own & why I can't live without them...this week is all about items made for a specific purpose but work amazingly well! Next up --- the cherry pitter.

 

You and I pop cherries into our mouths and spit out the seeds without even thinking about it. When I introduced cherries to my oldest son I quickly realized what a mess seeding a cherry can be. This tool helps do the job quickly so that little ones can enjoy cherries too. This is the one I have, but there are several different models including ones that will do multiple cherries at once and even an electric one that does all the work for you as your pour them in.

Junk In My Trunk: Mango Slicer

Junk In My Trunk is a series about the tools that I own & why I can't live without them...this week is all about items made for a specific purpose but work amazingly well! First up ---- the mango slicer

My oldest son LOVES mangos - but I avoided buying them because I didn't like to cut them. That awkward ginormous pit in the middle is a serious pain in the rear! I bought a mango slicer reluctantly but haven't once regretted it. Last summer when mangos went on sale I bought a whole case, but only because of my handy-dandy slicer!

Simply align the ripe (but too soft) fruit with the oblong shape of the slicer and cut down. I then cut slices through the fruit but not the skin which allows me to flatten it and easily cut off the skin. Prepare a whole bunch at once and freeze chunks for smoothies or dehydrate them.

Junk In My Trunk: Egg Slicer

Welcome to a new series about the stuff I have in my kitchen that I can't live without. My favorite tools and appliances and why I love them...

 

This week I will be talking about the top 3 multi-purpose tools that I use the most!

 

 

Not a fan of hard boiled eggs? No problem you should still have one of these in your drawer because they are perfect for slicing...

 

* eggs

* strawberries

* olives

* grapes

* mushrooms

* banana chunks

 

What other ideas can you add to the list??

Junk in My Trunk: Microwave Rice Cooker

Welcome to a new series about the stuff I have in my kitchen that I can't live without. My favorite tools and appliances and why I love them...

 

This week I will be talking about the top 3 multi-purpose tools that I use the most!

Number 2 {Pampered Chef Microwave Rice Cooker}

I bought mine probably close to 5 or 6 years ago, and I still love it as much as the day I bought it!! And would you believe that I hardly ever use it too cook rice - its the truth! The number one thing that I use it for is to cook ground beef, followed closely by frozen chicken breasts...that is right --- straight out of the freezer, into the microwave, don't have time to defrost, frozen chicken! A pound of frozen ground beef or chicken breasts will take approximately 10 minutes to cook completely! But the awesome thing is that it is large enough to fit probably 3-4 pounds of ground meat or 5-6 chicken breasts!! I do them all at once then save portions to use throughout the week/month. Another thing I love to use it for is steamed veggies! Fill 'er up with chopped veggies and add just a splash of water, put the lid on and you are ready to eat in 5 minutes or less!

 

 

Junk In My Trunk: Ice Cream Scoops

Welcome to a new series about the stuff I have in my kitchen that I can't live without. My favorite tools and appliances and why I love them...

 

This week I will be talking about the top 3 multi-purpose tools that I use the most!

At the top of the list: {ice cream scoops}

I have two sizes of ice cream scoops: 1 Tbsp and standard 1/2 cup scoop.  I use one or the other of them (sometimes both) several times a week depending on what is on the menu. Both have a sweeper arm that helps the contents slide right out - probably my favorite feature besides the convenient size because it makes your work fast and easy plus you don't get your spatula or spoon dirty scraping out a measuring cup or spoon.

 

The small one is perfect for making:

* cookies

* meatballs

* cake pops

* melon balls

* mini muffins

* mini brownies

* coring halved pears or apples

* removing the pit from peaches

* measuring honey or molasses --- the sweeper arm is key! No more waiting for it to drip - drip - drip

 

The large one (you probably have one already) is perfect for:

* muffins

* pancakes

* measuring out 1/2 cup portions of just about anything

   - yogurt

   - oatmeal

   - mashed potatoes

   - vegetables

   - diced fruit or berries

   - pudding

   - ice cream (of course)