Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Turkey Carving Tips

Oops! I'm a day late with my Tuesday Tip this week. The busyness of Thanksgiving week already has me running behind. I had the great opportunity to use my Tuesday to help serve Thanksgiving dinner at a local community center that our church supports. It's so rewarding to be able to help and to get my two kids involved at a young age with helping others, too.

With Thanksgiving upon us, here's a great video that explains how to carve a turkey.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 20, 2009

$140 in free products

Did you know that hosting a Pampered Chef show is a great way to earn LOTS of free cookware and utensils for your kitchen?

Several of my hosts have earned $140 in free products because the total sales at their shows totaled more than $700 - although the benefits kick in with sales of just $150.

For example, here's what one of my recent hosts ordered for herself:

1 Mini-Tart Shaper
1 Baster & Cleaning Brush
1 Professional Shears
1 Bar Board
1 Deep Covered Baker
1 Executive 8" Saute Pan

(Those items add up to $163 - but she owed just $17)

She also could pick any three items for half price.

Overall, she got $376 worth of products for $123.

The amount of free product and half-price items varies depending on the sales total of the show. Contact me for details. I'd love to help you fill your kitchen for free.

Three-cheese Garden Pizza

Here's a simple and delicious recipe that I made quite often at shows when I was first getting started. It's healthy and can be prepared in about 45 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 pkg (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza crust

1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup (1 oz) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 small onion, sliced into rings
2 plum tomatoes, sliced
1 medium zucchini, sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Unroll dough onto bottom of lightly greased Large Bar Pan. Gently stretch dough to evenly cover the bottom of the pan. Place oil in (1-cup) Prep Bowl. Press garlic into oil using Garlic Press; brush evenly over dough using Chef’s Silicone Basting Brush. Bake crust 7 minutes. Remove from oven; place on Stackable Cooling Rack.

2. Meanwhile, grate cheddar and mozzarella cheeses using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with grating blade; place in Classic Batter Bowl. Grate Parmesan cheese over batter bowl using Microplane® Adjustable Grater. Add Italian seasoning to cheeses using Adjustable Measuring Spoon; toss lightly using Small Mix ’N Scraper® and set aside. Using Ultimate Mandoline, slice onion and tomatoes using v-shaped blade; slice zucchini using crinkle cut blade. Slice mushrooms using Utility Knife.

3. Sprinkle half of the cheese mixture evenly over crust; top evenly with onion, zucchini, tomatoes and mushrooms. Sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture. Bake 15-18 minutes or until crust is golden brown; remove from oven to cooling rack. Cut into squares using Pizza Cutter. Serve using Mini-Serving Spatula.

Yield: 6 main dish servings or 12 appetizer servings

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Cutting Board

Have you heard that glass cutting boards can dull your knives?  When I learned this, I stopped using mine.  The Pampered Chef cutting boards are made of a durable material that won't dull knives.

The Pampered Chef cutting boards come in three sizes. They are made with rubber edges so that they grip the counter top and don't slip or slide around while you are cutting. On one side of the rubber edges, there are standard and metric markings so that you can cut uniform pieces. All of the cutting boards are usable on both sides, and they are dishwasher safe.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Microwave White Chicken Chili

Colder weather means its a perfect time to start cooking up some chili. Here's a great recipe I found for some white chicken chili.

Ingredients:
3 whole heads garlic (about 48 cloves), unpeeled (this may seem like a lot but "roasting" them in the microwave lends a mild, mellow taste)

¾ tsp salt, divided
3 tbsp olive oil, divided
2 poblano peppers
1 medium onion
1½ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp Southwestern Seasoning Mix
2 cans (15.5 oz each) Great Northern beans, drained
1 jar (16 oz) salsa verde
 
1. Using (5-in.) Santoku Knife, slice about 1/4 in. off the pointed top of garlic heads to expose

cloves. Place garlic cut side up in Classic Batter Bowl. Sprinkle garlic with 1/4 tsp of the salt and
drizzle with 2 tbsp of the oil. Cover batter bowl with lid; microwave on HIGH 3 minutes or until
garlic is soft. Set aside to cool.

2. Meanwhile, finely dice peppers using Santoku Knife. Chop onion using Food Chopper. Combine
peppers and onion in Deep Covered Baker. Trim and finely dice chicken using Boning Knife.
Add chicken, seasoning mix, remaining 1 tbsp oil and remaining 1/2 tsp salt to baker; mix well
using Master Scraper. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 4 minutes; stir to separate chicken. Cover;
microwave an additional 4-6 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

3. Meanwhile, gently squeeze cooled garlic from heads into batter bowl (discard skins); mash using
Mix ‘N Masher. Add beans and salsa to batter bowl. Transfer bean mixture to baker; mix well.
Microwave, covered, on HIGH 5-7 minutes or until chili is heated through.

Yield: 8 servings (8 cups)

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Cheesy meat loaf and potato wedges

Last night, I used two of my favorite items to make a meal that everyone loved. In fact, there weren't even any leftovers.

I baked a cheesy meat loaf in the Deep Covered Baker, aka the Magic Pot, and I used my Large Bar Pan to roast some potato wedges.

To prepare the meat loaf, I mixed the beef with egg, shredded cheese and onion. After baking for about an hour, I put a bit of ketchup on top and baked for a few more minutes. You can also make meat loaf in the microwave using the Deep Covered Baker in about 15 minutes.

I cut several potatoes into wedges, tossed them in oil and then sprinkled them with salt and garlic powder. I baked them for 30 minutes.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Large Bar Pan

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to use one pan for every meal? 

The Large Bar Pan from Pampered Chef is perfect for all kinds of things. I love to cook bacon on it because it is so easy to clean. You can cook a whole package of bacon and then eat it now or save it for sandwiches later.


For lunch, you can put 6 grilled cheese sandwiches on it and they cook in 15 minutes. The great part is that you don't have to flip them!

For dinner, you can roast vegetables or cook chicken breasts on it. For dessert, cookies or brownies.

What a great tool to help make your work as a cook easier!  The clean up is simple, too.  All you need is hot water and a nylon scraper!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Double Chocolate Mousse Cups

Want to impress your friends and family with a fun dessert? Check out The Pampered Chef ®
Double Chocolate Mousse Cups

Recipe

Waffle Cups

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 pkg (4 oz) prepared waffle bowls (10 bowls)

Mousse & Garnish

1/2 cup white chocolate morsels
1 cup cold milk
1 pkg (3.3 oz) white chocolate instant pudding and pie filling
1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
3 tbsp sliced almonds, toasted
1 container (6 oz) fresh raspberries

For waffle cups, place semi-sweet morsels in Prep Bowl. Microwave on HIGH 60-90 seconds or until melted and smooth, stirring every 15 seconds. Dip Chef's Silicone Basting Brush into chocolate. Swirl basting brush around inside walls of waffle bowls, replenishing brush with chocolate as necessary.

For mousse, place white chocolate morsels into another Prep Bowl. Microwave on HIGH 60-90 seconds or until melted and smooth, stirring every 15 seconds. Combine milk and pudding mix in Classic Batter Bowl; whisk using Stainless Whisk until thickened. Add melted white chocolate; whisk until smooth. Fold in whipped topping using Small Mix ‘N Scraper®.

Coarsely chop almonds using Food Chopper. To assemble cups, spoon mousse into gallon-size resealable plastic bag. Trim corner of bag with Utility Knife; using a circular motion, pipe mousse evenly into cups. Sprinkle mousse with almonds and top with raspberries.

Yield: 10 servings

ENJOY!

© The Pampered Chef used under license.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

November Host Special

Every month there are some great incentives to host a Pampered Chef show.

This month hosts and guests alike will love the discounts on the Simple Additions pieces and Dots barware.  Hosts can save 60% off of select pieces from two different levels. If their show sales are between $150 and $549.99, they can choose one piece from level one. If their show sales are $550 or more, they can choose two pieces from level one or level two or one from each level.  (See me for details.)

Guests can purchase as many pieces as they want at 20% off. NO LIMITS! There are 32 items to choose from. Our Simple Additions and Dots barware can spice up any home! Get yours today.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Pork Tenderloin in 15 minutes?

Yes, it's true. One of my favorite dishes to prepare at cooking shows is a juicy pork tenderloin - done in 15 minutes in the microwave.

Before I get into the details, I have to tell you that the secret is something we've dubbed "The Magic Pot." Officially, it's the Deep Covered Baker, but whatever you want to call it, it's the best investment I've made in my kitchen in years.


The Deep Covered Baker is made of stoneware. Like our other stoneware pieces, it can be used in the oven, microwave and freezer. And it's easy to clean.
So back to the tenderloin. Prepare it by brushing it with oil and a rub of your choice, garnish with onions and potatoes or leave it by itself, put it in the microwave on high for 10-12 minutes, take it out and let it sit for 10 minutes - the amazing thing is the meat continues to cook once it's been removed from the microwave.

Voila! A tasty, healthy meal with meat and veggies in less than half an hour.

That's one great recipe with the Deep Covered Baker. I've got dozens more I'll share with you in upcoming posts.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Holiday Shopping Open House

It's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about holiday gifts for all of those special people in our lives - moms and dads, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, teachers, school bus drivers - the list gets pretty long.

Did you know that Pampered Chef has more than 100 items for $20 or less? Any of these would make perfect gifts.

I'll be hosting an Open House Sunday, Nov. 8 from 5-7 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 9 from 5-7 p.m. Stop by to see some of the great items that are available.

Welcome to Jen's Kitchen Tips

Hi everyone!

Wow! I can't believe I'm starting a blog - and just weeks after I got on Facebook. I'm really not that computer savvy.

I'm so excited to have a place to share the things I've learned this year as a Pampered Chef consultant.

I was always invited to several shows a year, and I was always the one who left the show without buying anything - at least most of the time.

Then, in early 2009, I got the bug to start my own Pampered Chef business. Not only have I been able to earn some extra money, but I've discovered just how wonderful the products are. They've helped be much more creative in the kitchen, and they've helped me save time and money while preparing healthier meals for my husband and sons.

I can't wait to share some of the cool tips and tricks I've learned, and some of the tasty recipes I've tried.

Thanks for reading.