Is Anyday Cookware Worth the Hype?

TODAY Illustration / Courtesy Christina Montoya Fiedler

Anyday bowls are made of durable frosted borosilicate glass, a thermal-shock-resistant material that can withstand wide temperature fluctuations. In it, you can cook meals in the microwave or bake or roast them in the oven up to 500 degrees F without its lid. The lid can withstand oven heat up to 400 degrees F. Additionally, you can eat your cooked food out of the dish and then store any leftovers in the freezer within the very same dish. In fact, the microwave to table to a freezer in a single dish is its great appeal. Anyday dishes are also dishwasher safe.

A silicone knob on the lid lets a little steam escape during microwaving while a silicone gasket in the lid traps the rest of the steam for even cooking. Another innovative feature is its knob can be pushed down to create a vacuum keeping your meal warm. 

What's more, Anyday cookware is designed to use steam technology to cook meals faster than usual. Proteins, vegetables, and grains -- foods that normally cook unevenly in the microwave instead cook evenly. 

The dishes are airtight and leakproof making them ideal to carry your contribution to cookouts. Plus, nobody will ask if you want it back as they sometimes do with Tupperware. Btw: whichever receptacle you take the food in, the answer is always, "Yes, of course!"😛

Anyday bowls come in different sizes and can be bought individually or in sets. The College Dorm set, priced at $90, is a set of 4 smaller-sized bowls.

So what do I think of buying them? I'm tempted by the from-microwaving-to-eating-to-freezing-to-washing all in a single dish convenience. However, I'd avoid purchasing the sets. We rarely use entire sets of cookware. Frequently one size gets used while the rest stays idle. You are just not going to start cooking all your meals in a microwave and probably already own adequate cookware that chefs recommend for different types of cooking and baking, such as stainless steel or a cast iron skillet, etc.

Enthusiasm over new technology can easily lead to waste and spending more than you should. Start with one bowl, which may be all you'll ever use ... then add another size if needed.

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Beautifect: The Beauty Box Gets Tech Savvy

Photo: InnovateDesign UK

Beautifect's makeup case, also called a beauty box is 21st century innovative. Not only does it organize all your makeup and beauty tools in one nifty place with deep, generous compartments, but its 5 lighting settings let you apply makeup accurately anytime and anywhere from a landing airplane to an evening hotel room. The box has an advanced luminous system to perfectly replicate daylight and evening light while eliminating shadows by evenly dispersing light over your face.

I love discovering new smartly designed organizers to house all my alike-things together, yet this step up from your ordinary portable cosmetic case will cost you about $300. Designed by dental surgeon, Dr. Tara Lalvani, it was launched during the pandemic and gifted to high-profile luxury influencers, so it's gotten a lot of internet buzz.

An undeniably beautiful sleek design with functional lights, I can see how a frequent business traveler who needs to show up looking polished and professional for work meetings might consider the beauty box worth buying. Made of lightweight yet sturdy molded acrylic polymer, it weighs 1.5 kg or 3.3 lbs. The box comes with a rechargeable built-in lithium-ion battery and a US B-C cable.

Offered in 4 colors ... I'd go for the rose gold. Beautifect's beauty box is luxurious and tech-savvy. With function and purpose, it looks expensive! Still, I bet if we wait a beat, other retailers will knock off budget-friendly (minus a few bells and whistles) inspired versions. 

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Temu Got Me to Buy A Mini Washer/Spinner

In a previous blog, I admitted this foldable mini washer/spinner was a temptation to buy. Temu, a popular and legitimate Chinese online megastore that sells a myriad of practical and inexpensive products, ran a Facebook promotion offering it for $5 in exchange for downloading its app and so like Adam and Eve, I bite the apple ordering it.🍎🍏

I'm impressed by how fast it arrived (in 7 days) and by Temu's vigilant communication, texting me with status updates and a package tracking number. The 4 items I ordered (you need to spend $10 for an order to ship, and it ships free) were also securely packed, and I liked the minimal waste, yet sufficient wrapping to protect the items

Not only am I impressed by Temu's good customer service, but I'm impressed by how well the mini washer/spinner works. It's got a fair amount of features: 1) 3 control buttons to wash for 5 or 10 minutes and a 2-minute spin cycle; 2) a substantial handle to carry it; 3) 4 suction cup "feet" on the bottom to lessen sliding; 4) a water drain valve; and 5) a spinner that snaps on and off.

Last night I tested the washer/spinner with two 5-minute cycles of mini washes (as opposed to standard washer loads). It works very well on a few lightly soiled pieces, such as three shirts or a dress you wear a couple of times and wish to freshen up. Also great for delicates.

I manually filled the mini washer with hot water, 1 tablespoon of Oxi Tide, and cleaned (1) my senior mother's Old Navy t-shirt and another top; then (2) her cotton knit Athletic Works trousers with my Uniqlo bra-top. After two 5-minute cycles, I emptied the soapy water by pouring it into the sink and refilling the mini washer/dryer with fresh water for two 5-minute rinse cycles. Finally, I ran the spinner twice avoiding having to wring out the water by hand. That alone is priceless.

The mini washer replaces handwashing! Here it is cleaning my Old Navy swing dress stained by coffee became somebody came up behind me with a surprise hug at the exact same time I lifted up my coffee cup to take a sip. The coffee spilled on the side of my clean dress, so into the mini washer, it went.

The unit is compact enough to take on trips and it beats handwashing socks and light apparel in a hotel sink. This innovative, fun "toy" is quiet and ample enough to keep up with seniors and babies who tend to get spots of food on their freshly laundered clothes!

Ahh, look at our little cutie drying on my dish rack.😘

Up to 3 women's t-shirts or a pair of knit trousers do indeed boop up and down in a whirlpool of soapy or rinse water. At the end of the wash, they do smell and look clean. The mistake would be to overfill so the clothes can't twirl around. What's more, you don't want to overdo the amount of soap. You'll then have to work harder to rinse the suds out with fresh water.

The mini washer/spinner is so darn cute, I love it. If durable (time will tell), I'd definitely recommend it at its regular price. Walmart and Amazon are selling it at higher prices than Temu -- all 3 retailers are supplied by multiple vendors, and I bet all the mini washers/dryers come from the same factory in China.

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How To Protect A Pinky Toe?

 

Sorry ... in no way will the following blog be sexy. It's about how aging changes your tootsies when once upon a time, they never gave you any problems.

Ouch! My feet are getting battered, and I don't know what to do about it. We walk everywhere in New York City on hard, unforgiving concrete.

But I'm on top of it! I always wear structured shoes (brands like Merrell and Vionic) with good arch support and stabilized heels. Round, roomy toe boxes, and my shoes seem to be the right size. Supportive flats, not high heels (except perhaps once a year), plus I'm not walking as much as I did before the pandemic. Yet my feet are taking a real beating, especially the inside of the pinky toe on my left foot! Short of wearing band-aids, what can I do to protect it?

Once in a while, I experience painful arches, or an ache in the front part of my foot also, but not often nor severe enough to worry yet. Not quite yet!! If such a pain in the front of of your foot is severe and frequent, then it's time to think about a condition called Morton's Neuroma, which 1 in 3 people have. Women can get it from wearing high heels or a narrow toe box which I have rarely done!

Of course the main reason to explain what is happening is, my feet are aging right along with the rest of me. Regardless of how sensible our footwear, our parts start to wear out! As we grow older (beginning around the age of 45 or so), we lose the fat padding on the bottoms of our feet that protects them from daily pounding, which is why we can't walk barefoot on hard floors anymore without foot pain. 

Years ago I also learned I must buy leather shoes (skipping manmade materials) to avoid many shoe, i.e., foot problems. So let's check that solution off.

What's more, nearly all of my shoes have insoles to provide extra padding. So gezz-Louise, what more do I have to do on a daily basis? After my little toe became so raw and inflamed it felt like it would fall off, I began wearing band-aids, as well as, protective gels to buffer it from my other toes. After years of peaceful living side-by-side, the 4 bigger toes no longer play nice with the little one!

You know, I'd like to walk out of my apartment without too much fanfare. Must I start wrapping my pinky toe every day now!?! 

I've stepped outside of science and am trying 15 minutes of yoga toes each day too in an effort to save the pinky toe! I'm out of ideas.

Do you have any ingenious products to help prevent foot problems? Help ...

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Zero Waste: 5 Things I Won't Buy

Paper clips are on my double duty list, keeping me from buying something I don't need.

On March 1st, a new law went into effect in New York City that requires us to bring our own bags, or pay 5 cents for a paper bag at the supermarket. Last week I had my 1st experience taking my reusable fabric bag with me. You can get one free sent to your home by taking a zero waste pledge, click here. Now I carry my orange fabric bag everywhere I go as I don't know all the types of stores participating in the city's plastic bag ban ... and I'm too cheap to start paying for (1) paper bags, i.e. items I'm accustomed to getting for free! (It's a waste of my money!) As it turns out T. J. Maxx follows the plastic bag ban too. Extra tip: Don't forget to laundry your reusable fabric bag to keep it clean and germ-free.

This got me thinking: In all my adult life, I've never bought a garbage bag, so when my supply of plastic grocery bags is depleted, I must figure out an eco-friendly substitution. I will put the environment first! (But, must I start paying for my trash bags? To be determined.)

Another item I'm too darn cheap to buy is a (2) food bag clip. If you buy special chips to keep your potato chips or salad bags closed, surely you're not applying yourself! I just use office paper clips (like the top image↑) to keep a clear bag with servings of food in it closed.

Moreover these days I'm more mindful of not buying certain kitchen, or household tools if something I already own gets the job done! At times I'm tempted to buy a (3) lent brush for my clothes. However I find they work no better than a household bristle scrub brush. So I decided against a special lent brush.

Another example, I sometimes eyeball, but decided not to buy a (4) cookie dough scooper because it works no better than a tablespoon to get out the right amount of cookie dough to drop on a cookie sheet. What's more do I even make cookies enough to buy a special tool? And will a cookie scooper make my task easier? Nope ... pass.

I also decided not to buy a special (5) watering can for the 2 house plants I have in my living room. Water cans come in tiny and big sizes with narrow or wide nozzles, but I use either a cup, or my tea kettle to water my 2 house plants. I think it makes more sense to buy a watering can for a garden because you are unlikely to drag your tea kettle or cups outside.

This year I intend to buy EVERYTHING I need, but NOTHING I don't need. Small purchases can add up to clutter and waste, not to mention less money for big-ticket items or your emergency fund.

What are some everyday items you won't buy because if you think about it, you can get them for free; or you really don't need them after all?


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7 Kitchen Tools Worth Your Money

Photo: Shutterstock

Now that you know what sits idle in my cabinet (click here), what tools do I use daily? If space or budget is limited, here are the work horses to buy: 

7 Kitchen Tools ... the Essentials:

1) A Sharp chef knife - Slice and dice away! A sharp chef knife is indispensable to prepare fresh, healthy, real food such as fruits, vegetables and salads daily to keep us healthy. I use a 5" Santouku knife as my chef knife. (I was gifted a 7'' too, but really only use the larger size to slice whole watermelon.)

2) Microwave oven - Once I had a mid-size, but replaced it with a Sharp Carousel 1.4 cubic feet size. Don't let the compact size fool you! Reheats food on an 11 inch plate in 2 -3 minutes flat! You can also cook raw vegetables, make popcorn and melt butter or cheese fast. Such a useful kitchen tool for cooking meals in minutes.

Photo: Shutterstock

3) Pots and pans - The following sizes: (a) 12 inch chef skillet; (b) 4 quart sauce pan; (c) a large wok, (d) non-stick 10 inch skillet; (e) 10 1/2 inch cast iron skillet. 

I rarely grab other sizes, but use these pans continuously. Plus, I use my cast iron skillet to bake cornbread, pizza (from scratch), steaks, salmon and cheesecake. What a heat conductor cast iron is; food cooks evenly! A 12 inch chef skillet eliminates the need for 3 - 4 other pans. It is great for boiling whole spaghetti, as well as, cooking one-pan meat, starch and vegetable stews. I adore the easy-breezy clean-up of simmering one-pan meals!

One non-stick skillet to fry an egg is all you will ever need. Or you could just use your seasoned cast iron skillet (to save a purchase). I own both, but it isn't necessary.

4) Baking pans -  Mine are Nordic Ware -100% aluminum: (a) 2 - 17'' by 12'' baking sheets; (b) one medium baking sheet (see why below); (C) 9'' by 9'' square baking pan; (d) 2 - 9'' round cake pans - You can do every kind of baking, browning and grilling with these common sizes. 

I use the medium baking sheet as a shield against spills of cake batter or casserole juices. Avoid having to clean a mess in your oven at all cost! I use a medium inexpensive baking sheet instead of my better Nordic Ware baking sheets. 

I also have a Nordic aluminum loaf pan, but usually grab my cast iron skillet for baking meatloaf and bread. Can't beat this old standby! So the loaf pan is rarely used.

5) Osterizer blender - Costs about $25. An Osterizer is the pioneer of kitchen blenders. It is powerful, durable and does everything, including crushing ice for smoothies that the fancy $100+ blenders do. Eventually all blenders blow out with constant use, but it hurts less to replace this 14-speed super-trouper! So why spend more?

6) Food processor - 3 cup size - Not too big, not too small. Mostly I grind nuts in it. Sometimes I make low calorie ice cream too: Toss in a sliced frozen banana, drops of milk and pulse! Easy to store and half the price of the big boys. Unless you always prepare big batches of food, this size is plenty.

7) Hand held mixer - I bought a Black and Decker hand-held mixer with 6 speeds at a drug store about 20 years ago, which I use to mix all my cake batters and pasty. Best $12 I ever spent as it is still going strong. Sans fancy bells and whistles, the small mixer does everything a Big Stationary Mixer does, and the cakes and cookies turn out great. Heck, I burn a few calories by holding and twirling it around. This buy taught me to stick with the basics. 

So now let's include your experience. What Kitchen Tool Essentials can you not live without? The best bang for your buck is ...



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5 Kitchen Tools I Will Never Buy Again

Photo: tabla-restaurant

When we set up our kitchens we try to anticipate what will make our lives easier, better and effortless. But hindsight is 20/20. When we know better, we do better. For fun, I'll share a few of my purchasing mistakes.

5 Kitchen Tools I Will Never Buy Again:

1) Coffee bean grinder - When I rise in the morning, I never want to grind coffee beans so I can drink a cup of coffee. Although it doesn't require much time or work, it's an extra step I resist before having a shot of caffeine. And, ground coffee from a can tastes fine.

2) Hot air popcorn popper - Sits idle in my cupboard since I began the microwave-in-a-paper-bag method of making popcorn. Turns out the microwave pops 100% of the popcorn unlike the hot air popper.

3) Large capacity food processor - When this space hog died, I replaced it with a small 3 cup food processor. Cheap, compact and ample!

4) Crockpot - People rave about the convenience of cooking meals while they are not home. But, I worry about unforeseeable accidents preventing me from returning home as expected. It happened to me once. While the heat is on, better to be home. Moreover, the same slow simmering meals can be stewed on a stove top or in the oven while you are at home to check on them.

5) A set of pots and pans - A full set of pots and pans may be the biggest waste of all. You never use all the sizes. Finally, I donated the huge stock pot and mystery size to Housing Works (a charity), and I don't miss them! More space in the cupboard! Go to Home Goods/TJ Maxx and buy only sizes you need.

Since I have no spot for an ice cream maker, bread maker, pasta maker, tomato slicer, apple peeler, etc., etc, etc., Manhattan saved me from making a slew of specialized gadget mistakes! Bread is so simple to kneed and bake in the oven.

How about you? What kitchen tools have been a waste of your money?

Stay tuned: the next blog, Essential Kitchen Tools, will publish on Thursday! Watch this space to see if you agree with me.😊


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Amazon Echo Is A Cool Tool

Amazon Echo would be a spurge, since it's more technology than I need right now. And yet, it's a super cool tool at an affordable price. Echo is like having Sari in a room, except Echo is handsfree and responds to the name, Alexa (or Amazon). Ask Alexa all kinds of questions, such as "How many tablespoons are in 3/4 of a cup?" It will answer, "There are 12 tablespoons to 3/4 of a cup."

Echo the gadget is connected to Alexa, a cloud based service, so it can access all sorts of information when you ask; and the cloud is always getting smarter. 

Alexa can pick up your voice from anywhere in a room even with background noise like water running in a kitchen, or a television playing in a living room. Echo fills the room with immersive sound. That means it blurs the line between the physical and digital worlds.

Alexa also responds to commands. It can create shopping lists, provide news, traffic and weather reports, turn on lights, keep your calendar, set timers and reminders, plus reorder items from your Amazon shopping history if you have an Amazon Prime account. (Yikes, spends your money!)

You can play music off the internet from sites like Pandora, iHeartRadio and more; or have Echo read you audiobooks. If you ask, Alexa will even tell you jokes.

It would be easy for a household to get addicted to the convenience of Echo. Like what we saw on the Jetsons, or Star Trek right? Wow, whether you ask questions or give commands, the technology is real and available today. Not very expensive either. Cost: $179.99 with free shipping.

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