Phunky Hand Mades

I’ve been reading a lot about using plastic containers in the kitchen and the potential harm from either storing food in the plastic or even worse, microwaving food inside the material. I was already aware that it was not a good idea to use any plastics in the microwave because the chemicals could get into the food, but I hadn’t really thought about what it meant to store my food in the fridge in plastic. I’m not really a big fan of the plastic containers anyway since they can start looking stained once you’ve used them a bit, so it was easy for me to make the switch to using glass instead. I like this Pyrex Glass 10 Piece Food Storage and Baking Set because it’s so versatile. Read more…

I’ve been sorting through my kitchen cabinets to make room for some new items I recently purchased. One is a good-sized indoor electric grill and the other is a set of glass food storage containers I bought to replace my old plastic ones. Finding room for the grill has been a bit tricky since I seem to have stuff I’ve accumulated over the years hogging up a bit of prime cabinet space. Some of the kitchen items can easily be donated, others I can’t part with because they’re sentimental and useful as well. I’m glad I tackled the cabinet though since I cam across one of my favorite pans that had long ago gone missing. I guess that’s what happens when you let someone else put your kitchenware away when you move into a new place. Anyway, I was so happy to find my long-lost Kaiser Charlotte Bundform Pan that I had to make a cake in it that same weekend. Read more…

If you live in the South, you know good Pulled Pork Sandwiches when you meet them, and this is right up there with the best.  When there is a festival here in the South, you can usually find some fine food like nowhere you’ve been before.  Sometimes the sandwiches can get a little greasy, which makes them taste so good, but isn’t the best idea for your diet.  I like to duplicate the flavor and tenderness of the pork by making these pulled pork sandwiches at home where I can control the fat, and therefore, the calories. Read more…

Did you ever go to make a new dessert or a larger batch of your favorite cookies and realize you just didn’t have the right bakeware in your cabinets? It used to happen to me quite often. For instance I would go to make a layer cake or extra pies for an upcoming family gathering and I didn’t have enough of the right pans. Then my sister bought me this fantastic 31 Piece Nonstick Bakeware Set from Baker’s Secret and now I have every pan I need for any baking project imaginable. Read more…

If you are looking to send a nice holiday gift basket that will have enough items to suit a variety of people then the Munchies Galore gift basket is a great choice. Everyone will be able to find something they love in this large variety basket. It has everything from candies and cookies to chips and salsa which provides a nice variety of sweets and spices. Whether sending this basket to a large family or to a group of professionals, everyone will surely love the items in this basket. Read more…

My five year old is getting interested in cooking, so we’ve been trying to come up with some simple meals where she can do most of the cooking. The one we did this week was pinto beans. I started out by having her sort through the beans. I poured them on a cookie sheet and had her look through them to make sure there were no rocks. Then I had her pour them into a big stock pot, and cover it with water. Since the pot was pretty heavy, I carried it to the stove for her. She added a bouillon cube, some salt and pepper and a couple of slices of bacon. She put on the lid and waited for the beans to boil. After that I had her turn down the burner and off she went to play while the beans were cooking. By dinner time they were tender and Daddy was nice enough to make a yummy corn bread to go with our beans. It was a perfect meal. Read more…