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Calphalon vs. Cuisinart Cookware Set

January 21, 2021 by Mason Leave a Comment

If you are here, then it means you are looking to replace your stainless steel or nonstick cookware but can’t decide between Cuisinart and Calphalon. It’s easier to get confused since both brands have similar designs and similar features.

In this head-to-head comparison of Calphalon vs. Cuisinart, you’ll find out how high their stainless steel and nonstick cookware scores in terms of durability, design, cooking performance, construction, materials, and much more.

Calphalon Cookware Set

What I Like

Nonstick and stainless steel option: Calphalon offers different sets of cookwares with either a stainless steel or nonstick construction. The stainless steel cookware is often a go-to for most seasoned chefs for various reasons, including its incredible durability under high heat, even heat distribution, and nonstick cooking experience. Also, you can easily get a crisp golden result with this option.

If the stainless steel cookware is not for you, Calphalon offers an impressive nonstick cookware set that allows you to cook with a smidge of butter or oil. Also, they are easy and convenient to use.

Excellent construction: Their set of cookwares are available in different gauge construction from medium to heavy-gauge. The five-ply / heavy-gauge cookware features three aluminum layers between two stainless steel layers to deliver excellent temperature control, durability, and strength. Plus, its heavy-gauge / three-ply has two stainless sandwiching a heavy-gauge aluminum core for consistent heat control, durability, and strength.

What I Don’t Like

Lids: Calphalon products do not use tight-fitting stainless steel lids, which comes in handy for cooking in your oven.

Best Calphalon Cookware Set – Top 4 Picks for You

Top 1 – Calphalon Classic Pots and Pans Boil-Over Inserts, Nonstick Cooking Set

The Calphalon Classic Pots and Pans are built to deliver unparalleled cooking versatility and ensure you spend less time in the kitchen. This set of cookware is arguably the most sought after collection from the lines of products offered by this brand – and for a good reason.

This unit features an innovative, silicone no-boil-over insert to avert, making a mess and spills when making beans, potatoes, rice, and pasta. This unique feature allows you to spend quality time with other tasks while cooking without being distracted often.

That’s not the only thing to love about this cookware set. It comes with straining covers, convenient measuring marks, and pour spouts to allow users to cook better and efficiently. Also, it comes with a stay-cool stainless steel long handle to offer excellent heat resistance. This way, you can securely and safely handle your pots and pans when cooking on the stovetop.

Top 2 – Calphalon Classic Pots And Pans Set, 10-Piece Cookware Set, Stainless Steel

Another decent choice for anyone looking to purchase a stainless steel cookware set is the Calphalon Classic 10-Piece Cookware Set, Stainless Steel Pots And Pans Set. Each piece features a modern and durable stainless steel construction.

Talking about construction, this cookware set features an impact-bonded aluminum base for excellent heat control and consistent even heat distribution. Like our top choice, the Calphalon Classic 10-Piece Cookware Set, Stainless Steel Pots And Pans Set sports long handles that stay cool and offer safe and secure handling when cooking on the stovetop.

Further, they are dishwasher friendly, and oven safe up to 450 degrees F. this cookware set includes inch Fry Pan, 10 inch Fry Pan, 1.5 quart; Sauce Pan with cover, 2.5 quart; Sauce Pan with cover, 3 quarts; Saute Pan with cover, and 6 quart; Stock Pot with cover. Even better, this product comes with a lifetime limited warranty.

Top 3 – Calphalon Premier Hard-Anodized Nonstick 11 Piece Cookware Set

The Calphalon Premier Hard-Anodized Nonstick 11 Piece Cookware Set comes with more nonstick layers for better performance. With extra layers, this product delivers superior nonstick performance and improved durability. Each piece comes with three nonstick layers to create a longer-lasting, metal-utensil safe nonstick surface.

This product is crafted from hard-anodized aluminum to deliver a durable cooking surface, making its warp and corrosion-resistant. Besides, it provides an even heat distribution for more consistent and improved cooking results.

Calphalon Premier Hard-Anodized Nonstick 11 Piece Cookware Set is constructed with a very thick gauge for professional-grade durability and incredible reliability that will withstand everyday use rigors. This product includes 10″ fry pan; 12″ fry pan with cover; 1. 5-qt saucepan with cover; 2. 5-qt saucepan with cover; 3-qt saucepan with cover; 8-qt stockpot with cover.

Top 4 – Calphalon Classic Pots And Pans Set, 10-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set

The Calphalon Classic Pots And Pans Set, 10-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set features two PFOA-free nonstick layers for easy food release, extra durability, and effortless cleanup. This unit features hard-anodized aluminum to deliver even heat distribution and allow you to cook efficiently.

Additionally, it features a stay-cool long handle that stays cool on the stovetop. This unit is oven-safe up to 450 degrees. Plus, it’s compatible with halogen, glass, electric, and gas stovetops. This model features staining covers, pour spouts, and measuring marks to make cooking more efficient.

However, it includes durable, tempered glass lids to withstand everyday use. This product contains an 8-inch fry pan. 10-inch fry pan. 1.5-quart sauce pan with cover. 2.5-quart sauce pan with cover. 3-quart saute pan with cover. 6-quart stockpot with cover.

Cuisinart Cookware Set

What I Like

Decent oven-safe range: most cookware pieces from Cuisinart can be used in your oven safely, which makes them incredibly versatile. Most of them can withstand a maximum heat ranging between 350 to 550 degrees F.

Design: Cuisinart is not only functional and versatile, but they also look good in any kitchen setting. The Cuisinart stainless steel cookware features an elegant silver finish to complement most kitchen decor.

But the hard-anodized aluminum cookware comes in a simple black look to match most decors. I prefer the enameled cast iron set available in a wide variety of bold colors as it coordinates well with any kitchen setting.

What I Didn’t Like

Durability: the Cuisinart is a cheaper option, which means it won’t be as durable as the collections from Calphalon. Also, I will lean more to the Calphalon cookware sets since they offer higher cooking performance.

Best Cuisinart Cookware Set – Top 4 Picks of the Year

Top 1 – Cuisinart French Classic Tri-Ply Stainless 13-Piece Cookware Set

Our top pick for the best Cuisinart cookware set is the Cuisinart French Classic Tri-Ply Stainless 13-Piece Cookware Set. This product features a three-layer design to deliver optimal heat. Each piece has a pure aluminum core sandwiched with two layers of pure stainless steel to provide professional performance.

Here’s more: It sports Heat Surround Technology for even heat distribution along the sidewalls and bottom of the cookware. Cuisinart French Classic Tri-Ply Stainless 13-Piece Cookware Set comes with ergonomic, stainless stick handles that remain cool to offer a more comfortable and safe grip. Its unique thumb rest and sturdily riveted for superb control and durability.

Another thing to love about this cookware set is its solid stainless steel side grips making it easier to lift the pots and pans and provides a lifetime of balanced cooking. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe and has a long-lasting brilliant finish.

Top 2 – Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Non-Stick Hard Anodized, 17 Piece Set

This 17-piece set from Cuisinart features a hard-anodized exterior that is non-porous, dense, and highly wear-resistant for professional performance and extra durability. It comes with a premium titanium-reinforced nonstick coating surface for a lasting food release. Also, it allows you to cook with a smidge of butter or oil for a low-fat, healthier cooking option and hassle-free cleanup.

This product sports solid stainless steel riveted stick handles, offering a reliable and safe grip while cooking with the pot or pan on your stovetop. Sadly, the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Non-Stick Hard Anodized, 17 Piece Set is not dishwasher safe.

It includes 1 Qt. Saucepan with Cover, 2 Qt. Saucepan with Cover, 3 Qt. Saucepan with Cover, 8 Qt. Saucepan with Cover, 4 Qt. Dutch Oven with Cover, 3.5 Qt. Sauté Pan with Helper Handle and Cover, 8″ Skillet, 10″ Skillet, 12″ Skillet with Cover, 20cm Multi-Steamer Insert.

Top 3 – Cuisinart 77-11G Chef’s Classic Stainless 11-Piece Cookware Set

Next is Cuisinart 77-11G Chef’s Classic Stainless 11-Piece Cookware Set with a mirror finish and a classic look to cooperate with most decor. This induction-ready cookware set delivers professional performance.

Each piece features an aluminum encapsulated base for quick heat up and even heat distribution, which eliminates hot spots. Also, its stainless steel cooking surface won’t alter flavors, react with food, or discolor. This model has measurement markings to make it easier to cook.

Thanks to its tempered glass break-resistant glass covers, users can monitor their food without having to open the lid, leading to loss of flavor and heat.

Top 4 – Cuisinart 77-17N 17 Piece Chef’s Classic Set

This is another 17-piece cookware set from Cuisinart designed to allow you to cook under a broiler, in the oven, or on the stovetop. Also, it’s freezer safe for smart storage.

Cuisinart 77-17N 17 Piece Chef’s Classic Set is oven safe up to 500 degrees F and dishwasher safe for a convenient cleaning experience. Plus, its original brilliant finish lasts for almost a lifetime.

Nonetheless, this set comes complete with 1.5 Quart Saucepan with cover, 1 Quart Saucepan with Glass Cover, 2 Quart Saucepan with Glass Cover,3 Quart Saucepan with Glass Cover,3.5 Quart Sauté Pan with Helper Handle & Glass Cover,4 Quart Dutch Oven with Glass Cover,8 Quart Stockpot with Glass Cover,8″ Skillet,10″ Skillet,12″ Skillet with Glass Cover,20cm Steamer Insert with Cover.

Conclusion

We’ve done our part. Now, it’s up to decide which brand best serves your purpose. However, we are confident that both brands of high-quality cookware deliver excellent cooking performance. Keep in mind that Calphalon cookware sets come with a salty price tag and more durable than collections from Cuisinart.

Filed Under: Cookware

America’s test kitchen Best Cookware Set, Cooks Illustrated

January 13, 2021 by Mason Leave a Comment

If you are reading this post, you are probably looking for a new cookware set to replace your old, warped bottom pans and pots creating hot spots or with broken or loosed handles. Especially with the nonstick coating of the pans flaking, now is the right time to shop for one of America’s test kitchen Best Cookware Sets.

However, the market offers almost an endless list of options, with most products not living up to their hype. This makes choosing the right set a bit challenging. Fortunately, we’ve done the homework for you, and here’s a review of the top-rated cookware set for your kitchen with a detailed buying guide to ensure you make the right pick.

America’s test kitchen Best Cookware Set

Top 6 America’s Test Kitchen Best Cookware Set, Cooks Illustrated

Top 1 – Calphalon Simply Calphalon Hard-Anodized Nonstick 8-Piece Cookware Set

Our top pick is Calphalon Simply Calphalon Hard-Anodized Nonstick 8-Piece Cookware Set – and for a good reason. Each piece features a hard-anodized aluminum construction to deliver quick heat up and even heat distribution.

Its nonstick coating offers easy food release and a snappy cleaning experience. This set includes 6-quart covered stockpot, a 1- and 2-quart covered saucepan, and an 8- and 10-inch omelet pan. The Calphalon Simply Calphalon Hard-Anodized Nonstick 8-Piece Cookware Set comes with a dual-riveted cast stainless steel handle for secure handling. Its silicone accents ensure a cool to the touch experience.

Even better, it includes a domed tempered glass cover to seal in your food’s flavor and juice while ensuring it’s easier to monitor your food. Plus, this cookware set is oven-safe up to 400 degrees F and backed by a 10-year limited warranty.

Top 2 – Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set

Aside from this cookware set coming in a wide range of color options to match any kitchen settings, each piece is made with durable aluminum and hard, sturdy enamel porcelain exteriors. Its excellent craftsmanship ensures all pieces in the set withstand the rigors of daily use.

They come with a nonstick coating for hassle-free food release, allowing cleaning the pots and pans with the least effort. Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set include 3-quart sauté pan with lid, 1-quart and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 6-quart stockpot with lid, 8.5-inch and 10-inch frying pans, slotted turner, and spoon.

Besides, this 12-piece nonstick cookware set magnifies its shatter-resistant glass lid to lock in flavor and juice, and dual-riveted rubberized stainless steel handles for secure handles, as well as a spoon and slotted turners.

This multipurpose set of pots and pans are oven safe up to 400 degrees F and suitable for all stovetops, except induction.

Top 3 – All-Clad D3 Stainless Cookware Set

The third is All-Clad D3 Stainless Cookware Set and is a decent choice for home cooks. This set offers more than classic stainless steel style – high performance, excellent construct, and ease of use. It’s perfect for both beginners and culinary artists.

Another thing to love about this complete set of pans and pots is its versatility. This unit includes 2-quart, and 3-quart saucepans with lids, 8-inch, 10-inch fry pans, a 3-quart sauté pan with a lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with a lid.

Each piece offers excellent heat distribution and retention, which means you can simmer, saute, braise, and sear on medium heat. This kitchenware set features three alternating layers of aluminum and stainless steel for outstanding performance. Besides, they are dishwasher safe for a convenient cleaning experience, oven safe up to 600 degrees F, and a decent warranty to protect your investment.

Top 4 – Tramontina 80116/249DS Gourmet Stainless Steel Induction-Ready Tri-Ply Clad 12-Piece Cookware Set

Next on our list is Tramontina 80116/249DS Gourmet Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set with a mirror-polished exterior finish to make this kitchenware easy to clean and attractive. Also, its satin-finished interior adds a touch of elegance and style.

Each piece features a riveted cast stainless steel handles for extra support and stability. The lids are crafted with 18/10 stainless steel to help seal in nutrients and heat.

Talking about construction, Tramontina 80116/249DS Gourmet Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set features Tri-Ply Clad construction: a triple layer of metal – magnetic stainless steel, aluminum core, and 18/10 stainless steel. This results in unbeatable heat conductivity and even heat distribution.

Top 5 – Cuisinart MCP-12N Multiclad Pro Stainless Steel 12-Piece Cookware Set

First, this kitchenware set features a polished cooking surface that won’t react with food, discolor, or alter your food’s flavors. Like any top-rated set of pots and pans, this model has cool grip hands secured with stainless steel rivets for easy and safe handling.

That’s not all: it includes tight-fitting, self-basting lids to lock in your food’s nutrients and flavor. This model sports triple-ply construction with a pure aluminum core for unparalleled heat distribution. This ensures even heat distribution to get rid of hot/cold spots and maximum heat retention.

Each piece is oven safe to 550 degrees F and offers a drip-free pouring thanks to its tapered rim. It comes with tight-fitting stainless steel covers to seal in your food’s nutrients and natural juices for more flavorful, healthier results. This set includes 8-quart covered stockpot; 3-1/2-quart covered saute pan; 1-1/2- and 3-quart covered saucepans; 8- and 10-inch open skillets; steamer insert with lid.

Top 6 – All-Clad Essentials Nonstick Cookware set

Another kitchenware set coming with just about everything you need to cook from stovetop to oven to table. This product is crafted with durable, heavy-gauge anodized aluminum to ensure a warp-resistant and even cooking.

This model includes a 13-inch square pan, a 4 quart sauté pan with a lid, 8.5 inch and 10.5-inch fry pans, a 2.5-quart saucepan with lid, a 7-quart stockpot with lid, and multipurpose insert, and two bonus silicone trivets.

All-Clad Essentials Nonstick Cookware set comes with an ergonomic, riveted handle offering a secure, comfortable grip. Each piece is compatible with your halogen, ceramic, electric, and gas tops except induction.

Things to Consider When Purchasing a Cookware set cooks illustrated

Before making a choice, you need to consider a couple of factors to ensure you make an informed decision. These includes

Heat Conductivity

Some metals have high heat conductivity. For example, stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat, whereas copper offers excellent heat conduction. Kitchenware crafted with high heat conductivity material heats up much quicker and gets cooled just as quickly.

However, we recommend stainless steel since it can be used with high heat for more cooking functions than nonstick cookware.

Price

The amount you are willing to splurge on a cookware set determines what you end up with. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t opt for a set of pots and pans because it comes with a hefty price tag. Also, a cheap set might mean pots and pans without many bells and whistles, which won’t come in handy in your daily cooking. Therefore, you should always go for kitchenware, offering a great bang for your buck.

Durability

Not all cookware is crafted to last longer and maintain its elegant looks. In our opinion, stainless steel is the most durable and serves your purpose for many years. Keep in mind that only a handful of stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe.

Reactivity

Some metals like aluminum react with acidic dishes, including tomato. This means your food has a high tendency to contain some metals. Therefore, you should consider cookware that won’t react with your food, alter its flavor, or discolor over time.

Maintenance

If shining your cookware is a bit too stressful to do every night, then it’s best to splurge on kitchenware requiring the least amount of maintenance. Generally, Cookware made of cast iron and copper requires a lot of effort to keep it in tip-top shape. However, stainless steel cookware is easy to maintain for a pristine-looking set of pots and pans.

Conclusion

By now, you should be aware that there are several brands offering cookware ranging from inexpensive to outrageous. When choosing the best cookware set, you should consider balanced weighted pans and pots.

Filed Under: Cookware

Orange Glazed Blueberry Donuts

July 15, 2020 by Mason Leave a Comment

For months and months now I’ve seen baked donuts pop up on blog after blog and I’d been bookmarking all of them in the hopes that someday I would procure my own donut pan and finally be able to make them all. When I finally got my hands on a donut pan, these orange glazed blueberry donuts from Prevention RD’s blog were first in line – blueberries + orange + glaze – how could you possibly go wrong?

These definitely didn’t disappoint one bit – in fact, I almost had to hide these to keep Jon away from them. He loved them so much he ate 2 of them before dinner  and then 1 1/2 more afterwards! If that’s not a testament of just how amazing these are, then I don’t know what else to tell ya! My pan yielded only 15 donuts rather than 21 donuts which ended up making each of them approximately 137 calories each – a far cry from the 250 or more calories in a regular fried donut. And at 137 calories a piece, I reckon you could indulge in say, 1 or possibly 2 or 3 donuts without any very much guilt.

These orange glazed blueberry donuts are light and fluffy. The orange flavour shines through the glaze but not to the point that borders on too much orange. Jon is a hater of all things orange in baked goods and he didn’t give me his usual why-did-you-have-to-ruin-this-by-adding-orange-peel speech.

Orange glazed blueberry donuts

Recipe type: Breakfast, DessertServes: 15Ingredients

  • 2 cups cake flour (or 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour + 1/4 cup cornstarch)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten, at room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup blueberries, halved
  • Orange Glaze:
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1-2 Tbsp whole milk
  • 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice + more to thin out, if desired
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Sift the cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Mix. Add in the orange zest and mix it in.
  2. Pour in the buttermilk and add in the eggs, applesauce and vanilla extract. Gently stir the ingredients together until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix the batter or the donuts will not be fluffy. Carefully fold in the halved blueberries.
  3. Lightly grease a donut pan with non-stick cooking spray. Carefully spoon the batter into the doughnut pan. Fill each one no more than half way. Bake the doughnuts at 425 F for 8-9 minutes.
  4. While the donuts are baking, make the glaze.
  5. Put the powdered sugar in a large bowl. Add in the orange juice, milk and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine. If the glaze is too thick, add additional orange juice or milk, 1/2 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. I needed almost 2 tablespoons of milk to get the glaze to the right consistency – start small and work up to more, if need be.
  6. Once the donuts are done baking, let them cool in the donut pan for 4 minutes. Then remove them from the pan.
  7. Dip one side of each donut in the glaze. Set the donuts on top of a cooling rack with a baking sheet underneath. Allow the glaze on the doughnuts to dry and serve immediately.

Notes

Remember to spray your pan again if you have to reuse the donut pan to make a second batch. I didn’t realize this and had quite the time prying my donuts out of their little spots.

Filed Under: Recipes

Szechuan-Style Tofu with Peanuts

July 13, 2020 by Mason Leave a Comment

STofu5 - Copy

The holidays are almost over and man, am I ever glad! Don’t get me wrong – I love Christmas time and the time we get to spend with our family and friends. But – and I don’t know about you –  I absolutely, positively pig-out during the holidays. In our family, we usually host a Christmas eve games night at our house with a menu made entirely of hors d’oeuvres and dessert which, as you can imagine, is on the carby and heavy side of things. The following day for Christmas, we have a traditional Christmas dinner with all the traditional heavy carby sides such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes and fresh rolls. Needless to say once you add in a few office parties and get-togethers with friends, we were in much need of a lighter meal. This meal was exactly what we needed – light, flavourful and quick!

This is a quick weeknight dinner that can be put together with whatever vegetables you’ve got on hand – bell peppers, broccoli, cabbage, onions – the options are endless. Broiling the tofu really gave it an amazingly chewy texture and is a technique I will be using from here on out in other dishes as well. While we ate our meal, I thought the dish could have used a dash of sugar to offset the spiciness of the dish but Jon thought it was perfect just the way it was. I’ve included the amount of brown sugar I’ll be adding in next time below and definitely recommend it if you enjoy your Asian meals a bit on the sweet side.

STofu1

Recipe type: Main DishServes: 4Broiled tofu is combined with a spicy-sweet sauce to create a lighter version of this take-out favourite.Ingredients

  • 1 (14-ounce) package water-packed firm tofu, drained and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • Cooking spray
  • 1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon sambal oelek (ground fresh chile paste)
  • 1 tablespoon less-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons black bean garlic sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 (8-ounce) package pre-sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup matchstick-cut carrots
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts, chopped
  • 2 cups cooked Jasmine rice

Instructions

  1. Preheat broiler.
  2. Arrange tofu in a single layer on a foil-lined jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray; broil 14 minutes or until golden, flipping the tofu half-way.
  3. While tofu cooks, combine broth and next 5 ingredients (through sugar), stirring with a whisk; set aside.
  4. Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add salt and mushrooms; sauté 4 minutes or until mushrooms begin to release liquid, stirring occasionally. Stir in carrots and ginger; cook 1 minute. Add broth mixture; cook 30 seconds or until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat; stir in tofu and onions. Serve over rice; sprinkle with peanuts.

Filed Under: Recipes

Chocolate and Peppermint Bark Cookies

July 10, 2020 by Mason Leave a Comment

Peppermint-Shortbread

Although Christmas is only a couple of days away, I couldn’t resist sharing this AMAZING recipe with you. This is one of the best cookies I have made – seriously! I first made this last year after seeing the rave reviews it got on Prevention RD’s blog and couldn’t leave them off  my Christmas baking list this year. It’s a buttery shortbread base topped with rich chocolate and bits of peppermint and a white chocolate drizzle – it’s really perfection in a cookie. It’s not too late to crank this one out before Christmas – I promise you won’t regret it.

Peppermint-Shortbread1_edited-1

Recipe type: DessertServes: 40 piecesRich buttery shortbread is topped with a thin layer of chocolate and some chopped candy-cane to create the best Christmas cookie.Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 6 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped red & white candies or candy canes (about 3 ounces)
  • 2 oz. high-quality white chocolate

Instructions

  1. Directions:
  2. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom of the pan with parchment, letting it hang over the sides of the pan.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar. Continue to beat for an additional 3 minutes, until the mixture is light and creamy. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla extract and egg yolk.
  4. Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually beat in the flour mixture, until just combined. Do not over mix.
  5. Scatter the dough over the bottom of the prepared pan and gently press it, with slightly moistened fingers, to form a flat layer. Prick all over with a fork.
  6. Bake the cookie layer until golden brown and slightly puffed, and edges are beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan, 25-30 minutes. Place on a cookie rack and immediately sprinkle chopped bittersweet or semisweet (or a combination of the two) over the cookie layer. Let the chocolate sit for about 3 minutes. Using an offset spatula, spread the chocolate into an even layer over the surface of the cookies. Immediately sprinkle 3 ounces crushed red and white peppermint candies, or candy canes, over the chocolate layer.
  7. Place chopped white chocolate in a medium metal bowl set over a simmering pot of water. Stir constantly until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Using a fork, drizzle the white chocolate over the peppermint candies. Chill for approximately 30 minutes.
  8. Gripping the overhanging parchment paper, lift the cookies out of the pan and place on a work surface. Using a large, sharp knife, cut the cookies into irregular pieces

Filed Under: Recipes

Roasted Parsnips

July 7, 2020 by Mason Leave a Comment

I have been away, for a little while, with no explanations about why – for that I’m sorry. For the past week, the big dogs and I found ourselves “alone” and things were getting a little gloomy. Jon was away for work in Detroit this past week and while I had these grand plans to get a lot done for the blog, none of those things happened.

Roasted Parsnips

Isn’t it funny the difference between perception and reality? The whole past week was kind of a little sad actually. The big dogs were, frankly, a bit mournful in their demeanour. For the better part of the week (until Thursday), I would feed them their dinner and then they would proceed to pass out on the carpet – staring straight ahead – for hours, until we finally went to bed. They seemed really unsure of what was happening and lost interest in all their toys and play times as well. Some days in the past week, they would go to the front door and wait in anticipation for Jon to walk through the door. It was really, really sad. In comparison, they are both wrestling it out now as I type this.

And while I promised myself I would never be the kind of person that chose not to cook because my husband was out-of-town, I found it hard to muster the energy to cook an entire meal just for myself.  Well, never again! I am hoping I will remember this post the next time Jon is away.

On to the recipe then. These roasted parsnips are an amazing way to really taste the true amazing-ness of this winter vegetable. I love parsnips only when they are roasted! Roasting really brings out the subtle-sweetness of this vegetable and this dish is kept simple with only the addition of salt, pepper and a bit of rosemary and pumps up the earthiness of the parsnips. I LOVE this method of roasting vegetables and have used it on pretty much every vegetable I can think of. It really crisps up the veggies, giving them that nice golden-brown colour you want on roasted vegetables.

Recipe type: Side dishIngredients

  • 6 parsnips
  • Olive oil
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to boil. Meanwhile, peel the parsnips and halved length wise. Then cut the parsnips diagonally into smaller wedges.
  2. Once the water boils, add a little salt and drop the parsnips into the water for about 5 minutes. Drain the parsnips in a colander. and let it dry for a couple of minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, pour a couple of glugs (about 1-2 tbsp) of olive oil onto a cookie sheet. Strip the rosemary leaves off the sprig and add it to the sheet. Put the parsnips on to the cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir the parsnips to coat with the olive oil mixture.
  4. Bake the parsnips for 20-25 minutes, flipping half-way, until they are golden brown.

Filed Under: Recipes

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Recent Posts

  • Calphalon vs. Cuisinart Cookware Set
  • America’s test kitchen Best Cookware Set, Cooks Illustrated
  • Orange Glazed Blueberry Donuts
  • Szechuan-Style Tofu with Peanuts
  • Chocolate and Peppermint Bark Cookies

Meet Mason

Welcome! I’m Mason from Cooking with the Cook & Mason. I am a 30 year-old accountant living in Toronto, Canada. My hope is that the food you find here will inspire you to get cooking – be it solo or with some friends, like I do with the Cook & Mason.

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