Welcome to Village Kitchenware's Blog

Life is hectic, everyone needs to save time and even more importantly, money. Here you'll find information about quality kitchen items that won't break the bank, but, will provide you with many years of service - and save you time, too.



Thursday, March 31, 2011

Hamilton Beach, More Than Just Appliances

Everyone is familiar with Hamilton Beach appliances, but, they make quality cookware as well.  Designed with the family cook in mind, their cookware is extremely functional, innovative, elegant and affordable.  All qualities that most of us desire when making any purchase.  Hamilton Beach has some very well designed stainless steel cookware that is a joy to use and will be a stylish addition to any kitchen.  All of these sets include the most used pieces;  two saucepans with lids, a Dutch oven with a lid and two skillets.


Their Contempo 8-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware is economical yet has so many quality features.  The set has a beautiful mirror finish with rolled edges for extra strength.  The fully encapsulated bottoms provide quick even heating without any hot spots.  The tempered glass lids allow you to monitor cooking without letting heat escape and all handles are riveted stainless steel wrapped with silicone for a comfortable cool grip.

A satin finish with straight sides is the hallmark of Hamilton Beach's Silhouettes 8-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware.  Encapsulated aluminum disc bottoms provide even heating.  Tempered glass lids to monitor cooking are a great convenience.  The riveted stainless steel handles are high temperature oven safe for versatile cooking.

If any cookware can be considered beautiful, their Gourmet Pro 8-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware can.  It has a contemporary apple shape and lovely mirror finish.  Impact bonded heavy aluminum encapsulated disc bottoms ensure even cooking.  All edges are flared for easy pouring and the high domed stainless steel lids are convenient when preparing larger foods.  Come visit Village Kitchenware for these sets and other fine cookware.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Time-Saving Gadgets

When you're trying to accomplish a kitchen task, you do not always have to drag out your food processor or spend time slicing, dicing and chopping by hand.  There are so many inexpensive and handy gadgets on the market today that will save you time and effort.  One of my favorites that you don't see advertised anymore, but, is still around is the Salad Shooter Slicer/Shredder.  It comes with easy to change cones for different tasks and you can slice or shred vegetables, fruits and cheese right into your salad bowl.  It's great for soups, pizza, and other foods as well.  Easy to clean, just wipe down the main body and put the rest in the dishwasher, stores just about anywhere in your kitchen.

If you enjoy carrot salad and cole slaw, the next device on our tour is for you.  The La Cuisine Grater with Stainless Steel Bowl is a wonderful hand operated invention.  The grater portion of this device fits on top of the stainless steel bowl and comes with several blades depending on the task at hand.  Shred, slice and grate directly into the bowl, it has a push knob to protect your hand.  When finished, you can use the bowl for mixing and serving, then, store leftovers in it.  Very reasonably priced and so easy to use.

Many people aren't aware of their existence, but, there are some fine hand-operated food processors on the market.  Much smaller than electric ones, they come with a variety of attachments to accomplish almost any task and they are very easy to clean and store.  Two very fine ones are the Del Hand Operated Chopper and Mixer and the Kitchen Plus 2000 Food Processor.  These nifty little devices will help you slice, shred, chop, mix and juice with very little effort on your part.  Come check these and more products out at our website, Village Kitchenware.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Join the Eco-Friendly Cookware Revolution

One of the product lines that we are proud to offer at Village Kitchenware is Ecolution Cookware.  This cookware is made by a very environmentally concious company called Epoca.  They have invented an eco-friendly, PFOA free non-stick coating called Hydrolon.  This coating uses water as its solvent, and, when applied in the manufacturing process the only thing that evaporates is water, this greatly diminishes emmissions.  Epoca also encourages the recying of old cookware by finding new uses for it, donating it for others to use, or responsibly turning it in to recycling centers.

Their non-stick cookware is very durable, easy to clean, offers superior cooking performance and is dishwasher safe.  A good introduction to their cookware is with the Ecolution Artistry 8-Piece Cookware Set.  Made from aluminum with specially designed pan bottoms with grooves for very even heat distribution.  The silicone handles are very easy to grip and stay cool to the touch.  Glass lids make it easy to monitor cooking without letting heat escape. 

The Epoca Ecolution Heavy Weight 8-Piece Set has all the fine characteristics of the Artistry line.  It is, however, made from heavier gauge aluminum that is guaranteed to provide superior performance.  Both of these fine cookware lines include a selection of the most used pieces.  The Epoca sets include a 1.5 Quart and 3 Quart Saucepan with Lids, a 5 Quart Dutch Oven with a Lid, and an 8 Inch and 9.5 Inch Skillet.  We invite you to come take a look at our website for this and other fine cookware at affordable prices.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Knife Block Sets - Kitchen Convenience

Nothing is more convenient on a kitchen counter than a knife block set.  A knife block will store your kitchen knives safely, keep them at hand, and, free up drawer space while being a stylish accent.  They usually come with the most used kitchen knives and many include steak knives as well.  A fine example of this is the Cuisinart Advantage 19 Piece Cutlery Block.  The high carbon steel blades of this set have superior strength and durability.  Ergonomically designed POM handles make them easy to use and the set comes with eight useful kitchen knives, eight steak knives, kitchen shears, a sharpening steel and, of course, a wooden block.

If you're looking for professional grade knives that won't break the bank, the Proline Master Chef Kitchen Cutlery Set is for you.  These knives have razor sharp sand finished stainless steel blades and genuine wooden handles.  The full tang construction ensures lasting durability and they are dishwasher safe as well.  The set includes five useful kitchen knives, a carving fork and a sharpening steel to keep them at their peak.

A unique knife block set is the Ronco Rocker 20 Piece Cutlery Block Set, a true bargain for all that you get.  These knives have serrated edges that will grip your food, the curved blades help you effortlessly "rock" your way through any cutting chore.  The storage block has a built in sharpening system to keep your knives in tiptop shape.  The set includes six steak knives and a wide assortment of useful kitchen knives including a cleaver, cheese knife and kitchen shears.  We invite you to come view the fine assortment of kitchen cutlery available at Village Kitchenware.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Get Popping

We've all gotten used to going to the grocery store and buying popcorn in convenient microwave packages.   But, there is a much healthier and more economical way to enjoy this all-time favorite snack.  The best way to indulge in this treat is by buying it in jars and using a hot air popcorn popper.  Yes, they are still around and just as easy to use as the microwave bagged popcorn.  Because there is no oil used in this method, it is much lower in calories than even the so-called "lite" microwave popcorns.

When you want to snack, but are watching your waistline, try popcorn with Nostalgia Electrics Hot Air Popcorn Popper.  This cool retro looking machine looks and fits great on any countertop.  It will make up to eight cups of popcorn in a single batch.  The convenient measuring cap makes sure that you have the perfect amount of kernels.

The next time you're having family movie night, make popcorn with Presto's PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper.  A machine that popcorn enthusiasts will adore, it will make up to 18 cups of popcorn in less than 2 1/2 minutes, even faster than a microwave!  If you must have melted butter with your popcorn, there is a convenient butter melter that sits on top that doubles as a popcorn measuring cup. 

Monday, March 21, 2011

Electric Skillets - Versatile and Beneficial

Electric skillets have been around for decades and they are still popular today.  Very few other appliances can offer the same benefits and versatility.  You can cook a tasty one dish meal, your entree or a side dish in them.  They also are great for frying foods that don't require a lot of oil.  Electric Skillets are especially helpful for the elderly or disabled, you can cook your food while sitting right at the kitchen table.

One of my favorites is the West Bend Electric Skillet.  It's very moderately priced, yet is loaded with good features.  It has a non-stick interior for easy cleaning, it is also dishwasher safe with the temperature control unit removed.  The deep skillet and high dome lid make it ideal for cooking larger foods such as chicken or roasts.  Made from die-cast aluminum, it heats quickly, but, the exterior stays cool to the touch.  The handles are heat resistant and the cooking surface measures 12" x 12".

From Hamilton Beach, their Non-Stick Electric Skillet is a very versatile appliance.  The temperature control unit has settings that vary from warming up to 400F.  With 1500 Watts of power, it heats quickly and evenly.  This fine skillet also has a non-stick interior and is made from die-cast aluminium.  It has a built-in spout for pouring broth or drippings.  It has durable aluminum handles and the lid inverts inside the skillet for easy storage.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Party Planning

Planning a party can be a lot of fun, but, a little stressful, too.  At Village Kitchenware we have serving pieces that will make any occasion even more special at prices that won't break the bank.  What party is complete without refreshing beverages?  Serve champagne punch or a variety of any other drinks with a Lighted Party Beverage Fountain, it holds 1 Gallon and is most elegant.  Make dessert fun with the American Era 3-Tier Chocolate Fountain.  It uses any type of melted chocolate, use it for dipping fruits, marshmallows, or bits of cake for a delicious and memorable treat.

Fondue is back in style again, it's an entertaining way to serve anything from appetizers to dessert.  The Rival 3.5 Quart Fondue pot is easy to use and clean.  It comes with eight fondue forks and a holding ring, the adjustable heat control will keep cheese sauces to melted chocolate at the perfect temperature.  When you're done, just unplug the heat control, it's fully immersible for easy clean-up.

One way to keep the stress level down and have informal fun is to serve dinner buffet style.  Keep your main course and side dishes warm and appetizing with Nostalgia Electrics 3-Station Buffet Server.  It has three stainless steel chafing dishes that hold 1.5 Quarts each inside the pan holder.  It has even more versatility, the pan holder and chafing dishes can be removed so that you can use the warming tray on it's own.  With low, medium, and high heat settings for serving a variety of foods.  We invite you to come pay a visit for items that will help you entertain in style.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Bakers Racks - Stylish Storage

Bakers racks have come a long way from their humble beginnings.   They actually started off as simple shelving in bakeries to cool off freshly baked bread and other goodies.  Today, bakers racks range from very simple affairs to elegant and ornate pieces of furniture.  You don't have to just relegate them to the kitchen, either.  Many bakers racks make lovely additions to dining and living rooms as well.  Use them to display kitchenware, cookbooks, plants, or other treasured items.

At Village Kitchenware we have a nice little assortment of bakers racks.  One that I highly recommend for kitchens is the Iron & Wicker Storage Bakers Rack.  Very attractive, it's made from sturdy metal with graceful curves and shelving for display on top.  The lower half is dedicated to four nice sized wicker baskets that are ideal for hiding kitchen clutter.  You can also use these baskets to store kitchen towels, place mats, cloth napkins, or just about anything else you can think of.  A very practical yet lovely piece of furniture.

A bakers rack that will make a handsome addition to any room is the Elegant Bakers Rack with Wine Storage.  This rack is made from metal and has an elegant antique finish and scroll work which makes it look like a vintage piece.  Not only does it have plenty of room to display decorative items, it has the added practicality of a wine shelf that will hold up to eight bottles and a glass rack for storing your long-stemmed wine glasses.  We welcome you to come pay a visit for these and other fine kitchen storage solutions.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Get Ready for Picnics

This has been one long and cruel winter for most of the country.  We are all waiting for mild weather, no more snow, and for the danger of floodwaters to be over.  Now is the perfect time to get ready for those gentle spring days.  Clean up the barbeques, dust off the patio furniture, get out the picnic tables and celebrate the arrival of spring!

At Village Kitchenware, we have some wonderful products that will help you enjoy the good weather to come.  The Maxam Picnic Cutlery Set is perfect not just for picnics, but for outdoor grilling and camping trips, too.  It comes with six forks and six nice sharp steak knives.  It also includes five of the handiest kitchen knives along with a sharpener to keep them well honed.  All this is organized in a convenient carrying case for portability.

For your portable feast, the Picnic On-The-Go Tote is the perfect companion.  Everything you need to serve a party of four is included - four melamine plates, wine glasses, napkins, cutlery, salt and pepper shakers, a mini cheese board, and folding cork screw/bottle opener.  It all comes in an easy to keep organized tote bag.  Our Thermal Coffee Set is a wonderful way to transport Coffee, Hot Chocolate or cold beverages and keep them at perfect temperature.  It includes a 1 Liter Vacuum Bottle, two stainless steel mugs and a zippered travel case, great for hiking or a picnic.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Yummy Fresh Baked Bread

There's nothing else quite like the aroma, taste and texture of freshly baked bread.  When it's freshly sliced and still warm, the butter melts into it and makes it extra delicious.  Homemade bread isn't a chore when you have a good breadmaker to help you.  You control the ingredients and never have to worry about preservatives or freshness.  Simply add your ingredients and let the breadmaker do the rest.

There are many fine breadmakers out on the market today.  Modern electronics make it easy to program them for a variety of functions.  One such machine is the Breadman Deluxe Breadmaker, easy to use, it has 68 different program functions that allow you to make a wide variety of breads and doughs.  The delay cycle makes it easy to wake up to or come home to freshly baked bread.  You can even make homemade jam in this breadmaker to go with your homebaked goodies.

Another machine that I would highly recommend is the Panasonic YeastPro Automatic Breadmaker.  This intelligent breadmaker adds yeast to your bread at the optimum time for great results.  It has four separate baking cycles for ultimate versatility;  bake only for making fruit cakes and gingerbread, rapid bake for when you're in a hurry, raisin bake beeps when you're adding fruit or nuts, and, sandwich bake for an extra soft crust.  Once you use a breadmaker, you'll wonder why you didn't buy one sooner!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Shopping for Value

Price, while a very important factor in any purchase, isn't the only thing to base a decision upon.  While we're all feeling the squeeze at the pump, it is more imperative than ever that we get the best value for our dollars.  If you're shopping for cookware, look for a set that will provide you with many years of faithful service and give you positive results time after time.  At the same time, it should suit your needs and make you feel comfortable using it.

Some of the best cookware on the market is made from stainless steel.  Stainless cookware is virtually indestructable when treated with respect.  A set that I would highly recommend for those of you who love to cook is Chef's Secret 18-Pc. Stainless Steel Cookware.  Beautifully finished with riveted handles and glass lids, it has everything you need to complete full course meals and then some.  It includes two stock pots, a casserole, saucepan, steamer insert, two skillets and six stainless utensils, all at an amazing price.

If you don't need a large cookware set, a good choice would be WearEver 10-Pc. Cook & Strain Stainless.  This set has become very popular for it's unique straining lid that works in conjunction with the handy pouring spouts on the cookware.  No need for a collandar, just drain excess fluid off by tilting the pan over the sink.  The set comes with two covered saucepans, a covered Dutch oven, an open saute pan and three stainless steel kitchen tools.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Convenient Slow Cookers

Slow cooking has maintained it's popularity for a number of reasons.  Slow cookers enable you to get dinner ready in the morning, go to work or shopping, and come home to a flavorful homemade meal.  You don't have to constantly stir or keep an eye on the cooking process, dinner just about cooks itself.  For added convenience, everything goes in one easy to clean pot.

At Village Kitchenware, we have a variety of useful slow cookers that will meet your needs.  One of my favorites is the Hamilton Beach 4-Piece Set Slow Cooker.  It comes with two separate cooking dishes, a large 4-Quart for complete meals and a 2-Quart for appetizers or desserts.  The same lid fits both dishes and they nest inside each other for easy storage.

Another clever Hamilton Beach product is the Set 'n Forget 5-Quart Slow Cooker.  It has a unique thermometer probe that is used when cooking meat and poultry.  When the meat reaches the proper internal temperature, it switches to warming mode.  It is programmable for delay cooking and has automatic settings programmed in.  It also includes a clip-tight gasket lid making the cooking dish easy to transport for pot lucks and family dinners.

One very innovative slow cooker comes from West Bend.  Their 6-Quart Versatility Slow Cooker is everything that the name implies.  The cooking pot is designed to be brought directly to the table for serving.  You can use the cooking pot on the traditional base, or use it on the stovetop or in the oven as well.  It also can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.  The warming base doubles as a light-duty non-stick griddle. 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Elegant Dining for Less

At Village Kitchenware, we strive to bring the best quality at affordable prices with a nice selection of items to choose from.  While looking for nice china that I could bring to customers for a reasonable price, I came to realize that it would be a daunting task.  There are many china manufacturers and patterns to choose from, but, at many more times the price than I could justify.  If you were to buy enough to serve a small dinner party, you could spend enough to put a child through a whole semester of college, or, so it seemed to me.

That's why I was very pleased to find two very affordable and attractive sets from Nikita.  This china is made from porcelain and is elegant enough to serve company, but, affordable enough that you might want to use it every day.  Each is a complete service for eight that includes a dinner plate, salad/desert plate, soup bowl, cup and saucer.  Even better, each includes a hostess set with a platter, serving bowl, covered sugar, creamer and salt and pepper shakers.

The Nikita 47-Pc. Gold Fine Porcelain China Set is very elegant.  It has a beautiful golden geometric design around the border of each piece.  Simple styling makes this china set at home no matter what the occasion or decor.  The Nikita Fine Porcelain 47-Piece China Set  has gentle spring green borders with a wavy touch of gold playing through them.  It looks very crisp, fresh and modern with clean lines and makes a beautiful way to set any table.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Cutting Boards for Today's Kitchen

There are many types of cutting boards available for people who love to cook.  You can buy the traditional wooden cutting board, or a glass one.  Which kind is better - I believe that every kitchen should have one of each kind.  Glass cutting boards are ideal for cutting up poultry products.  Bacteria from poultry products can work into the pours of wooden cutting boards and be a health hazard, glass prevents that problem.  Glass is also good for chopping onions as well as other veggies and fruits.  However, there is nothing like a good wooden cutting board for carving roasts and other cooked foods as well as chopping raw fruits and vegetables.

One of the best manufacturers of glass cutting boards is Absorbastone.  All of their cutting boards are made from tempered glass and they are dishwasher safe.  The little rubber feet in each corner help to prevent it from moving as you are using it, and, it won't suction to your countertop.  Each Absorbastone cutting board has great artwork, they become a decorative accessory as well as something very functional.  You can find one for a country kitchen like the Vineyard Rooster cutting board all the way to hobbies, such as the Golf Collage cutting board.  There is something for everyone.

A good wooden cutting board when properly cared for will last for years.  Many of these cutting boards come with wells, the indentation around the edge, that helps keep juices from spilling onto your countertop.  This is one of the reasons that they are so ideal for cooked roasts.  They also have a different "feel" when you are chopping and dicing foods.  A good wood for a cutting board is bamboo, it's very durable and has a decorative grain.  I would recommend the Ovale Bamboo Cutting Board, it has all the hallmarks that a good board should have.  Please visit Village Kitchenware to view our vast selection.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Waterless Cooking, A Bargain for Health

Waterless cookware used to be difficult to find, in many cases it was sold on a referral basis and someone would actually go to your home and demonstrate the benefits.  It was also very expensive, but, thanks to increased demand and more manufacturers, the price has come down considerably.  Waterless cookware is now one of the best bargains on the market and is the healthiest way to cook.

Waterless cookware is made from stainless steel and will virtually outlast you with proper care.  One set that I would highly recommend is our Waterless Cookware 28 Pc. 12 Element Set which is quite attractively priced.  This surgical stainless steel cookware has everything that you need for nutritious cooking.  The unique Thermometer Knobs on the lids let you know when you are at optimum temperature.  It even has covered stainless bowls that will do dual duty as Double Boilers. This set is also compatible with induction stoves.

If you're looking for waterless cookware, but don't need as many pieces, the Chef's Secret 12 Element 14 Pc. Cookware Set is another fine option.  This cookware is also surgical stainless steel with built-in Thermometer Knobs on the lids.  It includes two saucepans, a stockpot and three skillets, all covered, along with a steamer insert and collander.