Judge Induction Cookware - Review

Red pans look fabulous in the kitchen and the colour red is now firmly established as a classic. 

This brightly coloured induction cookware is perfect for all hobs and will brighten up the kitchen. Practicality as well as good looks is important and I like my pans to perform well too.  They have an enamel coating on the outside and the inside has a Teflon Classic Non-stick coating - easy cleaning on both the inside and outside of the pans makes washing up so much easier. The pans are dishwasher proof but I prefer to wash mine by hand, these pans only need hot soapy water and a washing up brush to clean them.

The phenolic handles on the pans are oven safe up to 180ºC which is a really useful feature and only one pan is required to brown the meat in the pan on the hob and then continue cooking in the oven.

The pans look great on an induction hob but are suitable for all hobs.

Tried and Tested:  The pans performed well both on the hob and in the oven. Cleaning is quick and easy.

20cm Saucepan with Lid £18.96
20cm Fry Pan £12.48
22cm Casserole with Lid £16.44

The pans come with a 5 year guarantee and are available from Amazon and all good cook shops.

Available in red, black, vanilla, white, cream and green - to view more of the range please visit www.judgecookware.co.uk

Thank you Judge Cookware and Pam for the review samples.

Judge Jubilee 14cm Milk/Sauce Pot: Review

The Judge Jubilee Milk/Sauce Pot is made from satin stainless steel and can be used on all hobs including induction. It has a polished ovensafe stainless steel handle, there is a clear measuring guide on the inside and it has a capacity of 1.5 litres. The pan is dishwasher safe and comes with a Judge 25 year guarantee.

This pan has the wow factor - it is also well made and has a thermic base which ensures even heat distribution. I put the pan to the test by making a celery and walnut soup. The handle hardly gets warm and it shouldn't get hot, providing you match the size of the pan base to the size of the heating area, you should only need either a moderate or low heat source. The pan looks so good you can take it to the table. My soup poured out cleanly into the bowls. There was too much soup for us and I poured the remainder into soup storage bags and popped them into the freezer for a rainy day.

The pan was large enough to cook enough soup for two, I cooled the soup and poured this directly from the pot into the liquidiser.
It is easy to cook everything in the pan from start to finish.

A great sauce pot to use for custard, sauces, porridge, soup or gravy, the heat transfer is excellent which means the contents heat up in no time at all, and the pan is very sturdy too. Nothing has either burnt or stuck on the base of the pot, cleaning is easy too, all I needed was washing up liquid and a dishcloth.

The packaging is eye catching with a Union Jack adorning one side of the pack.

The Milk Pot is excellent value at £20.00 and for stockist information visit www.judgecookware.co.uk

Thank you Pam and Judge Cookware.

Review: Stellar Easy Lift Cast Iron Saute/Server Pan

This fabulous 24cm glossy black cast iron saute pan from Stellar Cookware is both lightweight and sturdy. The range uses a unique manufacturing technique to produce a 'thrown' cast iron pan which produces a thinner but lighter weight body. It retains the outstanding thermal properties of cast iron without the usual heaviness that's associated with cast iron pans. Stellar 'Easy lift pans' are lined with durable enamel which will never wear out.

There are two generous sized riveted stainless steel handles, a glass lid with a steam vent (unfortunately I took the photograph with the lid the wrong way up - please refer to the photograph at the end of this posting to see the steam vent), is suitable for all hob types, oven safe up to 220°C and comes with a Stellar Lifetime Guarantee. Whilst the pan is dishwasher safe, I would hand wash to keep the pan looking at it's best. The pan will look good in any kitchen and is a modern, timeless classic.


I cooked a meal on the hob to test for hotspots and the pan cooked evenly. I cut a medium chicken into portions and the pan was sufficiently large enough to feed a family of four. I cooked chicken, shallots, smoked bacon, garlic and herbs in white wine for last Sundays lunch and the pan was a complete joy to use.

Glass lids are always useful and I like to take a peek to see how the meal is progressing rather than keep lifting the lid. I was able to take the pan to the dining room and serve the meal at the table which saves using more pots and means less washing up - which is always a good thing.

Cast iron pans always look good in the kitchen but as we all know they can be heavy to lift, especially when they are loaded with food. I found the pan to be sturdy, the handles secure and the food stayed hot.



24cm Saute pan/server £40.00 and is also available in other sizes. They can be purchased from Stellar Cookware. Please find your nearest Stellar stockist here.

Thank you to Stellar Cookware for my saute server.

Kitchen Delights Christmas Gift Ideas

A list of Christmas Gift Ideas from Kitchen Delights!


Saeco Lavazza A Modo Mio Extra Coffee Machine - I use my coffee machine a few times every week, it is very convenient and no mess involved. Coffee lovers will really appreciate one of these stylish machines.


SodaStream - Get Busy with the Fizzy - This gadget is good for the environment and both children and adults will enjoy using it. Simple and convenient, you will be able to make sparkling water on Christmas Day for all of your guests to enjoy.

Forman and Field Gift Hamper - Foodies will love this, a perfect gift for those who have everything!


Hungry? a book by innocent - the perfect family cookbook and a great way to get all of the family involved in cooking.

DK Step-by-Step Baking - Beautiful baking book, fabulous photographs, a huge array of techniques are covered with clear step by step photographs and recipes for every day of the year. All fans of the Great British Bake Off and those interested in applying to take part in the show will definitely appreciate this book.

MasterChef Kitchen Bible - This is one of the must have books for those aspiring MasterChef's and also fans of the television programme. There are techniques with clear photographs and includes Classic recipes and MasterChef contestants recipes.


Find Me A Gift - Joseph Joseph Baking Set - Baking is back and both the novice and the experienced will love this stylish and practical set.

Tala Retro Range - Icing Set and Dry Measure - Retro products are very popular at the moment and both of these are practical too.

Tefal Sensorielle Cookware - Tefal's toughest pans yet and can withstand metal utensils on the non-stick coating. The pans are light to pick up which is a very useful feature.


Jamie Oliver Tefal Hand Blender - I think this is a present for men because it is quite heavy but all Jamie fans will love this. It not only looks good but performs well too.


Hotel Chocolat - These chocolates have the wow factor and will definitely please both children and adults.

Lucky's Chocolates and Cake - Are for foodies who appreciate the finest and can afford it too!


Prestat The Mint Box - Prestat are Chocolatiers to Her Majesty The Queen and these will make the perfect after dinner mint.

Back soon!

Review: Tefal Sensorielle Cookware

I have been asked to test the Tefal Sensorielle 26cm Frying Pan and 16cm Saucepan with a steam vent knob on the lid. The pan comes with a new patented non-scratch coating and is more durable than any pan Tefal have produced. The non-stick coating is guaranteed for the life of the pan against blistering or peeling. and most metal utensils can be used with the exception of whisks and knives. The base is anti-warp and the copper particles in the base help with even heat distribution and the prevention of hot spots.


The Frying Pan and Saucepan are very light, and this was immediately noticeable, especially as all my other pans are fairly heavy. When the pan is full and you need to transfer from the hob to the work surface it saves the two handed struggle. The handle is much higher than I am used to but makes the pan easier to pick up. The handle is described by Tefal as a Curved Comfort Handle.


As with all new pans it is essential to coat the non-stick coating with oil before using for the first time. If you either wish, or need, to follow a low fat diet then a thin coating of oil will cook an egg (although I would put a lid on the frying pan for best results) and for the majority of other foods no fat is required or simply coat the pan with oil.

In the past I have always been very cautious about bakeware and pans that are light to hold because we have all come across the warping problems. The frying pan and saucepan didn't show any signs of warping even on a high heat.

Another test was to see if food stuck to the pan and how easy it was to remove. I have cooked pasta, rice, curry, gravy, bolognese and omelette. A good test for any pan is to make scrambled egg which can be one of the worst offenders for sticking and I can safely say nothing at all sticks to the pan. Although these pans are dishwasher safe, they hand wash so quickly and easily I wouldn't take up valuable dishwasher space. They clean so well you can take a paper towel and wipe around the inside to remove any debris before washing.


The pans are oven safe up to 180C which is really useful, and also come with Tefal's Thermospot indicator - the spot turns solid red when the pan is perfectly preheated and then simply turn down the heat to maintain the temperature.

Thank you Catherine.

AGA Cookshop and Review: White AGA Berndes Ceramic Coated 24cm Frying Pan

AGA Cookshop have supplied this fabulous light weight white AGA Berndes cast aluminium frying pan with a ceramic coating which is suitable for all hob heat sources, including induction. The pan also has a heavy gauge 6mm base to provide optimum heat and absorption and distribution. The pan has a removable handle for oven use, is very easy to clean and comes with an 8 years warranty. A lid can be bought for the pan as an optional extra. This is a top of the range pan and is a classic beauty, modern and timeless. The pan will look special in any kitchen.


It is recommended by the manufacturer the pan is lightly greased before every use. I lightly greased the pan and found this was sufficient to ensure food didn't stick but simply slides off. Hand cleaning is easy or the pan can be put in the dishwasher.


Egg in Toast - Not any old egg on toast, lightly grease the pan, put a small amount of butter in the pan and heat gently until melted. Take a piece of good quality bread (I made mine), tear out a sizeable piece of bread put into the pan and toast, turn the bread over, break the egg into the hole and cook gently (a piece of foil covering the pan or a lid will help cook the egg on top). Keep on checking the egg and then serve. My husband says this is the best egg and toast ever! There was neither sticking or burning on the base of the pan - the brown in the pan is a puddle of butter and a few browning crumbs from the bread.


Smoked Haddock in Butter and Creme Fraiche Sauce - I greased the pan first, and again no sticking and the pan cleaned easily. There are no hotspots with this pan which means you can cook at a gentle heat and everything cooks at the same time. Sauces will also pour from the pan easily because the pan has sloping sides.


Berry Slump - this is simply a bag of frozen fruit sprinkled with a small amount of sugar and topped with a sponge mixture and some flaked almonds sprinkled over. Once again, a very happy husband, he loved this recipe.


Again, I greased the pan before using which is a great tip for using all pans. The pudding was cooked in the oven without the handle and as you can see from the photograph the fruit didn't stick to the pan even though I changed my oven setting to fan. Sometimes berry fruit fillings turn to jam and stick to the pan.

Berndes were founded in 1921 and the German family is celebrating it's 90th anniversary in 2011. Berndes revolutionised the market for cookware with a pan made of cast aluminium and non-stick coating. Berndes developed into an innovation leader in manufacturing non-stick cookware.

The AGA Cookshop sell cookware, kettles, kitchen tools, electricals, tableware, bakeware, textiles, books, cleaning and storage products and have a fabulous online shop. AGA Cast Iron Cookware is made in Coalbrookdale foundry, Shropshire (not far from where I live), and they also make the castings for both AGA and Rayburn Cookers.

Thank you to AGA Cookshop and Rebecca.

Review: Tefal Preference Non-Stick Frying Pan With Lid

The frying pan is from the Preference - Tefal's induction compatible cookware range. The 26cm pan has a glass lid and the knob on the lid has a very useful steam vent which can be turned either on or off.


Tefal's renowned Thermospot is a very useful way of ensuring the pan is at the right temperature, to ensure food is cooked perfectly. This is a built in heat indicator which tells you when the pan is at the perfect cooking temperature. Cold: The Thermo-Spot pattern is visible in the dark red spot. The spot turns solid red when the pan is perfectly preheated and ready to cook. Now the heat can be reduced to maintain the temperature which then prevents overheating of the pan.

Tefal's Preference range offers even heat distribution without hotspots. Also, this range has a new Pro-metal Pro non-stick coating with a lifetime guarantee and metal utensils can be used.


In the pan I cooked: Penne with Spinach, Creme Fraiche, Smoked Salmon and Tomatoes and a Pesto Pan Chicken. Both of the recipes cooked superbly, neither stuck to the pan and only a minimum of oil needs to be used. The pan is also deep enough to comfortably hold enough Bolognese Sauce to feed a family of four.

A hard wearing enamel exterior, Bakelite Stay Cool Handle and the pan can be put in the oven up to 180c. It's always useful to start dishes off on the hob and then use the same pan for oven cooking to save using even more pans.

Thank you Tefal and Catherine.

Cookware by CSN Review

Towards the end of last year I was asked if I would like to review a product from Cookware by CSN.

I chose the Meyer Select Stainless Steel 26cm Stirfry pan to match my set of Meyer Select saucepans I purchased from Cookware by CSN. Meyer are pans I have always used, not only do they look good but they stay that way too.

The stirfry pan is non-stick and made from 18/10 stainless steel, it can also be put in the oven, and Meyer give a generous 10 year guarantee with the pan.

CSN always keep you informed every step of the way, from ordering your item through to delivery and my purchases have always been packaged perfectly too.

CSN REVIEW COMING UP!

CSN Stores has amazing online stores where you can find everything from great cookware to beautiful wardrobes to chic lighting pieces!

I have a few items in the pipeline to review for Cookware By CSN, and more online shopping to do at their stores.

Shopping with CSN Stores couldn't be easier and the prices are great too!

A Skillet To Last A Lifetime

I was spoilt for choice when asked if I would like to review something from the Cookware By CSN website, and a little slow to order, because I just couldn't make my mind up!

My old frying pan was tired and worn out, so I decided to order a 24cm Circulon Infinite Hard Anodised French Skillet .

I chose this pan because after you have started a dish on the hob, it can then go into the oven at a maximum temperature of 240°C to finish off the cooking. The pan is suitable for all hobs, distributes heat evenly, requires the minimum of oil, has a tough non stick coating, is easy to clean and will outlive me, because it comes complete with a lifetime guarantee! As well as being functional, the pan also looks good too. I have chosen well and know that not only now, but in the future, I am going to be very happy with my choice.

I found the products competitively priced, the ordering system easy, and they have an excellent communications system keeping you up to date with delivery dates and order tracking.

Why not pop over to the CookwarebyCSN website and take a look at all of the wonderful kitchen goodies.

Thank you Eileen.